HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Previews for Friday’s Week 4 games

Bandys battles Bunker Hill, goes for 11th straight home victory

By CHRIS HOBBS

HobbsDailyReport.com

A look at Friday’s varsity football 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.

Last week, Chris Hobbs was 12-2, improving to 38-6 for the season. Will Hancock went 10-4 and is 33-11 and Myra Hobbs went 10-4 and is 31-13.

BUNKER HILL (0-3) at BANDYS (3-0), 7:30 p.m.

The Trojans go for their 11th straight home victory when they battle the Bears for the 52nd time.

Bandys has won two straight and four of the last five in the series and has been particularly tough on Bunker Hill in Butler Stadium, winning 12 of the last 13 match-ups played there.

Last year: Bandys won 62-6 at Bunker Hill with returning RB Hunter Jones scoring a TD – the last one for him in 2018 – and he gained 20 yards on two carries… RB Ethan Howard added nine carries for 82 yards and QB Lake Hojnacki had seven carries for 129 yards… Desmond Anderson, who returns for the Bears, rushed 14 times for 19 yards and threw a TD pass to Isaiah Ramseur for Bunker Hill’s points.

Did you know?: After winning 20-9 at Bandys in 1991, Bunker Hill did not win at Butler Stadium again until 2013 (34-6) … Bandys leads the series 34-26-1 and is 14-5 at home against the Bears since 1982 … The Trojans, trailing in the series 19-23-1 in 2000, have gone 15-3 since against the Bears.

Will says: Bandys wins

Myra says: Bandys wins

Hobbs says: Bandys wins

BANDYS’ PARKER DEHART TALKS ABOUT THE TROJANS’ WIN AT SOUTH CALDWELL: https://drive.google.com/file/d/108RHeKjiytLtqoG-NPG37XQCTDMtnK4T/view

ST. STEPHENS (1-1) at MAIDEN (2-1), 7:30 p.m.

The Blue Devils have a seven-game win streak in the series and have won all but five of the match-ups since 1980.

In the last nine times on the field, Maiden has won eight and the St. Stephens win was in 2011, an after-the-fact forfeit (inadvertent use of an ineligible player) after the Blue Devils won at home.

Last year: Maiden won 21-13 at St. Stephens as returning WR Dylan Abernethy caught three passes for 58 yards, including a 37-yard TD from Bain Sipe…. Abernethy had 12 catches for 207 yards through the first four games last season … QB Connor Williams and WR Zach Lee, both returning, led the Indians with Williams going 10 of 25 for 109 yards with a TD run (but threw four interceptions) and Lee making six catches for 80 yards.

Did you know?: Maiden is 30-5 against St. Stephens since 1980… The Indians are 4-12-1 in games at Maiden since 1982 with the last on-field victory coming in 2009 … A win would give Maiden’s Will Byrne his 30^th as head coach at his alma mater (29-10, fourth year)… A win for St. Stephens’ Wayne Hicks would give him 25 in seven years with the Indians (24-46).

Will says: St. Stephens wins

Myra says: Maiden wins

Hobbs says: Maiden wins

SOUTH CALDWELL (2-1) at HIBRITEN (2-1), 7:30 p.m.

The Panthers have won three straight in a series that South Caldwell leads (unofficially) 21-20-1. They’ve each won nine times in games played at Hibriten since 1980.

South Caldwell last won in Storie Stadium 20-16 in 2015 and has had a tough time with the Panthers since starting the series by going 4-10-1 against them in the first 15 battles.

Last year: Hibriten won 56-12 at South Caldwell with returning PK Griffin Bryson converting eight PATs and RB Gee Witherspoon rushing seven times for 131 yards and four scores.

Did you know?: The Panthers have won six of the last 10 meetings … South Caldwell has six wins under head coach Marc Kirkpatrick (6-20, third year), a former Spartans QB and the second member of his family to lead the Spartans – his dad, Don (Red) Kirkpatrick, was the school’s first head football coach.

Will says: Hibriten wins

Myra says: South Caldwell wins

Hobbs says: South Caldwell wins

FREEDOM (2-1) at PATTON (1-2), 7:30 p.m.

The Patriots have won 11 of 12 all-time match-ups with the Panthers, including two straight, and they’ve never lost at Patton.

Freedom head coach Luke Little, in his second year in Morganton with an 11-4 record guiding the Patriots, goes for career win No. 99.

Last year: Freedom won 49-6 at home when returning WR Desmond Caldwell had eight catches for 100, starting a four-game run with at least that many yards receiving … Caldwell and returning WR Christian Fox each caught two TD passes and returning QB Jayden Birchfield ran for 48 yards on six carries and went 17 of 20 for 213 yards and four TDs… Returning QB Weston Fleming had Patton’s only score and finished with 14 carries for 21 yards.

Did you know?: Freedom has a two-game win streak in the series and is 5-0 in games played at Patton … Patton’s only win in the series was 35-28 in Morganton in 2016 when RB William Brawley ran 23 times for 233 yards and a 62-yard TD and QB Joe Eakin had three scoring runs and 83 yards on 16 carries.

Will says: Freedom wins

Myra says: Freedom wins

Hobbs says: Freedom wins

WEST LINCOLN (2-0) at FRED T. FOARD (0-3), 7:30 p.m.

They call this game The Battle of Hog Hill, and the Rebels got for their fourth win in it in the last five seasons.

It’s the 32nd meeting since 1980 with the Tigers holding an edge of 16-15 although West Lincoln has won at Foard in two of the last three games there.

Foard still chases the first win for head coach Ryan Gettys in his return to coaching. He’s in his second tenure there and stuck at 30 career wins.

Last year: West Lincoln won 42-10 at home as Cannon Bridges, who returns, returned a fumble 32 yards for a TD and RB Xander Pendergrass, also back, had six carries for 61 yards and his first two TD runs of 2018 … QB Seth Willis threw for 168 yards and WR Jesse Hatcher had five catches for 164 yards… Foard’s Daniel Lackey, who returns, kicked a 31-yard field goal, the second of three he had last season and returning RB Corey Siemer had a 34-yard TD run.

Did you know?: Bridges is currently the leading rusher in the South Fork 2A … Siemer is coming off a 315-yard rushing game in Foard’s 55-52 home loss last Friday that started the Tigers’ Northwestern Foothills 2A schedule … West Lincoln is 6-8 at Foard since 1982.

Will says: West Lincoln wins

Myra says: Foard wins

Hobbs says: West Lincoln wins

SOUTH IREDELL (1-2)

at ALEXANDER CENTRAL (2-1), 7:30 p.m.

The Vikings pursue their seventh straight victory in the series and 11th in 13 games against the Cougars after they began playing in 1991.

This is the first matchup since 2016, and the Vikings are 5-1 in Taylorsville with the Cougars’ only home win coming in 1996 (30-18).

Last year: Did not play.

Did you know?: Butch Carter is coaching in his 40^th game as head coach at Alexander Central (28-11, fourth season) … The Cougars’ last home win over the Vikings (1996) featured two TD runs by David Foster and a 57-yard interception return for a TD by Cliff Bennett… Foster’s six rushing scores led Alexander Central that season.

Will says: Alexander Central wins

Myra says: South Iredell wins

Hobbs says: Alexander Central wins

HICKORY (0-3) at HUNTER HUSS (1-1), 7:30 p.m.

Old rivals from the era when they both played 4A football in a league with Charlotte schools meet for the 24th time with the Huskies having won three of the last four games in the series.

They played their first game in 1968.

Hickory head coach Russell Stone is two wins shy of 275 for his career but has won only 11 of his 26 games since taking over the Red Tornadoes three seasons ago.

Last year: Hunter Huss won 35-7 at Hickory, holding the Red Tornadoes to 38 yards rushing and withstand 98 passing yards by HHS QB Bryce Stober.

Did you know?: Stone has a career coaching record of 273-169-5… From 1972-76, Hunter Huss beat Hickory five straight times… from 1977-82, Hickory won six straight times over the Huskies.

Will says: Hunter Huss wins

Myra says: Hickory wins

Hobbs says: Hunter Huss wins

NEWTON-CONOVER (2-0) at HENDERSONVILLE (2-1), 7:30 p.m.

The Red Devils go for a 3-0 start that would even Steven Pack’s record as their head coach at 7-7.

They’ve never played in the modern era (if at all), and this is the first time the Bearcats have played a local team in the regular season since 2014, when they faced Maiden at Maiden while playing in the same 1A league with the Blue Devils.

Last year: Did not play.

Did you know?: Hendersonville QB Woodson Hunter has completed 60.2 percent of his passes (53 of 88) for 640 yards and five TDs … The Bearcats’ defense already has 18 tackles for lost yardage this season … Newton-Conover’s last 10-win season was in 2010 under head coach Nick Bazzle, now head coach at North Lincoln.

Will says: Hendersonville wins

Myra says: Newton-Conover wins

Hobbs says: Hendersonville wins

DRAUGHN (1-2)

at CHERRYVILLE (1-2), 7:30 p.m.

The Wildcats and Ironmen play for the seventh time with Cherryville going for its third straight win in the series.

Cherryville leads the series 4-2 and has won two of the three games played in Gaston County, as Draughn’s only win there was eight years ago.

Last year: Cherryville won 46-38 at Draughn, holding off the Wildcats after they got 25 carries for 139 yards and five TD runs by RB Tyler McKinney (he accounted for 36 points) and returning QB Braxton Cox completed 17 of 31 for 205 yards.

Did you know?: Draughn is 1-2 at Cherryville, losing there in 2010 and 2017 (29-28) and winning there 42-0 in 2011 in a game played on a Saturday … Keith Loomis and Alex McGee led that victory as Loomis scored on a 25-yard pass and a 35-yard fumble return and McGee caught that scoring pass and kicked six PATs… Loomis had six carries for 66 yards in that win and another 33 passing yards.

Will says: Cherryville wins

Myra says: Draughn wins

Hobbs says: Draughn wins

ASHE COUNTY (0-3) at WEST CALDWELL (0-3), 7:30 p.m.

It’s Game No 105 for Mike Biggerstaff as head coach of the Warriors and his fourth game in his second tenure at West Caldwell. He is the all-time winningest head football coach at West Caldwell with 75.

Last year: Ashe County won 47-0 at home despite the Warriors’ Nate Brown running 25 times for 141 yards.

Did you know?: QB Dawson Cox has thrown for 810 yards and six scores and WR Austin Poe has 17 catches for 295 yards and two TDs.

Will says: Ashe County wins

Myra says: West Caldwell wins

Hobbs says: Ashe County wins

WEST IREDELL (1-1) vs. STATESVILLE (3-0), 7:30 p.m.

The Greyhounds are off to an unbeaten start but the Warriors, with a bye last week, have had two weeks to get ready.

Statesville rolled 42-0 last season at West Iredell.

Last year: Statesville cruised, winning 42-0 at West Iredell by limiting the Warriors to less than 30 yards rushing… For West Iredell, returning QB Eli Kitchens threw for 89 yards in that loss.

Did you know?: West Iredell has had seven straight losing seasons, going 17-60 in that span … The Warriors were winless in 2013 and again in 2015 .. West Iredell is 11-14 in its last 25 games.

Will says: Statesville wins

Myra says: Statesville wins

Hobbs says: Statesville wins

WILKES CENTRAL (2-1) at WATAUGA (2-1), 7:30 p.m.

The Pioneers hope to rebound well after suffering the season’s first loss last Friday, giving up more than 60 points to Winston-Salem Reagan.

Last year: Watauga rolled 43-14 in North Wilkesboro with big performances by three players who return – RBs Bryce Satterfield, Jaiden Bond and Seth Best … Satterfield had 23 carrie for 128 yard and ran for three TDs while Bond broke a run for 50 yards and a TD, finishing with 178 yards on eight carries … Best had his first TD of the year and his only TD on his fourth carry of the year.

Did you know?: Bond had only one game that topped his 178 yards – he had 12 carries for 246 yards last season against Hickory … Watauga is 25-5 in its last 30 games … The Pioneers have won 58 games since 2012.

Will says: Watauga wins

Myra says: Watauga wins

Hobbs says: Watauga wins

EAST GASTON (0-2) at LINCOLNTON (1-2), 7:30 p.m.

New head coach Joe Glass has 50 career wins, achieved last Friday with a victory over North Gaston, and now shoots for his first Wolves win – and points — in Battleground Stadium.

In its only home game so far, Lincolnton fell 12-0 to South Point.

Last year: The Wolves cruised 46-0 at East Gaston as RB Jamal Littlejohn exploded for 188 yards rushing on nine carries and had six rushing TDs.

Did you know?: Glass is only the fifth head football coach at Lincolnton since the mid-1970s – the others are the late Von Ray Harris, Richard Smith, Scott Cloninger and Ledford Gibson.

Will says: East Gaston wins

Myra says: Lincolnton wins

Hobbs says: Lincolnton wins

NORTH GASTON (1-2) at EAST LINCOLN (2-0), 7:30 p.m.

The Mustangs battles the Wildcats, looking for a 3-0 start in Denver, N.C., and for career win No. 15 for third-year head coach David Lubowicz.

Last year: East Lincoln, playing on the road, won 41-22 behind QB Chase Jones, who ran for two scores and threw for two more … Jones went eight of 10 for 168 yards and also had 51 rushing yards on 10 carries … WR Sidney Dollar made three catches for 104 yards for the Mustangs… Preston Cox, who returns for East Lincoln, returned an interception 40 yards for a TD in the win.

Did you know?: East Lincoln went 6-7 a year ago, its first season below .500 after 13 straight seasons staying at or above the mark (the .500 record was 6-6 in 2018).

Will says: East Lincoln wins

Myra says: North Gaston wins

Hobbs says: East Lincoln wins

LAKE NORMAN CHARTER (0-3) at HIGHLAND TECH (1-1), 7:30 p.m.

Quarterback Jeff Womack has played well early for the Knights but they haven’t won under head coach Bob McKay, who this year returned for his second time as their head coach.

Womack threw for 322 yards and three scores last season against the Rams, who won 35-28 in Huntersville.

Last year: Womack threw for 322 yards and three scores last season against the Rams, who won 35-28 in Huntersville.

Did you know?: Lake Norman Charter is 5-20 in its last 25 games and has not posted a winning record since going 10-2 in 2012… The Knights are 0-14 in the South Fork 2A in two seasons.

Will says: Highland Tech wins

Myra says: Lake Norman Charter wins

Hobbs says: Lake Norman Charter wins

MITCHELL COUNTY (3-0) at McDOWELL (1-2), 7:30 p.m.

Mitchell County tries to remain unbeaten against the Titans, who they had little trouble with on the mountain last season (42-14 victory).

McDowell, after scoring more than 40 points in a home win over East Burke, did not score last Friday night and fell 3-0 to Patton.

Last year: Mitchell County won 42-14 at home … QB Adam Randolph completed seven of 11 passes for 88 yards for the Titans.

Did you know?: McDowell is 12-26 in its last 38 games… The Titans have not finished higher than tied for third in their conference since a second place in 2011 under head coach David Riggs … McDowell’s last league title team was in 1992, the second season for Coy Gibson as head coach.

Will says: Mitchell County wins

Myra says: McDowell wins

Hobbs says: Mitchell County wins