Hoke has all-conference players in volleyball and tennis, while the football team posted a homecoming win.
Football
Hoke County dropped a road game at Union Pines last Friday, falling to the Vikings, 28-6. It snapped a winning streak for the Bucks in the series, as Hoke had taken the win in each of the last three years.
Senior quarterback Brandon Saunders completed 25 of 43 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown pass to Tycen Vick. Wayne Claiborne was the leading receiver, with 7 catches for 69 yards, while Favor Anab led the way on the ground with 59 yards.
On defense, Franajai Ransom had two tackles for loss and recovered a fumble.
Hoke is now 2-7 on the year, 1-4 in the Sandhills. Next up is a home game against Pinecrest. This contest will wrap up the Bucks’ home schedule and serve as the team’s senior night. The Bucks will be looking to reverse recent history in this series. Hoke won in 2019, the only time in the last 10 years the Bucks have come out on top in the series. The Patriots are 7-1 this year, 3-1 in the conference, and are riding a three-game winning streak.
Boys’ soccer
The Hoke County boys suffered a pair of losses last week and are just 1-4 in their last five outings. The Bucks dropped their final regular season home game, against Union Pines, 2-0. A road trip to Pinecrest brought a 3-1 loss.
The Bucks bid farewell to their class of 2025 on senior night. Seniors on the team’s roster include co-captains Ismerlin Santos Eulogio and Jose Vazquez de la Cruz as well as striker Marconi Steele and defensemen Alex Tolentino, Iber de la Cruz, Mando Zuniga, David Hernandez, Jan Campos and Riley Sutherland.
Hoke is now 9-9-2, 3-7-1 in the Sandhills and plays their final regular season game this week, at Richmond. The Raiders won the first meeting between the teams this season, at Hoke, but at 4-13-2, they represent a chance for Hoke to head into the postseason on a winning note.
Volleyball
Hoke County won a home playoff game over Lee County just prior to last week’s issue, advancing to the second round of the Sandhills Conference tournament. The Bucks’ stay in the tourney lasted one more game, as Hoke lost at Pinecrest, 3-1.
Hoke heads to the NCHSAA playoffs with a 16-6 record, 7-5 in the Sandhills. The Bucks earned a No. 19 seed and opened with a road game at No. 14 Heritage. The Huskies are 17-6 on the year. The game took place Tuesday night, after press time.
Middle school volleyball
Sandy Grove Middle School earned a No. 4 seed in the SEMSAC Tournament and opened play with a win over No. 5 Spring Hill. Sandy Grove posted a 3-0 sweep, by scores of 25-12, 25-16 and 25-12. Next up is top seed Rockingham.
