The Hoke County volleyball team suffered its first losing streak of the year after a 9-1 start, while football and soccer also had mixed results. Here’s a look back and a look forward at Bucks sports.
Football
The Bucks fell at home on Friday night, losing to Fayetteville’ Seventh-First, 21-0. It’s the second straight year that Hoke has been shut out by the Falcons.
Hoke quarterback Brandon Saunders was 14-of-28 passing for 172 yards. Junior Jordan Mitchell had seven catches for 51 yards, while junior Darius Breeden had two for 70. Breeden also had 20 yards rushing and 19 on kick returns. A third junior, Chad Royster, added 4 catches for 48 yards.
The Bucks defense was led by senior Darrien Frazier and junior Josh Ferrell, who each recorded double-digit tackle totals. Senior Jalyn Wills had two tackles for loss in the game.
The Bucks are now 1-3 on the season and will open conference play on the road this week, traveling to Scotland for a 7:30 Friday kickoff. The Scots are also 1-3 on the year and coming off a loss to Jack Britt last Friday. Hoke also fell to Jack Britt in the season opener.
Boys’ soccer
The Bucks’ soccer team split a pair of 2-1 decisions last week. Hoke County fell to Lee County at home by that score, then the next day, traveled to Pine Forest to get a road win out of conference.
Junior Pedro Ramos-Alejandro got assists in both games. He helped on a score by Jose Vazquez de la Cruz for the only goal in the Lee County game. Then, he and Mando Zuniga both had assists as Carson Hewitt and Duglas Mejia provided the scoring offense in the Pine Forest win.
The Bucks are now 7-3-1, 1-1 in the Sandhills. They play a pair of conference foes this week. First Hoke has Southern Lee at home on Wednesday, then travels to Union Pines next Tuesday as it end a stretch with just one game in 10 days.
Volleyball
So, this is a losing streak. For the first time this season, Hoke County lost back-to-back games as they fell on the road to Union Pines last week, then dropped a home match to Pinecrest. Union Pines got a 3-0 victory, while Pinecrest took a 3-1 decision. The losses drop the Bucks to 9-3 on the year, 3-3 in the Sandhills Conference.
This week, the Bucks have three chances to get on track, with a non-conference game at South View on Wednesday, followed by a home league match with Scotland the following day. Then, Hoke plays next Monday and Tuesday, Hoke hosts Seventh-First out of conference, then heads to Lee County for a Sandhills clash.
