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Southern Piedmont 1A/2A football predictions, team-by-team breakdown for 2023

joe l hughes ii, gaston gazette
·4 min read

The start of the 2023 high school football season is drawing near, as teams in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties prepare for kickoff on Aug. 18.

Here’s a preview of area teams in Southern Piedmont 1A/2A, including last year’s records, key players and a prediction of how things will shake out at season’s end.

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Bessemer City

Coach: Shane Short (second year, 3-8)

2022 record: 3-8 (3-3, fourth in Southern Piedmont 1A/2A)

Last five years: 20-34

Key players: Mason Chastain (Sr., LB); Sireco Logan (Jr., DL); Marcus Smith (So. DB); Jashawn Thomas (Sr., LB); Jaquan Thomas (Sr., OL)

Burns

Coach: David Devine (ninth year, 56-42)

2022 record: 13-2 (6-0, first in Southern Piedmont 1A/2A)

Last five years: 43-20

Key players: Ben Mauney (Sr., QB); Jeremiah Norris (Sr., RB); Kamari Surratt (Sr., WR/DB); Jonny Johnson (Sr., WR/DB); Caleb Byrd (Sr., OL); Kayvahn Bonner (Sr., OL); Marshall McGowan (Jr., LB); Beau Westbrook (Sr., OL/DL); Kenyon Surratt (Fr., WR/DB); Zavion Wilson (Jr., LB); Ethan Guy (Sr., SS); Trevor Hunt (Jr., DB)

Cherryville

Coach: Tim Pruitt (ninth year, 26-62)

2022 record: 3-8 (1-5, sixth in Southern Piedmont 1A?2A)

Last five years: 18-34

Key players: Shamyr Moss (Sr., FB); Caleb Hovis (Sr., OL/DL); Amir Starr (Jr., OL/LB); Andron Patterson (Jr., ATH); Josh Ward (Sr., QB/DB); Hunter Jackson (Sr., TE/DL); Jordan Lowrance (Jr., OL/DL); Justin Houser (Sr., DL/P)

East Gaston

Coach: J.T. Postell (28-27 career; , fourth year, 16-15 at East Gaston)

2022 record: 6-5 (4-2, third in Southern Piedmont 1A/2A)

Last five years: 17-36

Key players: Trenton Sherrill (Sr., QB); Chase Johnson (Sr., RB/LB); Shelden Clark (Sr., LB); Garrett McAulay (Sr., OL/DL); Johnny Brown (Sr., OL); Nic McClellan (So., OL/DL); Payton Parker (Sr., DL); Donovan Reid (Jr., TE/DL); Antonio Ford (Jr., TE/DL); Jayce Rowe (Jr., WR/DB); Kamari Ponder (Jr., WR/DB); C.J. Helms (Jr., WR/DB); Kirin Moebes (Jr., LB); Tripp Abernathy (Sr., K)

Highland Tech

Coach: Jimmy White (first season)

2022 record: 0-11 (0-6, last in Southern Piedmont 1A/2A)

Last five years: 8-41

Key players: Elijah Whitted (Sr., ATH); Micah Hinton (Sr., RB/DB); Carmelo Adams (Jr., DB); Cooper McCraw (Jr., OL/DL); Jase McCraw (So., OL/LB)

Shelby

Coach: Mike Wilbanks (fifth year, 42-10)

2022 record: 7-5 (5-1, second in Southern Piedmont 1A?2A

Last five years: 55-13

Key players: Jaden Pierce (Sr., DL); Izay Bridges (Sr. WR); Drew Hollifield (Sr., LB); Jason McNeilly (Sr., DL); Lan Farmer (So., QB); Eli Falls (Jr., WR); Canden McGill (Sr., ATH); C.J. Whitener (Sr., OL); Jahkeevi Garnett (Sr., LB)

Southern Piedmont 1A/2A predictions

  1. Burns: Despite replacing much of its defense from a 13-2 team, the Bulldogs are the preseason pick to repeat as league champions. Such largely has to do with eight starters returning on offense, including the prolific backfield tandem of quarterback Ben Mauney and running back Jeremiah Norris.

  2. Shelby: For once, the Golden Lions aren’t considered the favorite going into the season; and honestly, they are fine with that. Though breaking in a new quarterback, a balanced roster featuring proven talent (wideout Izay Bridges, defensive lineman Jaden Pierce) and future stars make them dangerous to bet against.

  3. East Gaston: The Warriors have an opportunity to finish with three consecutive winning seasons for the first time in school history. East Gaston has a real opportunity to achieve such, returning a total of 15 starters from a six-win team last fall.

  4. Bessemer City: The Yellow Jackets break in a largely new cast in pursuit of another playoff berth. Bessemer City is expected to lean on a hard-hitting defense early on, a unit led by three-time all-conference linebacker Mason Chastain and linebacker Jashawn Thomas.

  5. Thomas Jefferson: With head man Jamie Hicks back in charge, the Gryphons look to improve upon their 2-9 record last fall.

  6. Cherryville: After winning three games last fall, the Ironmen seek to add to their tally in 2023. Though seeking answers at skill positions, coach Tim Pruitt finds a silver lining in its depth on both lines of scrimmage.

  7. Highland Tech: Proud alum Jimmy White looks to change the narrative at Highland Tech with the Rams entering the 2023 campaign on a 24-game losing skid.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Southern Piedmont 1A/2A football: Team-by-team previews, predictions