Junior Varsity makes it 60 in a row

Last Thursday night the rain did not let up. Neither did the Hickory High Junior Varsity as the Young Tornadoes pounded Maiden, 36-8, at Frank Barger Stadium.

Hickory's JV is now the only undefeated team in the CVAC. There is a big logjam of teams tied for second-place as we head into Week 7. Once again signs are pointing to Newton-Conover being the major threat to yet another conference title and, of course, The Streak. The Newton game will take place in the friendly confines of Frank Barger Stadium. The Young Tornadoes will have to face Hibriten in Lenoir, which can be a tricky place to win a ballgame. However, the Panthers have already lost a couple of games this season so that they may not be the threat they have been the last two seasons. But certainly they are not to be taken lightly.

The Hickory JV winning streak now stands at 60. The Red Tornadoes have also won 79 of the past 80 games going back to the 2000 season. That 2000 season was the last time Hickory JV did not win a conference championship.

In the first three victories this season the freshmen running back tandem of Casey Stinson and Quai Linebarger has simply and literally run roughshod over the competition. Stinson, for instance, racked up 379 yards and two touchdowns on only 31 carries (12.2 yards per carry, 126 per game). Linebarger was right behind him, with 345 yards and seven touchdowns on 47 carries (7.3 yards per carry, 115 per game). Linebarger in particular had a signature game against St. Stephens when he rushed for 209 yards and four touchdowns on 23 carries.

In last week's Maiden game, however, it was sophomore T.J. Wimbush's turn to shine, even in the downpour. Wimbush picked up 129 yards and three touchdowns on just six carries. In other words, half of his touches resulted in scores and he averaged 21.5 yards per carry. Quai Linebarger was on his way to a great night (3 carries for 33 yards and a TD) when he suffered an injury and had to leave the game. Stinson finished the night with seven carries for 44 yards. Two other Tornado backs, Shaquan Reid (3 carries for 19 yards) and Tyree Rhinehardt (3 carries for 26 yards), also had brief but productive moments running the ball.

How dominant is the Hickory JV right now? Even in pouring rain the Tornadoes had success throwing the ball against Maiden. With sophomore starter Nick Bush sidelined with a fractured collarbone the freshmen quarterbacks, Kyle Johnson and Michael Helms, have struggled with the passing attack. But last Friday night they each completed their only pass attempts. Johnson found Jordan Walls-Davis on a 38-yard pass that should have been a touchdown. The referee insisted that the receiver was down at the one. Hickory scored on the next play. Later it was Helms connecting with Ciani Vega on a 52-yard touchdown pass. Two passes by two different quarterbacks to two different receivers resulting in two completions for 90 yards and a touchdown. You know what I call that? Sweet.

For the record, both Johnson and Helms have completed passes on 2-point conversion attempts. Johnson hit Walls-Davis for a 2-pointer against Bandys and found Steven Davenport open in the end zone on a conversion pass against St. Stephens. Last Friday night Helms connected with tight end Michael Payne for two points.

But it's not just on offense that the Young Tornadoes have been impressive. I can't say enough about the defense. There a great deal of speed on the defensive side of the ball. But the best thing about the defensive unit is the hardnosed, aggressive attitude. It's clear that these players, and really the entire JV squad for that matter, just really enjoy playing the game of football and love to hit and make noise and represent.

Of course, they aren't the first JV squad to have success on the field, along with the swagger and boldness that comes with the territory. It's an unfortunate fact of life that sometimes, as players mature and move on to the varsity and get closer to graduation, the enthusiasm for the game dissipates. I really feel, however, that this 2008 JV has the right attitude and hunger for the game and that it will continue to grow when they move up to varsity.

I can't wait to see what happens next!