By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
EAST LINCOLN SCHEDULE
(all games at 7:30 p.m.)
August
18 – at Forestview
September
1—at Ashbrook
8—N. Gaston
15—at E. Gaston
22—LAKE NORMAN CHARTER
29—LINCOLNTON
October
6—at N. LINCOLN
13—BANDYS
20—at MAIDEN
27—W. LINCOLN
November
3—at NEWTON-CONOVER
LUBOWICZ
Conference: South Fork 2A.
Head coach: David Lubowicz (0-0, first year).
Last season’s records: 11-3 overall, 5-2 Southern District 7 Athletic 2A, tied for third place.
Last season’s results: Hunter Huss, W 14-13; Christ The King, W 69-0; at N. Lincoln, W 48-0; Forestview, W 28-3; BANDYS, W 44-6; LINCOLNTON, L 35-42; at BUNKER HILL, W 49-14; NEWTON-CONOVER, W 42-21; at W. CALDWELL, L 32-42; at MAIDEN, W 49-35; W. LINCOLN, W 35-9; Smoky Mountain, W 49-21; at W. Caldwell, W 34-14; at Monroe, L 0-27.
SCHOOL FOOTBALL HISTORY
Last season in state playoffs: 2016, 2AA.
Last state playoff victory: 2016, d. W. Caldwell 34-14, second round.
All-time state playoff bids: 20.
Conference titles since 1980, last: 8; 2015 Southern District 7 Athletic 2A.
BY THE NUMBERS
OVERALL
Returning starters: 10.
Returning lettermen: 16.
OFFENSE
Returning starters: 6.
Leading returning rusher: Chandler Jones (59-516, 5 TDs).
Leading returning passer: None.
Leading returning receiver: Christian Parks (8-223, 4 TDs).
Other players to watch: Ryan Matz (Sr., OL); Devan Rigdon (Sr., OL); Gage Welborn (Sr., OL); Peyton Pezavento (Sr., WR); Blake Shope (Sr., WR).
DEFENSE
Returning starters: 4.
Players to watch: Carter Williamson (Sr., DE); Chazz Williams (Sr., DL); Terry Farrell (Jr., LB).
OUTLOOK
A lot has changed at East Lincoln since last season ended.
The Mustangs have: a) a new head coach, their defensive coordinator from the previous 10 years; b) a new QB, since their starter from last year, Marcus Graham, transferred to Mallard Creek; c) as good a chance as any team in the new South Fork 2A to win or determine who wins the league.
The challenges will be many as East Lincoln primes to make a run at 10 or more wins for the ninth time in 12 seasons. And it will come without the tremendous depth the Mustangs have long enjoyed and without several NCAA Division I skill position players in the lineup.
Even last year, when all-everything WR Sage Surratt transferred and played his senior year at rival Lincolnton, the Mustangs were contenders in the Southern District 7 Athletic 2A.
There’s still talent in Denver, N.C. – former head coach Mike Byus, now coaching at a West Virginia high school – had an amazing run at East Lincoln, making the Mustangs matter in the community.
East Lincoln will still be Mustangs-like – disciplined, good fundamentals, good game plans, all the things we’ve become used to from them – but they may have to win in a different fashion.
You may not see a lot of East Lincoln 40-something, Opponent 12 scores. But you’re likely to see the Mustangs on the winner’s side of the scoreboard more often than not.
How will they get it done, given the significant changes they’re adjusting to?
“To win, we have to play well up front,” head coach David Lubowicz told The Gaston Gazette. “We have one of the biggest lines that we’ve ever had here.”
The offensive breakouts may have to come by committee – there aren’t, as in past years, seven or eight players on offense who could wear a team out if they got started.