The 2025 North Carolina high school football season continues with a Burke County rivalry as the Freedom Patriots (Morganton, NC) visit the East Burke Cavaliers (Connelly Springs, NC) on Friday, September 5, 2025, at 7:30 PM. Freedom comes in red-hot with a 2-0 record, while East Burke looks to bounce back from a winless start.
Game Details
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Matchup: Freedom Patriots (NC) @ East Burke Cavaliers (NC)
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Date & Time: 9/5/2025 – 7:30 PM
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Location: East Burke High School, Connelly Springs, NC
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Live Coverage: Follow live scores on MaxPreps
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Freedom Patriots
The Patriots have dominated their first two outings, outscoring opponents by a combined 114-6 margin. Ranked #7,063 nationally and #204 in North Carolina, Freedom’s explosive offense is led by dual-threat QB Kaden Davis, who has been unstoppable in both the air and on the ground. Their defensive unit has also been lights out, giving up only a single touchdown across two games.
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2025 Record: 2-0
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National Rank: #7,063
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State Rank (NC): #204
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Class Rank: #34
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Key to Win: Keep the offense balanced and apply early pressure to bury East Burke quickly.
Main Squad:
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Kaden Davis – QB/RB (#1, 113 rushing yds & 188 passing yds per game)
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Kobe Johnson – WR (#3, 106 receiving yds per game)
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Zaydrian Hausley – LB (#15, 9 tackles per game)
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Alex Hernandez – DL (#74, sacks leader)
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Marcus Lee – OL/DL
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Elijah Carter – WR/DB
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Jamal Turner – RB
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Carter Miles – DB
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Mason Johnson – OL
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Darius Green – LB
East Burke Cavaliers
The Cavaliers are still searching for their first win of the 2025 campaign after a pair of tough defeats. Ranked #9,450 nationally and #295 in North Carolina, East Burke has struggled offensively, averaging just 9 points per game. To compete with Freedom, the Cavaliers must protect QB Carter Bennett and find stability in the run game behind Ossie Burkeen.
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2025 Record: 0-2
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National Rank: #9,450
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State Rank (NC): #295
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Class Rank: #39
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Key to Win: Control turnovers, establish the running game, and rely on the defense to slow down Freedom’s pace.
Main Squad:
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Carter Bennett – QB (#11, 82 passing yds per game)
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Ossie Burkeen – RB (#32, 81.5 rushing yds per game)
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Jesiah Rees – WR (#4, 27 receiving yds per game)
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Kendale Cook – LB (#3, 10 tackles per game)
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Alex Hernandez – DL (#74, 0.5 sacks per game)
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Jayden Miller – RB
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Isaiah Brown – DB
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Marcus Clark – WR/DB
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Cameron Allen – OL/DL
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Darius Wright – LB
Rankings & Records
| Team | National Rank | State Rank | Class Rank | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freedom | 7,063 | 204 (NC) | 34 | 2-0 |
| East Burke | 9,450 | 295 (NC) | 39 | 0-2 |
Abu Sayem is a sports enthusiast and writer who enjoys sharing stories about high school athletics. He is passionate about celebrating the teamwork, dedication, and spirit of young athletes.
