It’s midseason: Who are the Observer-area’s statistical leaders in prep football?
The high school football season hits its midpoint Friday with teams playing in the eighth week of the season.
Here’s a look at Observer-area leaders:
Running Backs
No. 1, Elijah Burris, Mountain Island Charter: Burris, a 5-foot-10, 215-pound junior, leads the state in rushing, averaging 15.7 yards per carry. He has 1,707 yards on 109 carries and 20 touchdowns. Burris, who has a scholarship offer from North Carolina, ranks No. 10 nationally in rushing, according to MaxPreps, which tracks statistics nationally.
Others
(Name, School, Yards, TDs)
2. Corey Siemer, Newton Foard, 1,210, 13
3. Jaylen Coleman, Indian Trail Porter Ridge, 1,134, 11
4. Ethan Howard, Catawba Bandys, 1,038, 10
5. Tyrese “Shady” Blake, Northwest Cabarrus, 1,021, 17
Quarterbacks
No. 1 Austin Fekete, Community School of Davidson: Senior ranks No. 4 in the state in passing yards (1,858). He’s completed 101-of-182 passes and has 24 touchdown passes, which ranks second in North Carolina.
Others
(Name, School, Yards, TDs)
2. Gabe Carroll, Clover (SC), 1,830, 14
3. Kaylon Wade, Kings Mountain, 1,822, 22
4. Preston Brown, West Mecklenburg, 1,699, 21
5. Kennique Bonner-Steward, Hough, 1,629, 19
Receiving
No. 1, Kobe Paysour, Kings Mountain: 247Sports ranks Paysour among the nation’s top 50 recruits in the class of 2021. The 6-1, 175-pound sophomore is third in the state in receiviing with 972 yards on 40 catches and 14 touchdowns.
Others
(Name, School, Yards, TDs)
No. 2, Jalen Houston, West Rowan, 762, 9
No. 3, Gavin Blackwell, Indian Trail Sun Valley, 663, 12
No. 4., Dylan Abernathy, Maiden, 652, 7
No. 5, Ryan Renshaw, Community School of Davidson, 645, 7
Tackling Leaders
No. 1, James Price, Unionville Piedmont: The 6-1, 210-pound senior averages 16.6 tackles per game (116) and is tied for the second-most tackles in the state. Price has 10 tackles for a loss and one sack in seven games.
Others
(Name, School, Total Tackles)
No. 2 Cole Larsen, East Rutherford, 105
No. 3, Clint Bost, Concord, 96
No. 4, Jourdan Heilig, Concord, 92
No. 4 (tie), Luke Binkley, SouthLake Christian, 92
Sack Leaders
No. 1 Tyson Clawson, Independence: Sophomore ranks No. 5 in the state with 10.5 sacks and is averaging 1.5 sacks per game.
Others
(Name, School, No.)
No. 2, Toney Black Jr., Harrisburg Hickory Ridge, 10.0
No. 3, Kareem Stinson, Northside Christian, 8.0
No. 4, Austin Riviere, Hickory Grove, 8.0
No. 5 Trent Smith, East Lincoln, 8.0
Kyle Morey, Pine Lake Prep, 8.0
Travali Price, North Lincoln, 8.0
Jordan Steele, Mountain Island Charter, 8.0
Interception Leaders
No. 1 Keonte Cherry, West Mecklenburg: Got four of his seven interceptions in a 62-12 win over Independence last month. That was one off the state record. Cherry, a senior, ranks No. 2 in the state in total interceptions.
Others
(Name, School, No.)
No. 2, Jaquaylen Hardin, Bessemer City, 6
No. 3, Jordan Harris, East Rutherford, 5
No. 4, Montrell Stinson, Maiden, 5