Here are team-by-team previews for Lincoln County schools
Here are Lincoln County high school football previews, as compiled by Observer correspondent Jay Edwards
Preseason All-State Team Released
Observer-area County previews
2017 high school football schedules
Deakwon Camp, North Lincoln, Sr., DB: Davidson Day transfer brings experience
Sidney Dollar, East Lincoln, Jr, WR: big receiver (6-3,175) is younger brother of Cam Dollar, a former star at the school.
Parker Gaines, Lincolnton, Sr., OL/DL: all-conference star will anchor both lines for the Wolves.
Tyreke Hollis, Lincolnton, Sr., DB/WR: all-conference as a junior.
Ryan Matz, East Lincoln, Sr., DL: Matz had 14 sacks a year ago.
EAST LINCOLN
Head Coach: David Lubowicz (1st year as East Lincoln head football coach; 11th year on staff) .
2016 Record (Conference) : 11-3 (5-2 in the Southern District 7 (SD7) ) .
2017 Conference: South Fork 2A conference.
Returning Starters: 10 (6 offense; 4 defense) .
Returning Lettermen: 16
Key Returning Starters: Chandler Jones, Sr., RB (5-11,175) ; Sidney Dollar, Jr., WR (6-3,175) ; Ryan Matz, Sr., DL (6-4,240) ; Devan Rigdon, Sr., OL (5-11,285) .
Key Newcomers: Tavon Johnson, Jr., LB/WR (6-0,175) ; Blake Shope, Jr., WR/DB (6-0,160) .
Outlook: East Lincoln has won 65 games and two state championships in the last five years, which is tough pace to maintain. But former, Mustang defensive coordinator, first-year, East Lincoln head coach, David Lubowicz (been on East Lincoln staff 11 years) , looks to carry on the tradition as conference and state contender. East Lincoln has found a way to replace great players in the past and will have to do again in the new South Fork 2A conference with senior RB, Chandler Jones, junior, WR/DB Sidney Dollar, DL Ryan Matz (14 sacks) and OL/DL Devan Rigdon playing lead roles this season.
–JAY EDWARDS
LINCOLNTON
Head Coach: Ledford Gibson (3rd year as Lincolnton football coach/25-5 at Lincolnton) .
2016 Record (Conference) : 13-2 (6-1 in the Southern District 7 (SD7) ) .
2017 Conference: South Fork 2A conference.
Returning Starters: 9 (4 offense; 5 defense) .
Returning Lettermen: 12
Key Returning Starters: Tyreke Hollis, Sr., DB/WR; Parker Gaines, Sr., OL/DL (6-4,290) ; Skylar Evans, Sr., DB/WR (6-2,180) ; Tyshaun Harris, Sr., RB/DB (5-11,185) ; Terrell McClain, Sr., DB/TE (6-0,210) ; Johnny Araya, Sr., OL/DL (5-10,270) ; Mauricio Lazano, Sr., OL/DL (5-11,235) .
Key Newcomers: Mickey McGrisken, So., LB (6-0,170) ; Tyler Duncan, So., RB/LB (6-0,165) ; Brent Franklin, Jr., OL/LB (6-0,200) ; Mikivi Phinx, So., DB/WR (6-1,165) .
Outlook: Lincolnton was one win short of playing in the 2A state championship game for the second straight season. The Wolves have some big names to replace in all-state performers, WR Sage Surratt (Wake Forest) , QB Cordell Littlejohn (moved to Georgia) . But Coach Ledford Gibson, who has won 25 games in two seasons in charge, also returns some dynamic playmakers, led by the senior, all-conference quartet of DB/WR Tyreke Hollis, OL/DL Parker Gaines, DB/WR Skylar Evans and RB/DB Tyshaun Harris, which gives the Wolves a good chance to conference and state contenders again in 2017.
–JAY EDWARDS
NORTH LINCOLN
Head Coach: Steven Pack (1st year as North Lincoln football coach) .
2016 Record (Conference) : 2-9 (2-5 in the North Piedmont conference 3A/4A (NPC) ) .
2017 Conference: South Fork 2A.
Returning Starters: 8 (5 offense; 3 defense) .
Returning Lettermen: 22
Key Returning Starters: Caleb Holley, Sr., WR/FS (6-0,190) ; Reed McCrorie, Sr., QB (6-2,180) ; Austin Blackburn, Sr., OL (6-3,275) ; Jacob Soorus, So., RB/WR/DB (5-10,185) ; David Schmerber, Sr., LB (6-1,200) .
Key Newcomers: Deakwon Camp, Sr., DB (5-11,160) (Davidson Day transfer) ; Matt McMahan, Sr., LB (6-2,200) ; Clayton Cribb, Jr., RB/LB (5-11,190) ; Jacob Harman, Jr., LB (6-1,190) ; Hunter Sharp, Jr., OL/DL (6-2,270) .
Outlook: Offensive-minded, first-year coach, Steven Pack looks to breathe new life into a Knights life into a Knights’ program that hasn’ t posted a winning season since 2008. North Lincoln will look to senior QB, Reed McCrorie and a strong running game as they move back down to 2A, but it won’ t be any easier in the brutal, new South Fork 2A conference, where finishing in the middle of the pack would be a big step in the right direction.
–JAY EDWARDS
WEST LINCOLN
Head Coach: Tom Sain (8th year as West Lincoln football coach/37-45 at West Lincoln) .
2016 Record (Conference) : 5-7 (2-5 in the Southern District 7)
2017 Conference: South Fork 2A conference.
Returning Starters: 10
Returning Lettermen: 30
Key Returning Starters: Seth Willis, Jr., QB/DB (6-2,175) ; Nakathan Phansook, Jr., RB/LB (6-1,170) ; Nathan Hull, Jr., RB/DB (5-9,160) ; Tyler Cunningham, Sr., RB/DB (5-6,160) ; Brandon Ikard, Sr., RB/DB (5-10,165) ; Colby Varner, Sr., WR/DB (6-2,160) ; Brock Steele, Jr., OL/DL (6-2,265) ; Dalton Burris, Sr., OL/DL (6-3,265) ; Drew Saine, Jr., OL/LB (5-9,210) ; Trey Bryan, Jr., WR/DB (6-2,160) .
Key Newcomers: N/A.
Outlook: The Rebels have had only two winning seasons in Coach Tom Sain’s tenure (2010,2013) and life won’ t get any easier in the new, loaded, South Fork 2A conference this season. West Lincoln has some pieces with 10 starters back, led by junior QB, Seth Willis and all-conference junior RB/DB, Nathan Hull, but moving up the league standings and into the playoff picture is going to be daunting task.
–JAY EDWARDS
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