Gaston County high school football preview: Which teams could wind up on top?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
Which Gaston County teams could play for a football title? Which players have been offered college scholarships? Here’s an outlook on the area’s season.
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ASHBROOK
Head coach: Darius James
2025 record: 12-1
Returning starters: 10
Key returnees: AJ McLain (QB); Savion Lindsay (RB); Braylon Smith (Ath.); Jakeylan Littlejohn (Ath.); Qualan Lindsay (TE); Kenmarion Lyons (DT).
Key newcomers: Jaydin Phillips (OL); Ziggy Dixon (Ath.); Jakobi Freeman (DL); Mayklin Hinton (LB); Micah Gordon (LB); Christian Meeks (OL).
Outlook: Despite returning 10 starters, the Green Wave will be a young team, but potentially explosive offensively, with a plethora of threats.
BESSEMER CITY
Head coach: Beady Waddell
2025 record: 1-9
Returning starters: 7
Key returnees: Adrian Tolbert (QB/Ath., Sr.); Jayden Owens (RB/LB, Sr.); Von McGill (OG/DT, Sr.); CJ Hill (WR/DB, Sr.); Jay Garvin (Ath., Jr.); Brayden Jones (OL/DL, Jr.); Chase Sanders (LB/HB, Sr.).
Key newcomers: Xzavione Thacker (OL/DL, Jr.); Drecio Strong (OL, Soph.); Monteris Garvin (Ath., Sr.); Nyceere Brown (Ath., Jr.); Justin Tate (Ath., Jr.); Jayden Swink (LB/HB, Sr.); Dax Moorehead (C, Jr.); Zaylen Alexander (DB, Jr.); Coryon Gaines (DB, Sr.); Zymiere Carter (Ath., Sr.); Kyrese Gullate (DL/HB, Sr.).
Outlook: Coming off a 1-9 season, Bessemer City has a lot of new faces, including head coach Beady Waddell. Waddell was at West Meck last season. He coached the Mecklenburg County school for six seasons.
CHERRYVILLE
EAST GASTON
Coach: Nick Medici (2nd season)
2025 record: 2-8
Returning starters: 12
Key returnees: Chris Leavy (5-9, 175, RB/DB, Jr.); Mari Chambers (5-8, 168, QB/DB, Soph. — All-Conference); Gabe Sides (6-0, 170, RB/LB, Soph. — All-Conference); DJ Moore (5-7, 160, WR/DB, Jr.); Tristan Baker (6-2, 220, TE/DE, Sr.); Brady Miller (5-10, 185, RB/LB, Sr.); Kai Lucas (6-0, 265, OL/DL, Sr.).
Outlook: Senior offensive lineman Kai Lucas lost his brother, Keagan, this past spring and the team has dedicated the season to Keagan. East Gaston should be explosive offensively, thanks to several key returning skill players.
FORESTVIEW
Head coach: Christopher Rayfield
2025 record: 3-8
Returning starters: 7
Key returnees: Jontavious Battle (5-10, 160, DB, Jr. — 50 total tackles, 16 solo, 1 INT); Rex Champion (6-3, 280, OL/DL, Sr. — Team Award: Lineman of the Year); Kamarion Dye (5-9, 150, WR, Sr. — missed six games with a broken collarbone); Owen Kelly (6-0, 225, OL/DL, Sr.); Palaris Newsome (6-0, 200, RB/LB, Sr. — 206 rushing yards, 6 yards per carry, 160 receiving yards, 11 yards per reception, 4 total TDs; transitioning to QB); Marcus Rhodes (6-0, 185, RB/WR/S, Sr. — 20 total tackles, 11 solo, 1 INT, 300 receiving yards, 5 TDs; Team Award: Most Versatile); Aidyen Williams (5-10, 155, WR/DB, Sr. — 27 total tackles, 7 solo); Jacole Bates (6-0, 175, WR/DB, Jr.); Chasaun Littlejohn (6-0, 175, RB/LB, Soph. — missed two-thirds of the season with a broken leg); Brendan Shoffner (5-10, 145, WR/DB, Jr.); Nate Smith (5-11, 175, WR/LB, Sr.).
Key newcomers: Ryan Payseur (5-11, 210, LB, Sr. — transfer from South Point High School).
Outlook: Forestview has had four straight losing seasons, but appears to have enough talent to turn that around this season.
HUNTER HUSS
Coach: Randy Thompson
2025 record: 5-6
Returning starters: 10
Key returnees: Obrian Lockhart (WR/DB, Sr.); Quincy Fortenberry (Ath., Sr.); Kamari Falls (DE/TE, Sr.); JJ Mackins (Ath., Jr.).
Key newcomers: Caleb Kendrick – RB/LB, Soph.; Hezkiah Moses – WR/DB, Jr.; RJ Lynch – WR, Soph.
Outlook: Hunter Huss hasn’t had a winning season since 2019. The Huskies came very close last season, but lost their final four games. The goal this year? “Get over the hump,” coach Randy Thompson said.
MOUNTAIN ISLAND CHARTER
Coach: Robert Washington
2025 record: 7-6
Returning starters: NA
Key returnees: Javon Boyd (5-11, 170, Ath., Sr.); An’Dre Ramseur (5-9, 170, Ath., Jr.); Kayden Clark (5-9, 150, Ath., Jr.); Javen Boyd (6-0, 250, OL/DL, Sr.); Chamond Ford (5-11, 160, Ath., Jr.); KJ Nguyen (5-10, 220, OL/DL, Sr.); Izzy Hacket (5-10, 160, Ath., Jr.); Morgan Green (5-10, 210, RB/LB, Sr.).
Outlook: Mountain Island will get a big talent boost this season. After missing the 2025 season due to injury, QB/ATH KJ Nguyen and RB/LB Morgan Green rejoin the team, which hopes to match or better a third round playoff run in 2025.
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NORTH GASTON
Coach: Daniel Hoyle
2025 record: 1-9
Returning starters: NA
Key returnees: NA
Outlook: “The kids have worked hard this offseason,” Hoyle said. “They have hit the weight room hard and also the field, learning a new offense and defense. We are striving to be fresh on both sides of the ball and keep as many people on one side of the ball. We are working toward small successes that translate to big success.”
SOUTH POINT
Head coach: Adam Hodge (10th season, 81-30)
2025 record: 10-3
Returning starters: 10
Key returnees: Cayden Rumph (6-0, 165, QB/DB, Sr.); Kaveaun Pless (6-0, 200, RB, Jr.); Landon Suttle (6-4, 290, OL, Jr.); Jent Miller (5-11, 170, LB, Sr.); Greg Blair (6-4, 280, DT, Sr.); Tucker McWhirter (5-10, 160, DB, Jr.); Wilson London (6-2, 190, OL/K, Jr.); Wade Jefferies (5-11, 190, DE/LB, Jr.); Jesse Ledford (5-11, 170, WB, Sr.); Stratt Triplett (6-0, 190, OL, Sr.); Malachi Felician (5-10, 160, WB, Jr.).
Key newcomers: Tre Gardin (6-0, 170, DB, Soph. — up from South Point JV); Kaleb Corey (6-0, 170, DB, Soph. — up from South Point JV).
Outlook: Coming off a fourth-round playoff appearance with 10 starters back, the Red Raiders should challenge for a league title and another deep playoff run.
STUART CRAMER
Head coach: Ashton Simmons
2025 record: 9-3
Returning starters: 14
Key returnees: Qualteau Hawkins (TE/DE, Sr. — All-Conference two-way starter); Amari Broome (OL/DL, Sr. — All-Conference two-way starter); Anthony Smith (OL/DL, Sr. — All-Conference two-way starter); Landon Lee (WR/DB, Sr. — All-Conference two-way starter); Brayden Fortenberry (RB/LB, Sr. — All-Conference two-way starter); Jake Harms (K/P, Sr. — All-Conference Kicker of the Year); Blake Wilkinson (RB/DB, Sr.); Cooper McMillan (QB/DB, Sr.); Cody Alexander (WR/DB, Sr.); Camden Lee (RB/LB, Sr.); Jayden Nolley (WR/DB, Jr. — 4A 400-meter state champion); Leonard Wright (RB/DB, Jr.).
Key newcomers: Caleb Smith (K/P, Sr. — transfer); Bryce Cuadra (TE/LB, Sr. — transfer); Kason Allen (OL/DL, Jr. — JV); Kendall Sherrill (WR/DB, Jr. — JV); Phil Coburn (OL/DL, Jr. — JV); Camden Stillwell (QB/DB, Soph. — transfer); Kelly Bridges (TE/DL, Soph. — JV).
Outlook: Stuart Cramer had a monster turnaround in 2025, going 9-3, after going 2-8 the season before. This year, the Storm has a lot of all-conference talent returning. This could be the best team in school history.
Kamari Falls, Hunter Huss: The senior defensive end returns after a monster junior season: 134 tackles, nine tackles for a loss and three sacks.
Qualteau Hawkins, Stuart Cramer: Last season, as a junior, Hawkins was all-conference. At tight end, he caught 26 passes for 602 yards and 9 touchdowns. On defense, he had 28 tackles, 8 tackles for a loss and 4 sacks.
Landon Lee, Stuart Cramer: Lee, a rising senior, was all-conference last season when he had 30 tackles and six interceptions as a defensive back, plus 25 catches for 433 yards and four touchdowns.
Savion Lindsay, Ashbrook: Senior RB ran for 844 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025, caught 7 passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns.
AJ McClain, Ashbrook: Senior QB threw for 1,049 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, and rushed for 483 yards and four more scores.
Kaveaun Pless, South Point: At 6 feet and 200 pounds, Pless is blessed with great size for a player at his position and comes off a sophomore season when he ran for 1,803 yards and 25 touchdowns, averaging more than 8 yards per carry.
An’Dre Ramseur, Mountain Island Charter: Last season, as a sophomore, Ramseur had 1,701 passing yards and 19 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,127 yards and 10 scores.
Cayden Rumph, South Point: Rumph will take over starting QB duties from Patrick Blee, who graduated. Rumph ran for 376 yards and 8 TDs last season. He had 35 tackles on defense.
BIG SOUTH 5A/6A
(Picks from Talking Preps co-host Gary Richmond)
SOUTHERN PIEDMONT 1A/2A/3A/4A
1. Shelby
2. Burns
3. Stuart Cramer
4. West Lincoln
5. Cherryville
6. East Gaston
7. Bessemer City
8. Highland Tech
YADKIN VALLEY 2A/3A
1. North Rowan
2. North Stanly
3. Union Academy
4. Mountain Island Charter
5. Albemarle
6. South Stanly
7. Thomas Jefferson
8. Bonnie Cone
Note: The Observer did not receive preseason forms from Cherryville or Highland Tech.
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