Senior quarterback Jayden Birchfield is the top returning passer in the Northwestern 3A-4A for 2019 and he averaged 278.1 yards of total offense per game a year ago.
By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
2019 SCHEDULE
(all games at 7:30 p.m.)
Aug. 23—Shelby
Aug. 30—at Draughn
Sept. 6—E. Burke
Sept. 13—at Patton
Sept. 20—at Crest
Sept. 27—ST. STEPHENS
Oct. 4—at HICKORY
Oct. 11—ALEXANDER CENTRAL
Oct. 18—at S. CALDWELL
Nov. 1—WATAUGA
Nov. 8—at McDOWELL
FREEDOM PATRIOTS
LITTLE
Conference: Northwestern 3A-4A
Head coach: Luke Little (96-59, 12 years; 9-3 at Freedom, 1 year)
Last season’s records: 9-3 overall; 6-1 Northwestern 3A-4A, second place
Last season’s results: at Shelby, L 21-31; Draughn, W 57-0; at E. Burke, W 55-13; Patton, W 49-6; at ST. STEPHENS, W 49-0; HICKORY, W 43-22; at ALEXANDER CENTRAL, W 38-6; S. CALDWELL, W 58-14; W. CALDWELL, W 54-0; at WATAUGA, L 16-35; McDOWELL, W 40-13. Playoffs: Monroe, L 20-43
SCHOOL FOOTBALL HISTORY
Last season in state playoffs: 2018, 3A
Last state playoff victory: 2015, d. Patton 55-18, first round
All-time state playoff bids: 25 (also qualified for 2011 but banned for exceeding season ejection limit)
Conference titles (or shares) since 1980, last: 9, 2015 South Mountain Athletic 2A-3A
BY THE NUMBERS
OVERALL
Returning starters: 7
Returning lettermen: 22
OFFENSE
Set: Spread
Returning starters: 7
Leading returning rusher: Jayden Birchfield, 6-2, 210, Sr. (80-516, 15 TDs)
Leading returning passer: Jayden Birchfield, 6-2, 210, Sr. (180-272-7, 2,821 yards, 27 TDs)
Leading returning receiver: Desmond Caldwell, 6-1, 180, Jr. (55-1,048, 13 TDs)
Players to watch: Dustin Lowery, OL, 6-3, 240, Sr.; Dorian Williams, OL, 6-0, 230, Sr.; Kevin Hover, OL, 6-0, 240, Sr.; Justin Taylor, OL, 6-2, 210, Sr.; Jacob Dembski, OL, 5-11, 250, Sr.; Titus Walker, WR, 6-1, 170, Sr.; Del Hedrick, WR, 6-0, 160, Jr.
Top newcomers: Chase Young, RB, 5-10, 190, Jr. (missed 2018 with ACL tear); Mekhi Spates, RB, 5-9, 185, Jr.
DEFENSE
Set: 4-3.
Returning starters: 6
Players to watch: DayDay Burgess, DB, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Daniel Dula, DB, 5-10, 190, Jr.; Cam Silvers, LB, 5-10, 205, Jr.; Day Day Rhody, DL, 5-11, 230, Sr.; Noah English, DE, 5-11, 210 Sr.; Jayden Birchfield, DB, 6-2, 210, Sr.; Kevin Hover, DE, 6-0, 240, Sr.
Top newcomers: Chase Young, LB, 5-10, 190, Jr. (missed 2018 with ACL tear); Mekhi Spates, LB, 5-9, 185, Jr.