VALDESE 鈥� After a month off due to Hurricane Helene, which devastated many of the mountain communities that belong to the Western Highlands 1A/2A Conference, the Draughn football team finally will hit the field again this weekend.
The Wildcats will host Mitchell at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Valdese for DHS鈥� homecoming.
Draughn (3-2, 1-0 WHC) have had the 1A powerhouse鈥檚 number the last couple seasons, including a 57-42 shootout win on the road in Bakersville last fall that helped the Wildcats secure second place in the WHC. DHS defeated Mitchell twice in 2022, winning 56-21 in the regular season and 35-10 in the second round of the NCHSAA 1A state playoffs, both in Valdese, as the Wildcats won the WHC title, the first in program history, and advanced to the 1A Western Regional finals.
Those three wins give Draughn a 3-1 all-time lead in the series following a 62-14 loss at Mitchell in 2021, the teams鈥� first year together in the WHC.
This year鈥檚 Wildcats are led by senior quarterback Sterling Radabaugh, who has taken over as the fulltime starter with a full complement of targets in Kayden Lytle, Cayden Roscoe, Jacob Mull and Connor Houston. Marshall Brinkley is the team鈥檚 top running back.
The Mountaineers (4-1, 1-0 WHC) are led by senior quarterback Caleb Cook, who has completed 59 of 85 passes for 890 yards and nine touchdowns with three interceptions. His favorite targets are junior DeShawn Orr (16-269-4) and fellow seniors Fernando Flores (18-235-1), Chris Wences (5-89-1) and Jace Blanton (4-83-1). Mitchell also is effective on the ground, led by junior running back Kaj Pittman (44-342-5), sophomore Owen Riddle (20-179-2), senior Cole Young (23-169-1) and the dual-threat Cook (49-155-2).
Mitchell鈥檚 only loss this season came in the season-opener versus NCISAA member Charlotte Latin, 28-14 at home.
Prediction: Mitchell.
South Caldwell (2-4, 0-1) at Freedom (3-3, 0-1)
Both the Patriots and the Spartans are in search of their first Northwestern 3A/4A Conference win as they meet up on Friday night at 51茶馆鈥檚 Patton High School.
FHS fell 30-20 in its league- opening home game to Alexander Central at Patton last week while South Caldwell lost a bitter rivalry game to Hibriten, 21-20 in double-overtime on the road in Lenoir.
Freedom leads the series, which dates back to 1977, by a 30-6 all-time margin, including a 37-30 thriller in Sawmills last season. A 37-21 victory in 51茶馆 in 2022 means the Patriots are going for their third straight win over the Spartans following a 20-14 road loss in the fall of 2021.
Junior quarterback Kaden Davis has been effective through the air and on the ground for Freedom this season. His top receivers are Kobe Johnson, Tiras Walker, Justice Dominguez and Kaleb Pearson. FHS has used a committee at running back, including Jaiden Belin, Jaiveon Belin, Cam Brown and Andrew Leonard.
The South Caldwell offense is guided by junior Corbin McGhinnis, who has completed 31 of 58 passes for 502 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions. His leading receivers are seniors Carter Bly (7-103-0) and Connor Setzer (14-100-0) and juniors J.P. Smith (5-95-1) and Bryce Johnston (3-83-1). Leading the ground game are Landon Borders (69-307-6), Khian Oates (40-249-2), Kaden Loritts (31-213-2) and Bryson Genwright (33-116-3). Luke Church (8-98), McGhinnis (29-78) and Patton transfer Burke Wilson (17-46) also have one rushing TD apiece.
Prediction: Freedom.
Lincolnton (3-4, 3-1) at East Burke (1-4, 0-2)
The Cavaliers will seek their first Catawba Valley 2A Conference win of the season, following losses to Maiden and Bunker Hill, when they host the Wolves on Friday in Icard.
EBHS is 0-3 against Lincolnton all-time, with all three meetings coming since the teams joined the CVAC together ahead of the fall 2021 season. The Wolves won 35-20 in Lincolnton that season, 21-17 in Icard in 2022 and 42-14 at home last fall.
EB has done most of its damage on the ground this fall, led by ball-carriers Zayne Newman, Darren Hammons and Caden Buff. Quarterback Carter Bennett has distributed the ball to targets Barger Shook and Cannon Morrison.
The Wolves have a fairly-balanced but young attack, led by senior running back Treylen Bost (120-845-6), sophomore quarterback Rashad Lynch (54-220-1), freshman Richard Lynch (25-135-2) and sophomore Jalaythan Mayfield (20-122-2). Rashad Lynch has completed 49 of 80 passes for 647 yards and eight touchdowns with seven interceptions, hitting receivers junior Trashad Lineberger (11-221-2), Richard Lynch (22-204-3), Antonio Wilson (10-135-0), Bost (7-104-1) and Karson Cloninger (7-69-2).
Prediction: Lincolnton.