By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
An in-depth look at Friday’s varsity football games involving teams from the South Fork 2A, Northwestern Foothills 2A and Northwestern 3A-4A.
HobbsDailyReport.com co-owners Will Hancock and Myra Hobbs and editor and content coordinator Chris Hobbs are predicting who will win the games.
Chris Hobbs was 7-4 last week and leads for the season at 68-15. Hancock went 10-1 last week and is 64-19, and Myra Hobbs went 10-1 last week and is 57-26:
SOUTH FORK 2A
NEWTON-CONOVER (3-2, 1-0) at
BANDYS (3-2, 0-1), 7:30 p.m.
The Red Devils go for their third straight win at Butler Stadium, where they are 13-6 since 1982, and Tom Eanes coaches the Trojans for the 20th time (15-4 record) in a key game for Bandys.
FRIDAY’S BROADCAST: Newton-Conover at Bandys, 7:30 p.m.
In a league as tough as the South Fork 2A, two conference losses would virtually eliminate Bandys’ chances of repeating as the league’s champion.
RB Allen Wilfong and QB Justice Craig lead the Red Devils while RB Isaiah Gilchrist is the top rusher for Bandys, which seldom throws the ball.
Last year: Bandys won 31-7 at Gurley Stadium when RB Elijah Clarke had his biggest game of the year with 97 rushing yards and TDs by run of 4, 3 and 52 yards and also caught a 27-yard TD pass… Wilfong had his fifth straight 100-yard game for the Red Devils (20-119).
Did you know?: Newton-Conover won its first 12 games against Bandys … The Trojans’ first win in the series was 40-33 at Newton-Conover in 1992… Bandys’ first win over the Red Devils in Butler Stadium was 50-14 in 1998.
Will says: Bandys wins
Myra says: Bandys wins
Hobbs says: Newton-Conover wins
MAIDEN (4-1, 1-0) at WEST LINCOLN (4-1, 0-1), 7:30 p.m.
The Blue Devils have won 12 of their 13 games since 1980 that were played at West Lincoln, and the Rebels are 3-24 against Maiden in that same time span.
Of those three wins by West Lincoln, only one – 8-6 in 1985 – was played on the Rebels’ field.
QB Ethan Rhodes and WR Dylan Abernethy are perhaps the league’s best throw-catch combo, and West Lincoln is led by RB Cannon Bridges.
Last year: West Lincoln won 31-18 at Maiden, snapping a 20-game losing streak in the series … RB Brendan Ikard has 167 rushing yards and RB Nakathon Phansook added 125 and Mason Huitt, now playing QB for the Rebels, caught a 20-yard TD pass for West Lincoln … Abernethy had a season-high nine catches for 173 yards for Maiden and QB Bain Sipe, playing a new position this season, had season highs of 22 completions on 35 attempts for 366 yards.
Did you know?: In Maiden’s 12 wins in 13 games at West Lincoln since 1980, the Blue Devils limited the Rebels to eight or fewer points in nine of those games … West Lincoln has not scored more than 22 points against Maiden in those 13 games.
Will says: Maiden wins
Myra says: Maiden wins
Hobbs says: Maiden wins
LINCOLNTON (2-3, 0-1) at EAST LINCOLN (5-0, 1-0), 7:30 p.m.
The Mustangs have been red hot and beginning to draw some attention as a championship contender in the South Fork 2A.
The rivalry game with the Wolves is Game 31 for David Lubowicz as the head coach at East Lincoln and the Mustangs are 17-13 since he took over.
QB Justin Barnett leads the Mustangs and RB Amontre Finger has paced the Wolves.
Last year: East Lincoln won 27-6 at home, powered by QB Chase Jones’ 168 yards passing for three TDs … RB Cole Barber, who returns, had 17 carries for 84 yards for the Mustangs and WR Tavin Johnson caught two scoring passes.
Did you know?: A win tonight would give East Lincoln at least six in 15 consecutive seasons … The Mustangs are 18-13 in their last 31 games after going 6-7 last season and 6-6 the year before that.
Will says: East Lincoln wins
Myra says: East Lincoln wins
Hobbs says: East Lincoln wins
NORTH LINCOLN (4-1, 1-0) at LAKE NORMAN CHARTER (1-4, 0-1), 7:30 p.m.
North Lincoln plays its 20th game with Nick Bazzle as head coach – they’ve won 14 of his first 19 – as they try to stay atop the league standings.
BAZZLE
Bazzle, who has also been head coach at Newton-Conover and Alexander Central, is approaching 150 career wins. A victory tonight would give him 144.
RB Jake Soorus is one of several offensive leaders for North Lincoln while QB Jeff Womack is one of Lake Norman Charter’s biggest offensive weapons.
Last year: North Lincoln won 49-14 at home with Soorus, who returns, gaining a season-high 181 yards on 11 carries with four TD runs and RB Clayton Cribb posting a season-high 199 yards on 14 carries … Sam Brady, who is back, returned an interception 45 yards for a score and QB Landon Beard, also back, had two TD runs … Jaden Goodman, who returns, had TD runs of 8 and 74 yards for Lake Norman Charter and Womack threw for 91 yards.
Did you know?: North Lincoln won 10 games last year, making the state playoffs after missing them for nine straight years … The Knights are 14-5 in their last 19 games and they are 8-7 in league games since joining the South Fork 2A… Lake Norman Charter has never won a South Fork 2A game (0-15).
Will says: North Lincoln wins
Myra says: North Lincoln wins
Hobbs says: North Lincoln wins
NORTHWESTERN FOOTHILLS 2A
BUNKER HILL (1-4, 0-1) at FRED T. FOARD (1-5, 1-1), 7:30 p.m.
The Tigers have beaten the Bears three straight times and also three consecutive times at Foard.
It’s the 40th battle between the two schools since 1980 and Foard is up 23-16, which includes beating the Bears 13 times in 19 games in Tigers Stadium.
Bunker Hill hasn’t won at Foard since 2012.
SIEMER/PHOTO COURTESY OF OBSERVER NEWS ENTERPRISE
The Bears are led by QB Carson Elder and Foard has one of the area’s top ground gainers in RB Corey Siemer.
Last year: Fred T. Foard won 64-29 in Claremont, getting 202 rushing yards from QB Jack Colosimo and Siemer’s first 200-yard game of the season (32-282, four TDs) and returning K Daniel Lackey had six PATS … Desmond Anderson, who returns, had 93 passing yards and ran for a score and threw for one for the Bears.
Did you know?: Last week’s win at Patton was the first of the second tenure as head coach for Ryan Gettys at Foard… Gettys is 31-66 as head coach of the Tigers with his previous stint there lasting eight years… Foard is 16-15 in its last 31 games … Bunker Hill is 7-53 in its last 60 games.
Will says: Fred T. Foard wins
Myra says: Fred T. Foard wins
Hobbs says: Fred T. Foard wins
HIBRITEN (4-1, 1-0) at WEST CALDWELL (0-5, 0-1), 7:30 p.m.
The Panthers have 16 straight wins over the Warriors and have won eight straight at West Caldwell.
The series since 1980 favors Hibriten (23-16) and West Caldwell has not beat the Panthers since a 30-21 home victory in 2002.
QB Daren Perry sparks a still explosive Hibriten offense and versatile Cameron Beaver leads the Warriors.
Last year: With six rushing TDs by five different players, Hibriten rolled 58-0 at home in the second game of the 2018 season … RB Marqwone Jones had 81 rushing yards and two TDs for the Panthers.
Did you know?: Hibriten is 10-8 in games played at West Caldwell since 1982 … In the last two Hibriten wins, the Panthers have outscored the Warriors 103-0 … In the last seven Hibriten wins, the margin is 291-35.
Will says: Hibriten wins
Myra says: Hibriten wins
Hobbs says: Hibriten wins
PATTON (1-4, 0-1) at DRAUGHN (4-2, 2-0), 7:30 p.m.
Patton chases its fourth straight win over the Wildcats and its sixth in the last seven games.
FRIDAY’S BROADCAST: Patton at Draughn, 7:30 p.m.
The two “new” schools in Burke County are playing for the 11th time, and Patton is 7-3 against Draughn.
Draughn has one home win over Patton in the series, 34-27 in 2012.
QB Braxton Cox is breaking school or Burke County records in passing almost every game and RB Trent Corn is also starring for the Wildcats.
Patton is led by QB Weston Fleming.
Last year: Patton won 17-7 at home with returning QB Weston Fleming running for a TD and throwing for one and RB Bryson Ratliff, also back, gaining 67 yards on 15 carries … Cox went 14 of 28 for 141 yards but was intercepted three times… Draughn’s only score was a 95-yard kickoff return by Jesse Gullett … Cox came out of the game at 1,420 yards passing.
Did you know?: With a win tonight, Draughn would match its win total of the past three seasons combined (5-28)…Patton has reached the state playoffs in four straight seasons… The Panthers are 7-10 in their last 17 games.
Will says: Draughn wins
Myra says: Draughn wins
Hobbs says: Draughn wins
WEST IREDELL (2-3, 0-1) at EAST BURKE (2-3, 1-0), 7:30 p.m.
The Warriors and Cavs meet for the third time with East Burke still looking for its first win in the series.
West Iredell won 26-14 at East Burke two years ago and the Warriors won 47-28 last season at West Iredell.
East Burke (since 1980) has only one home win over an Iredell County school, beating South Iredell in Icard in 2009.
RB Emmanuel Long and QB Eli Kitchens are West Iredell’s leaders.
East Burke is sparked by RB Josh Moore and has QB Seth Pruitt back in the lineup after he missed earlier games with an injury.
Last year: West Iredell won 47-28 at West Iredell in a game that featured RB Emmaunel Long, who is back, gaining 144 yards on 23 carries with three TD runs and returning QB Eli Kitchens throwing a TD pass and returnee Caleb Alford adding a 78-yard kickoff return for a score … Moore gained 112 yards and ran for two TDs and Pruitt ran for 113 yards, scored on a run and threw a TD pass for the Cavs.
Did you know?: After 50 games as head coach at West Iredell, the record for Monte Simmons is 15-35 … East Burke head coach Mark Buffamoyer also has 15 career wins, five of them with the Cavs (5-22, third year).
Will says: West Iredell wins
Myra says: East Burke wins
Hobbs says: West Iredell wins
NORTHWESTERN 3A-4A
WATAUGA (5-1, 1-0) at ALEXANDER CENTRAL (4-1, 1-0), 7:30 p.m.
This could be the game that ultimately determines who wins the Northwestern 3A-4A title.
Neither team has won more than four straight times in a series (since 1980) that the Cougars lead 23-19.
Watauga has won 15 of its 20 visits to Taylorsville since 1980.
The Pioneers have come to Taylorsville with a two-game win streak over the Cougars two other times and Alexander Central then won.
Watauga head coach Ryan Habich, in an interview with WATA Radio of Boone, has called the game a mismatch with the Cougars clearly favored to win.
CARTER
The game will feature some of the best players in the conference, including RB Jaiden Bond and QB Anderson Castle of Watauga.
Alexander Central RB Steven Montgomery has been especially effective for the Cougars.
Last year: Watauga won 35-0 in Boone with Bond scoring on a run and a pass, WR Grant Oliver scoring on a 51-yard pass and QB Jackson Greene running for a TD and throwing for two … Bond and Oliver are back.
Did you know?: Since 1980, the longest win streak in the series if four years by Alexander Central (1992-95)… Watauga has won three straight twice… The head coaches, Habich and the Cougars’ Butch Carter, have 245 career wins between them, Habich with 111 and Carter with 134.
Will says: Alexander Central wins
Myra says: Alexander Central wins
Hobbs says: Alexander Central wins
STONE
FREEDOM (4-2, 1-0) at HICKORY (1-5, 1-0), 7:30 p.m.
The Patriots have won four straight at Barger Stadium and seven in a row in a series they lead 15-10 in games played since 1980.
Hickory hasn’t won at home over the Patriots since winning 35-0 in 1995.
A victory would give HHS head coach Russell Stone, in his third year guiding the Red Tornadoes, career win No. 275.
The game features perhaps the two most athletic players in the conference – QB Jayden Birchfield for the Patriots and RB Cody Young for the Red Tornadoes.
Last year: Freedom won 43-22 in Morganton with Birchfield going 14 of 23 for 215 yards and one passing TD and also running for two scores … Returning WR Desmond Caldwell had five catches for 104 yards and an 81-yard TD reception and WR Christian Fox, also back, had six catches for 83 yards … Young had a TD run and QB Bryce Stober threw two scoring passes to WR Jaylen Harper.
Did you know?: Freedom is 7-5 at HHS since 1982 …Stone’s record in his 39th year is 274-171-5 and he’s 12-16 at HHS … Freedom head coach Luke Little has 101 career wins.
Will says: Freedom wins
Myra says: Freedom wins
Hobbs says: Freedom wins
McDOWELL (1-4, 0-1) at ST. STEPHENS (2-3, 0-1), 7:30 p.m.
The Titans and Indians have played twice and both games were close – St. Stephens won 19-1 7 at home two years ago and they won 40-36 last year in Marion.
McDowell counts heavily on RB Quantavian Moore and multi-dimensional Riley Moore.
The Indians feature a top notch passing combo – QB Connor Williams and WR Zach Lee – and their running game includes RBs Zak McLauchlin and Matthew Hancock.
Last year: The Indians won 40-36 in Marion when RB Xavian King had season-highs of 26 carries for 319 yards and scored on runs of 2, 2 and 4 yards… Williams threw 36 yards to Lee for a TD and RB Nathaniel Vera ran for two scores for St. Stephens … Richard Handy, who returns, had a 26-yard TD reception for the Titans, who go 100 rushing yards and 155 passing yards from QB Adam Randolph (15 of 19).
Did you know?: McDowell is 7-21 in its last 28 games… St. Stephens is 11-16 in its last 27 games … McDowell has not won a varsity conference football title since 1992… St. Stephens’ last varsity football league title was in 1961 … The Indians are trying to get to the postseason for the 11th time in school history … McDowell has won 28 games since 2012 but reached the state playoffs five of the previous seven seasons.
Will says: St. Stephens wins
Myra says: St. Stephens wins
Hobbs says: St. Stephens wins