2023 High School Football – Catawba Valley 2A and Western Foothills 3A conferences
WWW.CAROLINASSPORTSHUB.COM High School Football Previews
This is the schedule for 2023 preview story and team capsules:
Aug. 13 – Catawba Valley 2A, Western Foothills 3A conferences
Aug. 14 – Southern Piedmont 1A/2A Conference, Mountain Island Charter
Aug. 15 – Big South 3A Conference
2023 High School Football – Catawba Valley 2A and Western Foothills 3A conferences
By Richard Walker
Lincoln County crowned another state champion last season as East Lincoln went 16-0 and took the N.C. 3A title.
This season also saw Lincolnton advance to the second round of the N.C. 2A playoffs, West Lincoln enjoy one of its best seasons in history and North Lincoln finish with a 5-2 league record.
This season is expected to be another banner year for the county and also is the first season for new Lincolnton High head coach Jaden Angle, who is a 2012 graduate of Lincolnton.
As could be expected, East Lincoln will be the favorite to repeat as Western Foothills 3A Conference champion with North Lincoln considered a top contender and Lincolnton and West Lincoln to be contenders in the Catawba Valley 2A Conference along with Bunker Hill and defending champion Maiden.
Here is a look at the Lincoln County teams:
East Lincoln
Coach: David Lubowicz (7th year, 49-23)
Coaching staff: Chris Matile, Josh Robinson, Jay Roseboro, Robert Hill, Matt Beam, Garrett Young, David Brehm, Josh Thompson, Neil Lunceford, Preston Perry
Returning starters: 8
Starters lost: 13
2022 record: 16-0, 7-0 (N.C. 3A state champion)
Top returning players: DL/RB Marcel Johnson, RB Chris Daley, LB/H Hampton Good, WR/DB Jaylen Roseboro, WR Jackson Beam, WR Riley Shropshire, WR/DB Nate Stevens, OL Christian Garcia
Top newcomers: WR/DB L.J. Forney, WR/DB Braylin Smith, DL Tyberius Stevens, DL Jaylen Abernathy
Season outlook: The Mustangs lost 13 starters from their unbeaten title team, but 8 starters are back and among them are league defensive player of the year Johnson and 1,700-yard rusher Daley. Lubowicz and his staff are confident the team have another good season.
All-time record: 350-269-3 (since 1967)
Schedule:
Aug. 18 at Cramer
Aug. 25 at Forestview
Sept. 1 Lincolnton
Sept. 8 OFF
Sept. 15 at HICKORY
Sept. 22 STATESVILLE
Sept. 29 at WEST IREDELL
Oct. 6 FOARD
Oct. 13 ST. STEPHENS
Oct. 20 NORTH IREDELL
Oct. 27 at NORTH LINCOLN
Lincolnton
Coach: Jaden Angle (1st year)
Coaching staff: Defensive Coordinator- Michael Budzinski, Offensive Coordinator- Chris Pettus, JV head coach- Aaron Brown
Returning starters: 8
Starters lost: not listed
2022 record: 6-6, 4-3 (2nd round playoffs)
Top returning players: WR/FS Andrews Phelps, RB/LB Khamoni Heath, QB/CB/PR Andre Bost, LB/FB Peyton Rangel, OL/DL Geviaunta Walker, Slot/DB Nehemiah Lynch
Top newcomers: WR/CB Khalil Yarborough, Slot/RB Antonio Wilson, RB/S Treylen Bost, WR/DB Tygra Owens
Season outlook: After 5 straight losing seasons for the first time in school history, the Wolves advanced to the 2nd round of the state playoffs. Angle was elevated to head coach from defensive coordinator and will rely on returning all-conference performers Phelps, Heath, Andre Bost and Rangel to continue the program’s improvement.
All-time record: 632-439-41 (since 1921)
Schedule:
Aug. 18 South Point
Aug. 25 at North Lincoln
Sept. 1 at East Lincoln
Sept. 8 OFF
Sept. 15 BUNKER HILL
Sept. 22 at NEWTON-CONOVER
Sept. 29 BANDYS
Oct. 6 at WEST CALDWELL
Oct. 13 EAST BURKE
Oct. 20 MAIDEN
Oct. 27 at WEST LINCOLN
North Lincoln
Coach: Nick Bazzle (6th year, 39-17)
Coaching staff: Jake Walker, Alex Pedersen, Lee Crawford, Emory Helms, Paul Regan, Mark Ludwig, Charlie Goss, Doug McRee
Returning starters: 7
Starters lost: 15
2022 record: 5-5, 5-2
Top returning players: RB/DB Tyler Donahue, LB/RB Ryan Bassani, OL Justin Bassani, WR/DB Aaron Doeden, RB/DB Alex Duncan, LB/RB Cole Ellis, WR/DB Cam Adams
Top newcomers: QB Eli Sipe, OL/DL Grant Mullen, RB Shannon Wingate, K Jake Dillingham, WR/OLB Tim Folk, RB/LB Cade Sturgill
Season outlook: A youthful team with 7 returning starters and limited line depth, the Knights will rely on a deep running back corps and season-long health to make a return to the postseason.
All-time record: 97-129 (since 2003)
Schedule:
Aug. 18 at West Lincoln
Aug. 25 at Lincolnton
Sept. 1 OFF
Sept. 8 East Rutherford
Sept. 15 at STATESVILLE
Sept. 22 HICKORY
Sept. 29 NORTH IREDELL
Oct. 6 ST. STEPHENS
Oct. 13 at FOARD
Oct. 20 WEST IREDELL
Oct. 27 EAST LINCOLN
West Lincoln
Coach: Darren Ponder (5th year, 32-13)
Coaching staff: Offensive coordinator- David Avery, Defensive coordinator- Ponder, Assistants- Brad Newton, Wayne Navey, John Markley, John Henderson, Marty Holbrook, Eddie Piercy, Austin May, Jared Swafford, Jesse Hatcher, Keith Cole
Returning starters: 11
Starters lost: 6
2022 record: 8-3, 5-2 (1st round playoffs)
Top returning players: RB/S Jaylen Winnex, QB/S Gideon Allen, OL/DL Caleb Sain, OL/DL Zander Harrelson, TE/DE Ben Sain, RB/LB Drew Ponder, FB/LB Terry Hise, OL/DL Dayne Harrelson, OL/DL Camden Sain, WR/DB J.J. Phansook, WR/DB/ST Sean Blackburn, OLB/WB Landon Fitzpatrick
Top newcomers: RB/OLB Keegan Bostic, OLB/RB Caden Smith, WR/DB Drake Wood, OL/DL Parker Cochrane, DB/WR Parker Kelly
Season outlook: After a school-record five straight winning seasons, the Rebels return 11 starters and have high expectations of extending that streak of excellence. School record-holder and Shrine Bowler Mason Avery is gone but Ponder has hopes that other returnees – notably running back Winnex and quarterback Allen – can pick up the offensive load.
All-time record: 248-395-5 (since 1962)
Schedule:
Aug. 18 North Lincoln
Aug. 25 at Cherryville
Sept. 1 Foard
Sept. 8 OFF
Sept. 15 at BANDYS
Sept. 22 MAIDEN
Sept. 29 at BUNKER HILL
Oct. 6 at NEWTON-CONOVER
Oct. 13 WEST CALDWELL
Oct. 20 at EAST BURKE
Oct. 27 LINCOLNTON