The biggest JV game of the year is now upon us. I don't want to diminish the importance of the final four games on the JV schedule (especially the big one up at Hibriten in two weeks) but tomorrow night's clash at Frank Barger Stadium between our Tornadoes and the Red Devils is basically for all the marbles.Newton-Conover is breathing down Hickory's neck in the CVAC race with a 4-1 overall record and a 3-1 mark in CVAC action. Newton's only loss was on September 11th when St. Stephens pulled off a 32-29 upset. That was one week before Hickory beat the Indians, 28-17.
Newton's offense is explosive and is led by sophomore running back Octavius Harden. Some of Harden's highlights this season include monster performances against East Burke in a 28-6 win, Maiden in a 52-20 win and Patton in a 49-24 win.
In the season opener against East Burke Harden rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries (16 yards per carry). He also scored on an 85-yard kickoff return and a 71-yard pass play.
Harden was equally spectacular against Maiden. He had five carries for 188 yards and three touchdowns. That's 37.6 yards per carry. Just as he did against East Burke, Harden added a long touchdown reception (56 yards) and kickoff return (65 yards), to make five touchdowns on the evening. He finished the game with 320 all-purpose yards.
After racking up 130 rushing yards and a touchdown against Fred T. Foard in a 27-22 victory, Harden had another explosion last week against Patton. This time he rushed for 295 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries (29.5 yards per carry). The touchdown runs were of 90, 52 and 49 yards, respectively. He also caught a 61-yard touchdown pass. He finished the game with 364 all-purpose yards.
In addition to Harden the Red Devils rely on the skills of sophomore quarterback Adonis Hewitt. It was Hewitt who scored on an option keeper in the final minute of the game to clinch the victory over Foard. Another backfield stalwart is running back Jamal Coates.
Rising up to stop the Harden Express will be Hickory's outstanding defensive unit. Hickory has more speed on defense than any team Newton has faced this season. The Tornado headhunters are aggressive and adept at swarming to the football.
Hickory has its own arsenal of offensive weapons. Freshman tailback Casey Stinson got his high school career started with a bang when he rushed for 104 yards on 10 carries in the opener against Alexander Central. He followed that up the next week with 154 yards on just five carries (30.8 yards per carry). After five games he has 520 yards on 52 carries (10 yards per carry) and three touchdowns. In last week's victory over Fred T. Foard, Stinson showed off his pass catching skills with three receptions for 43 yards. He also rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown.
Sophomore tailback T.J. Wimbush has come on strong the past couple of weeks after freshman Quai Linebarger was injured against Maiden. Wimbush burned Maiden for 129 yards rushing and three touchdowns on just six carries. Last week against Foard he gained 163 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Fellow sophomore Tyree Rhinehardt is yet another scoring threat. Last week Rhinehardt had only one carry but turned it into a 30-yard touchdown run.
The Red Tornadoes utilize two quarterbacks, both of whom are freshmen. The passing game was important last week against Foard. Michael Helms went 3-5-0 for 76 yards and two touchdowns in the win. He also completed a 2-point conversion pass to Stinson. Kyle Johnson was 2-3-0 for 27 yards in the passing department. He also scored a touchdown on a one-yard keeper.
If Hickory goes to the air tomorrow night the most likely targets will be sophomores Ciani Vega and Steven Davenport, freshman Jordan Walls-Davis (all wide receivers), sophomore tight end Michael Payne, and Casey Stinson coming out of the backfield. Vega and Davenport both caught touchdown passes last Thursday against Foard.
Last year's Hickory-Newton JV game at Gurley Stadium was a barnburner. If you don't normally attend the JV games you don't know what you're missing! You don't want to miss this one, believe me.
GO HICKORY!
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