HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Previewing Friday night’s games

By CHRIS HOBBS

HobbsDailyReport.com

HANCOCK

A look at Friday’s varsity football season-opening games involving teams from the South Fork 2A, Northwestern Foothills 2A and Northwestern 3A-4A, with predictions on who will win by HobbsDailyReport.com co-owners Will Hancock and Myra Hobbs and editor and content coordinator Chris Hobbs:

BUNKER HILL at NEWTON-CONOVER, 7:30 p.m.

The Red Devils, 4-7 last season, begin their second season under head coach Steven Pack by chasing their sixth consecutive first-game win. The Bears, 2-9 last year and 6-32 against Newton-Conover since 1981, have won five times in Gurley Stadium in that span.

MYRA HOBBS

Last year: Newton-Conover 56, Bunker Hill 0 with returning QB Justice Craig going 10-for-10 for 174 yards, returning RB Allen Wilfong scoring once and rushing eight times for 84 yards and Kejuan McClain making five catches for 72 yards and scoring on a 63-yard punt return.

Did you know?: Newton-Conover has won 13 of the last 14 in the series and 17 of the last 19… The Bears’ only home win over the Red Devils since 1981 was 46-15 in 1998.

Will says: Newton-Conover wins

Chris Hobbs from the Hobbs Daily Report

CHRIS HOBBS

Myra says: Newton-Conover wins

Hobbs says: Newton-Conover wins

MAIDEN at FRED T. FOARD, 7:30 p.m.

The Blue Devils start their fourth season under head coach Will Byrne by chasing their 16th consecutive win in Tigers Stadium. Maiden went 8-4 last year and Foard, welcoming Ryan Gettys back as head coach for a second tenure, went 6-6 a year ago. Gettys last led the Tigers in 2010.

Last year: Maiden 21, Fred T. Foard 6 as QB Bain Sipe (returning but not playing QB) went 14-of-26 for 208 yards that included a 76-yard TD toss to Montrell Stinson, who had four catches for 99 yards … Jack Colosimo had Foard’s only TD, an 88-yard kickoff return, and RB Corey Siemer – dressing tonight but recovering from an injury – had 12 carries for 145 yards.

Did you know?: Foard has not beaten Maiden at Foard since 1985 and is 4-34 against the Blue Devils since 1980… Maiden has won six straight openers, all against the Tigers … Since 1982, Maiden is 15-2 on Foard’s field.

Will says: Maiden wins

Myra says: Maiden wins

Hobbs says: Maiden wins

BANDYS at ST. STEPHENS, 7:30 p.m.

The Trojans, coming off a 12-2 season, go for their fourth straight season-opening win over the Indians, 4-7 last season, and Bandys has won 12 of its last 13 trips to Springs Road. Bandys head coach Tom Eanes, in his second season there, will coach in his 350th career game and has 159 victories.

Last year: Bandys 42, St. Stephens 28, sparked by 161 rushing yards, two TDs from RB Ethan Howard, an 89-yard kickoff return TD by Jacob Ellis and a 59-yard punt return TD by Isaiah Talbert… Returning QB Connor Williams threw for 236 yards and three TDs to returning WR Zach Lee (nine catches for 124 yards).

Did you know?: Bandys has won 11 off its last 12 games against the Indians… St. Stephens’ home wins over the Trojans came in 1983, 1989, 1991 and 2015.

Will says: St. Stephens wins

Myra says: Bandys wins

Hobbs says: Bandys wins

ALEXANDER CENTRAL at HIBRITEN, 7:30 p.m.

Sam Mackey debuts as the Panthers’ head coach, after a 14-1 season, and they’ve beaten the Cougars only once in six tries at Hibriten since 1982. Alexander Central, 9-3 a year ago, goes for career win No. 131 for head coach Butch Carter.

Last year: Did not play.

Did you know?: The teams have played 12 times since 1980 with Alexander Central leading the series 8-4 … In six games at Hibriten since 1982, the Cougars have on five of them with Hibriten’s win coming in 2004, a 21-7 victory that started that season.

Will says: Hibriten wins

Myra says: Hibriten wins

Hobbs says: Hibriten wins

DRAUGHN at WEST LINCOLN, 7:30 p.m.

PONDER

Darren Ponder debuts as West Lincoln’s head coach as the Rebels and Wildcats battle in a season-opener for the fifth straight year. While Draughn went 1-10 last season, West Lincoln went 9-3, setting a school record for single-season wins.

Last year: West Lincoln 53, Draughn 0 as RB Brendon Ikard ran 11 times for 154 yards and three TDs and had a scoring reception and QB Seth Willis had 102 yards of total offense and ran for two TDs and threw for two … Returning QB Braxton Cox went 7-12-1 for 75 yards for Draughn.

Did you know?: The series is tied 2-2 … West Lincoln has reached the state playoffs in seven of the last nine seasons after not qualifying for them from 1962 through 2004.

Will says: West Lincoln wins

Myra says: West Lincoln wins

Hobbs says: Draughn wins

SHELBY at FREEDOM, 7:30 p.m.

Mike Wilbanks debuts as head coach at Shelby, last year’s 2AA state champion, and the Golden Lions have won 12 straight since an early season loss to Crest in 2018. Freedom, 9-3 last year, opens against Shelby for the fifth straight year and has lost four straight in the series.

Last year: Shelby 31, Freedom 21 as returning WR Desmond Caldwell had six catches for 62 yards for Freedom plus a 34-yard TD catch and a kickoff return TD of 98 yards … Returning QB Jayden Benfield of Freedom went 22-of-34 for 167 yards with one TD and rushed for another.

Did you know?: This is the 20th season opener since 1980 between the Golden Lions and Patriots with Shelby leading 14-5 … Shelby is 6-7 in Morganton since 1991… The Golden Lions have won the last four meetings and Freedom has not beaten Shelby since 2011.

Will says: Shelby wins

Myra says: Shelby wins

Hobbs says: Shelby wins

HIGHLAND TECH at EAST BURKE, 7:30 p.m.

BUFFAMOYER

Mark Buffamoyer begins his third season as head coach at East Burke, coming off a 1-10 season. Highland Tech went 4-7 and the Rams are the first Gaston County team to play a regular-season game in Icard since Ashbrook in 1984.

Last year: Did not play.

Did you know?: Highland Tech lost seven of its last eight games to close the 2018 season … East Burke is 10-7 against Gaston County teams since 1980 – 8-4 versus Hunter Huss and 2-3 versus Ashbrook.

Will says: Highland Tech wins

Myra says: East Burke wins

Hobbs says: East Burke wins

STATESVILLE at HICKORY, 7:30 p.m.

Statesville head coach Randall Gusler goes for his 100h win as the Greyhounds and Red Tornadoes meet in a season-opener for the 15th consecutive year. Statesville was 9-4 last year and HHS, which has lost six straight and 10 of the last 11 against the Greyhounds, finished 5-6.

Last year: Statesville 30-15 with the Greyhounds wiping out an early 13-0 deficit … QB Bryce Stober went 19-35-2 for 133 yards and threw a 5-yard TD pass to WR Davis Amos, who returns … Harrison Boston of HHS hit field goals of 46 and 30 yards.

Did you know?: Hickory is without starting QB Jason Martin, who played last season at South Caldwell, due to a broken collarbone. He is expected to miss up to six weeks … Statesville has won six straight over HHS and 10 of the last 11… They’ve met 57 times since the first game in 1924 and the Greyhounds lead the series 30-27.

Will says: Statesville wins

Myra says: Statesville wins

Hobbs says: Statesville wins

WEST CALDWELL at SOUTH CALDWELL, 7:30 p.m.

KIRKPATRICK

Mike Biggerstaff, whose last game as a head coach was at East Burke in 2008, starts his second tenure as Warriors head coach. He came out of retirement with hopes of turning things around for West Caldwell, 0-11 last year. South Caldwell, 3-8 a year ago, plays its 14th first game against the Warriors since 1981 but it’s their first season-opening battle since 2004.

Last year: South Caldwell 62, West Caldwell 13 in a Northwestern 3A-4A game … Returning RB Spencer Piercy ran four times for 124 yards and scored three times, returning QB Avery Raynor completed seven of nine passes for 114 yards and two scores and returning WR Austin Raynor had six catches for a season-high 163 yards, including an 80-yard TD catch… QB Jason Martin, now playing at Hickory, completed five of seven throws for a season-high 155 yards for the Spartans.

Did you know?: The teams have played in the first game of the season 14 times since 1981 but this is the first season-opener for them since they met in 2004 … Since 1981, West Caldwell leads the series 24-14… South Caldwell is 8-11 at home against the Warriors since 1982.

Will says: South Caldwell wins

Myra says: South Caldwell wins

Hobbs says: South Caldwell wins

NORTH LINCOLN at PARKWOOD, 7:30 p.m.

Coming off a 10-4 first season with the Knights, Nick Bazzle starts his 19th season as a head coach when North Lincoln visits Parkwood, 2-9 last season. Bazzle starts the year with 139 career wins.

Last year: Did not play.

Did you know?: Parkwood’s only wins last year came against Buford, S.C., and Piedmont … Bazzle coaches in his 229th game as a head coach at Newton-Conover, Alexander Central and North Lincoln.

Will says: North Lincoln wins

Myra says: North Lincoln wins

Hobbs says: North Lincoln wins

PATTON at NORTH BUNCOMBE, 7:30 p.m.

Two teams that each went 6-6 start the new season with Jonathan Browning starting his second season at Patton against a team guided by former Freedom head coach Brandon Allen.

Last year: Did not play.

Did you know?: Patton begins its 12th year of varsity football with three winning seasons and two .500 records in that span… Patton played junior varsity only when it opened in 2007 and went 3-8 the next year in its first season of varsity.

Will says: Patton wins

Myra says: Patton wins

Hobbs says: Patton wins

McDOWELL at R-S CENTRAL, 7:30 p.m.

Darrell Brewer debuts as Titans head coach, taking over a team that went 4-8 a year ago, and the Hilltoppers went 2-9 last season. That included a 15-point loss to the Titans in Marion to start the 2018 season.

Last year: McDowell 22, R-S Central 7 with QB Adam Randolph throwing TD passes of 62 and 40 yards to Andruw Randolph.

Did you know?: McDowell has had a losing record for six straight seasons and in 16 of the previous 17 years with its only winning team (8-4) in 2012.

Will says: R-S Central wins

Myra says: McDowell wins

Hobbs says: R-S Central wins

ASHEVILLE ROBERSON at WATAUGA, 7:30 p.m.

The seventh season in Boone for head coach Ryan Habich kicks off with a rematch of last year’s season-opening game won 36-12 by the Pioneers in Asheville. Watauga finished 13-1 last season and Roberson went 3-8.

Last year: Watauga 36, Asheville Roberson 12, the Pioneers winning behind big games by returning RBs Bryce Satterfield (15-142 with TD runs of 18 and 24 yards) and Jaiden Bond (10-125 with TD runs of 71 and 7 yards).

Did you know?: Habich is 56-20 at Watauga in six seasons and 106-34 as a prep head coach in 11 years… Watauga is 23-4 in the last two seasons and has eight straight postseason bids and has been to the playoffs in 12 of the last 13 years.

Will says: Watauga wins

Myra says: Watauga wins

Hobbs says: Watauga wins

WEST IREDELL at WINSTON-SALEM ATKINS, 7:30 p.m.

The Warriors start their fifth season under head coach Monte Simmons, a former Hibriten assistant, when they battle Atkins, which went 1-10 last year by winning its final game of the year against Winston-Salem Carver. The Warriors went 5-6.

Last year: Did not play.

Did you know?: West Iredell has not had a winning season since going 6-5 in 2011 … The Warriors have missed the state playoffs in six of the last seven years, a stretch that came after they had qualified for the postseason for 10 consecutive seasons.

Will says: West Iredell wins

Myra says: West Iredell wins

Hobbs says: West Iredell wins

SOUTHLAKE CHRISTIAN at LAKE NORMAN CHARTER, 7:30 p.m.

Bob McKay, who coached Lake Norman Charter to a 22-24 record from 2010 through 2013, is back as head coach. The Knights were 2-9 last season and Southlake, 7-5 a year ago, is playing its first game under head coach Cheron Farley.

Last year: Southlake Christian 21, Lake Norman Charter 17

Did you know?: Lake Norman Charter is 39-63 since 2010 and its last winning season was in 2012 (10-2 under McKay).

Will says: Southlake Christian wins

Myra says: Southlake Christian wins

Hobbs says: Southlake Christian wins

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *