By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
DRAUGHN SCHEDULE
(all games at 7:30 p.m.)
August
18—at W. Lincoln (E)
25—Freedom
September
1—at Brevard
8—at Cherryville
15—Avery County
22—at W. IREDELL
29—PATTON
October
6—at BUNKER HILL
13—HIBRITEN
20—at FRED T. FOARD
November
3—E. BURKE
LAMBERT
Conference: Northwestern Foothills 2A.
Head coach: Scott Lambert (25-44, two tenures, 6 years).
Last season’s records: 2-9 overall; 1-7 South Mountain Athletic 2A-3A, ninth place.
Last season’s results: W. Lincoln, W 27-14; at Freedom, L 6-49; Patton, L 7-24; CREST, L 0-27; at R-S CENTRAL, L 7-26; CHASE, L 14-28; at KINGS MOUNTAIN, L 0-38; E. BURKE, L 0-20; at E. RUTHERFORD, W 35-14; BURNS, L 0-31; at SHELBY, L 0-56.
SCHOOL FOOTBALL HISTORY
Last season in state playoffs: 2012, 2A.
Last state playoff victory: 2011, d. Madison 13-7, first round.
All-time state playoff bids: 2.
Conference titles since 1980: None.
BY THE NUMBERS
OVERALL
Returning starters: 8.
Returning lettermen: 16.
OFFENSE
Returning starters: 4.
Leading returning rusher: Christian Campbell (80-213, 4 TDs).
Leading returning passer: Christian Campbell (0-1-0, 0, no TDs).
Leading returning receiver: Christian Campbell (9-110, no TDs).
Other players to watch: Caleb Bias (Sr., RB); Will Copeland (Sr., WR); Matt Hamm (Sr., RB); Will Viggers (Sr., OL); Steven Lipford (Sr., RB); Derrick Monroe (Sr., OL); Tyler McKinney (Jr., RB).
DEFENSE
Returning starters: 4.
Players to watch: Griffin Martin (Jr., DL); Kimoni Epps (SR., DB).
OUTLOOK
The Wildcats have four returning starters on offense, but they’re going to need to step it up a bit after that unit averaged 8.7 points per game in a two-win season.
Campbell obviously is going to be a key player for Draughn, which does have three returning starters along the offensive front.
There are also four returning starters on defense for Lambert, who is in year No. 2 of his second tenure as head coach at Draughn. By the third year of his first tenure, the Wildcats had won nine games and posted the school’s only state football playoff win (2011 over Madison).
As the smallest school in the new league – 713 students was the enrollment figure used in statewide realignment (232 fewer than the next smallest, West Iredell) – the Wildcats could struggle again this season.
This is season No. 9 for varsity football at Draughn, which opened to reduce enrollment in the Eastern part of Burke County.