JV Cavs gain statement win

Morganton- The East Burke JV football team gained their first win of the fall 2021 season in statement fashion defeating long-standing county rival Freedom 24-6.

This is the first win for the JV Cavaliers (1-1) over the JV Patriots since dropping down from the 4A classification, in 2005 and 2006 to be exact.

Caden Buff led the rushing game with 160 rushing yards on 27 rushes and two touchdowns with also running in a two-point conversion.

Levi Coble (60 rushing, TD) and Asher Gebhard (32 rushing, 2 two-point conv) also ran the ball with might for the JV Cavaliers.

Defensive standouts included Gavon Franklin (6 tackles), Avery Fraley (5 tackles), Hayden Parker (4 tackles, fumble recovery), and Mason Robison (2 tackles, INT).

After a competitive opening contest with East Rutherford in the previous week, head coach Derrick Minor is proud of the progress early on heading into the CVAC conference opener at Maiden on September 17th.

"So proud of our JVs for bouncing back from a tough game vs ER and then to come out and control the game from start to finish."

"We have a ton of freshmen getting the valuable playing time that will help build our program for the future. Anytime you can get a win over a quality opponent like Freedom gives your kids confidence moving forward in the season."

"This is a really good group of kids, I'm just proud of their work on the field, in the classroom, and in the weightroom."

Foothills Power 5 (Fall 2021 Football #2)

#1 Maiden (2-0) Watauga 47-0 W

#2 Alexander Central (2-0) North Gaston 41-6 W

#3 Bunker Hill (2-0) St Stephens 42-0 W

#4 Bandys (2-0) Foard 49-6 W

#5 West Lincoln (2-0) Cherryville 27-7 W

Honorable Mention:

East Lincoln (2-0), Statesville (2-0), Freedom (1-0), North Lincoln (1-1)

8/26 Burke County FCA Scoreboard

VOLLEYBALL

Draughn d. Freedom

Patton 3, East Burke 0

JV FOOTBALL

East Rutherford 21, East Burke 16

Caden Buff 26-136 rushing, TD

Asher Gebhard 6-58 rushing, TD; 1/1 passing, 15 yards

Levi Coble 4-28 rushing

HS Football (Fall 2021 Week Two)

Mount Airy (1-0) @ Draughn (Saturday, 7:30)

First Meeting

Last Week: Mount Airy won over North Surry 43-0, Draughn Idle

Leading Performers

Mount Airy: Tyler Mason, Josh Penn

Draughn: Eli Tillery, Nigel Dula, Luke Rector

From The Coach

"Our guys were pretty down last week to get canceled last week, however, we understand that is a possibility each week. We are excited to get on the field and play Saturday"

"For us, we still have a lot of unknown. We have yet to have a contest with all of our guys, so we will be filling a lot of things out early."

-Chris Powell

Freedom @ East Burke (1-0)

Last Meeting: Freedom 56, East Burke 7 (2019); Freedom 28-18 (47th meeting)

Last Week: Freedom idle, East Burke defeated Patton 14-6

Leading Performers

Freedom: BG Hampton, Demarcus Lowrance

East Burke: Carter Crump, Luke Wilson, Spencer Goins

From The Coach

"We are looking to bounce back from a poor performance last week, we were lucky to walk out with a win so our offense is motivated to prove that last week was not who we are"

"We've had good practices this week and everyone is healthy. Honestly, we are just thankful to be playing again. With several teams in the state shutdown in quarantine, it lets you appreciate playing more.

"In-county rivalries are always a good time to get our fans out to cheer us on! It's youth league night so we hope to make our future Cavaliers proud!"

-Derrick Minor

Chasing Records

Nigel Dula (D career rushing yards) 10 to enter top 10

Eli Tillery (D career passing yards) 169 for 6th

Beckett Nelson (D career receiving yards) 15 for 6th

Blane Fulbright (EB career rushing yards) 309 for 7th

8/25 Burke County FCA Scoreboard

Boys Soccer

East Burke 0, Freedom 0

Eduardo Sanchez

8 saves

Patton 3, East Burke 1 (Monday)

Oswaldo Apadoca goal

Qwinton Hemphill assist

Eduardo Sanchez 6 saves

Marco Benitez 5 saves

Volleyball

Freedom 3, East Burke 1

F 23 25 25 25

EB 25 16 11 23

Aubree Grigg 9 kills, 2 blocks, ace, dig, assist

Jordan Newton 6 kills, 6 digs, 4 assists, 2 aces

Trysten Hare 3 blocks, 2 kills, ace, assist

Katherine Greene 5 kills, 5 digs

Caroline Pruitt 10 assists, 3 digs

Claire Cook 3 assists, dig

Gabby Wingate 2 kills, 2 digs

Roxy Taylor 2 kills, assist

Catherine Hammack 9 digs

Janiyah Reinhardt Phillips 2 digs

Reese Abernathy ace

Draughn volleyball splits with county rivals

Valdese- The Draughn volleyball team opened their second week of action at home in the fall 2021 season splitting with county rivals East Burke (3-0 win) and Patton (3-0 loss).

Madison Powell led the Lady Wildcats with eight kills Monday against the Lady Cavaliers, including three in the opening set of play.

Christon Carswell added a serving ace for Draughn leading to a 25-17 first set win.

Aubree Grigg, recording two of her five total blocks, a Reese Abernathy serving ace, and a Trysten Hare block built EB into early leads of 7-4 and 9-6 to start set two.

Multiple errors changed the momentum as Draughn pushed ahead to gain the lead and go on three point runs to finish out with a 25-19 triumph 

Sara Walker (2), Bella Williams, and Bailey Bryant each recorded a serving ace to lead the Lady Wildcats in a 25-15 third set win to finish the sweep of East Burke.

Vs Patton, the Lady Wildcats fell behind early as Powell (block, serving ace) and Carswell (block) battled for a lead change at 8-6.

There were four more ties until the visiting Lady Panthers captured a 17-12 lead and scored the next eight of 12 points to win the opening set 25-16.

Bryant, Emma Lewis, Ella Heavner, and Mattie Jensen battled for the Lady Wildcats in the second set to only fall 25-9.

Walker recorded a serving ace to begin the third set with a 2-0 advantage for Draughn until Patton scored seven consecutive points to run with the 25-6 game-ending victory.

The JV Lady Wildcats were victorious on both nights capturing a two-set win over Patton led by Helena Hatley, Speed Hatley, and Maddie Crouch.

The Lady Wildcats (2-2) have a rematch with Freedom on the road Thursday looking for a season sweep of the Lady Patriots after gaining a four-set home win last Friday.

The rematch with East Burke will come in Icard on October 11th.

Verse of the Day

"But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him"

-1 Corinthians 2:9 (NKJV)

Foothills Power 5 (Fall 2021 Football #1)

#1 Maiden (1-0) Foard 56-0 W

#2 Watauga (1-0) TC Roberson 33-0 W

#3 Alexander Central (1-0) Hickory 21-7 W

#4 Bunker Hill (1-0) Stuart Cramer 29-18 W

#5 Bandys (1-0) St Stephens 44-7 W

Honorable Mention

East Burke (1-0) Patton 14-6 W

East Lincoln (1-0) Hibriten 39-7 W

South Caldwell (1-0) West Caldwell 18-7 W

Statesville (1-0) Carson 41-30 W

West Lincoln (1-0) North Lincoln 14-7 W

 

8/19 Burke County FCA Scoreboard

Volleyball

Patton 3, Draughn 0 (Wednesday)

D 16 11 23

P 25 25 25

South Caldwell 3, East Burke 1 (Wednesday)

SC 25 22 25 25

EB 13 25 14 15

Patton 3, East Burke 0

P 25 25 25

EB 20 10 9

HS Football (Fall 2021 Week One)

East Burke @ Patton

Last Meeting: East Burke 37, Patton 6 (2021); E Burke, Patton tied 6-6 (13th meeting)

Leading Performers

East Burke: Blane Fulbright, Carter Crump, Michael Magni, Luke Wilson, Logan Johnson

Patton: Tay'Adrian Brawley, Randan Clarke, Quentin Rice, Skyler Phillips, Reid Pons

From The Coach

"Our guys are coming off a really positive scrimmage injury-free and ready to kick off the regular season"

"Patton is going to be well-coached and Coach (Mark) Duncan is doing a good job with his kids"

"We just have to be ready from the first snap offense, defense, and special teams will be tuned up this week"

"In county games can be a fun experience for everyone and we hope to have all of our Cavalier community come out and support our guys"

-Derrick Minor

Fall 2021 East Burke Football: Wild Bunch return to CVAC

After eight years, East Burke makes a return to the Catawba Valley Athletic Conference ready to make an impact.

"We are just going to compete each week, we are just going to play each week and not let the opponents' prestige affect us," said East Burke second-year head coach Derrick Minor.

The fall 2021 season will be the first full season for Minor after having a conference-only schedule last spring.

"It's one of those things we got to take one game at a time and enjoy the moment, hopefully, we won't have any issues (with Covid)."

The following are projected starters as presented by head coach Derrick Minor (w/ last season's stats)

Quarterbacks: Carter Crump, Ben Mast

Running Backs: Blane Fulbright (fullback), Jacob Dellinger (halfback), Spencer Goins (wing), KJ Byrd (wing)

Wide Receivers: Austin Sellers, Devin Murray, Corbin McNeil

Tight Ends: Alan Barnes

Offensive Line: Matthew Smith, Garrett Hildebran, Jarrod Shell, Colton Boyette (center), Hunter Mauldin

Defensive Line: Shaheem Webb, Chase Greer, Hunter Mauldin, Brady Bostain

Linebackers: Michael Magni, Zach Shotwell, Austin Sellers, Luke Wilson, Jacob Dellinger, Dawson Langley

Defensive Backs: Carter Crump, Ben Mast, KJ Byrd, Logan Johnson (safety), Spencer Goins (safety)

Special Teams: Alexis Hernandez (kicker), KJ Byrd (punter), Spencer Goins (long snapper)

Catawba Valley Athletic 2A Media Poll

#1 Maiden 63 pts (7 first-place votes)

#2 West Lincoln 48 pts (1)

#3 Newton-Conover 44 pts

#4 Bunker Hill 40 pts

#5 East Burke 34 pts

#6 Bandys 24 pts

#7 Lincolnton 19 pts

#8 West Caldwell 16 pts

Fall 2021 Draughn Football: Setting A Mark in 1A

A new era has begun for the Draughn football team embarking on setting their mark in the 1A classification.

"We got a tough draw as far as conferences go, but we don't run from the competition we embrace it," said Draughn fourth-year head coach Chris Powell.

It will also be their first full season in two years after the Covid-19 pandemic forced a seven-game conference schedule back in the spring of this year.

"We're excited to have a full season, our kids overcame a lot of adversity last spring and now have a short turnaround this fall. The kids have been busting their butts in the weight room and the 7 on 7s."

The following are projected starters as presented by head coach Chris Powell (with last season's stats)

Quarterbacks: Elijah Tillery (23/40, 360 yds, 4 TD, 3 INT), John Robert Abernathy

Running Backs: Nigel Dula (126-827, 7 TD), Donnell Wilkins, Thomas Lambert, Justice Cunningham, Hampton Blackwell

Wide Receivers: Beckett Nelson (16-244, 5 TD), Zach Pinkerton (14-225, TD), Holden Curry, Connor Pinkerton, Tywan Nemorian, Daylin Pritchard, Zaydin Pritchard, Riley Cooper, Will Price

Tight Ends: Elijah Pritchard (11-162, TD), Kelton Mitchell, Jacob Mull, Ty Pritchard

Offensive Line: Luke Rector (center/left tackle), Trey Kincaid (right tackle), Josh Elkins, Will Seagle, Bryan Sanchez, Tristan Hines, Nathan Clark, Chase Davis, Ryan Damron

Defensive Line: Donnell Wilkins (72 tackles, 4 TFL), Luke Rector (34 tackles, 4 TFL), Trey Kincaid, Bryan Sanchez, Josh Elkins, Kelton Mitchell (DE), Elijah Pritchard (DE), Jacob Mull (DE), Eric Gilleon (DE), Nathan Clark (DE), Zaydin Pritchard (DE)

Linebackers: Holden Curry (21 tackles, 2 TFL), Thomas Lambert (53 tackles, 5 TFL), Hampton Blackwell, Donnell Wilkins, Ty Matthews, Daylin Pritchard, Zaydin Pritchard, Nigel Dula, Justice Cunningham

Defensive Backs: Zach Pinkerton, Riley Cooper, Tywan Nemorian, Connor Pinkerton, Trevor Houston, Beckett Nelson (safety) (27 tackles, 4 TFL), Will Price (safety) (34 tackles, TFL), Elijah Tillery (safety)

Special Teams: Tywan Nemorian (KR), Nigel Dula (KR), Justice Cunningham (KR), Will Price (KR), John Robert Abernathy (K), Jacob Mull (LS), Daylin Pritchard (LS)

Western Highlands 1A/2A Media Poll

#1 Mountain Heritage 41 pts (5 1st place votes)

#2 Mitchell 36 pts (1)

#3 Draughn 28 pts

#4 Owen 23 pts

#5 Avery County 22 pts

#6 Madison County 11 pts

#7 Rosman 7 pts