Two dominant signal callers in Rylan Holley and Elan Lipford are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The R-S Central Hilltoppers will square off against the Hibriten Panthers at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
R-S Central is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They blew past Wilkes Central 48-6. The win continues a trend for the Hilltoppers in their matchups with the Eagles: they've now won three in a row.
R-S Central found their leader in sophomore CJ Sparks, who rushed for 80 yards and two scores on only ten carries.
R-S Central was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 263 rushing yards. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their rushing yard total in three consecutive matchups.
Meanwhile, Hibriten humbled West Caldwell with a 60-12 victory. The final result isn't all that surprising considering the Panthers' considerable advantage in MaxPreps' North Carolina football rankings (they are ranked 99th, while the Warriors are ranked 378th).
R-S Central better keep an eye on Dk Mitchell. He was instrumental in Hibriten's win, rushing for 153 yards and four touchdowns while picking up 9.6 yards per carry. Mitchell is on a roll when it comes to rushing touchdowns, as he's now punched in two or more in each of the last six games he's played. Ashton Woodruff was in the mix as well, providing Hibriten with one TD.
Hibriten didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. It was truly a group effort as Cam Sidden, Grady Beam, and Evan Hollie picked up one apiece. Hibriten received some extra help from Woodruff, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
R-S Central now has a winning record of 6-5. As for Hibriten, their record now sits at 9-1.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. R-S Central has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 236.5 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Hibriten struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 175.6 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground.
R-S Central lost to Hibriten on the road by a decisive 45-26 margin when the teams last played back in October. Can the Hilltoppers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
