Sweet 16 countdown: ‘The Bully’ is back. Shelby aims for a repeat NC 2A state title
Last December, Shelby High School won its 19th N.C. state football championship and its seventh in nine years.
And heading into his fifth year, Golden Lions coach Mike Wilbanks thinks his 2022 team, once the season gets going, can be just as good as his most recent one.
That’s probably not the news most N.C. 2A teams wanted to hear.
But, the bully is back.
“That’s the expectation here,” Wilbanks said, “that we’ll be good.”
Shelby was 15-1 last season, and the Golden Lions outscored opponents by an average of 30 points per game. The only team to beat Shelby was S.C. 4A power South Pointe. South Pointe won 51-37, at Shelby, early in the season and went onto to win its seventh S.C. state championship.
As you read that, remember, Wilbanks thinks this year’s team — eventually — can be just as good as Shelby 2021.
“The target (on us) is pretty big,” he said, “but that’s something that comes with the territory here, and most of the kids are used to it. We know every Friday night, we get whomever’s best shot.”
Wilbanks’ team returns 14 starters, including eight on offense, but Shelby must replace six players on defense who earned scholarships, including Santana Hopper and Malaki Hamrick, who both made The Charlotte Observer’s all-state “Super Team” last season.
Hamrick, named MaxPreps’ NC defensive player of the year, is at North Carolina now. Hopper, a top 20 N.C. recruit, is at Appalachian State.
“You don’t replace those,” Wilbanks said. “They only come along so often in a career, so you’ve got to have guys to take on what they did. I feel like our offense is set with eight starters back. The defense will be a question mark. Our kicker is back. I feel good about our kicking game. Our offense will have to hold it down until the defense comes along.”
On offense, Shelby will feature senior QB Daylin Lee, who threw for 313 yards and five touchdowns in last December’s 55-34 win over Wallace-Rose Hill in the state championship game.
He finished the season with 3,800 yards and 50 touchdowns against just five interceptions. Also returning are two receivers who combined for nearly 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns — Ja’Keith Hamilton and Izay Bridges.
Scoring points shouldn’t be a problem.
“We do have talent,” Wilbanks said. “I’m not going to say we’re making lemonade out of lemons. We’ve got some talented players but a lot of teams do. I think my staff is excellent. I’m biased but I think it’s one of the best around. We’ve been together a long time.”
Wilbanks has been at Shelby for nearly 20 years. Many of his assistants have been there at least a decade. Some grew up in the area, soaking up what is perhaps the best high school football tradition in North Carolina. The Golden Lions have won a state championship in each of the past six decades and have won more than 80 percent of their playoff games all time.
“We’ve got a lot of continuity on the staff,” Wilbanks said, “and that helps when you’ve got a pipeline of talent coming and you have that stability in your coaching staff. We live in a community with a lot of tradition and it was in place before I came around. They’ve been doing this here for a long time. Parents and grandparents played here and instill expectations into their kids.
“And those kids grow up knowing they’re going to play here and knowing they’re expected to win. That’s just how it is.”
Inside Look: Shelby High School
Head coach: Mike Wilbanks (35-5, fifth season)
2021 Record: 15-1 (N.C. 2A state champions)
Returning lettermen: 39
Returning starters: 14 (8 offense)
Key Returnees: QB Daylin Lee (6-4, 195, Sr); WR Ja’Keith Hamilton (6-4, 190, Sr.); OL Jackie Ross (6-1, 300, Sr.); DL Tyler Boyce (6-3, 265, Sr.); DB TJ Griffin (6-3, 180, Sr.); WR Izay Bridges (5-8, 160, Jr.); DL Jaden Pierce (6-3, 320, Jr.); DB Canden McGill (6-2, 180, Jr.); K Jack Berkowitz (5-8, 150, Sr.); OL Jamari Houston (5-11, 245, Sr.)
Fresh Faces: RB/DB Tristan Tate (5-8, 165, Soph); OL Scotland Dover (6-4, 290, Fr.); DL LJ Watkins (6-2, 260, Jr.)
