Two dominant backs in Jaheem Jenkins and Shannon Wingate are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Hickory Red Tornadoes will look to defend their home field on Friday against the Maiden Blue Devils at 7:30 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Hickory barely beat North Lincoln the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Red Tornadoes simply couldn't be stopped on Friday as they easily beat the Knights 49-6. The win was nothing new for the Red Tornadoes as they're now sitting on five straight.
Hickory's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Maddox McRee led the charge by rushing for 34 yards and one TD, while also throwing for 93 yards and one touchdown on only eight passes.
Special teams also deserves some recognition, posting 12 points in total. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Dorrian Medley, who ran a punt back for a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Maiden's rock-solid defense showed up for the team's third consecutive shutout on Friday. They took their matchup with ease, bagging a 47-0 victory over Foard. The Blue Devils haven't had any issues with the Tigers recently, as the game was their seventh consecutive win against them.
Hickory better keep an eye on Grant Lawing. He was instrumental in Maiden's win, throwing for 149 yards and a pair of TDs on only 12 passes.
Maiden's defense made their presence known, laying out the QB five times. Shannon Blake refused to say out of the backfield, picking up 1.5 sacks all by himself. Another thorn in Foard's side was Jeremiah Khang, who picked up a sack and made 12 total tackles.
Hickory's victory bumped their record up to 5-1. As for Maiden, their win bumped their record up to an identical 5-1.
Friday's contest might be decided on the ground. Hickory has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 179 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Maiden struggles in that department as they've been averaging 159.2 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other football content.
