By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
Conference: South Fork 2A.
Head coach: Steven Pack (0-0, first year).
Last season’s records: 2-9 overall; 2-6 North Piedmont 3A-4A, sixth place.
Last season’s results: Lincolnton, L 7-63; at W. Lincoln, L 14-39; E. Lincoln, L 0-48; at Bessemer City, L 6-8; N. IREDELL, W 35-19; at MOORESVILLE, L 7-38; ALEXANDER CENTRAL, L 7-48; at STATESVILLE, L 13-42; S. IREDELL, L 13-44; W. IREDELL, W 41-19; at LAKE NORMAN, L 14-42.
SCHOOL FOOTBALL HISTORY
NORTH LINCOLN SCHEDULE
(all games at 7:30 p.m.)
August
25—Carolina Wildcats
September
1—Fred T. Foard
8—at Alexander Central
15—at Bessemer City
22—at W. LINCOLN
29—at LAKE NORMAN CHARTER
October
6—E. LINCOLN
13—MAIDEN (Homecoming)
20—at NEWTON-CONOVER
27—LINCOLNTON
November
3—at BANDYS
Last season in state playoffs: 2008, 2AA.
Last state playoff victory: 2AA, d. Salisbury 21-14, second round.
All-time state playoff bids: 6.
Conference titles since 1980, last: None.
BY THE NUMBERS
OVERALL
Returning starters: 4.
Returning lettermen: 22.
OFFENSE
Returning starters: 2.
Leading returning rusher: Matthew Parks (7-50, no TDs).
Leading returning passer: Reed McCrorie (34-79-6, 415, 3 TDs).
Leading returning receiver: Matthew Parks (2-22, no TDs).
Other players to watch: Nathan Powell (Sr., RB); Caleb Holley (Sr., RB); Austin Blackburn (Sr., OL).
DEFENSE
Returning starters: 2.
Players to watch: David Schmeber (Sr., DB); Christian Slaten (Sr., DB); Carter Reardon (Sr., LB).
OUTLOOK
Pack, defensive coordinator at Burns last season and on the Newton-Conover coaching staff before that, is optimistic his first season leading the Knights will be a good one.
They were in a much tougher league overall last season, outmatched many nights in the North Piedmont 3A-4A, and moving down from class 3A to 2A should give North Lincoln more chances of being competitive in most of its games.
There are concerns – the Knights return only two starters on offense and two on defense – and that’s probably a few too many to be considered a contender for the conference title.
League coaches picked North Lincoln to finish tied for sixth place with West Lincoln.
Pack has been pleased with the work ethic and attitude that began when he took over the program, praising his returning players for coming to work and get better.
“Our kids have worked hard,” Pack told The Gaston Gazette. “They have a grasp of what we’re trying to do and I really think we’re going to be competitive in every game.”