HS Football (Spring 2021 Week One)

West Iredell @ Draughn (Thursday)

Series History: 2-1, W Iredell (4th meeting)

Last Meeting: Draughn 38, West Iredell 28 (2019)

Key Returners

Draughn: Beckett Nelson, Donnell Wilkins, Zach Poteet, Ryan Kaminske

West Iredell: Kareen Stevenson, Seth Hinson

Coach's Quote

"It is kind of weird to open the season against a conference opponent, but we are getting accustomed to the 'weirdness' of this season"

"Like us, West Iredell lost a lot to graduation, and it's tough to grasp a great understanding of what they want to do based off of one scrimmage. They have a good quarterback, who can throw the ball and is elusive if he gets outside the pocket. Their running back is big and strong. Defensively, they love to bring pressure so we have to be good at blitz pickups"

"Our goal Thursday night is to be who we are and do what we do. Our kids have had a great week of preparation and are itching to get on the field for what counts"

-Chris Powell

West Caldwell @ East Burke (TBA)

Series History: 17-12, E Burke (30th meeting)

Last Meeting: East Burke 35, West Caldwell 12 (2019)

Key Returners

East Burke: Blane Fulbright, Austin Sellers, Matthew Vue, Noah Rooks

West Caldwell: Makyis Dula, Faizon Dickson, Taiwan Perkins

Coach's Quote

"We are looking forward and thankful for the opportunity to play. With the threat of weather and quarantines, every day is a blessing to play this game. Our guys are learning from the scrimmage and ready to compete again against West Caldwell"

-Derrick Minor

NWFAC 2A Preseason Media Poll

Hibriten (9 1st place votes) 72

Bunker Hill 58

Draughn 41

West Iredell 39

East Burke 38

Patton 31

West Caldwell 24

Foard 21

Spring 2021 East Burke Football: Fear The Swords

When Derrick Minor was hired last February as the new East Burke football head coach, the future was uncertain when Covid struck a month later.

Minor still did the offseason preparations for the Cavaliers under the motto Restore The Swords with virtual summer workouts and then in-person skill sessions as approved by the NCHSAA and the Burke County School System.

"Restoration is always a new progress to make things improved," said Minor.

A year later, as the 2021 football season is ready to kickoff, Minor now introduces a new motto of Fear The Swords (Face Everything and Rise).

"Having a year with these guys to build this program has been an advantage and a blessing, we are now learning to transition into this football season and to face the adversities."

The Cavalier offense will have a bit of a hybrid model according to Minor in the Wing-T system as he plans to have a run-first philosophy.

"We can go with the gun and go under center, just try to run the clock and not have many three and outs to give our defense a break."

The Cavalier defense will be running either as a 4-4 or a 4-2-5 depending on if the opposing offense is a run-first or pass-first style of team.

The following are projected starters for the Cavaliers as presented by head football coach Derrick Minor

Quarterbacks: Blane Fulbright, Carter Crump, Dawson Langley, Ben Mast

Running Backs: Blane Fulbright (2019: 37-148), Carter Crump, Ben Mast, Cash Norman, Hayden Castle, Spencer Goins, Dalton Teague (fullback), Dawson Langley (fullback)

Wide Receivers: Austin Sellers (2019: 6-53, TD), Logan Johnson, Devin Murray

Tight Ends: Alan Barnes, Michael Magni

Offensive Line: Matthew Vue, Justin Jones, Matthew Smith, Garrett Hildebran, Noah Rooks, Jarred Shell, Zach Shotwell

Defensive Line: Elijah Hess (2019: 21 tackles, fumble recovery), Noah Rooks (2019: 57 tackles, four sacks, fumble recovery), Justin Jones, Shaheem Webb, Jacob Newton

Linebackers: Matthew Vue (2019: 31 tackles, sack), Landon Langley (2019: 71 tackles, fumble recovery, sack), Blane Fulbright (2019: 30 tackles), Michael Magni (2019: 39 tackles, 3 sacks), Dalton Teague, Cash Norman, Devin Murray, George Mackey

Defensive Backs: Austin Sellers (2019: 28 tackles, fumble recovery), Logan Johnson (safety) (2019: 52 tackles, fumble recovery, INT), Carter Crump, Hayden Castle, Spencer Goins (safety)

Special Teams: Alexis Hernandez (kicker), Alan Barnes (kicker), Dalton Teague (punter), Noah Rooks (punter/long snapper), Blane Fulbright (KR/PR), Spencer Goins (KR/PR), Cash Norman (KR/PR), Carter Crump (KR/PR)

Spring 2021 Draughn Football: Wildcats Clawing Ahead To the Future

The Draughn football team had one of the most historic seasons in history in 2019 finishing 7-5.

"We had a phenomenal season last year, way ahead of the curve as I thought we'd be at," said Draughn football coach Chris Powell, starting his third season at the helm of the Wildcats.

The mission for this season is to look forward as the Wildcats will play their last season in the Northwestern Foothills Athletic 2A Conference and also transition to playing as a 1A team in the fall 2021 season.

"The foundation (for the future) has been built and we are building onto that foundation."

Draughn will stay in the spread offense as it will be led under center by Freedom transfer Desmond Hedrick.

"The great thing about (the spread) is that it can be adjusted each game."

Defense will be set in the 4-3 and 4-2-5 models as Powell noted they are "blessed" with depth at all positions as long as everyone stays healthy.

A major returner for the Wildcats is kicker Ryan Kaminske setting school records in field goals last season.

The following are projected starters as presented by head coach Chris Powell

Quarterbacks: Desmond Hedrick, Elijah Tillery, Landon Cox, John Robert Abernathy

Running Backs: Omarion Conley (2019: 3-26, TD), Donnell Wilkins (2019: 5-15, 2 TD), Niguel Dula, Thomas Lambert, Tywan Nemorin

Wide Receivers: Beckett Nelson (2019: 15-183, TD), Holden Curry, Elijah Pritchard, Zach Pinkerton, Tywan Nemorin, Avien Parker, Connor Pinkerton

Tight Ends: Landon Cox, Kelton Mitchell

Offensive Line: Luke Rector, Josh Elkins, Zach Poteet, Will Seagle, Bryan Sanchez, Nick Rhoney, Trey Kincaid, Jaquez Yokley, Tristan Hines

Defensive Line: Donnell Wilkins (2019: 59 tackles, six sacks, two fumble recoveries), Trey Kincaid, Nick Rhoney, Bryan Sanchez, Luke Rector, Josh Elkins, Kelton Mitchell

Linebackers: Zach Poteet (2019: 98 tackles, two sacks, fumble recovery), Beckett Nelson (2019: 29 tackles, INT), Holden Curry, Thomas Lambert, Nikolai Martin, Will Price, Hampton Blackwell

Defensive Backs: Avien Parker, Zach Pinkerton, Riley Cooper, Tywan Nemorin, Elijah Pritchard, Landon Cox (free safety), Elijah Tillery (safety)

Special Teams: Ryan Kaminske (2019: 35/45 PATs, three field goals) (K/P), Manny Velasquez (K/P), Tino Hernandez (K/P), Desmond Hedrick (long snapper/KR/PR), Nigel Dula (KR/PR), Tywan Nemorin (KR/PR)

 

2/19 Burke County FCA Scoreboard

West Iredell @ East Burke basketball (Friday)

JV Girls: 23-19, EB (Ambria White: 10)

JV Boys: 49-25, EB (Caleb Hudson: 13)

V Girls: 64-41, EB (Maya Chrisco: 20)

V Boys: 70-62, EB (Christian Smith: 23)

Boys Basketball Top 5 scoring

Aasin Lor (EB) 14.2

Trey Ward (EB) 12.2

Luke Rector (D) 9.8

Marshall Byrd (D) 9.2

Elijah Tillery (D) 9.0

NWFAC 2A Boys standings

Patton 8-0

W Caldwell 7-2

Hibriten 5-3

B Hill 5-5

E Burke 3-3

Draughn 4-6

W Iredell 2-6

Foard 0-9

Girls Basketball Top 5 scoring

Ella Abernathy (D) 17.7

Haley Lowman (D) 12.3

Aubree Grigg (EB) 11.9

Shea Owens (D) 10.9

Aubrie Snyder (EB) 8.6

NWFAC 2A Girls Standings

B Hill 10-0

Patton 8-5

Foard 7-4

Draughn 6-4

Hibriten 6-7

W Iredell 3-7

E Burke 4-9

W Caldwell 0-8

2/15 Burke County FCA Scoreboard

 BASKETBALL

Varsity Girls

Patton 35, Draughn 32

Hibriten 42, East Burke 30

Varsity Boys

Draughn 59, Foard 55

2/12 Burke County FCA Scoreboard

NCHSAA 1A/2A Swimming State Championships

Girls 50 Freestyle: Georgia Goulding (D) T-7th (25.52)

Boys 100 Freestyle: Jaxon Smith (D) 6th (47.85) NEW SCHOOL RECORD

Boys 100 Backstroke: Jaxon Smith (D) 7th (54.38)

Girls 400 Freestyle Relay: Draughn (Georgia Goulding, Abby Wood, GiGi Smith, Rhyannon Reasoner) 10th (4:04.19)

BASKETBALL

Draughn @ West Iredell

V Girls: 66-54, Draughn

Draughn @ West Caldwell

JV Boys: 49-45, Draughn

V Boys: 70-35, W Caldwell

2/11 Burke County FCA Scoreboard

 BASKETBALL

Bunker Hill @ Draughn

JV Boys: 50-39 DHS

V Girls: 62-49 BHHS

V Boys: 79-75 DHS

East Burke @ Patton

JV Girls: 24-20 EBHS

V Girls: 51-38 PHS

BOYS SOCCER (Wednesday)

East Burke 2, Patton 2

Bunker Hill 9, Draughn 0

2/9 Burke County FCA Scoreboard

 BASKETBALL

JV Girls: East Burke 25, Draughn 14

Varsity Girls: Draughn 53, East Burke 45 (30th meeting, 26-4 E Burke)

Varsity Boys: Patton 87, Draughn 72 (33rd meeting, 22-11 Patton)

BOYS SOCCER

East Burke 6, Draughn 0

East Burke 2, West Iredell 1 (Monday)

Patton 3, Draughn 0 (Monday)

2021 East Burke Boys Basketball

Last Year's Record: 14-13, 9-5 NWFAC

Current Record: 2-2 NWFAC

Returners: Christian Smith, Aasin Lor, Trey Ward, Landon Yarborough, Van Kanzleiter, Perry Kiser

Key Newcomers: Logan Coffey, Jadon Cooke, Carter Crump, Christian Primm

Coach's Outlook:

"It's been frustrating to not get to play so many games but I'm proud of the guys for giving their efforts"

-Jerome Ramsey

2/4 Burke County FCA Scoreboard

 BASKETBALL

Varsity Girls

East Burke 60, Foard 57

EB 15 18 15 12

FTF 17 9 20 11

(49th meeting, 31-18 East Burke)

Maya Chrisco 16, Aubree Grigg 15, Aubrie Snyder 13, Moore 6, Cooke 5, Lawing 2, Huffman 1

JV Boys

East Burke 47, Foard 36 (Ian Cox 26, Caleb Hudson 13)

1A/2A Swimming West Regional Qualifiers

Boys 200 Medley Relay

Draughn

Girls 200 Freestyle

GiGi Smith (D)

Boys 200 IM

Landon Lennex (EB)

Jake Hudson (D)

Girls 50 Freestyle

GiGi Smith (D)

Georgia Goulding (D)

Girls 100 Butterfly

Georgia Goulding (D)

Girls 100 Freestyle

Abby Wood (D)

Boys 100 Freestyle

Jaxon Smith (D)

Girls 500 Freestyle

Rhyannon Reasoner (D)

Boys 500 Freestyle

Landon Lennex (EB)

Jake Hudson (D)

Girls 200 Freestyle Relay

Draughn

Boys 200 Freestyle Relay

Draughn

Girls 100 Backstroke

Rhyannon Reasoner (D)

Boys 100 Backstroke

Robbie Stringfield (EB)

Sean Owens (D)

Jaxon Smith (D)

Boys 100 Breaststroke

Trey Jensen (D)

Girls 400 Freestyle Relay

Draughn

Boys 400 Freestyle Relay

Draughn

East Burke