2023 High School Football – Southern Piedmont 1A/2A Conference and Mountain Island Charter
By Richard Walker
There was a significant changing of the guard a year ago in Cleveland County as Burns ended Shelby’s four-year reign as a conference champion while also pinning a historical aberration on the Golden Lions.
Shelby finished 0-4 against county rivals for the first time in school history after Burns’ 42-0 second round playoff victory – and the Golden Lions’ were 0-3 against the county in the regular season for only the second time ever (2010 was the only other year).
Burns is poised to repeat after finishing 13-2 overall with its eighth conference title in school history and a Western 2A runner-up finish a year ago.
Coach David Devine’s team returns 11 starters, including all-conference quarterback Ben Mauney, all-conference lineback Marshall McGowan, all-conference lineman Caleb Byrd and all-conference running back Jeremiah Norris.
However, and probably due to Shelby’s rich football history, the Bulldogs were not a unanimous selection in the preseason coaches’ poll.
Here is the preseason coaches’ poll:
1. Burns
2. Shelby
3. East Gaston
4. Bessemer City
5. Cherryville
6. Thomas Jefferson
7. Highland Tech
And here is a look at the teams in the league:
Bessemer City
Coach: Shane Short (2nd year, 3-8)
Coaching staff: Defensive coordinator/defensive backs- Kyle Creed, Linebackers- Billy Beaty, Defensive line- Jarrod Holmes, Outside linebackers- Austin Dellinger, Offensive line- Mike Roberts, Running backs- Courtney Ellis, Wide receivers- Desmond Lowery
Returning starters: 5
Starters lost: 17
2022 record: 3-8, 3-3 (1st round playoffs)
Top returning players: LB Mason Chastain, OL Jashawn Thomas, DE Sireco Logan
Top newcomers: WR Achilles Littlejohn
Season outlook: An extremely young team will look for its defense to take the lead early in the season while the offense gains experience. 3-time all-conference linebacker Chastain and all-conference lineman Thomas are expected to be the defensive leaders.
All-time record: 334-568-35 (since 1925)
Schedule:
Aug. 18 at East Rutherford
Aug. 25 at North Gaston
Sept. 1 Avery County
Sept. 8 at Union Academy
Sept. 15 at THOMAS JEFFERSON
Sept. 22 HIGHLAND TECH
Sept. 29 BURNS
Oct. 6 at EAST GASTON
Oct. 13 at SHELBY
Oct. 20 OFF
Oct. 27 CHERRYVILLE
Burns
Coach: David Devine (9th year, 56-42)
Coaching staff: Offensive coordinator – David Diamont, Wide receivers- Morrio Clark and Alex Leonhardt, Offensive line- Daniel Coggins and Butch Packard, Running backs- Tre Harbison, Defensive coordinator- Ledford Gibson, Defensive line- Nathan Geter, Linebackers- Howard Sims, Cornerbacks- Travis Withrow, Safeties- Sherwin Brown
Returning starters: 11
Starters lost: 11
2022 record: 13-2, 6-0 (Western 2A finals)
Top returning players: QB Ben Mauney, LB Marshall McGowan, S/WR/P Jonny Johnson, CB/WR Kamari Surratt, OL/DL Caleb Byrd, RB Jeremiah Norris, WR Graham Warlick, OL/DE Beau Westbrook, OL Kayvahn Bonner, DE Amari Rankin
Top newcomers: LB Zavion Wilson, SS Ethan Guy, WR Kenyon Surratt, LB Elijah Goodson, DB Trevor Hunt
Season outlook: After advancing to the Western N.C. 2A championship game last season, Burns returns with 11 starters including Mauney, McGowan, Byrd and Norris who all made all-conference a year ago. Mauney, who has committed to play at Gardner-Webb, has 5,682 career yards passing and could become the school and the county’s all-time career passers with another impressive year.
All-time record: 329-303-3 (since 1967)
Schedule:
Aug. 18 at Forestview
Aug. 25 Crest
Sept. 1 Kings Mountain
Sept. 8 at Alexander Central
Sept. 15 HIGHLAND TECH
Sept. 22 OFF
Sept. 29 at BESSEMER CITY
Oct. 6 THOMAS JEFFERSON
Oct. 13 EAST GASTON
Oct. 20 at CHERRYVILLE
Oct. 27 at SHELBY
Cherryville
Coach: Tim Pruitt (10th year, 29-70)
Coaching staff: Defensive coordinator/linebackers- Scott Jenkins, Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks- Matt Powers, Offensive line- Tim Moss, Defensive backs- Will Puckett, Wide receivers- Austin Treadway, Defensive line- Jeff Hendry, Offense and defense assistant- Al Benson
Returning starters: 7
Starters lost: 15
2022 record: 3-8, 2-4 (1st round playoffs)
Top returning players: C/DT Caleb Hovis, QB/FS Josh Ward, FB Shamyr Moss, TE/DE Hunter Jackson, DT/P Justin Houser, T/DE Jordan Lowrance, G/LB Amir Starr
Top newcomers: LB Noah Hollingsworth, LB Liam McIntyre, Slot-WB/CB Rayshawn Sewell, SE/CB David Howell
Season outlook: Cherryville has 7 returning starters and has more depth in the lines than it does at skill positions. Pruitt says staying healthy will be imperative if the Ironmen are to pursue a Southern Piedmont 1A top seed.
All-time record: 362-563-28 (since 1926)
Schedule:
Aug. 18 at Avery County
Aug. 25 West Lincoln
Sept. 1 Blacksburg, S.C.
Sept. 8 at North Gaston
Sept. 15 at SHELBY
Sept. 22 EAST GASTON
Sept. 29 OFF
Oct. 6 at HIGHLAND TECH
Oct. 13 THOMAS JEFFERSON
Oct. 20 BURNS
Oct. 27 at BESSEMER CITY
East Gaston
Coach: T.J. Postell (4th year, 16-15)
Coaching staff: Defensive coordinator/inside linebackers- Clint Jordan, Defensive backs- Jay Benton, Defensive line- David Sides, Outside linebackers- John Wilson, Quarterbacks- Ryan Baker, Wide receivers- Jamie Cogdill, Offensive line- Dave DeLaO, Special teams/running backs- Greg Williams
Returning starters: 16
Starters lost: 7
2022 record: 6-5, 4-2
Top returning players: QB Trenton Sherrill, RB/LB Chase Johnson, OL/DL Garrett McAulay, OL Johnny Brown, WR/DB Omarion Pryor, DL Payton Parker, WR John Michael Green, K Tripp Abernathy, LB Shelden Clark, WR/DB Damazia Murphy, RB/LB Ethan Hilderbran, TE/DL Donovan Reid, TE/DL Antonio Ford, LB Kirin Moebes, WR/DB Jayce Rowe, WR/DB C.J. Helms, WR/DB Kamari Ponder, OL/DL Nic McClellan
Top newcomers: RB Isaac Brown, LB Houston Summey, RB/LB Destry Ballard, OL Gabe Klouse, OL Coleman Kennard, WR Nate Woodie, RB/DB Elijah Garvin, DL Devon Easter
Season outlook: After back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2003 and 2004 and and with returning quarterback Sherill (3,095 career passing yards), the Warriors are optimistic they can have three straight winning seasons for the first time in school history. Developing and offensive line and a running back corps will critical to those hopes.
All-time record: 185-357-3 (since 1972)
Schedule:
Aug. 18 North Gaston
Aug. 25 at Corvian Community
Sept. 1 at Cramer
Sept. 8 Ashbrook
Sept. 15 OFF
Sept. 22 at CHERRYVILLE
Sept. 29 THOMAS JEFFERSON
Oct. 6 BESSEMER CITY
Oct. 13 at BURNS
Oct. 20 SHELBY
Oct. 27 at HIGHLAND TECH
Highland Tech
Coach: Jimmy White (1st year)
Coaching staff: Sam Moore, Todd Nash, Larry Freeman, Jim Ware
Returning starters: 6
Starters lost: 8
2022 record: 0-11, 0-6 (1st round playoffs)
Top returning players: QB/CB Micah Hinton, QB/S Ryan Kepler, CB Carmelo Adams, LT/G/DT Cooper McCraw, WR/S Eli Whitted, RB/DB Alvord Apau-Kese, FB/LB Jonah Jefferies, C/DT Gordon Dubisky
Top newcomers: WR/DB Jalen Bernard, TE/DE Michael Smith, Jr., TE/LB John Proulx, WR/DB Irvin Thompson
Season outlook: A former Cramerton Panthers youth football and Cramerton Middle School coach takes over a Rams’ program eager to record its first league victory since the 2021 springs season. With 6 returning starters, White will look to build a program against another challenging schedule.
All-time record: 35-180 (since 2002)
Schedule:
Aug. 18 Carolina Bearcats
Aug. 25 Hickory Grove Christian
Sept. 1 at Union Academy
Sept. 8 Winston-Salem Prep
Sept. 15 at BURNS
Sept. 22 at BESSEMER CITY
Sept. 29 SHELBY
Oct. 6 CHERRYVILLE
Oct. 13 OFF
Oct. 20 at THOMAS JEFFERSON
Oct. 27 EAST GASTON
Shelby
Coach: Mike Wilbanks (5th year, 42-10)
Coaching staff: Offensive coordinator- Chris Emery, Offensive line- Jamie Dunaway, Wide receivers- Dobson Collins, Running backs- Damon Scott
Returning starters: 9
Starters lost: 10
2022 record: 7-5, 4-1 (2nd round state playoffs)
Top returning players: WR Izay Bridges, OL/DL Jaden Pierce, DB/WR Canden McGill, LB/WR Drew Hollifield, DL/OL Jay McNeily
Top newcomers: QB Lan Farmer, OL/DL Justyn Ross, OL/DL Ny’Drien Wood
Season outlook: The Golden Lions saw their four-year streak of league titles broken in addition to failing to beat any of their Cleveland County rivals for only the second time in school history (2010 was the other). This season, Shelby again has talent but must replace veteran performers at quarterback, wide receiver, defensive line, defensive back and kicker – and the Golden Lions again face a challengning non-league slate.
All-time record: 837-311-41 (since 1910)
Schedule:
Aug. 18 at Kings Mountain
Aug. 25 at A.C. Reynolds
Sept. 1 Crest
Sept. 8 Olympic
Sept. 15 CHERRYVILLE
Sept. 22 at THOMAS JEFFERSON
Sept. 29 at HIGHLAND TECH
Oct. 6 OFF
Oct. 13 BESSEMER CITY
Oct. 20 at EAST GASTON
Oct. 27 BURNS
Thomas Jefferson
Coach: Jamie Hicks (1st year)
Coaching staff: Chris Jones, Phillip Cole, Jared Maxwell, Rico Jones, Tyler Mitchell, Matt Sutton, Danny Ray Kimbrell.
Returning starters: 3
Starters lost: 19
2022 record: 2-9, 2-4 (1st round state playoffs)
Top returning player: WR Dezmin Santiago
Top newcomer: QB Jace Gibbon
Season outlook: A massive rebuilding job lay ahead for Hicks, who previously has coaches at Chase and Thomas Jefferson, as the Gryphons will look to make a 12th straight state playoff appearance.
All-time record: 95-73 (since 2008)
Schedule:
Aug. 18 at West Iredell
Aug. 25 Covenant Day
Sept. 1 at Asheville Christian
Sept. 8 Carolina Bearcats
Sept. 15 BESSEMER CITY
Sept. 22 SHELBY
Sept. 29 at EAST GASTON
Oct. 6 at BURNS
Oct. 13 at CHERRYVILLE
Oct. 20 HIGHLAND TECH
Oct. 27 OFF
Mountain Island Charter returned to postseason action last season and is hopeful of contending for a Catawba Shores 1A/2A title with 16 returning starters.
Mountain Island Charter
Coach: Robert Washington (9th year, 60-30)
Coaching staff: Aapri Washington, Derrick Howell, Devin Latta, Howard Burris, Jack Gardner III, Jerry Baker, Josh Dawkins, Josh Mills, Mykelti Armstrong
Returning starters: 16
Starters lost: 6
2022 record: 6-6, 2-4
Top returning players: ATH Reggie Daniel, LB Khiyale Washington, ATH Thomas Loving, OL/DL Cameron Outing, OL/DL JaMarcus Boyd, ATH Reese Johnson, DB Josh Moses, K/P Tanner Baxter, TE/DE Caleb Murry, WR/Slot Justice Washington, LB Jason Forsythe, OL/DL Nathan Liles, OL/DL Alex Waring, OL/DL Aiden Bornhauser
Top newcomers: none listed
Season outlook: The versatile Daniel leads a group of returnees that see if the Raptors can pursue a league title. Daniel had 52 tackles, 4 interceptions (2 returned to TDs), 4 pass deflections and 1 fumble recovery on defense, 22 catches for 470 yards receiving (5 TDs) and 920 all-purpose yards on offense and 428 return yards that include a punt return for at TD.
All-time record: 60-33 (since 2015)
Schedule:
Aug. 18 Cabarrus Stallions
Aug. 25 Charlotte Latin
Sept. 1 OFF
Sept. 8 at SouthLake Christian
Sept. 15 PINE LAKE PREP
Sept. 22 at COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF DAVIDSON
Sept. 29 WINSTON-SALEM PREP
Oct. 6 at CHRIST THE KING
Oct. 13 BISHOP McGUINNESS
Oct. 20 at WINSTON-SALEM CARVER
Oct. 27 at Corvian Community