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Last season: Thomas Jefferson 7-4 (lost second round 1A state playoffs); Draughn 6-6 (lost second round 1A state playoffs)
Outlook: These teams’ first meeting was to have been in last fall’s season-opener, but it was one of many contests that fell by the wayside due to COVID-19. The squads went on to have similar seasons, with both dropping out in the second round of the NCHSAA 1A state playoffs. They were 2-0 against common opponents, as Avery County fell to Draughn 42-22 and to TJ 39-7 and Highland Tech lost to the Wildcats 69-34 and to the Gryphons 58-0. The difference in this one looks to be the fact TJ lost its top passer, top three rushers and top two receivers to graduation while DHS returns much more production to the fold.
Last meeting: East Burke 14, Patton 6 (2021); East Burke leads 7-6
Last season: East Burke 3-6; Patton 2-7
Outlook: Last year’s tightly contested game went the Cavaliers’ way thanks to a late special teams touchdown when a blocked Panthers field goal attempt was returned all the way. Other than that, there was little separation between the two squads in the offensive and defensive phases of the game. East Burke also played the teams’ only common opponent, Freedom, closer (14-13 loss) than the Panthers did (42-6 loss). But both teams have a number of fresh faces in important places this fall. EB is led by its big offensive and defensive lines while PHS will be counting on the senior duo of quarterback Randan Clarke and running back Trevor Smith to make lots of plays.
Last meeting: Crest 51, Freedom 48 (2019); Crest leads 12-8
Last season: Crest 10-3 (lost fourth round 3A state playoffs); Freedom 5-5 (lost first round 3A state playoffs)
Outlook: Like Draughn-Thomas Jefferson, the 2021 season-opening version of this game ended up canceled due to COVID. But the last time these teams played, down in Shelby in 2019, was an instant classic that featured a bunch of huge plays and lead changes. However, that was with a different coaching staff for the Patriots and (obviously) very different rosters for both teams. The Chargers and Patriots both return a good amount of offensive production from last fall, but those Crest players are returning off a conference championship and a fourth-round postseason trip while Freedom is coming off a mid-pack league finish and a first-round exit from the playoffs.
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Burke County’s four high school football teams have completed their preseason tests.
VALDESE — Rarely does a high school football team get to return the county’s leading passer and rusher from the season before, with neither of…
ICARD — The Draughn volleyball team opened the season Monday with a thriller of a win in five sets over county rival East Burke in a see-saw m…
The Patton volleyball team kept a number of long streaks going with a straight-sets victory over rival Freedom on the road late Tuesday, 25-23…
The Patton football team got a good look at real-speed conditions on Wednesday night as it hosted a preseason scrimmage versus Cherryville.
VALDESE — The Freedom boys soccer team moved past another county foe with a convincing nonconference road win late Wednesday.
Last year’s Freedom football team was a playoff squad — one two-point conversion away from making the second round — despite playing just four…
There’s no doubt about it, this is a special time of year for local sports fans.
ICARD — Last fall, senior running back Blane Fulbright accounted for more than 66% of the East Burke team’s offensive production and 17 of its…
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