HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Previews for Friday’s Week 5 varsity games

Fred T. Foard chases first win of season tonight at St. Stephens

 

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 14-2, improving to 52-8 for the season. Will Hancock went 11-5 and is 44-16 and Myra Hobbs went 7-9 and is 38-22:

FRED T. FOARD (0-4) at

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

The Tigers, still chasing a first return victory for Ryan Gettys in his second tenure as head coach, chase their third straight win in the series.

They’ve split their last 10 match-ups and each school has won nine times in their last 18 games played out Springs Road way.

Last year: Foard won 38-22 at home when returning PK Daniel Lackey kicked a 46-yard field goal and returning RB Corey Siemer ran for 242 yards on 29 carries, his second game in a stretch of six with at least 116 yards rushing … RB Xavier King had 99 rushing yards and two scoring runs for St. Stephens and returning RB Matthew Hancock had his second-best game of last year with seven carries for 60 yards.

Did you know?: Lackey kicked a field goal in three straight games last season and the one against the Indians was his last of the 2018 season …Foard won six straight over St. Stephens from 1995-2000 while the Indians won three straight over the Tigers from 2001-03 … Siemer had four scoring runs and Lackey kicked six PATs the last time Foard won at St. Stephens (2017).

Will says: St. Stephens wins

Myra says: St. Stephens wins

Hobbs says: St. Stephens wins

WEST LINCOLN (3-0) at EAST BURKE (1-2), 7:30 p.m.

The starting-to-draw-some-attention Rebels go for a 4-0 start under their new head coach, Darren Ponder.

East Burke has had two weeks to get ready for head coach Mark Buffamoyer’s 26^th game at the controls in Icard (4-21, third year).

Last year: West Lincoln won 48-0 at home, helped by returning RB Xander Pendergrass’ 26 yards rushing on three carries… The Rebels’ top rusher this season, Cannon Bridges, did not have a carry against the Cavs last year … Returning RB Josh Moore had 15 carries for 41 yards for East Burke in last season’s loss.

Did you know?: Grant Fulbright led East Burke to a 32-26 home overtime win over the Rebels in 2017 with 174 rushing yards and a TD pass, two TD runs and two PATs.

Will says: West Lincoln wins

Myra says: West Lincoln wins

Hobbs says: West Lincoln wins

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

The Bulldogs become the second Cleveland County team the Red Devils have played in the modern area, as the other (Shelby) is 5-0 against Newton-Conover.

It’s game No. 15 for Steven Pack as the Red Devils’ boss. He previously coached at Burns, helping former Newton-Conover head coach Matt Beam there (Beam left Burns to become head coach at Newton-Conover in 2014).

Last year: Did not play.

Did you know?: Shelby, another Cleveland County school, came to Gurley Stadium in 2001 and won 35-15 and again in 2003 and won 48-21; no other Cleveland County school has played at Newton-Conover in the modern era … Burns is coming off its open week and already has wins this year over Asheville and Crest.

Will says: Burns wins

Myra says: Newton-Conover wins

Hobbs says: Burns wins

FREEDOM (3-1) at CREST (2-2), 7:30 p.m.

Could be a big night in Boiling Spring, N.C., for Freedom head coach Luke Little as the Patriots chase his 100^th career victory.

Doesn’t seem that long ago since the powers last battled, but it was last in 2008 and Freedom has not won on Crest’s field since 1998.

Last year: Did not play.

Did you know?: Crest has won three straight over Freedom and in four of their last five battles … Crest has won 10 of 16 in the series, dating back to 1989 … When Freedom last won at Crest in 1998, the win was led by Keyontae Moore’s two scores, including a 58-yard catch for a TD from Landon Mariani … The other TD in that 1998 win for Freedom was a blocked punt recovery in the end zone by Jamie Tate.

Will says: Freedom wins

Myra says: Freedom wins

Hobbs says: Freedom wins

OLYMPIC (3-1) at ALEXANDER CENTRAL (3-1), 7:30 p.m.

The Trojans come to Taylorsville for the second time, the last coming 15 years ago for a state playoff game won 17-6 by the Cougars.

That postseason win, at least since 1980, is Alexander Central’s only win over a Mecklenburg County team in six battles.

Last year: Did not play.

Did you know?: The Cougars’ records against other Charlotte-Mecklenburg teams since 1980 – 0-2 versus Myers Park and 0-1 against East Mecklenburg, Waddell and West Charlotte … That state playoff win over the Trojans was sparked by QB Dustin Harrington’s TD pass to Maurice Carter, RB Justin Bowles’ 11^th rushing score of the year and a 26-yard field goal by Elliott Millinor, his third of the season.

Will says: Alexander Central wins

Myra says: Alexander Central wins

Hobbs says: Alexander Central wins

WINSTON-SALEM REAGAN (3-0) at HICKORY (0-4), 7:30 p.m.

Reagan goes for a 3-0 record in the series with the Red Tornadoes, having picked up a home win against them in 2012 and a forfeit win in 2011 after Hickory won 16-13 in overtime in Hickory.

Hickory head coach Russell Stone remains within two wins of 275 for his career.

Last year: Did not play.

Did you know?: When Hickory beat Winston-Salem Reagan at home in 2011 in overtime, Shaquan Reid and Jordan Lockhart had rushing TDs and James Mitchell kicked a 45-yard field goal … In February of 2012, the Red Tornadoes forfeited that win and eight others from the 2011 season (ineligible player).

Will says: Winston-Salem Reagan wins

Myra says: Winston-Salem Reagan wins

Hobbs says: Winstn-Salem Reagan wins

SOUTH CALDWELL (2-2) at R-S CENTRAL (3-1), 7:30 p.m.

The Spartans try to win at R-S Central for a second time in their fifth game there since 1990.

South Caldwell’s last win at R-S came in 2011 (48-7) in what was part of a 10-game win streak by the Spartans that season.

Last year: Returning RB Spencer Piercy ran five times for 123 yards, scoring on runs of 43 and 57 yards, as the Spartans won 50-32 in Hudson. Returning QB Avery Raynor added 65 rushing yards and two rushing scores and returning RB Isaiah Kirby gained 45 yards and scored a rushing TD.

Did you know?: The Spartans are 1-3 at R-S Central and the Hilltoppers lead with five wins in eight games since 1989 … R-S Central has wins over McDowell, Patton and Chesnee, S.C., and lost 42-0 to Polk County… The last win for the Spartans at R-S Central was led by Zac Pollard and Devin Potter, each with two TD runs.

Will says: South Caldwell wins

Myra says: R-S Central wins

Hobbs says: R-S Central wins

AVERY COUNTY (3-1) at DRAUGHN (2-2), 7:30 p.m

The teams met for the third straight season, each having won at home, including Avery County 32-18 last season.

Draughn is coming off a 61-point win at Cherryville, the third win in 15 games under Chris Powell as head coach.

Last year: Avery County won 32-28 at home despite a big game from returning Draughn QB Braxton Cox, who went 20-36-2 for 312 yards – one of two 300-yard games last season – and RB Tyler McKinney’s two TD runs.

Did you know?: Avery County QB Troy Hoilman, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound junior, already has 1,000 yards passing (1,131) and 18 TD passes in four games … Hoilman has five receivers with at least 15 catches each … In last year’s game, Cox was in the midst of a two-week stretch where he went 44 of 84 for 621 passing yards … Avery County’s loss is 44-21 to North Buncombe; the wins are over Ashe County, West Wilkes and North Wilkes.

Will says: Avery County wins

Myra says: Draughn wins

Hobbs says: Avery County wins

EAST LINCOLN (3-0) at EAST GASTON (0-3), 7:30 p.m.

The Mustangs hope for a 4-0 start with a visit to Mount Holly, facing a Warriors team that has scored only 17 points and only a field goal in the last two games.

East Lincoln is 9-7 in its last 16 games.

Last year: East Lincoln won 49-9 at home, getting a receiving TD and the first rushing TD of the year by returning RB Cole Barber… QB Chase Jones had 213 yards of total offense and a hand in four TDs and WR Sidney Dollar ran 84 yards for a TD and had a 56-yard scoring reception.

Did you know?: East Gaston’s winless start includes these losses – 21-14 to North Gaston, 34-0 to Stuart Cramer and, last week, 14-3 to Lincolnton.

Will says: East Lincoln wins

Myra says: East Lincoln wins

Hobbs says: East Lincoln wins

BESSEMER CITY (1-2) at NORTH LINCOLN (2-1), 7:30 p.m.

The Yellow Jackets return to Pumpkin Center — where the Knights won 20-6 last season – to try to prevent the Knights from winning on their home field against them for the fifth straight time.

North Lincoln’s Nick Bazzle, in his second season with the Knights and 19^th overall as a head coach, goes for career win No. 142.

Last year: Also playing at home, the Knights prevailed 20-6 when returning RB Jake Soorus provided his first rushing TD of the year (43 yards, finishing with seven carries for 59) … RB Clayton Cribbs had 101 yards and two scores for North Lincoln, and he had seven games of 100 or more yards a year ago.

Did you know?: North Lincoln is 10-5 against the Yellow Jackets since 2004 … One of the teams in the series has scored 40 or more points in eight of the 15 games, highlighted by the Knights winning 62-22 on the road in 2006.

Will says: North Lincoln wins

Myra says: North Lincoln wins

Hobbs says: North Lincoln wins

ASHBROOK (0-3) at WATAUGA (3-1), 7:30 p.m.

It’s a rematch of a state playoff game from a year ago, with the Pioneers prevailing in that one 49-0.

A win would push Watauga’s Ryan Habich to 60 in his seventh season as head coach in Boone (59-21) and give him 110 career wins in his 11^th season overall.

Last year: RB Bryce Satterfield, sidelined for the rest of this season by an injury last week, ran for two scores in the state playoff victory last year… Returning QB Anderson Castle led Watauga’s postseason win with 112 rushing yards on nine carries (two scores) and by throwing for 67 yards … Returnee Grant Oliver caught a 26-yard TD pass from Castle in the postseason victory.

Did you know?: The Green Wave’s losses are 28-6 at A.L. Brown, 20-7 against East Lincoln and 52-0 against Clover, S.C. … Satterfield had not originally planned to play at Watauga this season, moving to Louisville (Ky.) when his dad left Appalachian State as head coach to take over at Louisville.

Will says: Watauga wins

Myra says: Watauga wins

Hobbs says: Watauga wins

NORTH IREDELL (0-4) at WEST IREDELL (1-2), 7:30 p.m.

Can the Red Raiders, who are struggling, surprise the Warriors again? They beat them 10-9 last season at North Iredell.

It’s the 49^th game for Monte Simmons as head coach at West Iredell and he’s chasing career win No. 15.

Last year: North Iredell won 10-9 at home, holding off West Iredell despite a TD run by returnee Emmauel Long, who had the third of his 12 rushing scores last season in that game/

Did you know?: Lake Norman ripped North Iredell 69-0 last Friday, rushing for 395 yards … North Iredell has been outscored 140-35 by Wilkes Central, Forbush, North Wilkes and Lake Norman.

Will says: West Iredell wins

Myra says: West Iredell wins

Hobbs says: West Iredell wins