By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
2019 SCHEDULE
(all games at 7:30 p.m.)
Aug. 23—Bandys (E)
Aug. 30—at Bunker Hill
Sept. 13—at Maiden
Sept. 20—Fred T. Foard
Sept. 27—at FREEDOM
Oct. 4—McDOWELL
Oct. 11—at N. Iredell
Oct. 18—WATAUGA
Oct. 25—at ALEXANDER CENTRAL
Nov. 1—S. CALDWELL
Nov. 8—HICKORY
ST. STEPHENS INDIANS
HICKS
Conference: Northwestern 3A-4A
Head coach: Wayne Hicks (23-45, 6 years; 23-45 at St. Stephens, 6 years)
Last season’s records: 4-7 overall; 3-4 Northwestern 3A-4A, tied for fourth place
Last season’s results: at Bandys, L 28-42; Bunker Hill, W 44-6; Maiden, L 13-21; at Fred T. Foard, L 22-38; FREEDOM, L 0-49; at McDOWELL, W 40-36; W. CALDWELL, W 55-7; at WATAUGA, L 7-49; ALEXANDER CENTRAL, L 13-28; at S. CALDWELL, L 28-44; at HICKORY, W 28-21
SCHOOL FOOTBALL HISTORY
Last season in state playoffs: 2015, 3A
Last state playoff victory: 2015, d. Canton Pisgah 14-13, first round
All-time state playoff bids: 10
Conference titles(or shares) since 1980, last: None
BY THE NUMBERS
OVERALL
Returning starters: 9
Returning lettermen: 14
OFFENSE
Set: Multiple Wing-T
Returning starters: 6
Leading returning rusher: Matthew Hancock, 5-10, 202, Sr. (56-323, 2 TDs)
Leading returning passer: Connor Williams, 6-4, 182, Jr. (86-175-13, 1,120 yards, 10 TDs)
Leading returning receiver: Zach Lee, 6-4, 178, Sr. (58-940, 9 TDs)
Players to watch: C.J. Impagliazzo, OG, 5-11, 225, Sr.; Blake Holsclaw, C, 6-5, 300, Sr.; Justin Beltran, OG, 5-8, 190, Sr.; Hayden Kerley, WR-P, 6-3, 173, Sr.; Ryan Campbell, OT, 6-0, 265, Sr.; DeSean Milsaps, TE, 6-3, 225, Sr.
Top newcomers: None
DEFENSE
Set: Multiple 4-3
Returning starters: 3
Players to watch: Gabe Thomas, ILB, 6-2, 182, Sr.; Garrett Bolling, S, 6-0, 150, Sr.; Zak McLauchlin, CB, 5-7, 151, Jr.; Hayden Kerley, LB, 6-3, 173, Sr.; DeSean Millsaps, LB-DL, 6-1, 225, Sr.
Top newcomers: None