HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Previews of tonight’s Week 8 games

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 65-19. Hancock went 6-5 last week and is 70-24 and Myra Hobbs went 5-6 Last week and is 62-32:

East Lincoln, North Lincoln battle for first;

Hickory-Watauga game also for the lead

 

SOUTH FORK 2A

EAST LINCOLN (6-0, 2-0) at NORTH LINCOLN (5-1, 2-0),  7:30 p.m.

Tonight’s winner goes home either alone in first place or tied for the top spot in the South Fork 2A based on the outcome of county neighbor West Lincoln at Newton-Conover.

East Lincoln hasn’t played the real “meat” of its schedule yet – its six wins are against teams that are a combined 7-28 – so this game will help better gauge what the Mustangs capable of.

By beating Lincolnton last Friday, the Mustangs have won at least six games in 15 straight seasons.

Last year: East Lincoln won 24-16 at home as returning RB Cole Barber had a 2-yard TD run, QB Chase Jones threw for 182 yards and K Ryan Shanklin hit a 42-yard field goal… Returning QB Lance Beard and returning RB Daniel Carter each had short yardage TD runs and K Ian Fiore, who returns, kicked a 24-yard field goal, his only FG of the year. RB Clayton Cribb added 25 carries for 106 yards for the Knights.

Did you know?: North Lincoln, in its 17th varsity football season, can reach six wins in a season for the fifth time by winning tonight … The other season of six or moe wins were in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and last season… Knights head coach Nick Bazzle has 144 career wins.

Will says: North Lincoln wins

Myra says: North Lincoln wins

Hobbs says: North Lincoln wins

Senior running back Allen Wilfong leads Newton-Conover into a key South Fork 2A game at home on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. against West Lincoln. He is among the top rushers in the league this year with (unofficially) 571 yards on 118 carries./MICHELE THOMPSON PHOTO

WEST LINCOLN (5-1, 1-1) at NEWTON-CONOVER (4-2, 2-0), 7:30 p.m.

To stay in the thick of the South Fork 2A race – where more than one league loss may well eliminate a team from title contention – West Lincoln will need to do something it has rarely done in Gurley Stadium – win.

The Rebels are 1-11 at Newton-Conover with only one (48-19 in 2013) of their four wins in the series being played in Newton.

West Lincoln has beat Newton-Conover two of the last three seasons.

Last year: West Lincoln won 35-14 at West Lincoln when RB Canon Bridges, who returns, had season highs of 20 carries for 170 yards and a TD run … RB Xander Pendergrass, also back, ran five times for 86 yards and two TDs, one on a 67-yard run … RB Allen Wilfong, who returns, had a TD run and 58 yards on 14 carries for the Red Devils.

Did you know?: Newton-Conover is 24-3 against West Lincoln since 1981 … A win tonight would give West Lincoln is 14th year in school history with at least six wins … The Red Devils are 17-12 in their last 29 games.

Will says: West Lincoln wins

Myra says: West Lincoln wins

Hobbs says: West Lincoln wins

BANDYS (3-3, 0-2) at LINCOLNTON (2-4, 0-2), 7:30 p.m.

Bandys hopes to stop a three-game skid with a road victory over the Wolves, and without a victory or something positive to turn things around soon the Trojans could easily miss the state playoffs.

Bandys is not playing well of late and may be better on paper and by record than Lincolnton … but that doesn’t mean much in the South Fork 2A.

Last year: Bandys won 27-7 at home, getting 26 carries for 220 yards from RB Ethan Howard and a 4-yard TD run, his first of last season, by RB Joshua Williams (he’s back) … WR James Woods had seven catches for 92 yards for the Wolves.

Did you know?: Lincolnton has won six of 10 games against Bandys since 1980 and is 4-1 at home … Bandys’ only win at Lincolnton in that span was in 2003 … The Wolves are 10-21 in their last 31 gamew.

Will says: Bandys wins

Myra says: Lincolnton wins

Hobbs says: Bandys wins

LAKE NORMAN CHARTER (1-5, 0-2) at MAIDEN (4-2, 1-1), 7:30 p.m.

Maiden has beat the Knights handily in their only two other match-ups – 64-14 at Maiden in 2017 and 39-14 in Huntersville last season.

The Blue Devils need a win to have a reasonable chance to stay in contention for the conference title as they also give chase to their 24th consecutive bid into the state playoffs.

It will be interesting to see how Maiden rebounds after falling 28-27 at West Lincoln and missing a shot at being 2-0 in the league and sharing the early lead in the title chase.

Last year: Maiden won 39-14 on the road, sparked by returning WR Dylan Abernethy’s our catches for 109 yards and TD catches of 56 and 31 yards… Caleb McDaniel added two scoring runs and threw a TD pass and QB Bain Sipe, back but playing another position, threw for 241 yards … QB Jeff Womack threw for two scores for Lake Norman Charter.

Did you know?: Maiden is 31-11 since former WR Will Byrne took over as head coach four years ago … Maiden has outscored Lake Norman Charter 103-28 in their two previous battles.

Will says: Maiden wins

Myra says: Maiden wins

Hobbs says: Maiden wins

NORTHWESTERN FOOTHILLS 2A

DRAUGHN (5-2, 3-0) at

BUNKER HILL (2-4, 1-1), 7:30 p.m.

An exciting time for Draughn football continues in Claremont tonight as the Wildcats go for their sixth straight win, best in school history.

FRIDAY’S BROADCAST: Draughn at Bunker Hill, 7:30 p.m.

The Wildcats have gone from a team looking to make everything fit in the first two games to hitting on all cylinders with QB Braxton Cox probably playing his way to Northwestern Foothills 2A Player of the Year.

Bunker Hill is improved from a year ago and is coming off a field goal in the final seconds that netted a win at Foard.

Draughn has the momentum but don’t be stunned to see the Bears give the Wildcats a battle and maybe even end that five-game win streak if their secondary can withstand what Cox can do (he had 395 passing yards, 442 in total offense) when Bunker Hill won 37-20 last season at Draughn.

Last year: Bunker Hill won 37-20 on the road with returnee Desmond Anderson running for three scores, and passing for two; he had 15 rushes for 50 yards and threw for 101 yards … RB Adrian Powell had season highs of 17 carries for 130 yards for the Bears… Cox’s TD passes include one to WR Nick Chrisco and was Chrisco’s only scoring reception a year ago.

Did you know?: Draughn was 5-28 in the previous three seasons and with a win tonight can get to the second-most wins in school history … The 2011 Wildcats team went 9-4 … Bunker Hill has had five straight losing seasons … Draughn has won two straight trips to The Hill and leads the series 4-2.

Will says: Draughn wins

Myra says: Draughn wins

Hobbs says: Draughn wins

EAST BURKE (2-4, 1-1) at

PATTON (1-5, 0-2), 7:30 p.m.

These Burke County rivals have played 10 times and they’ve each won five times. But Patton has won the last two in the series at its place, three straight overall and four of the last six.

All three of the key players in Patton’s 22-point win in Icard last year return – RB Josh Moore for the Cavs and QB Weston Fleming and RB Bryce Ratliff for the Panthers.

Last year: Patton won 29-7 on the road with returning QB Weston Fleming rushing nine times for 87 yards and two TDs and returning RB Bryson Ratliff adding six carries for 84 yards and two TD runs …. Fleming broke a run 75 yards for a TD and Ratliff broke a run of 55 for a score …. Moore had a 10-yard TD run and 26 carries for 161 yards for the Cavs.

Did you know?: In the previous nine seasons, East Burke has had a winning season only once … Patton is chasing its fifth straight postseason bid … Patton beat East Burke 20-18 at Patton in 2016 and 63-0 at Patton in 2017.

Will says: East Burke wins

Myra says: East Burke wins

Hobbs says: East Burke wins

FRED T. FOARD (1-6, 1-2) at

HIBRITEN (5-1, 2-0), 7:30 p.m.

Hibriten goes for its fifth straight win and 10th in the last 11 games in the series while trying to stay in contention for the conference title.

The Panthers have won six straight on their field over the Tigers, who have not won in Lenoir since 2005.

Hibriten is 49-3 in its last 52 games and Foard is 16-16 in its last 32.

This will be Game No. 99 for Ryan Gettys as head coach for the Tigers in two tenures.

Last year: Hibriten won 53-14 in Newton beind RB Gee Witherspoon, who ran nine times for 121 yards and for scores on runs of 17, 38, 7 and 32 yards … RB Corey Siemer, who returns, led Foard with 27 carries for 116 yards and TD runs of 7 and 2 yards.

Did you know?: Foard has not won at Hibriten since 20005 (22-13) … With a win, the Panthers woulc reach at least six wins in each of the last 13 seasons.

Will says: Hibriten wins

Myra says: Hibriten wins

Hobbs says: Hibriten wins

WEST CALDWELL (0-6, 0-2) at

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

In a battle of Warriors, those from West Caldwell are still vying to get Mike Biggerstaff the first victory of his second tenure as head coach.

West Caldwell needs a win to avoid the fifth winless varsity football season in school history.

West Iredell has some of the league’s top skill position players in RB Emmanuel Long and QB Eli Kitchens.

Last year: Did not play as West Caldwell was in the Northwestern 3A-4A and West Iredell was in the Northwestern Foothills 2A… West Caldwell moved from class 3A to 2A after asking the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) for a change due to declining enrollment.

Did you know?: West Iredell is 13-16 in its last 29 games and has not posted a winning record since going 6-5 in 2011.

Will says: West Iredell wins

Myra says: West Iredell wins

Hobbs says: West Iredell wins

NORTHWESTERN 3A-4A

HICKORY (2-5, 2-0) at

WATAUGA (6-1, 2-0), 7:30 p.m.

Anyone who would have placed a bet in August on 100-to-1 odds that Hickory would be playing for first place tonight would be rich.

Despite injuries to three different QBs and playing arguably one of the area’s toughest non-league schedules, the Red Tornadoes have gutted it out and beat McDowell and then surprised Freedom to get this shot at the conference lead.

HHS got starting QB Jason Martin back last week but he was re-injured and is out for the season.

Red Tornadoes RB Cody Young has played Young-like all season long and gives HHS a viable scoring threat.

The toughest part about playing Watauga is the Pioneers have so many different scorers/threats to deal with, primarily QB Anderson Castle and RB Jaiden Bond.

Watauga should be heavily favored … but that was the thought last Friday when Freedom came to Barger Stadium and HHS won 23-22.

Last year: Watauga won 43-23 on the road when RB Bryce Satterfield, out for the rest of the season because of an injury, ran 26 times for 172 yards… Bond ran 12 times for a season-high 246 yards and for TDs on runs of 365, 19 and 54 yards … Young, who returns, had 20 carries for 172 yards and a TD run and QB Bryce Stober threw for 177 yards and hit WR Jaylen Harper nine times for 104 yards.

Did you know?: If Watauga wins, it reaches at least seven wins for the seventh straight season … Since going 8-5 in 2012, the Red Tornadoes are 23-52 … Hickory’s last win in Boone was 45-27 in 2013.

Will says: Watauga wins

Myra says: Watauga wins

Hobbs says: Watauga wins

ALEXANDER CENTRAL (4-2, 0-1) at

FREEDOM (4-3, 1-1), 7:30 p.m.

A very interesting matchup – always is – but the timing is interesting as well after the Cougars got spanked at home 42-10 by Watauga last Friday and the Patriots were stung 23-22 by Hickory at Hickory.

They’ve played 28 times since 1985 and Freedom has won 23 times, including four of the last five and 15 of the last 17 in the series.

QB Jayden Birchfield left the HHS game with an injury, and the Patriots aren’t the same team without him in the lineup.

Alexander Central has gone 1-13 in Morganton — winning there in 2017 – and must win there tonight if it wants to realistically have a chance at a conference title.

Last year: Freedom won 38-6 in Taylorsville as WR Desmond Caldwell had season highs of nine catches for 225 yardws, scoring on receptions of 85 and 67 yards … Birchfield had a TD run, three TD passes, two conversion runs and a conversion pass and threw for 328 yards… One of the TD passes was to returning WR Demorian Burgess …. RB A.J. Miller ran for 93 yards on 11 carries for the Cougars.

Did you know?: Alexander Central is a win away from having six or more for the 27th time in 42 seasons … Freedom has won at least five games in each of the previous 10 seasons … This is Game No. 20 for Luke Little as the Patriots’ head coach (13-6 record) …. Four of the Cougars’ win in the series have been in Taylorsville (1985, 1993, 1995 and 2007).

Will says: Alexander Central wins

Myra says: Alexander Central wins

Hobbs says: Alexander Central wins

SOUTH CALDWELL (3-3, 0-1) at

McDOWELL (1-5, 0-2), 7:30 p.m.

As the only two 4A schools in the league, this game pretty much decides who gets into the state 4A playoff bracket.

FRIDAY’S BROADCAST: South Caldwell at McDowell, 7:30 p.m.

South Caldwell, batting injuries, has had two weeks go get ready for this game. The Spartans have won their last four trips to Marion after having lost six straight at McDowell before that.

The Spartans head to Marion having gone 9-31 in their last 40 games.

The Titans appear to be headed to their seventh straight losing record and to a losing mark for the 17th of the last 18 seasons.

Last year: McDowell won 48-28 in Hudson when RB J.C. Olivo ran for 150 yards on 28 carries and ran for four TDs and QB Adam Randolph went 11for-13 for 300 yards … WRs Andruw Randolph (5-146) and Dakota Effler (4-103) also had big games for the Titans … Avery Raynor and Isaiah Kirby, both of whom return, had TD catches for the Spartans.

Did you know?: McDowell’s last winning season was in 2012 (8-4)… South Caldwell is 8-17 against the Titans since 1980 and 4-6 in Marion since the 1982 season with wins there in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2017.

Will says: South Caldwell wins

Myra says: South Caldwell wins

Hobbs says: South Caldwell wins

OTHERS

ST. STEPHENS (3-3) at

NORTH IREDELL (0-6), 7:30 p.m.

The Indians play a non-conference game against a winless Raiders team in Olin tonight.

St. Stephens’ running game has been developing well – Zak McLauchlin and Matthew Hancock each had more than 100 yards last Friday in a home win over McDowell – and the Indians have been able to throw the ball all season.

A win would match last season’s win total for St. Stephens and help get the Indians in position to make a run at only their second winning record in 11 seasons (they were 7-6 in 2015).

Last year: Did not play and have not played since 2006 when St. Stephens won 55-20 in Hickory.

Did you know?: The Indians have split six games with the Red Raiders and they are 1-2 in Olin, winning 41-19 in 1997, losing there 43-26 in 1999 and also falling there 19-12 in 2005.

Will says: St. Stephens wins

Myra says: St. Stephens wins

Hobbs says: St. Stephens wins

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