Who made the 2019 All-Charlotte Observer high school football team?
A Union County running back and a Mecklenburg County linebacker are the 2019 All-Observer football players of the year. For the second straight season, a coach from Vance High School wins coach of the year.
Each December, the Charlotte Observer names its All-Observer team for the top players in its coverage-area, which includes 162 schools in North and South Carolina. Players must be nominated by their coaches to be considered.
▪ Weddington High’s Will Shipley, a junior, is the 2019 All-Observer offensive player of the year. Named the N.C. Gatorade player of the year, Shipley led Weddington to its second straight N.C. 3AA state championship, rushing for 256 yards on 26 carries and four touchdowns in a 34-14 win over Lee County.
For the season, Shipley ran for 2,066 yards and 31 touchdowns. He caught 34 passes for 582 yards and nine scores. Shipley is undecided for college but told the Observer recently that he plans to announce his short list of five-to-seven schools soon.
▪ On defense, Vance linebacker Power Echols repeats as player of the year. Echols was named Observer and Associated Press N.C. player of the year last season after leading Vance to the state final where his team lost 9-7 to Wake Forest. This season, Vance returned to the state final, where Echols was named championship MVP after leading his team to its first state title, 24-3 over Raleigh’s Leesville Road High.
For the season, Echols had 156 tackles, 14 sacks, plus 22 tackles for a loss and seven forced fumbles. He’s received more than 50 scholarship offers, but told the Observer after the state final that he had narrowed his list to Clemson, North Carolina and Penn State.
▪ The 2019 coach of the year is Vance High’s Glenwood Ferebee. He took over after 2018 coach of the year Aaron Brand left for a job in South Carolina. Ferebee directed the Cougars to a 13-2 record and through a playoff gauntlet that included road wins over the top three seeds in the western half of the playoff bracket. Along the way, Vance beat two three-time state champions and a seven-time champ.
Click here to see the 2019 All-Observer offense
Click here to see the 2019 All-Observer defense
Click here to see the final 2019 Sweet 16 football poll
This story was originally published December 25, 2019 at 12:42 AM.
