2022 Gaston County Conference middle school football preview

By Richard Walker

The 2022 Gaston County Conference Middle School football season begins on Wednesday with five games all across the county.

The county is again split into two divisions based on size of schools, with the larger schools of Cramerton, Grier, Holbrook, Mount Holly and Southwest in Division I and the smaller schools of Belmont, Bessemer City, Chavis, W.C. Friday, Stanley and York Chester in Division II.

Southwest won the 2021 title with a 16-8 victory over Belmont.

This year, in preseason coaches’ voting, Grier is the favorite to win Division I while Belmont is picked to repeat in Division II.

The full preseason coaches’ polls:

(Division I)
1. Grier
2. Holbrook
3. Southwest
4. Cramerton
5. Mount Holly
(Division II)
1. Belmont
2. York Cheseter
3. Stanley
4. W.C. Friday
5. Bessemer City
6. Chavis

Here’s a look at this year’s schedule:

Aug. 24 – Belmont at Southwest, Bessemer City at Holbrook, W.C. Friday at Cramerton, Stanley at Grier, York Chester at Mount Holly
Aug. 31 – Cramerton at Bessemer City, Grier at Belmont, Holbrook at Chavis, Mount Holly at W.C. Friday, Southwest at York Chester
Sept. 7 – Belmont at York Chester, Bessemer City at W.C. Friday, Grier at Southwest, Holbrook at Cramerton, Stanley at Chavis
Sept. 14 – Belmont at Stanley, Bessemer City at York Chester, Chavis at W.C. Friday, Cramerton at Grier, Southwest at Mount Holly
Sept. 21 – Bessemer City at Belmont, Cramerton at Southwest, W.C. Friday at Stanley, Holbrook at Mount Holly, York Chester at Chavis
Sept. 28 – Chavis at Bessemer City, W.C. Friday at Belmont, Grier at Holbrook, Mount Holly at Cramerton, York Chester at Stanley
Oct. 5 – Chavis at Belmont, Mount Holly at Grier, Southwest at Holbrook, Stanley at Bessemer City, York Chester at W.C. Friday
Oct. 12 – Conference championship game

Here’s a look at this year’s teams:

(Division I)
Cramerton Eagles
Head coach: Shawn Stamey (6th year)
Assistant coaches: Jimmy White, Joe Ceriello, Joe Devine
Returning starters: 4
Top returning players: RB Marcus Rhodes, QB Cooper McMillan, CB Jesse Ledford, DT Jordan Littlejohn, LB Hunter Early, TE Rex Champion, RB Kamarion Dye
Top newcomers: LB Ryan Payseur, NG Samarion Dawkins

Grier Knights
Head coach: Aaron Brown (1st year)
Assistant coaches: Alec Hudson, Darius Lindsay, David Warren
Returning starters: not listed
Top returning players: RB/LB Tiyan Marsh, WR/LB Tylik Griggs, WR/DB Zyir Sowell, WR/DB Juan Arias, OL/DL Qualan Lindsay
Top newcomers: QB Kaiden Blackwell, WR/DB Ladainian Robbs, RB/LB Braylon Vernon, WR/DB MyQuavis Lindsay, OL/DL Germaine Kent

Holbrook Lions
Head coach: Bryan Nichols (3rd year)
Assistant coaches: Alex Wallace, John Brown, Keith Fox, Tyler Bess
Returning starters: 6
Top returning players: RB/DB Savion Lindsay, QB A.J. McClain, OL/DL Jaiden Shuford, OL/DL Javien Lennon, WR/LB David Proulx, TE/LB Makylin Hinton, TE/LB Rylan Barber, WR/DB Quentrel Miller, RB/LB Jacob Busby
Top newcomers: WR/DB Dyson Britt, WR/DB Rodrick Brown, QB/RB Aiden Smith, RB/DB Tramel Bell, WR/DB E.J. Lindsay, WR/DB Jeric Guthrie-Barber, OL/DL Julius Roberts, OL/DL Dylan Garcia, OL/DL Brandon Medina, RB/LB Kaveuan Pless, TE/LB Braylan Clark, OL/DL Christian Meeks

Mount Holly Hawks
Head coach: Rick Bullock (1st year)
Assistant coaches: Raymen Grey, Landon Grey
Returning starters: 15
Top returning players: none listed
Top newcomers: none listed

Southwest Roadrunners
Head coach: Keith Rhodes (2nd year)
Assistant coaches: no information provided
Returning starters: no information provided
Top returning players: no information provided
Top newcomers: no information provided

(Division II)
Belmont Wildcats
Head coach: Carey Galbreath (1st year)
Assistant coaches: Chip Wilson, Mike Blee, Chris Stowe, Dakota Hood
Returning starters: 6
Top returning players: QB Cayden Rumph, RB Jeremiah Holt, OL Lane Lineberger, OL Wyatt VanHoose
Top newcomers: RB Carter Rowe, LB Dodge Moore

Bessemer City Tigers
Head coach: John Wilson (1st year)
Assistant coaches: no information provided
Returning starters: no information provided
Top returning players: no information provided
Top newcomers: no information provided

Chavis Wolverines
Head coach: no information provided
Assistant coaches: no information provided
Returning starters: no information provided
Top returning players: no information provided
Top newcomers: no information provided

W.C. Friday Cavaliers
Head coach: no information provided
Assistant coaches: no information provided
Returning starters: no information provided
Top returning players: no information provided
Top newcomers: no information provided

Stanley Blue Devils
Head coach: Casey Miller (1st year)
Assistant coach: Bryan Jennings
Returning starters: 6
Top returning players: RB Blake Wilkinson, C Jack Scholz, LB R.J. Rowe, WR Caleb Smith
Top newcomers: HB Christian Leavy, DT Tryce Turner

York Chester Cougars
Head coach: Jason Huffstetler (6th year)
Assistant coaches: Matt Florence, Jarrett Hill
Returning starters: 4
Top returning players: C Jayden Crawford, RB Quincy Fortenberry, LB Krishaun Williams, WR Emari Phillips, WR Omir McKinney, LB Elijah Littlejon, OL/DL Ajrien Johnson, DL Travis Gardin
Top newcomers: none listed