Jordan Lockhart gallops to the end zoneCall it what you will. The City Championship. The All-American City Classic. The Battle for the Golden Helmet. The 51st battle for middle school supremacy in Hickory was fought out last night at Frank Barger Stadium and this time it was the Grandview Eagles who came out on top.
The 26-6 victory for the Eagles was extra sweet because it meant that they would clinch at least a share of the league championship. But when Maiden knocked off archrival Mill Creek last night it meant that Grandview (6-1) stood alone at the top. After last week's games Grandview had been part of a 3-way tie at the top with Northview (6-2) and Mill Creek (5-2).
It's appropriate that Halloween is this week because it's downright scary that Hickory's middle school programs are beginning to dominate a league in which they used to be also-rans. The fact that both of Hickory's middle school programs have won the county championship outright in back-to-back seasons is a scary prospect for our local rivals.
Looking at the combined group of eighth graders from both schools one can see a bright future for the future Red Tornadoes at all positions but particularly in the trenches. Kyree Connor, JaSean Abernathy, Tyler Early and Montavious Mayfield of Grandview and Devontae Burch, Will McCarrick, Hunter Jones and Nathan Gibbs have the size, athleticism and aggressive tendencies that make good high school linemen.
The top skill position eighth graders from both schools include Jalen Thompson, Raheim Connelly, Zach Jarrett, Darius Malbon and Nick Guarino of Northview; Noah Kelly, Daniel Davis, Craig Ruff, Shaquille Smith, Jordan Lockhart and Tony Nguyen of Grandview.
Congratulations to Coach Todd Teague of Grandview and Coach Mike Mackie of Northview for all your hardwork. I also want to mention that both men have good staffs of assistants. The Grandview assistant coaches are Neil Lortz, Chris Smithey and Chris Hopper. Northview's assistants are JuJu Phillips, Sean Carson and Richard "Big Cat" Parker. All these guys do an outstanding job of developing Hickory's young talent and preparing them for Red Tornado football.
The biggest winner of all in the City Championship was the Hickory High football program. Believe that!
Eagles and Hawks for now, Red Tornadoes of the future
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