Fall 2021 CVAC Football Preview

Northwestern Foothills 2A Standings (spring 2021)

Hibriten                    6-0

Bunker Hill             6-1

Draughn                    5-2

East Burke              4-3

West Caldwell        3-4

Foard                      1-5

Patton                     1-6

West Iredell            1-6

South Fork 2A Standings (spring 2021)

Maiden                    6-0

East Lincoln            4-2

West Lincoln           4-2

North Lincoln         3-3

Newton-Conover    2-4

Bandys                    1-5

Lincolnton               1-5

LN Charter              0-6

Key Returners

RUSHING

Blane Fulbright (EB) 202-1202, 10 TD

Kaden Robinson (BH) 72-410, 10 TD

Dawson Langley (EB) 61-373, 4 TD

Carter Crump (EB) 63-332, 5 TD

Chadz Stevenson (BH) 51-312, 4 TD

Mason Avery (WL) 49-279, 3 TD

Parker DeHart (B) 36-247

Cameron Beaver (WC) 46-192, 4 TD

Nolan Jones (B) 17-182

Deandre Smith (L) 12-142, 2 TD

PASSING

Ethan Rhodes (M) 104/182, 1653 yards, 14 TD

Carson Elder (BH) 112/164, 1289 yards, 15 TD

Jaylen Patterson (WC) 61/121, 902 yards, 8 TD

RECEIVING

Chris Culliver (M) 37-646, 4 TD

Zane Redmond (N-C) 24-274

Mason Avery (WL) 11-218, TD

Makyis Dula (WC) 13-205, 2 TD

Mason Anthony (WC) 12-175, 3 TD

Week by Week Schedule

Week One (8/20)

East Burke @ Patton

St Stephens @ Bandys

Stuart Cramer @ Bunker Hill

Lincolnton @ South Point

Foard @ Maiden

Newton-Conover @ Polk County

West Caldwell @ South Caldwell

North Lincoln @ West Lincoln

Week Two (8/27)

Freedom @ East Burke

Bandys @ Foard

Bunker Hill @ St Stephens

North Lincoln @ Lincolnton

Watauga @ Maiden

Newton-Conover @ West Iredell

West Caldwell @ R-S Central

West Lincoln @ Cherryville

Week Three (9/3)

East Burke @ Draughn

North Iredell @ Bunker Hill

Lincolnton @ East Lincoln

Maiden @ St Stephens

Hickory @ Newton-Conover

Hibriten @ West Caldwell

Foard @ West Lincoln

Bye: Bandys

Week Four (9/10)

Bandys @ South Caldwell

Bye: East Burke, Bunker Hill, Lincolnton, Maiden, Newton-Conover, West Caldwell, West Lincoln

Week Five (9/17)

Maiden @ East Burke

West Lincoln @ Bandys

Bunker Hill @ Lincolnton

Newton-Conover @ West Caldwell

Week Six (9/24)

East Burke @ Bandys

West Caldwell @ Bunker Hill

Lincolnton @ Newton-Conover

Maiden @ West Lincoln

Week Seven (10/1)

Newton-Conover @ East Burke

Bandys @ Lincolnton

West Lincoln @ Bunker Hill

West Caldwell @ Maiden

Week Eight (10/8)

Bunker Hill @ East Burke

Bandys @ Maiden

Lincolnton @ West Caldwell

West Lincoln @ Newton-Conover

Week Nine (10/15)

East Burke @ Lincolnton

Newton-Conover @ Bandys

Maiden @ Bunker Hill

West Caldwell @ West Lincoln

Week Ten (10/22)

West Lincoln @ East Burke

Bandys @ West Caldwell

Bunker Hill @ Newton-Conover

Maiden @ Lincolnton

Week Eleven (10/29)

East Burke @ West Caldwell

Bunker Hill @ Bandys

Lincolnton @ West Lincoln

Newton-Conover @ Maiden

Fall 2021 Western Highlands 1A/2A Football Preview

Northwestern Foothills 2A Standings (spring 2021)

Hibriten                    6-0

Bunker Hill             6-1

Draughn                5-2

East Burke              4-3

West Caldwell        3-4

Foard                      1-5

Patton                     1-6

West Iredell            1-6

Western Highlands 1A/2A Standings (spring 2021)

Mitchell                     3-0

Polk County              3-0

Mountain Heritage    2-1

Owen                        2-3

Avery County           1-3

Madison                    0-4

Smoky Mountain 1A Standings (spring 2021)

Robbinsville               6-0

Murphy                      5-1

Andrews                    4-2

Cherokee                   2-4

Hayesville                 2-4

Swain County           2-4

Rosman                    0-6

Key Returners

RUSHING

Gabe Silvers (MH) 188-1225, 12 TD

Nigel Dula (D) 126-827, 8 TD

Ty Turbyfill (MI) 120-678, 11 TD

Chad Giarusso (AC) 97-671, 8 TD

Carter Hoyle (MI) 31-311, TD

Logan Huskins (MH) 35-249, TD

Jakob McCool (MH) 38-218, TD

Briggs Barker (O) 12-159, 2 TD

PASSING

Ty Turbyfill (MI) 52/92, 870 yards, 10 TD, 4 INT

Gabe Silvers (MH) 26/54, 422 yards, 11 TD, 3 INT

Eli Tillery (D) 23/40, 360 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT

RECEIVING

Jacob Price (O) 23-414, 5 TD

Beckett Nelson (D) 16-244, 5 TD

Zach Pinkerton (D) 14-211, TD

Elijah Pritchard (D) 10-136, TD

Chad Giarusso (AC) 13-108

(no stats available for Madison, Rosman)

Week by Week Schedule

Week One (8/20)

Draughn @ Thomas Jefferson

Cherryville @ Avery County

Tuscola @ Madison

Erwin @ Mitchell

Chase @ Mountain Heritage

East Henderson @ Rosman

Week Two (8/27)

Patton @ Draughn

Avery County @ Wilkes Central

Madison @ North Buncombe

McDowell @ Mitchell

Mountain Heritage @ Erwin

Chase @ Owen

Rosman @ North Henderson

Week Three (9/3)

East Burke @ Draughn

Avery County @ Hampton (TN)

Unicoi County (TN) @ Madison

Mitchell @ Watauga

Robbinsville @ Mountain Heritage

Enka @ Rosman

Week Four (9/10)

Draughn @ Highland Tech

McDowell @ Avery County

East Rutherford @ Madison

Mitchell @ Andrews

Mountain Heritage @ Hendersonville

North Henderson @ Owen

Rosman @ Cherokee

Week Five (9/17)

Owen @ Draughn

Avery County @ Rosman

Madison @ Mitchell

Bye: Mountain Heritage

Week Six (9/24)

Draughn @ Avery County

Mitchell @ Owen

Mountain Heritage @ Rosman

Bye: Madison

Week Seven (10/1)

Draughn @ Mitchell

Rosman @ Madison

Mountain Heritage vs Owen

Bye: Avery County

Week Eight (10/8)

Madison @ Draughn

Mountain Heritage @ Avery County

Rosman @ Owen

Bye: Mitchell

Week Nine (10/15)

Rosman @ Draughn

Avery County @ Madison

Mitchell @ Mountain Heritage

Owen @ West Henderson

Week Ten (10/22)

Owen @ Avery County

Mountain Heritage @ Madison

Mitchell @ Rosman

Bye: Draughn

Week Eleven (10/29)

Draughn @ Mountain Heritage

Avery County @ Mitchell

Madison @ Owen

Bye: Rosman

Post 21 sweeps Caldwell in home finale

Morganton- The Burke County Post 21 American Legion Fastpitch Softball team swept Caldwell Post 392 Monday by scores of 11-2 and 2-1.

Maddie Crouch started things for Post 21 (10-6) with a two-run single to spark a two-out second-inning rally scoring Cierra Lail and Maddison Powell.

Ashlyn Castle and Elle Tanner followed with batting in Katie Cozort and Crouch to build a 4-2 lead.

Post 21 then poured it on with seven third-inning runs scored by Bridget Patrick, Lail, Powell, Cozort, Crouch, Castle, and Tanner.

Game two was a bit of an offensive struggle for both teams forcing an extra inning after no runs could be scored in the five regulated innings.

Caldwell scored a run in the top of the sixth as Lail batted in the two winning runs for Burke off a single with Crouch and Tanner crossing the plate.

Tanner pitched game one tossing five strikeouts with Patrick (2K) starting game two.

The Area IV Playoffs are scheduled to start next Monday.

East Burke competes in FCA 7-on-7

Marion- The East Burke football team traveled to McDowell High School Monday to compete in a four-team 7 on 7 organized by Fellowship of Christian Athletes with Kings Mountain and Asheville Christian also present.

"For us, success in 7 on 7 is measured by how our guys competed, learning the system for the young guys, and growing from each game," said East Burke head football coach Derrick Minor, heading into his second season with the Cavaliers.

One of the highlights was falling to Kings Mountain by a 14-6 score as the Mountaineers are coming off an 8-1 season.

"It was a big encouragement for our guys, we still have work to do but it was a fun day playing against well-coached teams."

Minor also thanked Danny Wilkins, Tim Smith, Lance Shealy, and the FCA staff "for their work beyond the football field investing in the hearts of young men."

The Cavaliers are also scheduled to have 7 on 7s with Cherryville and Avery County.

Moore named Hickory Hawks middle school football coach

Hickory- 2020 East Burke graduate Josh Moore, the all-time career leader in rushing yards and touchdowns at EBHS, has decided to take a different avenue in his football career.

After graduating from EBHS last June in the middle of a COVID-19 pandemic, Moore played for the nearby Hickory Hawks in the upcoming fall season and was an assistant coach for Patton High School during the Covid season that started in February of this year.

After much guidance and prayer, Moore accepts a new role as the middle school head coach starting this fall for the Hickory Hawks.

"When I was growing up, coaching football is something I always wanted to do after playing football," said Moore, who finished his four-year Cavalier career with 3,433 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns.

Before playing for the Hickory Hawks, Moore did receive interest to play collegiately at Mars Hill University but didn't feel led to go that route.

Moore stated he had a couple injuries to set him back in his one season with the Hickory Hawks but appreciated the opportunity in playing for head coach Clifton Bennett.

It led him to Patton to join the coaching staff of first-year coach Mark Duncan joining former EBHS coaches Mark Buffamoyer, Lee Crawford, and Marc Demiter and PHS alums Chris Pettus and Cole Thomas.

After one season of coaching on the Panthers staff, Moore feels prepared to lead the Hawks with the coaching wisdom and guidance he received.

"Some may say I am too young to have my own team and calling the shots (but) these great men have taught me a lot through the years."

Moore also credited East Burke coaches Jim Childers, Matt Childers, and Fred Brown and Hickory Hawks coach Bennett for helping him learn to advance his coaching skills.

The Hickory Hawks play all their home games at Lenoir-Rhyne University.

20-21 Covid season in review

Top Games

• East Burke 3, West Caldwell 1 (Volleyball)

The Lady Cavaliers volleyball team won their season opener in a competitive four-set matchup led by seven kills from Aubree Grigg, ten digs and five aces from Kayleigh Icard, and 14 assists from Sara Suddreth.

Reese Abernathy (8 digs, 4 kills, 3 aces) was another strong contributor for the Lady Cavs.

• NWFAC cross country @ Patton

Reed Farrar set a new personal record of 17:39.72 leading the Wildcats boys cross country team to a second consecutive first-place finish as a team.

Farrar won four consecutive 5K races until his third-place finish at the NWFAC championship meet.

• Draughn 3, East Burke 0 (Volleyball)

The Lady Wildcat senior trio of Georgia Goulding, Chloe Gary, and Alexis Crump led the way in a home win over the arch-rival Lady Cavaliers.

• East Burke 72, Foard 32 (Boys Basketball)

Aasin Lor led the winning efforts for the Cavaliers scoring a career-high 21 points.

• Draughn 14, West Iredell 3 (Football)

On a Thursday night, the Wildcats opened the season with a home win after a scoreless first half.

Freshman running back Nigel Dula rushed for both second-half touchdown runs.

Zach Poteet and Holden Curry were leading defenders in the season-opening win.

• East Burke 18, West Caldwell 13 (Football)

The Derrick Minor era kicked off on a Saturday afternoon with a win.

Junior running back Blane Fulbright boosted the offense with 125 rushing yards and two touchdown runs.

Defensive efforts were spearheaded by Noah Rooks (4 sacks), Logan Johnson (INT), Austin Sellers, and Matthew Vue.

• East Burke 43, West Iredell 6 (football)

The Cavaliers set a 2A team record of 431 rushing yards led by Blane Fulbright's career-high 240 yards and two touchdowns followed by Carter Crump (97 yds, TD), Dawson Langley (65 yds, 2 TD), Jacob Dellinger (22 yds), and Dalton Teague (7 yds).

Crump also scored on a 74-yard interception return with Michael Magni recovering an onside kick as EB picked up their first win over West Iredell in four tries.

• Draughn 39, Patton 21 (football)

On a cold Saturday night along the banks of the majestic Catawba River, the Wildcats dominated play early to earn a win over county rival Patton.

The game opened with a Beckett Nelson 33-yard interception return followed by an Eli Tillery 29-yard pass to Zach Pinkerton and an 18-yard pass to Nelson and Omarion Conley scoring a two-yard touchdown run to build a 27-7 halftime lead.

Nigel Dula (9 yard TD run) and Nelson (36 yard reception from Desmond Hedrick) were second-half scores for the Wildcats, finishing with 332 total offensive yards.

• Draughn 19, Patton 10 (softball)

On Chloe Gary's senior night for the Lady Wildcats softball team, she was one of three batters to hit a home run - a fourth inning three-run shot.

Katie Cozort and Dakota Melacon were the other two home run hitters, each batting in two runs.

Draughn accounted for 21 hits in the win led by Gary (4 runs, 4 RBI), Melacon (3 RBI, 2 runs), and Regan Winkler (4 runs, 2 RBI).

• East Burke hosts first track meet in seven years

The East Burke track & field team hosted their first meet since 2014 on the brand new rubber surface constructed over the summer.

The Lady Cavs claimed first place outscoring Patton 63-52 behind first-place wins from Chloe Cook (800 run), Ambria White (shot put), Taylor Bostain (discus), and the 4x800 relay (Janie Ennis, Haylie Evans, Meah Walsh, Piper Strong).

Freshman KJ Byrd won three events for the Cavalier boys (high jump, pole vault, triple jump) and was the last leg of the winning 4x400 relay.

Byrd's pole vault mark of 14 feet broke a 40-year old school record.

Recent graduate Noah Rooks, now the school discus record holder, was another event winner sweeping the shot put and discus throw events.

• Honorable Mention

Jaxon Smith sets 200 freestyle in opening swim meet

Three Wildcats score in double figures in varsity boys basketball loss to Patton

Ian Cox 30-point effort in EB JV boys basketball loss to Bunker Hill

EB football defeats Patton on Homecoming night, honors memory of Robbie Putnam

EB softball gains close win over Patton

• Awards

Teams of Year:

Draughn Football (Nigel Dula, Eli Tillery, Beckett Nelson, Desmond Hedrick, Luke Rector, Zach Poteet) -Funded by Dr. Kevin Purcell on behalf of High Peak Baptist Church-

Draughn Softball (Katie Cozort, Dakota Melacon, Chloe Gary, Maddie Crouch, Regan Winkler, Katie Lail)

East Burke Football (Blane Fulbright, Dawson Langley, Carter Crump, Cash Norman, Michael Magni, Spencer Goins, Noah Rooks)

Athletes of Year:

Adam Manns Award (Draughn): Haley Lowman, Chloe Gary

-Lowman: award funded by Derek Reinhardt on behalf of East End Barber Shop-

Tyler Shatley Award (East Burke): Danielle Foxx

Black & Gold Award (Draughn): Jaxon Smith, Mason Coffey

Cavalier Pride Award (East Burke): Hayden Castle, Luke Elliott

Football:

MVP- Blane Fulbright (EB)

Offensive MVP- Nigel Dula (D)

Defensive MVP- Noah Rooks (EB)

Special Teams MVP- Manny Velasquez (D)

Lineman of Year- Nick Rhoney (D)

12th Man- Holden Curry (D), Devin Murray (EB)

                                                    

Basketball:

Scoring Champions/MVPs- Ella Abernathy (D), Aasin Lor (EB)

20-21 Draughn Athlete of Year (Adam Manns award): Chloe Gary

• Athlete of Week

#9 Volleyball (Fall 2019)

40 assists, 6 kills, 6 digs, 3 aces, 3 blocks vs East Burke

#30 Volleyball

5 aces, 2 kills vs Bunker Hill

#49 Softball

3 hits (double, HR) vs West Iredell

#51 Softball

4 RBI, 4 runs vs Bunker Hill

• Volleyball

NWFAC All-Conference

• Softball

NWFAC All-Conference (3x)

All-District (3x)

All-State (3x)

Five home runs (8 career)

• Favorite Memory

"Senior night for softball, the coaches and my teammates made it so memorable and it was so special. Also, my last trip around the bases"

• Favorite Sport

Volleyball

• Favorite Coach

Chris Cozort

• What you've learned in four years at DHS

"DHS is family and to make the most (of those four years) because these are memories that you will cherish forever"

• Coach's Quote

"Chloe is not only one of the most talented athletes I have coached but also one of the best teammates I have coached."

"I can't say enough good things about this young lady: she has stayed humble year after year of receiving recognition of her athletic achievements and continued to be a hard worker and great teammate. She has always led by example on and off the field."

-Chris Cozort

• Teammate's Quote 

"Chloe's a great person, she puts the team before herself and always has a positive attitude"

-Regan Winkler