2022 High School Football – Catawba Valley 2A and Western Foothills 3A conferences

By Richard Walker

Last year was a banner year for Lincoln County high school football as all four county teams made the playoffs in the same year for only the third in history.

Two of them won in the postseason and all four enter the 2022 season with cautious optimism about title hopes in their respective conferences.

In the Catawba Valley 2A Conference, where Maiden is the overwhelming favorite, West Lincoln and Lincolnton are considered strong playoff candidates after finishing third and fourth in the league, respectively, last season.

In the Western Foothills 3A Conference, East Lincoln is considered a title contender with defending champion Statesville and Hickory with North Lincoln a strong playoff contender. Last season, North Lincoln finished second and East Lincoln fourth in the league.

Here is a look at the Lincoln County teams:

Lincolnton
Coach: David Byrd (2nd year, 4-7)
Coaching staff: Jaden Angle, Michael Budzinski, Chris Carrigan, Marty Holbrook, Marc Kiefer, Scott Cloninger, Kevin Surratt, Keith Oates, Jonathan Ingram, Jonathan Lane, Quinn Heavner, Tim Helms, Mack George, Andrew Myers
Returning starters: 16
Starters lost: 6
2021 record: 4-7, 4-3 (1st round playoffs)
Top returning players: QB Andre Bost, WR/DB Andrew Phelps, RB/SS Eian Stancil, RB/OLB Khamoni Heath, TE/MLB Easton Dellinger, LB Caden Smith, OL/DL Camden Wray, OL/DL Nate Wells, TE/DL Teaghan Strutt, WR/CB Anthony Odum, WR/DB Nehemiah Lynch, TE/LB Keondre Smith.
Top newcomers: OL/DL Thomas Heath, OL/DL Jaquan Williams, OL/DL Gevianta Walker, TE/DE Will Blackburn.
Season outlook: Lincolnton endured a fifth straight losing season for the first time in school history but closed strong with the school’s first playoff season since 2017. Byrd, former Lincolnton player who has been on the Wolves coaching staff for 21 years, has key returning skill players on both offense and defense.
All-time record: 642-391-39 (since 1921)
Schedule:
Aug. 19 South Point
Aug. 26 at North Lincoln
Sept. 2 East Lincoln
Sept. 9 OFF
Sept. 16 at BUNKER HILL
Sept. 23 NEWTON-CONOVER
Sept. 30 at BANDYS
Oct. 7 WEST CALDWELL
Oct. 14 at EAST BURKE
Oct. 21 at MAIDEN
Oct. 28 WEST LINCOLN

West Lincoln
Coach: Darren Ponder (4th year, 24-10)
Coaching staff: RB David Avery, QB John Henderson, OL Chuck Mallory, OL Austin May, SE Harry Huddleston, TE Jessie Hatcher, ILB Wayne Navey, OLB John Markley, DB Brad Newton, DL Jared Swafford
Returning starters: 11
Starters lost: 11
2021 record: 9-3, 5-2 (2nd round playoffs)
Top returning players: RB/OLB Mason Avery, QB Jordan Truesdale, DE/LB/OL Curtis Goins, OL/DL J.J. Ponder, OL Caleb Sain, SE/TE/LB Nathan Rye
Top newcomers: RB/DB Jalen Winnex, LB/WB Patrick Goins, DB/QB/SE Giddeon Allen
Season outlook: The Rebels’ dramatic program turnaround continued last seeason with the school’s third playoff win – all in the last three seasons – as West Lincoln finished third in the league. Running back Mason Avery rushed for 1,825 years and made 110 tackles to lead the team. He’ll be expected to have another big season.
All-time record: 240-392-5 (since 1962)
Schedule:
Aug. 19 at North Lincoln
Aug. 26 Cherryville
Sept. 2 Foard
Sept. 9 OFF
Sept. 16 BANDYS
Sept. 23 at MAIDEN
Sept. 30 BUNKER HILL
Oct. 7 NEWTON-CONOVER
Oct. 14 at WEST CALDWELL
Oct. 21 EAST BURKE
Oct. 28 at LINCOLNTON

East Lincoln
Coach: David Lubowicz (6th year, 33-23)
Coaching staff: David Brehm, Chris Matile, Ryan Goggio, Josh Robinson, Jay Roseboro, Josh Thompson, Matt Beam, Garrett Young, Neil Lunceford
Returning starters: 14
Starters lost: 8
2021 record: 8-4, 4-3 (2nd round playoffs)
Top returning players: LB Ben Cutter, WR/DB Keandre Walker, QB Tyler Mizzell, WR Markell Clark, OL/DL Blake Bradford, OL/DL Josh Gilbert, WR/DB Landon Glezen, WR/LB Parker Davis, LB Aiden Terrell
Top newcomers: OL/DL Christian Garcia, RB Chris Daley
Season outlook: With 14 returning starters, including Power 5 college commitments Walker (Virginia) and Cutter (West Virginia) offer optimism the Mustangs could win the school’s first league title since 2015. A key to success will be in developing an offensive line that can provide holes for East Lincoln’s talented skill players.
All-time record: 334-269-3 (since 1967)
Schedule:
Aug. 19 Hibriten
Aug. 26 Forestview
Sept. 2 at Lincolnton
Sept. 9 OFF
Sept. 16 HICKORY
Sept. 23 at STATESVILLE
Sept. 30 WEST IREDELL
Oct. 7 at FOARD
Oct. 14 at ST. STEPHENS
Oct. 21 at NORTH IREDELL
Oct. 28 NORTH LINCOLN

North Lincoln
Coach: Nick Bazzle (5th year, 34-12)
Coaching staff: Jake Walker, Lee Crawford, Alex Pedersen, Clayton Cribb, Paul Regan, Charlie Goss, Mark Ludwig, Mike Sullivan
Returning starters: 10
Starters lost: 12
2021 spring record: 8-3, 6-1 (2nd round playoffs)
Top returning players: QB Connor Carson, OL Bryson Esser, RB Cody Morse, TE/DE Dylan Nestor, WR Caden Ayers, RB/DB Tyler Donahue
Top newcomers: DE Hunter Huckleberry, RB/DB Manny Maynor, RB/LB Ryan Bassani
Season outlook: With 10 returning starters, the Knights have veterans returning in the backfield and another key returnee is K Liam Sutton. Gaining depth in the school’s rebuilt lines will determine the team’s success this season.
All-time record: 92-127 (since 2003)
Schedule:
Aug. 19 West Lincoln
Aug. 26 Lincolnton
Sept. 2 at Northwest Cabarrus
Sept. 9 OFF
Sept. 16 STATESVILLE
Sept. 23 at HICKORY
Sept. 30 NORTH IREDELL
Oct. 7 at ST. STEPHENS
Oct. 14 FOARD
Oct. 21 at WEST IREDELL
Oct. 28 at EAST LINCOLN