Observer-area high school football conference previews
CISAA
Top players: Gabe Montgomery, RB, Providence Day; Elijah Deveaux, RB, Charlotte Christian; John Turley, QB, Charlotte Christian; Cole Bloomer, QB, Country Day; Melvin Rouse, ATH, Charlotte Latin; Hunter Sheridan, LB, Charlotte Latin
Can’t-miss games: Charlotte Christian at Charlotte Latin, Oct. 2; Charlotte Country Day at Charlotte Christian, Oct. 16; Charlotte Country Day at Charlotte Latin, Oct. 30
Predicted finish: 1. Charlotte Christian; 2. Charlotte Latin; 3. Charlotte Country Day; 4. Providence Day
MECKA 8
Top players: James Smith, QB, Mallard Creek; Josh Brown, LB, Mallard Creek; Damon Johnson, QB, AL Brown; Marquill Osborne, DB, Hough; Matt Stevens, LB, Hough; Zach Stearns, K, Hough; Clifton Pittman, DL/OL, Hopewell; Chris Moore, DL, North Meck; Chancery Bowman, RB, Mallard Creek; Marlon Dunlap, DL, West Charlotte
Can’t-miss games: Hopewell at Hough Sept. 25; Hough at Mallard Creek, Oct. 9; Mallard Creek at Vance, Oct. 16; Vance at Hough, Nov. 5
Predicted finish: 1. Mallard Creek; 2. Vance; 3. Hough; 4. AL Brown; 5. North Mecklenburg; 6. Hopewell; 7. West Charlotte
SoMeck 8
Top players: Jaret Anderson, RB, Charlotte Catholic; Julian Okwara, Ardrey Kell; Taleni Suhren, Ardrey Kell; Bryan Digby, WR/FB, Berry; Xavier Gagnon, LB, Charlotte Catholic; Eugene Alexander, QB, Harding; Joe Lamar, RB, Olympic; Jordan Fehr, LB, Providence; Jack King, RB/DB, Providence; Chance Kennedy, WR, South Meck; Zach Gilbert, DE, South Meck
Can’t-miss games: Providence at Ardrey Kell, Oct. 16; Charlotte Catholic at South Meck, Oct. 16; Charlotte Catholic at Ardrey Kell, Oct. 30; Providence at Charlotte Catholic, Nov. 6; Ardrey Kell at South Meck, Nov. 6
Predicted finish: 1. Charlotte Catholic; 2. Ardrey Kell; 3. Providence; 4. South Meck; 5. Olympic; 6. Berry; 7. West Mecklenburg; 8. Harding
Southwestern 4A
Top players: Benny LeMay, RB, Butler; Clifton Duck, WR/DB, Butler; TJ Elliot, LB, East Meck; Jordan Freeman, RB/WR, Garinger; Noah Smith, LB, Myers Park; Jamal Watson, DB, Myers Park; Larry Blanton, LB, Rocky River; Christian Colon, OL/DL, Independence; Kima Bell, TE/DE, Independence
Can’t-miss games: Rocky River at Myers Park, Sept. 25; Myers Park at Butler, Oct. 9; Independence at Myers Park, Oct. 23; Independence at Rocky River, Oct. 30; Butler at Independence, Nov. 6
Predicted finish: 1. Butler; 2. Independence; 3. Myers Park; 4. Rocky River; 5. Garinger; 6. Porter Ridge; 7. East Mecklenburg
Big South 2A/3A
Top players: Moe Neal, RB, Forestview; Ontario Sadler, DL, Ashbrook; Tyler Spurling, RB, East Gaston; Nick Ferens, ATH, East Gaston; Antwanez Barnett, WR, Hunter Huss; Marion Whitley, DB, Hunter Huss; Lathan Bumgarner, LB, North Gaston; Sean Dugan, RB, Lake Norman Charter; Scott Moore, TE/DE, Stuart Cramer
Can’t-miss games: Ashbrook at South Point, Oct. 9; Forestview at Ashbrook, Oct. 23; Ashbrook at Hunter Huss, Nov. 6
Predicted finish: 1. South Point; 2. Forestview; 3. Ashbrook; 4. East Gaston; 5. Hunter Huss; 6. North Gaston; 7. Lake Norman Charter; 8. Stuart Cramer
North Piedmont 3A/4A
Top players: Travis Ramseur, QB, Statesville; Devante Clark, RB, Alexander Central; Jake Helms, DT, Lake Norman; Marquise Dukes, DB/RB, North Iredell; Alex Gourley, OL, South Iredell; Ronald Eckles, DL, South Iredell; Demarcus Maddox, DB, Statesville
Can’t-miss games: Mooresville at Statesville, Sept. 25; Statesville at Lake Norman, Oct. 2; Lake Norman at Mooresville, Oct. 30
Predicted finish: 1. Mooresville; 2. Statesville; 3. Lake Norman; 4. South Iredell; 5. Alexander Central; 6. North Lincoln; 7. North Iredell; 8. West Iredell
Rocky River 1A/2A
Top players: Cody Reece, RB, Mount Pleasant; Drew Gilbert, OL, Central Academy; Zach Rorie, QB, Forest Hills; Nequan Hailey, OL/DL, Monroe; Desmond Robinson, WR/DB, Monroe; Clayton Horn, RB, Mount Pleasant; Tanner Pennington, OT, West Stanly
Can’t-miss games: Forest Hills at Mount Pleasant, Oct. 9; Mount Pleasant at Monroe, Oct. 16; Forest Hills at Monroe, Nov. 6
Predicted finish: 1. Mount Pleasant; 2. Monroe; 3. Forest Hills; 4. Parkwood; 5. West Stanly; 6. Central Academy
Southern Carolina 3A
Top players: Austin Kendall, QB, Cuthbertson; J.T. Cauthen, WR, Cuthbertson; Timmy Horne, OL/DL, Anson County; John Wells, DE, Marvin Ridge; Emeka Emezie, WR, Marvin Ridge; Lance Moore, DE, Weddington; Grayson Willingham, QB, Weddington; Myles Moore, LB, Weddington
Can’t-miss games: Marvin Ridge at Cuthbertson, Oct. 9; Cuthbertson at Weddington, Oct. 16; Sun Valley at Weddington, Oct. 23; Weddington at Marvin Ridge, Nov. 6
Predicted finish: 1. Weddington; 2. Cuthbertson; 3. Marvin Ridge; 4. Sun Valley; 5. Anson County; 6. Piedmont
Southern District 7 2A
Top players: Chazz Surratt, QB, East Lincoln; Sage Surratt, WR, East Lincoln; Jarrett Pemleton, RB, Bandys; Latarus Dameron, RB/LB, Lincolnton; Jordon Easter, QB, Lincolnton; Cameron Stanley, QB, Newton-Conover; Trustin Harper, RB, West Caldwell
Can’t-miss games: East Lincoln at Lincolnton, Oct. 2; Maiden at East Lincoln, Oct. 30; Lincolnton at Maiden, Nov. 6
Predicted finish: 1. East Lincoln; 2. Maiden; 3. Lincolnton; 4. Newton-Conover; 5. West Caldwell; 6. Bandys
South Piedmont 3A
Top players: Keenan Black, QB, Concord; Carter Mozingo, WR, Concord; Jonathan Earl, WR, Cox Mill; Tyler English, QB, Central Cabarrus; Sawyer Kimmer, OL, East Rowan; Greg Waslo, QB, Hickory Ridge; Will Putnam, OL/DL, Hickory Ridge; Anthony Caldwell, WR/DB, NW Cabarrus
Can’t-miss games: Concord at Hickory Ridge, Sept. 11; West Rowan at East Rowan, Oct. 15; Concord at West Rowan, Oct. 23; Hickory Ridge at West Rowan, Nov. 6
Predicted finish: 1. Hickory Ridge; 2. Concord; 3. West Rowan; 4. East Rowan; 5. Cox Mill; 6. Carson; 7. Central Cabarrus; 8. South Rowan; 9. JM Robinson; 10. NW Cabarrus
Southern Piedmont 1A
Top players: Joey Bernardini, RB, Community School Davidson; Erik Sosa, OL, Bessemer City; Luke Gibby, OL/DL, Bessemer City; Michael Lawing, WR/DB, Cherryville; Aapri Washington, DB, Mountain Island Charter; Connor O’Donnell, WR, Mountain Island Charter;
Can’t-miss games: Bessemer City at Mountain Island, Aug. 28; Mountain Island at Community School, Sept. 25; Community School at Bessemer City, Oct. 9;
Predicted finish: 1. Community School of Davidson; 2. Bessemer City; 3. Mountain Island Charter; 4. Cherryville; 5. Pine Lake Prep; 6. Thomas Jefferson; 7. Highland Tech
Yadkin Valley 1A
Top players: Tyler Lee, ATH, Albemarle; Caleb Beavers, RB/LB, Chatham Central; Rivers Hall, LB, East Montgomery; Malik McCrimmon, QB, North Moore; Jordan Maness, DL, North Moore; Antonio Williams, RB, North Stanly; Colton Allen, RB/LB, South Stanly; Will Heyward, WR/DB, Union Academy
Can’t-miss Games: Albemarle at East Montgomery, Sept. 11; West Montgomery at Albemarle, Oct. 9; East Montgomery at West Montgomery, Nov. 6
Predicted finish: 1. West Montgomery; 2. Albemarle; 3. East Montgomery; 4. North Moore; 5. North Stanly; 6. Union Academy; 7. South Stanly; 8. South Davidson; 9. Chatham Central
This story was originally published August 15, 2015 at 12:32 PM with the headline "Observer-area high school football conference previews."