Editor’s note: Game stories on Bandys, Maiden and Newton-Conover will be posted separately on the website.
HobbsDailyReport.com
West Lincoln High had more than 400 yards on offense and forced five turnovers on Friday night, opening the football season with a 53-0 road victory over Draughn.
The Rebels recovered four fumbles and limited the Wildcats to fewer than 70 yards, starting head coach Tom Sain’s ninth season at West Lincoln with his 42nd career win.
The game was the debut of Chris Powell as head coach at Draughn.
West Lincoln’s returning quarterback, Seth Willis, threw for two scores and ran for two and returning running back Brendan Ikard added three TDs and led the Rebels’ rushing with more than 150 yards.
Willis’ first scoring run of 25 yards on a run came after West Lincoln recovered a Draughn fumble. He also threw TD passes in the second quarter to Ikard and Mason Huitt.
Junior quarterback Braxton Cox threw for 75 yards for the Wildcats.
West Lincoln, 4-8 last season, is idle on Friday and next plays on Aug. 31 at Cherryville.
Draughn, 2-9 last season, plays at Freedom (0-1) on Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
Forestview 20, East Lincoln 7
The Jaguars held the Mustangs to fewer than 130 yards, and Holt Cloninger kicked two 52-yard field goals in a non-league home victory.
Quarterback Jake Lee completed 11 of 16 passes for 84 yards for Forestview (1-0).
The Jaguars opened a 17-0 lead after East Lincoln had a turnover while inside the Forestview 10 late in the opening half.
“I thought the defense played lights out,” Forestview head coach Chris Medlin told The Gaston Gazette. “I thought East Lincoln played hard. It was not easy by any means, but it’s a great way to start the season.”
East Lincoln, which started 0-3 last season before going 6-6, does not play Friday. The Mustangs’ next game is Aug. 31 at home against Ashbrook at 7:30 p.m.
Stuart Cramer 44, Lincolnton 6
Cramer routed the Wolves to open the season for the second straight season, winning on the road this time by forcing five turnovers.
The Storm (1-0) had a 30-0 lead by halftime, and the Wolves (0-1) had their only score in the final two minutes when Tiaje Ross broke a 76-yard run for a TD.
Tyresse Morris led Cramer with more than 130 yards rushing and a TD. He carried 22 times while quarterback Luke Carpenter added 116 yards passing.
There were 210 yards in penalties in the game – 100 for Lincolnton and 110 for Cramer – The Gaston Gazette reported.
Thomas Jefferson Academy 34, North Lincoln 27
Nomi McMullens scored five times – the last on a 60-yard interception return – as the visiting visiting Gryphons spoiled the debut of Nick Bazzle as head coach at North Lincoln.
McMullens ran for scores of 4, 3 and 5 yards and had a TD reception. He ran for almost 60 yards and threw for another 128 to spark a victory.
North Lincoln’s Clayton Cribb, who will play college football at West Point, ran for nearly 80 yards and Jake Soorus was just shy of 100 yards for the Knights (0-1).
Bazzle, a Lincoln County native and East Lincoln graduate, returned to prep football after two seasons away. He previously guided teams at Newton-Conover and Alexander Central to 129 wins over 17 years, the last two at Alexander Central (left after the 2015 season).
North Lincoln is idle until Aug. 31 when it goes to Fred T. Foard for a non-conference game.
SouthLake Christian 21, Lake Norman Charter 17
Beau Bullerdick threw for 101 yards — including a 98-yard scoring throw to Cole Cameli — as SouthLake Christian turned back the visiting Knights in a season-opening game in Huntersville.
Braedan McCarthy added a rushing TD for SouthLake Christian.
Luke Binkley of SouthLake had 19 tackles and Zach O’Bryan had three hits for lost yardage and two sacks among his 11 tackles.
The Eagles had four interceptions.
Lake Norman Charter, 3-8 last year in its first season in the South Fork 2A, will be at home on Friday at 7:30 p.m. against Pine Lake Prep.