Birchfield throws for 4, Freedom drills Draughn
Editor’s note: Game stories on Bunker Hill, East Burke and Fred T. Foard will be posted separately on the website.
HobbsDailyReport.com
Patton High had three drives of more than 50 yards, and its defense forced four fumbles on Friday night in a 23-7 road victory over R-S Central for the first win for Jonathan Browning as head coach of the Panthers.
With drives of 59 yards, 78 yards and 51 yards, the Panthers (1-1) grabbed an early lead to run their win streak in the series to three games.
Matt Byrd and Jamir Epps had scoring runs in the first quarter as Patton built a 14-7 lead by halftime.
Quarterback Weston Fleming scored on a 1-yard run for the other Patton TD, and kicker Pierce Memmel kicked a 36-yard field goal.
Mason Streppa forced two fumbles and Epps and Troy Gragg forced one each.
The only score for the Hilltoppers (0-2) was on a pass.
Patton plays on the road at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night, facing McDowell.
Freedom 57, Draughn 0
Freedom remained unbeaten against Draughn, winning for the 10th time in the series, as junior quarterback Jayden Birchfield threw for four TDs at Freedom.
The victory evened Freedom’s record at 1-1 and gave head coach Luke Little his first win with the Patriots.
Freedom was up 15-0 in the second quarter and then blew the game open on a scoring run by Traevon Lytle and two TD passes by Birchfield.
Birchfield threw for 260 yards and had 291 yards of total offense in one half of play.
Caldwell had nearly 90 yards in receptions.
Draughn quarterback Braxton Cox threw for almost 130 yards, hitting Colton Sigmon seven times.
Freedom travels to Icard on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. for its annual Fat Friday game against East Burke.
Draughn is at home Friday night at 7:30 p.m., facing Brevard.
Hibriten 58, West Caldwell 0
The Panthers continued several streaks with a blowout of the visiting Warriors – they have won 18 straight games, 14 straight home games in the regular season, 11 straight home games and beat West Caldwell for the 16th straight time.
The Panthers led 21-0 after one quarter and 44-0 by halftime.
Marqwone Jones opened the scoring with a 52-yard TD run and McKinley Witherspoon had a 45-yard scoring run while the Hibriten defense contributed two safeties, the last making it 30-0.
Jones also added a 1-yard TD run and Aaron Logan, Daren Penny, Kevon Wilson and Noah Isbell also ran for scores for the Panthers.
Hibriten head coach Clay Lewis picked up his 83rd career victory.
The Panthers are at home Friday night at 7:30 p.m. against Ashe County.
West Caldwell (0-2), outscored 100-0 in its first two games this season, goes to West Iredell for a non-conference game on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
South Iredell 54, West Iredell 7
The Vikings (1-1) scored five times in the second quarter, jumping to a 35-0 lead, and cruised past the visiting Warriors (1-1).
South Iredell quarterback Ty Everhart threw for more than 250 yards and five TDs, hitting Darius Smyre five times for more than 90 yards.
The Vikings’ defense limited West Iredell to fewer than 170 yards.
Ahead 7-0 early, South Iredell extended that lead to 21-0 on scoring throws by Everhart, who started after sharing the quarterback spot with two other players in a season-opening loss to Rocky River.
West Iredell will be at home on Friday night (7:30 p.m.) to play West Caldwell, which is 0-2 and has been outscored 100-0 in the first two games this season.