By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
Conference: South Fork 2A.
Head coach: Ledford Gibson (25-5, 2 years).
Last season’s records: 13-2 overall, 6-1 Southern District 7 Athletic 2A, shared conference title.
Last season’s results: at N. Lincoln, W 63-7; at South Point, W 25-24, OT; N. Gaston, W 61-34; at E. Gaston, W 54-14; W. LINCOLN, W 46-9; at E. LINCOLN, W 42-35; at BANDYS, W 54-28; BUNKER HILL, W 48-0; at NEWTON-CONOVER, W 49-6; W. CALDWELL, W 33-20; MAIDEN,L 47-65; Thomasville, W 48-13; Eastern Randolph, W 68-27; Hendersonville, W 72-44; at Reidsville, L 7-28.
SCHOOL FOOTBALL HISTORY
LINCOLNTON SCHEDULE
(all games at 7:30 p.m.)
August
18—at Stuart Cramer
25—South Point
September
1—at N. Gaston
8—E. Gaston
22—at NEWTON-CONOVER
29—at E. LINCOLN
October
6—BANDYS
13—at W. LINCOLN
20—LAKE NORMAN CHARTER
27—at N. LINCOLN
November
3—MAIDEN
Last season in state playoffs: 2016, 2A.
Last state playoff victory: 2016, d. Hendersonville 72-44, third round.
All-time state playoff bids: 32.
Conference titles since 1980: 14 (9 outright, 5 shares); 2016 Southern District 7 Athletic 2A (share).
BY THE NUMBERS
OVERALL
Returning starters: 9.
Returning lettermen: 12.
OFFENSE
Returning starters: 4.
Leading returning rusher: Tyshawn Harris (36-185, 2 TDs).
Leading returning passer: None.
Leading returning receiver: Tyrek Hollis (9-209, 1 TD).
Other players to watch: Terrell McClain (Sr., QB).
DEFENSE
Returning starters: 5
Players to watch: Skyler Evans (Sr., DB); Terrell McClain (Sr., DB); Parker Gaines (Sr., DL); Johnny Araya (Sr., DL).
OUTLOOK
This should tell you about the consistency the Wolves are known for more than anything else: They’ve lost 63 percent of their offense and are still considered a contender for a league championship.
This season, there isn’t the stockpile of proven players that Lincolnton has grown accustomed to while delivering three straight seasons of 10 or more wins (also in six of the last eight seasons) but — as coaches are prone to do — they’ll caution thinking up any reasons to consider the Wolves as non-contenders.
“You’re talking about Lincolnton” they say, which means to expect a solid football team.
A dozen starters are gone from a 13-2 team that lost two stars – 4,489 yards of combined total offense – when they moved to Roswell, Ga. QB Cordel Littlejohn and RB-WR Jamal Littlejohn are playing at a 7A school in Georgia.
Can the Wolves be what they were offensively? That’ll be tough because how many high school football teams have the talent to post these kind of numbers?:
Total offense: 7, 125 yards (475.0).
Average yards gained per rush: 9.53… yes, 9.53.
Average passing yards gained: 246.3, 17. 8 yards per catch, 50 passing TDs.
Scoring: 104 TDs (44 rush, 50 pass, 10 others (2 of those defensive), one field goal).
If the Wolves come anywhere close to any of those numbers again, they’re going to win the first South Fork 2A title.