Football Western Foothills 4A/5A - 2nd Round

Flyrod · 2026-11-07T05:56:59-0600

Conference Picks
Bunker Hill at Burns
Forest Hills at East Lincoln
Foard at Stuart Cramer
Hickory at Oak Grove
Maiden at Tuscola
North Lincoln at Monroe
West Stanly at West Iredell
Bandys

Newton Conover

Non-conference picks
East Burke at Hibriten
Mountain Heritage at Lincolnton
Foard at Stuart Cramer

Conference Standings
West Iredell (9-1), (7-1)
East Lincoln (9-1), (7-1)
Hickory (8-3), (6-2)
Bunker Hill (7-4), (4-4)
Maiden (6-5), (4-4)
Newton-Conover (4-7), (3-5)
North Lincoln (4-7), (2-6)
Bandys (3-8), (2-6)
Foard (3-8), (1-7)

Hibriten (10-0), (6-0)
Lincolnton (7-3), (5-3)
Stuart Cramer (8-2), (6-2)

Check for Accuracy.

beamer24 · 2026-11-07T06:04:51-0600

Burns
East Lincoln
Stuart Cramer
Hickory
Tuscola
Monroe
West Iredell
Hibriten
Lincolnton
Stuart Cramer

Maiden Creek · 2026-11-07T07:00:03-0600

Western Foothills pick ‘em ‘26
87 games

LawDog308 - 71
Beamer24 - 69
Oldburkeman - 69
Amaidendevil - 68
Maiden Creek - 68
Cheerduck - 67
Lincolnton - 65
AlwaysAWolf - 63
Sportsnut17 - 63
Mgore87 - 61

Maiden Creek · 2026-11-07T07:19:01-0600

Flyrod said:
Conference Picks
Bunker Hill at Burns
Forest Hills at East Lincoln
Foard at Stuart Cramer
Hickory at Oak Grove
Maiden at Tuscola
North Lincoln at Monroe
West Stanly at West Iredell
Bandys
Newton Conover

Non-conference picks
East Burke at Hibriten
Mountain Heritage at Lincolnton
Foard at Stuart Cramer

Conference Standings
West Iredell (9-1), (7-1)
East Lincoln (9-1), (7-1)
Hickory (8-3), (6-2)
Bunker Hill (7-4), (4-4)
Maiden (6-5), (4-4)
Newton-Conover (4-7), (3-5)
North Lincoln (4-7), (2-6)
Bandys (3-8), (2-6)
Foard (3-8), (1-7)

Hibriten (10-0), (6-0)
Lincolnton (7-3), (5-3)
Stuart Cramer (8-2), (6-2)

Check for Accuracy.

We should add East Burke to the pick ‘em next year. They have interesting games and make for tough picks too.

Old Burke Man would get a kick outta that!

Flyrod · 2026-11-07T07:40:47-0600

Will do. Well, if I can remember

oldburkeman · 2026-11-07T09:14:21-0600

Flyrod said:
Will do. Well, if I can remember

I'm tickled but its all good I dont care ha ha. East Burke not expected to be much next year but I really hope to be wrong. Will be losing either the top fastest player of all time or hes top 3 of all time in Joesiah and big big boy on D line and few other players with what appears to be a Draughn/Patton level JV team

oldburkeman · 2026-11-07T09:25:40-0600

Maiden Creek said:
We should add East Burke to the pick ‘em next year. They have interesting games and make for tough picks too.

Old Burke Man would get a kick outta that!

That'd be cool but I said to flyrod whats up no need to retype ha ha. Freedom might be the team to add for pickem's. They are well coached, pretty good, but not running big time tables like Watauga will be. Good to see Watauga go to playoffs with this rebuild team and even win their first one. Next year expect big things from Watauga, along with I do believe Newton, and maybe WI if QB gets some weapons around him but their defense is questionable. Watauga and Freedom be good ones to add I prob wouldn't add Watauga cause they wont even play anybody til playoffs

amaidendevil · 2026-11-07T12:11:35-0600

oldburkeman said:
That'd be cool but I said to flyrod whats up no need to retype ha ha. Freedom might be the team to add for pickem's. They are well coached, pretty good, but not running big time tables like Watauga will be. Good to see Watauga go to playoffs with this rebuild team and even win their first one. Next year expect big things from Watauga, along with I do believe Newton, and maybe WI if QB gets some weapons around him but their defense is questionable. Watauga and Freedom be good ones to add I prob wouldn't add Watauga cause they wont even play anybody til playoffs

Your giving Newton way too much credit for next year those kids are learning fast that they can't be maiden. And that will affect them mentally and probably some choices will be made on sticking around

Flyrod · 2026-11-07T12:41:12-0600

@amaidendevil you can't even get your nephew to leave. They ain't leaving wilson/bazzle

beamer24 · 2026-11-07T13:10:09-0600

Newton definitely underachieved.

amaidendevil · 2026-11-07T13:19:00-0600

Flyrod said:
@amaidendevil you can't even get your nephew to leave. They ain't leaving wilson/bazzle

My nephew's not the issue and he would come in a heartbeat. It's his parent I'm fighting it over. He gets his license soon I'm hoping to solve the issue then.

oldburkeman · 2026-11-07T13:29:43-0600

amaidendevil said:
Your giving Newton way too much credit for next year those kids are learning fast that they can't be maiden. And that will affect them mentally and probably some choices will be made on sticking around

I may have alittle but I dont expect them to be conf champions. I put em finishing 3rd I may lower em' down to 4-5 range. Expect 2nd or 3rd in 28'(if we are even here)

Maiden Creek · 2026-11-07T14:46:55-0600

Pretty sure Maiden has never played Tuscola. What a treat!

Waynesville…here we come.

Where we eating at?

Can’t wait!

amaidendevil · 2026-11-07T15:22:59-0600

Maiden Creek said:
Pretty sure Maiden has never played Tuscola. What a treat!

Waynesville…here we come.

Where we eating at?

Can’t wait!

I looked online everything looks a little too fancy and rich for our kind

oldburkeman · 2026-11-07T15:32:34-0600

I hadn't made my picks yet may do that tomm or sometime tonight but I got a good one for ya'll. A pick that does not count but what would you think and who would you go for in these 2?

Watauga vs Kings Mtn
Freedom vs Catholic

Maiden Creek · 2026-11-07T15:42:48-0600

oldburkeman said:
I hadn't made my picks yet may do that tomm or sometime tonight but I got a good one for ya'll. A pick that does not count but what would you think and who would you go for in these 2?

Watauga vs Kings Mtn
Freedom vs Catholic

Kings Mtn and Catholic.

Pulling for Watauga and Freedom though!

oldburkeman · 2026-11-07T15:44:08-0600

Maiden Creek said:
Kings Mtn and Catholic.

Pulling for Watauga and Freedom though!

Yeah me too. I think Freedom may have a chance. KM will be by 2 TD's or less if I had to guess

AthleticEnthusiast · 2026-11-07T16:17:24-0600

oldburkeman said:
That'd be cool but I said to flyrod whats up no need to retype ha ha. Freedom might be the team to add for pickem's. They are well coached, pretty good, but not running big time tables like Watauga will be. Good to see Watauga go to playoffs with this rebuild team and even win their first one. Next year expect big things from Watauga, along with I do believe Newton, and maybe WI if QB gets some weapons around him but their defense is questionable. Watauga and Freedom be good ones to add I prob wouldn't add Watauga cause they wont even play anybody til playoffs

Don't understand all your WI hate this year. Pretty sure they allowed the fewest points in the conference. And the offense put up numbers all year, especially with the QB. Feels like that week 1 result got you frustrated

notanyonesfan1 · 2026-11-07T16:47:48-0600

Maiden Creek said:
Pretty sure Maiden has never played Tuscola. What a treat!

Waynesville…here we come.

Where we eating at?

Can’t wait!

It's a neat little stadium up there at Tuscola. You'll love the experience

GrizzlyDevil · 2026-11-07T17:34:42-0600

It's gonna be chilly and I'll still be in shorts

beamer24 · 2026-11-07T17:37:21-0600

Thats 1 reason I didnt want to have to make that trip. Guaranteed about 10 degrees colder and worse wind chill this time of year.

Maiden Creek · 2026-11-07T18:14:43-0600

GrizzlyDevil said:
It's gonna be chilly and I'll still be in shorts

Golfing weather!…what you talking ‘bout?

Mack1023! · 2026-11-07T18:26:12-0600

oldburkeman said:
I'm tickled but its all good I dont care ha ha. East Burke not expected to be much next year but I really hope to be wrong. Will be losing either the top fastest player of all time or hes top 3 of all time in Joesiah and big big boy on D line and few other players with what appears to be a Draughn/Patton level JV team

EB returns 12-13 starters next year! 4 OL, qb, rb, 2 rec, just to name a few. 2 back up rb, backup qb! Josiah is fast, very fast but he is as small as he is fast and really isn’t an integral part of offense. They are not a slow team by any means. I’m an HHS Panther fan but have watched EB 3x this year. Coach is a steal,he’s innovative on offense, multiple sets, misdirection, 3 different guys were used at least once at qb( receiver, rb) and he has those guys believeing. We better not take them lightly!!!!

Mountaineermania · 2026-11-07T18:30:20-0600

Maiden Creek said:
Pretty sure Maiden has never played Tuscola. What a treat!

Waynesville…here we come.

Where we eating at?

Can’t wait!

Try the Haywood Smokehouse Ribs.

GrizzlyDevil · 2026-11-07T19:05:11-0600

Mountaineermania said:
Try the Haywood Smokehouse Ribs.

My only trip to Waynesville I ended up at boojum brewing. Excellent burger

CHEERDUCK · 2026-11-07T20:04:54-0600

Top three Red Fox, Bogarts, Sweet Onion. Get off exit 102. Thank me later as these came from a friend that is a longtime resident. Red Fox was their favorite of the three. @maidencreek

Lincolnton · 2026-11-07T20:51:43-0600

notanyonesfan1 said:
It's a neat little stadium up there at Tuscola. You'll love the experience

Looks pretty big for a high school stadium from photos I’ve seen; If they still play in C.E. Weatherby stadium.

Mountaineermania said:
Try the Haywood Smokehouse Ribs.

That’s a nice name, Haywood. Don’t you think?

notanyonesfan1 · 2026-11-07T20:59:19-0600

Lincolnton said:
Looks pretty big for a high school stadium from photos I’ve seen; If they still play in C.E. Weatherby stadium.

That’s a nice name, Haywood. Don’t you think?

The home side is huge, the away side not so much, unless it's changed since 2010. When Burns went there 16 years ago the away side was pretty small and right on top of the field. But the home side was crazy big. Obviously it very well may have changed since

Lincolnton · 2026-11-07T21:12:07-0600

Thanks NAF. kinda wish we were going there. We have Mountain Heritage at home, Friday. If we can get by them, the rest of our games will more than likely be road trips.

Freshmanposter01 · 2026-11-08T07:10:25-0600

beamer24 said:
Thats 1 reason I didnt want to have to make that trip. Guaranteed about 10 degrees colder and worse wind chill this time of year.

I just spent the past weekend in Murphy(hate they had a bye) looking at land to buy and the temps was actually warmer than my home in Gaston County. Looks like a crazy swing in temps in a weeks time.

oldburkeman · 2026-11-08T09:01:17-0600

Mack1023! said:
EB returns 12-13 starters next year! 4 OL, qb, rb, 2 rec, just to name a few. 2 back up rb, backup qb! Josiah is fast, very fast but he is as small as he is fast and really isn’t an integral part of offense. They are not a slow team by any means. I’m an HHS Panther fan but have watched EB 3x this year. Coach is a steal,he’s innovative on offense, multiple sets, misdirection, 3 different guys were used at least once at qb( receiver, rb) and he has those guys believeing. We better not take them lightly!!!!

This is were I picked up my theory on EB's next years outlook. Just a theory but you know how far that goes sometimes. Ive had some correct theories before and some not as good. I wasn't familar with all the linemen I know they'll have some decent ones but a kid at my church plays for them and tells me things maybe I misunderstood em. JV team struggled but not end of the world some low numbers on sidelines for subs(but thats alot of schools) but I never counted out some good guys that will be of help next year along with a good coach that I know and stand behind. I'm an open minded poster who enjoys correction and insight if I'm off or uninformed. Thats why I say alot of times that " I could be wrong" or "I hope I'm wrong"

Like alot of people were wrong me included on the WI Hickory EL games.

oldburkeman · 2026-11-08T09:26:21-0600

My picks here we go. Most will be around the same as anybody I'm sure

Burns
EL
SC-Foard drippling warmups
Hickory
Monroe- hope they stay injury free to make a good basketball run. Can the girls make another run, we'll see
Tuscola- bout a coin flip for me, its their home turf, great RB, they (Tcola)dont play against that much tallent, I'll go with this by 1 TD
WI

Hibriten- should be interesting for a half, expect EB giving it their all but I believe its by 14 at the least for the Hib boys
Lincolnton- be a good un'

oldburkeman · 2026-11-08T11:19:12-0600

AthleticEnthusiast said:
Don't understand all your WI hate this year. Pretty sure they allowed the fewest points in the conference. And the offense put up numbers all year, especially with the QB. Feels like that week 1 result got you frustrated

Never said or even suggested that I hated em'. If you've read some past comments i've praised em. I like seeing them succeed even if they are playing a team that Im pulling for. Got ancestry in the area and cousins that graduated from there and some attending that I dont know. What may have lead to what sounded like disrespect toward them well really none at all, was I gaged em off of what they appear to be losing to what replaces them on jv and compared to this team and that. Didnt realize their QB was just a jr til other day and I said oh man, thats changes some things. The defense talk, I go by Vik man thats watched em' closely and saying the defense looked to be a concern. Thats all it was, any misunderstandings I do apologize.

PisgahCatamount007 · 2026-11-08T12:40:24-0600

CHEERDUCK said:
Top three Red Fox, Bogarts, Sweet Onion. Get off exit 102. Thank me later as these came from a friend that is a longtime resident. Red Fox was their favorite of the three. @maidencreek

Solid choices... Tried Red Fox a couple of times and it's hit or miss. A lot of other people do like it though. For places in Waynesville or close to the game, my worthless 2 cents of recommendations as a Haywood lifer.

Pizza/Wings- Doughboys (My favorite spot, they also have about 50-60 beers or more if that's your thing)
BBQ- Haywood Smokehouse. No other BBQ in the area comes close.
Burgers/Hot Dogs- Church Street Depot.
Finer Dining- Sweet Onion, Singletree Heritage Kitchen.
Diner style food- Main Street Diner, Clydes Restaurant.
Mexican- Papas and Beer, Four Queens.
Good casual food and handhelds with a lot of variety on the menu and extensive drink menus as well- Boojum, Bogarts, or Pub 319.
Old school drive in food- Ammons Drive-In
Seafood- Sorry, you're not gonna find anything good in Haywood County.

CHEERDUCK · 2026-11-08T13:06:35-0600

Burns
East Lincoln
Stuart Cramer
Hickory
Tuscola
Monroe
West Iredell
Hibriten
Lincolnton

amaidendevil · 2026-11-08T13:35:38-0600

Way too early rumor. I hear Newton may be losing a varsity starter to possibly hickory next season

. Like I said way to early just whispers in the wind

Lincolnton · 2026-11-08T14:14:17-0600

amaidendevil said:
Way too early rumor. I hear Newton may be losing a varsity starter to possibly hickory next season . Like I said way to early just whispers in the wind

Here’s another rumor… I hear That Tuscola has asked for technical advice on security, after learning about how “e-n-t-h-u-s-i-a-s-t-i-c” certain Maiden fans are. So as an act of love and solidarity Newton has offered their finest tool. Remember him? He remembers you.

CHEERDUCK · 2026-11-08T14:26:03-0600

Lincolnton said:
Here’s another rumor… I hear That Tuscola has asked for technical advice on security, after learning about how “e-n-t-h-u-s-i-a-s-t-i-c” certain Maiden fans are. So as an act of love and solidarity Newton has offered their finest tool. Remember him? He remembers you.

View attachment 1523711

This post is golden. I will say from experience, do not be too disruptive at the stadium. There is a different culture in that world.

amaidendevil · 2026-11-08T16:45:17-0600

CHEERDUCK said:
This post is golden. I will say from experience, do not be too disruptive at the stadium. There is a different culture in that world.

I can grow a beard and look like a moonshiner

amaidendevil · 2026-11-08T16:46:24-0600

Speaking of.. someone needs to change a mascot or open a new school with a moonshiner mascot

Football Western Foothills 4A/5A - 2nd Round

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