Final tuneups
- PHOTOS BY JAMES LYNCH JR. AND PAUL SCHENKEL / THE PAPER
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Draughn JV football quarterback Preston Radabaugh, pictured, at No. 1, passes during the Wildcats’ Aug. 8 host scrimmage against Avery County. Also pictured, at Nos. 2, 3, and 4, Freedom head coach JK Adkins instructs a player during a drill, East Burke quarterbacks coach Chip Watts works through pre-snap cadence with a player, and a Patton player drops back to attempt a pass, all during the teams’ opening practices on July 29.
Draughn was the lone Burke County gridiron squad to stay at home for the preseason opener, as East Burke traveled to Ashe County on Aug. 7 before Patton’s host scrimmage with Wilkes Central was moved to Wilkesboro on Monday and Freedom's scrimmage against host Crest and Chase was rained out on Tuesday.
Each local team late Friday participated in the 16th annual Burke County Jamboree at Patton, with Freedom facing Wilkes Central, East Burke facing Owen, Draughn taking on Cherryville, and the host Panthers taking on Foard before each team opens the regular season on Aug. 21.
See next week’s edition for our complete 2026 Burke County high school football preview.
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