Sweet 16 Countdown: Charlotte Christian hopes to restore order to prep football universe
Editor’s Note: The Observer is taking a look at the 16 teams that are ranked in the preseason Sweet 16 prep football poll, released in random order. The true order of the teams will be revealed later this month.
Charlotte-area high school football returned last fall.
One of its biggest powers did not.
While the region’s teams went back to an autumn schedule that looked at least somewhat like it did before COVID-19’s arrival, things weren’t the same on Sardis Road in southeast Charlotte.
Charlotte Christian, which dominated the state’s private school football scene for much of the past decade, had a losing season.
This is the same Charlotte Christian that played Carolinas state public school powers like Mallard Creek and Myrtle Beach, often beating big-name opponents.
But in 2021, the Knights struggled through a 5-6 season — their first losing record since 2005.
“If nothing else, it might have given us a dose of humility,” says head coach Jason Estep, heading into his 16th year guiding the Knights.
The region’s high school football teams launch their official practice sessions Monday, with the season’s first games scheduled three weeks from Thursday night.
Charlotte Christian will be among teams included in The Observer’s preseason Sweet 16.
Anything beyond that for the Knights is guesswork. Last season proved that.
“We had some heartache last year,” Estep says. “It was a learning opportunity for us. I hate it for last year’s seniors, but the rest of our group has come back a little wiser.”
Regardless of what happens on the football field, this will be a strange year at Charlotte Christian.
The school’s high school students will be spread across campus. A new high school building is under construction, next to the school’s athletic complex.
“Our high school students will be scattered around the school,” Estep says.
He is working to make sure the football team has cohesiveness.
“Actually, that’s been one of the bright spots from our summer drills,” he says. “I’ve seen team leaders emerge. And I’m seeing this team kind of define itself.”
There’s more to the story of the 2021 season than a 5-6 record at Charlotte Christian.
The Knights lost two games in overtime. They fell 24-22 to Charlotte Latin, and they dropped a 14-7 decision to public school powerhouse Weddington. Estep’s team also suffered a series of injuries to significant players.
“Four of our losses came by a total of 15 points,” Estep notes. “Football can be a game of inches. But either way, we lost those games, and we have to come back better.”
The pieces are there, especially on offense.
Senior quarterback Cam Estep, the coach’s son, threw for 1,147 yards last season despite missing time with a shoulder injury. Junior running back Ryan Henley rushed for more than 800 yards. Micah Gilbert and Grant Tucker give Cam Estep a pair of 6-3 passing targets at wide receiver.
The defense is a bit iffy, with only five returning starters.
But this is Charlotte Christian, and the Knights typically reload.
“We have some new faces who look very promising,” Estep says.
The fuel for this season will be last fall, Estep adds.
“I see a bunch of guys who are back with a bad taste in their mouths,” he says. “There seems to be a real unity — an unusual amount of it — on this team.
“I think they’re closer because of what happened last season. There definitely seems to be a chip on their shoulders.”
They’ll need it, considering the schedule.
The Knights open at home Aug. 19 against Weddington. The following Friday, they host Southside Christian, from Simpsonville, S.C. The Sabres were 14-0 last season and won the 1A state championship in the Palmetto State.
Later in the season are matchups with private school state title favorite (and neighborhood rival) Providence Day, plus powerhouses Rabun Gap and Harrells Christian.
“We pride ourselves on having a tough schedule,” Estep says. “It’s the best way to prepare ourselves for the playoffs.”
He says the one uncontrollable is health.
“Injuries can derail us, like they can derail any team,” Estep says.
If the Knights can avoid those, they might restore some order to the football universe this fall.
Inside Look: Charlotte Christian
Head Coach: Jason Estep (16th season)
2021 record: 5-6
Returning lettermen: 35
Returning starters: 13
Key Returnees: WR Micah Gilbert (6-3, 200, Jr.); QB Cam Estep (6-0, 180, Sr.); WR/DB/LB Grant Tucker (6-3, 200, Sr.); RB/DB Kyron Jones (6-1, 200, Sr.); OL/DL Danny Stevens (6-4, 265, Sr.); WR/TE Cade Nicholson (6-2, 215, Sr.); RB Ryan Henley (5-10, 185, Jr.); OL/DL Brock Benton (6-4, 230, Sr.); OL Gavin Major (6-4, 260, Jr.)
