Nick Bazzle — whose most enjoyable things in life on a list that includes football are time with his wife, Kim, and the family pets — is in his fifth season as head coach at North Lincoln. A Lincoln County native (he played at East Lincoln) who came out of retirement to coach the Knights, he has 163 career wins as North Lincoln prepares to face Northwest Cabarrus on the road on Friday night (7:30 p.m.)./FILE PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK
SCHEDULE
(all games at 7:30 p.m.)
Aug. 19 – W. Lincoln, L 14-33
Aug. 26 – Lincolnton, L 17-20
Sept. 2 – at NW Cabarrus
Sept. 16 – STATESVILLE
Sept. 23 – at HICKORY
Sept. 30 – N. IREDELL
Oct. 7 – at ST. STEPHENS
Oct. 14 – FRED T. FOARD
Oct. 21 – at W. IREDELL
Oct. 28 – at E. LINCOLN
NORTH LINCOLN KNIGHTS
Conference: Western Foothills 3A
Head coach: Nick Bazzle (163-97-0, 21 years; 34-12 at N. Lincoln, 4 years)
Assistant coaches: Jake Walker, OL; Alex Pederson, A-backs; Lee Crawford, WR; Clayton Cribbs, B-backs; Paul Regan, DC-DB; Charlie Goss, ILB; Mark Ludwig, DL; Mike Sullivan, OLB
Last season’s records: 8-3 overall; 6-1 Western Foothills 3A, second place
SCHOOL FOOTBALL HISTORY
Last season in state playoffs: 2021, 3A
Last state playoff victory: 2019, d. Canton Pisgah 42-10, second round
All-time state playoff bids (since 1972): 9
Conference titles (or shares of) since 1980, last: 6, 2019 South Fork 2A
BY THE NUMBERS
OVERALL
Returning starters: 11
Returning lettermen: 21
OFFENSE
Set: Spread triple
Returning starters: 6
Leading returning rushers: Brennen Rogers, 6-1, 195, Sr. (143-1,017, 11 TDs); Liam Sutton, 5-10, 160, Sr. (61-325, 3 TDs); Reed King, 6-0, 165 Sr. (43-240, 1 TD)
Leading returning passer: Connor Carson, 5-8, 150, Sr. (2-3-0, 65, 1 TD)
Leading returning receivers: King (10-144, 3 TDs)
Other key returnees: Caden Ayers, 6-3, 185, Sr., WR; Justin Bassani, 5-7, 170, Jr., OL; Tyler Donahue, 5-8, 155, Jr., RB; Bryson Edder, 6-8, 260, Sr., OL; Dylan Nestor, 6-2, 245, Sr., TE; Carson, 5-18, 150, Sr., QB; Cody Morse, 5-11, 215, Sr., RB
Top newcomers: Manny Mayner, 5-11, 155, Sr., RB; Ryan Bassani, 5-11, 170, Jr., RB; Hunter Huckleberry, 6-1, 215, TE, Sr.
DEFENSE
Set: 50
Returning starters: 5
Players to watch: Donahue, 5-8, 155, Jr., DB; Josh Fox, 5-11, 190, Sr., LB; King, 6-0, 165, Sr., DB; Nestor, 6-2, 245, Sr., DL; Connor Nichols, 6-1, 185, Sr., LB
