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Another high school football season in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties is in the books.
The 2024 campaign saw North Lincoln win 12 games, in addition to its deepest run through the NCHSAA state playoffs in school history. Meanwhile, Ashbrook made a statement, winning 10 games in a season for the first time in 20 years along with knocking off rival South Point twice. Lincolnton also made it a season to remember, digging out of an 0-4 hole to win its final six regular season games and the Catawba Valley 2A title.
With more than enough great teams and as many stellar individual performances to choose from, here is the Gaston Gazette and Shelby Star’s 2024 All-Area football team. Carefully selected with input from area coaches, the 19 schools in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties are represented by players and coaches selected to the All-area first and second teams.
Offensive Player of the Year
Shannon Wingate
North Lincoln | Jr., RB
Why chosen: Voted the Western Foothills 3A Offensive Player of the Year, Wingate rushed for 2,078 yards and 32 touchdowns, helping the Knights to average just shy of 40 points per game this fall. A 5-foot-11, 210-pound running back, Wingate averaged 7.7 yards per carry this past season.
Defensive Player of the Year
Caleb Gordon
Ashbrook | Jr., LB
Why chosen: Gordon was the centerpiece of an Ashbrook defense which allowed 13 points per game. The Big South 3A Defensive Player of the Year, he finished with a team-high 141 tackles (eight for a loss), four sacks, two interceptions, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
Coach of the Year
Darius James, Ashbrook
It was never about validation, but in the process James and the Ashbrook football team used this season to prove a point: something is brewing on S. New Hope Rd. in Gastonia. James led the Green Wave to a 10-3 record, the program’s most wins since 2004.
Ashbrook also won two playoff games, including a 31-28 come-from-behind victory at long-time nemesis South Point. More importantly, James is changing how those outside Ashbrook High perceive the school, brick-by-brick.
“Our kids are resilient; they don’t get in trouble, they have high (grade-point averages), they go to college,” he said following the Green Wave’s playoff win at South Point. “But for some reason, people say Ashbrook is not disciplined, Ashbrook is not this, or Ashbrook is not that, as if other teams are the litmus test. Hopefully this proves a little something.”
First team offense
Grant Lawless
East Lincoln | Jr., QB
Why chosen: The 6-foot-3, 195-pound quarterback completed just shy of 66% of his passes for 2,650 yards and 36 touchdowns with only four interceptions. He also rushed for 388 yards and three TDs.
Aiden Carson
Crest | Sr., RB
Why chosen: Rushed for 1,149 yards and 28 touchdowns on 184 carries, in addition to 284 receiving yards and three TDs. Carson scored a touchdown in each of his team’s games this fall.
Tristan Tate
Shelby | Sr., RB
Why chosen: In 12 games, Tate rushed for 1,064 yards and 19 touchdowns. He was also a factor in the passing game, finishing with 18 receptions for 226 yards and two TDs.
Jackson Beam
East Lincoln | Sr., WR
Why chosen: Beam caught 67 passes this fall for 819 yards and 15 touchdowns.
William Vaughn
Kings Mountain | Jr., WR
Why chosen: Vaughn finished his junior season with 45 receptions for 994 yards and nine touchdowns.
Gage Camp
Burns | So., OL
Why chosen: Camp was part of an offensive line which averaged 345.4 yards per game, almost 250 of those on the ground.
Gavin Gibson
South Point | Sr., OL
Why chosen: Gibson anchored an offensive line which helped Red Raider backs average 293.4 yards per game and seven yards per carry.
Jonathan Moore
Ashbrook | Jr., OL
Why chosen: A 6-foot-3, 280-pound offensive lineman, Moore finished with 52 pancake blocks last fall in helping the Green Wave to 10 wins.
Grant Mullen
North Lincoln | Sr., OL
Why chosen: The senior co-captain anchored a North Lincoln offensive line which helped the Knights average better than 378 yards and just shy of 40 points per game.
Khavijae Nixon
Lincolnton | Sr., OL
Why chosen: The 6-foot-4, 270-pound offensive lineman finished this past season with 63 pancake blocks, helping the Wolves claim a share of their first league title since 2016.
First team defense
Eli Lipscomb
Kings Mountain | Sr., DL
Why chosen: Lipscomb led his team with 131 tackles (24 for a loss) with seven sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Semaj Odems
Kings Mountain | Jr., DL
Why chosen: Odems experienced a breakout season, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound edge rusher finishing 80 tackles along with a team-high 11 sacks.
Jeremiah Pagan
Ashbrook | Sr., DL
Why chosen: The 6-foot-2, 265-pound defensive lineman had 48 tackles (five for a loss), four sacks and a forced fumble this fall for a Green Wave defense which allowed 13 points per game.
Brady Rinkus
North Lincoln | Sr., DL
Why chosen: The senior defensive end had 84 tackles (20 ½ for a loss), a team-high 12 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Antonio Armstrong
Kings Mountain | Sr. LB
Why chosen: Had 128 tackles (16 for a loss) along with three sacks, an interception, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two blocked field goals.
Ryan Bassani
North Lincoln | Sr., LB
Why chosen: Led his team with 141 tackles (20 ½ for a loss), 5 ½ sacks, an interception, forced four fumbles and recovered another.
Jalaythan Mayfield
Lincolnton | So., LB
Why chosen: Led the Wolves with 109 tackles (18 for a loss) this season, along with 10 sacks, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He also blocked a field goal.
Gene Neely
Hunter Huss | Sr., DB
Why chosen: Neely led all area defensive backs with 115 tackles (two for a loss) this fall, along with four interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Gavin Smith
South Point | Jr., DB
Why chosen: Had 62 tackles and nine interceptions this fall for the Red Raiders.
D’Various Surratt
Crest | Jr., DB
Why chosen: Finished with 43 tackles and four interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.
Athletes
Javarion Brown
Hunter Huss | Sr., QB
Why chosen: Brown completed just 54% of his passes for 1,752 yards and 19 touchdowns, in addition to 1,009 rushing yards and eight TDs.
Kingston Curry
East Gaston | So., WR/DB
Why chosen: Curry had 50 receptions for more than 750 yards and 13 touchdowns this fall, in addition to 38 tackles and an area-high 12 interceptions on defense.
Specialists
Khamari Crawford
South Point | Jr., kick/punt returner
Why chosen: Returned three punts for touchdowns this fall for the Red Raiders.
Jack Dillingham
North Lincoln | Sr., kicker
Why chosen: Hit 6-of-8 field goals this season, including a long of 45 yards. He also connected on 46-of-47 extra points.
Second team
Offense
QB: Lan Farmer, Shelby, Jr.
RB: Landon Agee, North Lincoln, Jr.
RB: Treylen Bost, Lincolnton, Sr.
RB: Keon Smith, Bessemer City, Jr.
WR: Michael Edwards, Crest, Jr.
WR: Jayden Gash, Kings Mountain, Sr.
OL: Tristan Garland, Burns, Sr.
OL: Tee Hollifield, Shelby, Fr.
OL: Jack Kiser, Kings Mountain, Sr.
OL: Cass Phillips, Forestview, Sr.
OL: Era Vaughn, East Lincoln, Jr.
ATH: Patrick Blee, South Point, Jr.
ATH: Marshall McGowan, Burns, Sr.
Defense
DL: Kentrell Degree, Crest, Sr.
DL: Jason Eaton, Mountain Island Charter, Jr.
DL: Noah Gartner, Shelby, Jr.
DL: Quamell Scott, Ashbrook, Jr.
LB: Chanyce Ford, South Point, Sr.
LB: Elijah Goodson, Burns, Sr.
LB: Grae Ponder, West Lincoln, Jr.
LB: Kade Sturgill, North Lincoln, Sr.
DB: Derrick Kee Jr., Shelby, Jr.
DB: Cam’ron Mayfield, Ashbrook, Sr.
DB: Lyrik Pettis, Crest, Jr.
