HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Previews of Friday’s varsity games

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, Myra Hobbs and Chris Hobbs were 11-4 in picking game winners and Hancock was 10-5:

FRED T. FOARD (0-1)

at BANDYS (1-0), 7:30 p.m.

The Tigers, coming off a 48-24 loss at home against Maiden in head coach Ryan Gettys’ return, go for their third straight in Butler Stadium, after winning there in 2015 and 2017.

Bandys has won seven of the last 10 games overall and is ahead 24-11 in the serics since 1980.

The Trojans lead the Greater Hickory area in consecutive home wins with nine.

Last year: Bandys won 49-14 on the road as returning RB Hunter Jones scored two of the three rushing TDs he had in 2018, RB Ethan Howard ran 15 times for 133 yards with a short TD run and recovered a fumble in the end zone on defense and QB Lake Hojnacki had 273 yards of total offense (124 rushing, 149 passing). For Foard, Jack Colosimo had the TDs – on an 88-yard kickoff return and a 14-yard run — and returning RB Corey Siemer had 110 rushing yards on 12 carries.

Did you know?: Foard had a three-game win streak in the series snapped last season and is 7-9 at Butler Stadium since 1982.

Will says: Bandys wins

Myra says: Bandys wins

Hobbs says: Bandys wins

SOUTH CALDWELL (1-0) at MAIDEN (1-0), 7:30 p.m.

The Spartans and Blue Devils meet for the fifth time with each having won twice at home.

South Caldwell won by 21 at Maiden in 2014 and by 28 in its last visit to The Biggest Little Football Town In The World in 2015.

Last year: Did not play.

Did you know?: In the two wins at Maiden, RB Nick Hudson led the Spartans with two of the 10 rushing scores he had in 2014 and finished with 17 carries for 110 yards – he had 100 yards in only one other game that season after that … South Caldwell threw only five passes in that win. In the 2015 win at Maiden, RB Tyler Goins had 21 carries for 165 yards for the Spartans, scored five rushing TDs, and it was one of his nine 100-yard games that year.

Will says: Maiden wins

Myra says: Maiden wins

Hobbs says: South Caldwell wins

ST. STEPHENS (0-1) at BUNKER HILL (0-1), 7:30 p.m.

The Indians will try to rebound from a 36-15 home loss against Bandys by seeking their sixth straight victory over Bunker Hill. Three of those wins have been at Bunker Hill, and the series since 1980 is tied at 19-19-1.

Last year: St. Stephens won 44-6 at home behind two defensive scores by Chase Benfield, a 46-yard fumble return and recovery of a blocked punt in the end zone, giving him three over two seasons and the most defensive scores by an Indians player in the last 35 years.

Did you know?: The Indians are 7-12 at The Hill since 1982 … St. Stephens also had two defensive scores in 2017 against the Bears, two fumble returns by Ian Walker… Adrian Powell’s interception return last season against St. Stephens was the Bears’ only TD in their first three games … Bunker Hill had won four straight before St. Stephens started its current win streak in the series.

Will says: St. Stephens wins

Myra says: Bunker Hill wins

Hobbs says: St. Stephens wins

HIBRITEN (0-1) at HICKORY (0-1), 7:30 p.m.

The Panthers enter Barger Stadium coming off a 28-19 home loss to Alexander Central, which snapped a 34-game regular-season win streak.

The series began in 1976 and is tied at 9-all (includes two forfeits in 2011 by Hickory).

Hibriten, which fell to Hickory in the first seven series meetings, has won in its last two visits to Barger.

Last year: Did not play.

Did you know?: Hibriten has won five of its eight visits to Hickory since 2006 … The Panthers’ last win at Barger Stadium was 48-7 in 2016, a night RB Chris Scott ran eight times for 165 yards and for two scores and Will Killian added a 60-yard punt return for a TD … Tonight’s game is the 25^th as HHS head coach for Russell Stone (11-13 record).

Will says: Hibriten wins

Myra says: Hibriten wins

Hobbs says: Hibriten wins

FREEDOM (1-0) at DRAUGHN (0-1), 7:30 p.m.

The 11^th all-time meeting of the Burke County rivals and sixth game played at Draughn, with Freedom leading the series 10-0.

Patriots head coach Luke Little, in his second season in Morganton, goes for career win No. 97.

Last year: Freedom rolled 57-0 in Morganton, sparked by 291 yards of total offense by returning QB Jayden Birchfield, who had a hand in 34 points with four scoring passes and a TD run… Birchfield threw for 260 yards, hitting Desmond Caldwell and Christian Fox twice each for scores.

Did you know?: Freedom’s average win margin in games at Draughn (five of them) is 35.8 points, outscoring the Wildcats 198-19.

Will says: Freedom wins

Myra says: Freedom wins

Hobbs says: Freedom wins

EAST BURKE (1-0) at McDOWELL (0-1), 7:30 p.m.

The Cavs and Titans battle for the first times since 2014 and for the 32nd time since 1980 with East Burke leading with 19 wins that includes a forfeit loss in 1998.

East Burke hasn’t won in Marion since 2007 when a current NFL player was in the Cavs’ lineup.

Last year: Did not play.

Did you know?: The last time East Burke won at McDowell, its lineup included RB Tyler Shatley, now playing center for his fifth season for the Jacksonville Jaguars … Shatley ran 17 times for 122 yards against the Titans, scoring on runs of 55, 4 and 3 yards… In the same game, RB Jake Frogge had 18 carries for 153 yards, part of his 1,858-yard season… Shatley ran for 1,209 yards that season.

Will says: McDowell wins

Myra says: East Burke wins

Hobbs says: McDowell wins

ALEXANDER CENTRAL (1-0) at WILKES CENTRAL (1-0), 7:30 p.m.

The Cougars will try to continue being dominant in this series – they led it 23-4 in games since 1980 – and they’re going for their 17^th straight win in the series and eighth straight on the Wilkes Central field.

The Eagles haven’t prevailed over the Cougars at Wilkes Central in nearly 30 years.

Last year: Alexander Central won 50-7 in Taylorsville behind three scoring runs by RB Lyndon Strickland, who also returned a fumble 41 yards for a TD, and returning RB Steven Montgomery had nine carries for 117 yards and his first two rushing scores of 2008 (5 and 44 yards)… Returning RB A.J. Miller added eight carries for 84 yards for the Cougars.

Did you know?: Wilkes Central has not beaten Alexander Central at Wilkes Central since 1991, a 27-20 victory led by three TD passes by QB Steve Caudill … The Cougars have won their last eight visits to Wilkes Central and they are 11-2 there since 1982.

Will says: Alexander Central wins

Myra says: Alexander Central wins

Hobbs says: Alexander Central wins

R-S CENTRAL (1-0) at PATTON (0-1), 7:30 p.m.

Patton can even its record under head coach Jonathan Browning with a victory in a series that is tied 3-all.

The Panthers have won three straight in the series and the Hilltoppers’ three wins are at Patton, the last in 2017.

Last year: Patton won 23-7 on the road, getting TD runs by returning QB Weston Fleming, RB Matt Byrd and RB Jamir Epps.

Did you know?: Patton has played 32 different opponents since starting varsity football in 2008, facing Freedom the most times (12).

Will says: R-S Central wins

Myra says: R-S Central wins

Hobbs says: R-S Central wins

WEST CALDWELL (0-1) at NORTH WILKES (1-0), 7:30 p.m.

Mike Biggerstaff, back for his second tenure as head coach at West Caldwell, coaches in his 199th career game. He’s in his ninth year at West Caldwell overall (75-27) and his 20th year overall as a prep head coach.

North Wilkes opened with a 35-18 victory over North Forsyth while West Caldwell fell 60-7 at South Caldwell.

Last year: Did not play.

Did you know?: Biggerstaff’s 75 wins in his first tenure as head coach at West Caldwell tops the list of victories in that role for the Warriors … He got those 75 wins in nine seasons.

Will says: North Wilkes wins

Myra says: North Wilkes wins

Hobbs says: North Wilkes wins

EAST LINCOLN (0-0)

at EAST ROWAN (1-0), 7:30 p.m.

The Mustangs start their third season under David Lubowicz after going 6-7 last season and 12-13 with him as head coach.

The teams did not play a year ago, and East Rowan’s season-opening win was 33-12 against North Stanly.

Last year: Did not play.

Did you know?: The Mustangs went 65-9 in the final five seasons that Mike Byus was head coach (2012-2016) and had two unbeaten teams in a 2A and a 2AA state title in that span.

Will says: East Lincoln wins

Myra says: East Lincoln wins

Hobbs says: East Lincoln wins

EAST RUTHERFORD (0-1)

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

The Knights, after falling in overtime at Parkwood 29-22 last Saturday night, play their first Friday game of 2019. They will pursue career win No. 140 for head coach Nick Bazzle (10-5 at North Lincoln).

Last year: Did not play.

Did you know?: West Henderson beat East Rutherford 56-42 at West Henderson last Friday night … Bazzle is head coach at his third school with his first boss job at Newton-Conover and his second at Alexander Central.

Will says: North Lincoln wins

Myra says: East Rutherford wins

Hobbs says: North Lincoln wins

LAKE NORMAN CHARTER (0-1)

at PINE LAKE PREP (1-0), 7:30 p.m.

It’s the second game back for Lake Norman head coach Bob McKay (22-25 record), against a team that won its opener 46-0 over Quality Education Academy of Winston-Salem.

Last year: Lake Norman Charter won 28-14 at home as QB Davis Wilder ran for 50 yards and threw for another 129.

Did you know?: Lake Norman Charter has had a losing record in six straight seasons, going 10-23 in the last three.

Will says: Lake Norman Charter wins

Myra says: Lake Norman Charter wins

Hobbs says: Pine Lake Prep wins

SOUTH POINT (0-1)

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

Both teams come off close games with South Point falling 13-7 at Crest and the Wolves falling 10-7 on a late fourth quarter field goal on Monday night that closed a season-opener at Stuart Cramer that was stopped by lightning late in the third quarter last Thursday night.

Last year: South Point won 32-7 in Belmont with RB Caden Wyatt’s 2-yard run the only TD for the Wolves.

Did you know?: A victory would give new Lincolnton head coach Joe Glass his 50^th career win and his first as the Wolves’ leader… His career record, in his eighth season, is 49-40… Glass is a Freedom graduate whose previous head-coaching jobs include a two-year stint at Patton.

Will says: South Point wins

Myra says: South Point wins

Hobbs says: South Point wins

SOUTH IREDELL (0-1)

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

The Warriors play host to the Vikings in the 57^th game for Monte Simmons as head coach at West Iredell.

Cuthbertson beat South Iredell 34-20 last week while West Iredell, playing on Monday night, won 42-0 at Winston-Salem Atkins.

Last year: South Iredell won 54-7 at South Iredell with returning RB Myles Jackson rushing 11 times for 52 yards and a TD to lead West Iredell.

Did you know?: The Warriors are 14-42 under Simmons and have their eye on posting their first winning season since going 6-5 in 2011.

Will says: South Iredell wins

Myra says: South Iredell wins

Hobbs says: South Iredell wins

WATAUGA (1-0)

at ASHE COUNTY (0-1), 7:30 p.m.

Facing a foe that lost its opener 53-33 to Avery County last week, the Pioneers follow head coach Ryan Habich into his 78^th game at Watauga (57-20).

The Pioneers rolled at Asheville Roberson last week, winning 55-20.

Last year: Watauga breezed in Boone, winning 43-7 after a big game by QB Jackson Greene … Greene moved into a starting position after a first-game victory sidelined QB Anderson Castle, and Greene ran for a TD, threw scoring passes to Eli Suggs and Zach West and also returned an interception for a score … Greene finished with 14 carries for 137 rushing yards and completed 11 of 14 passes for 366 yards… Returning RB Bryce Satterfield missed the game with an injury.

Did you know?: Watauga has won 19 straight home regular-season games, best in the Greater Hickory area conferences …A dozen of the Pioneers’ 17 state playoff bids have come in the last 16 years … Watauga made the 1984 Division II playoffs and did not get back to the postseason after that until 2002.

Will says: Watauga wins

Myra says: Watauga wins

Hobbs says: Watauga wins