Football Game Preview: Crest Chargers vs. Hickory Red Tornadoes + How To Watch

The Crest Chargers will square off against the Hickory Red Tornadoes at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. Each of these teams will be fighting to keep a win streak alive as Crest comes in on four and Hickory on 12.

Crest is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They enjoyed a cozy 28-14 victory over South Point. The home team had taken home the W every time these teams have met since September 29, 2022, but that streak is no more.

Michael Edwards had an outrageously good game as he rushed for 93 yards and two scores. Another player making a difference was Jason Black, who gained 100 total yards and a touchdown.

Crest didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off four passes before the game was over. D'Various Surratt was the real danger to the passing game, picking up three interceptions all by himself. Crest got some further help from Surratt: he made eight total tackles (1.0 for loss) and snagged three interceptions.

Meanwhile, Hickory was not the first on the board on Friday, but they got there more often. They walked away with a 36-29 win over Jay M. Robinson. 36 seems to be a good number for the Red Tornadoes as the team scooped up a victory with the same number of points in their previous game.

Hickory's win came from a few key players Crest will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Jaheem Jenkins, who rushed for 154 yards and a pair of TDs. He is also on a roll when it comes to rushing touchdowns, as he's now punched in two or more in each of the last four games he's played. Rocket Brice was another key player, gaining 165 total yards.

Hickory's win bumped their record up to 12-1. As for Crest, their victory bumped their record up to 11-2.

Thursday's contest might be decided on the ground. Crest has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 163.1 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Hickory struggles in that department as they've been averaging 173.8 rushing yards. There's a good chance Thursday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.

Crest ended up a good deal behind Hickory in their previous matchup back in November of 2024, losing 63-48. Can the Chargers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.