The Observer’s 2026 Iredell County high school football preview
Here is The Observer’s annual preview of high school football in Iredell County.
LAKE NORMAN
Coach: Jonathan Oliphant (53-35, 9th season)
2025 record: 8-4
Returning starters: 14
Key returnees: Kaden Craft (6-4, 210, QB, Jr); Sammy Wooten (6-4, 275, OL, Sr.); Elijah Foster (6-3, 265, OL, Sr.); Noah Jacobsen (6-0, 185, WR, Sr.); Doc Caldwell (6-3, 175, WR, Jr.); Gianni Zipadelli (5-10, 175, WR, Sr.); Memphys Barb (6-0, 235, LB/DE, Sr.); Reed Joyce (6-0, 205, Sr, LB); Mason Hefner (6-0, 200, DB, Sr.); Keyshon Morrison (6-1, 215, DL, Sr.); Jeremy Mitchell (5-8, 165, DB, Sr.); Jeremiah Mitchell (5-8, 155, DB, Sr.); Bryce Briones (5-11, 255, DL, Sr.); Charlie Jones (6-2, 215, LB, Jr.)
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Key newcomers: Thailan Bellamy (5-8, 165, WR, Sr.); Nick Medley (6-0, 185, OLB, Jr.)
Outlook: Lake Norman, with 14 starters back — includiing a 4-star QB — is deep and talented and poised to end Mooresville’s stranglehold on the conference — and make a deep playoff run.
LANGTREE CHARTER
Coach: Will Weir (4th season)
2025 record: 1-10
Returning starters: 13
Key returnees: Easton Roschke (6-2, 185, QB, Jr.); Thomas Hay (5-9, 150, WR, Jr.); Austin Harkey (6-1, 225, OL/DL, Sr.); Ty Hall (6-4, 185, WR, Jr.); Jackson Berry (5-11, 170, ATH, Sr.)
Key newcomers: Xavier Holder (6-1, 165, WR/DB, Fr.); Bryce Durham (5-10, 160, WR, Fr.)
Outlook: Weir has a lot of experience back from a team that did made the playoffs last season.
MOORESVILLE
Coach: Zach Mayo (21-6, 3rd season)
2025 record: 9-3
Returning starters: 10
Key returnees: Mason Holt (6-4, 280, OL, Sr.); Khamari Carr (6-4, 275, OL, Jr.*); Jackson Tronsguard (6-2, 290, OL, Sr.); Carter Crisco (6-0, 250, OL, Sr.*); Case Rhine (6-0, 220, TE, Sr.); Chanse Bost (5-10, 165, WR, Sr.*); Tanner Finnerty (5-11, 210, LB, Sr.*); Aaron Thomas (6-0, 250, DL, Sr.); Jack Shaf (6-0, 190, DB, Sr.); Blake Myeres, 5-10, 165, DB, Sr.); Tyler Myers (6-0, 170, WR, Jr.)
Key newcomers: Weston Michalak (6-2, 205, QB, Jr, Ambassador Christian transfer); Zy Pharr (5-11, 200, RB, Sr., Garinger transfer); Owen Dill (5-8, 165, Jr, RB, Ambassador Christian transfer)
Outlook: Mooresville gets a boost from former Ambassador QB Weston Michalak and Garinger RB Zy Pharr, and it tries to continue to dominate league play. The Blue Devils return four all-conference players and should be a dangerous playoff out.
NORTH IREDELL
Coach: Tony Pyland (1st season)
2025 record: 1-9
Returning starters: 9
Key returnees: Garrett Renegar (6-4, 238, DL/TE, Sr.); D’Angelo Russo (5-11, 156, QB/DB, Sr.); Elijah Johnson (5-9, 195, RB/LB, Sr.); Nate Dillard (6-0, 208, RB/LB, Sr.); Braden Hagins-Penvose (5-8, 253, OL, Sr.); Lawson Wooten (6-0, 226, C, Sr.); Dane Hill (6-3, 179, WR/DB, Sr.); Aiden Sain (6-0, 140, WR/DB, Sr.)
Outlook: Pyland takes over a team looking for its first winning season since 2014.
PINE LAKE PREP
Coach: Austin Trotter
2025 record: 2-8
Returning starters: 15
Key returnees: TJ Kieffer (5-11, 190, LB, Sr.); Paul Mahoney (6-2, 265, OL/DL, Jr.); Eli Lewis (6-2, 220, OL/DL, Soph.); Logan Petit (6-1, 205, RB, Jr.); Mark Mahoney (5-11, 175, WR/DB/RB, Soph.); Donovan Murphy (5-11, 165, DB, Jr.); Bo Macy (6-0, 160, WR, Sr.)
Key newcomers: Eyan Mann (6-0, 170, WR, Sr)
Outlook: With 15 starters back, including nine on defense, Pine Lake plans to improve on a two-win season in 2025. Last season, 16 of Pine Lake’s 22 starters were freshmen or sophomores.
SOUTH IREDELL
Coach: Rydell Cowan (1st year at South, 35-14 career)
2025 record: 3-8
Returning starters: 8
Key returnees: Tristan Cowan (6-0, 165, QB, Jr.); Bryson Pasley (6-2, 265, OL, Jr.); Donovan Henderson (5-10, 175, RB/DB, Sr.); Xavier Farley (5-9, 175, WR, Sr.); Bryan Joseph (5-10, 180, LB, Sr.); Noah Horton (6-2, 180, WR/DB, Sr.); Connor Michel (5-11, 175, WR/DB, Sr.); Wyatt Torrence (6-2, 245, OL, Soph.)
Outlook: Quarterback Tristam Cowan is one of many underclassmen that will play key roles on a South Iredell team that hopes to bounce back and have a winning season.
STATESVILLE
Coach: Breon Holmes (first year)
2025 record: 8-4
Returning starters: 9
Key returnees: Isaiah Stevenson (5-9, 170, DB, Sr.); Javin Bailey (6-0, 190, LB, Jr.); Tyson Mills (5-11, 185, LB, Sr.); Rome Newman (6-1, 200, ATH, Sr.); Isaiah Crosland (5-8, 185, DB, Sr.); Kamdyn Clarke (6-0, 230, OL, Jr.); Chance Taylor (5-9, 165, WR, Sr.); Nal’jeh Stackhouse (6-0, WR, Jr.); Camilio Belliron (6-1, 255, OL, Jr.); Jule Parks (5-8, 160, DB, Sr.); Jaiden Gilbert (6-2, 245, DL/OL, Sr.); Santario White (6-0, 190, RB, Jr.); Termel Daye (5-7, 160, ATH, Jr.)
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Outlook: Statesville’s strengths will be team strength and athleticism at the skill positions, but the Greyhounds will need their young offensive and defensive lines to hold up.
WEST IREDELL
Coach: Sean Fitzgerald (3rd season)
2025 record: 6-6
Returning starters: 14
Returning lettermen: 15
Key returnees: Amario Spence (6-1, 225, RB, Sr.); Jabraylan Patterson (6-3, 190, QB, Jr.); Phillip Maxey (5-10, 170, DB, Sr.); Lane Jordan (6-1, 300, OL, Jr.); Trae Clyburn (6-0, 205, RB, year NA); Nolan Martinez (5-9, 330, DL, Jr.); Jayquan Watson (5-10, 165, WR/DB, year NA); Izaya Peet (WR/DB, Sr.); Carson Phillips (TE/LB, Jr.)
Key newcomers: MJ Howell (RB/DB, Sr.); Dayveon Thompson (WR/DB, Jr.); Trey Davidson (WR/DB, Soph).
Outlook: With 14 returning starters, West Iredell will be experienced and talented, hunting to top the six wins it earned last season.
Tristan Cowan, South Iredell: Cowan threw for 2,100 yards and 20 touchdowns as a sophomore.
Kaden Craft, Lake Norman: A 6-4, 210-pound quarterback, Craft is a four-star expected to make his college decision Monday, choosing between Oregon, LSU, Tennessee, Michigan, Florida and Mississippi.
TJ Kieffer, Pine Lake Prep: A 5-11, 190-pound senior linebacker, Kieffer had 104 tackles last season and has 334 in his career.
Paul Mahoney, Pine Lake Prep: A 6-2, 265-pound offensive and defensive lineman, Mahoney was an all-conference pick last season.
Weston Michalak, Mooresville: The Ambassador Christian transfer, 6-2 and 205 pounds, threw for 2,321 yards and 21 touchdowns as a freshman.
Jerome Newman, Statesville: A 6-1, 200-pound athlete, Newman had 348 yards receiving, averaging nearly 30 yards per catch last season. On defense, he had 59 tackles and 12.5 sacks.
Jabraylan Patterson, West Iredell: A 6-3, 190-pound junior QB, Patterson threw for 1,628 yards last season and rushed for 222.
Zy Pharr, Mooresville: The Garinger High transfer, who is 5-11, 200 pounds, should step into the lead running back role that Ja’darius McCombs had last year before graduating as one of the school’s best-ever at the position.
Amario Spence, West Iredell: A 6-1, 225-pound senior running back, Spencer ran for 1,225 yards and had 222 yards receiving last season. He had 19 total touchdowns.
Sammy Wooten, Lake Norman: A 6-4, 275-pound senior offensive lineman, Wooten is an Appalachian State commit who anchors the line for a strong Wildcats’ offense.
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CATAWBA SHORES 1A/2A/3A
1. Corvian
2. Christ the King
3. Lake Norman Charter
4. Community School of Davidson
5. Pine Lake Prep
6. Langtree Charter
7. Lincoln Charter
8. Bradford Prep
NORTH PIEDMONT 6A/7A
WESTERN FOOTHILLS 4A/5A
1. Hickory
2. East Lincoln
3. Maiden
4. West Iredell
5. Newton-Conover
6. Bandys
7. North Lincoln
8. Fred T. Foard
9. Bunker Hill
