2026 North Piedmont 6A/7A Conference Football Preview: Storylines, Predictions, Players to Watch

Welcome to HighSchoolOT's 2026 football season preview for the North Piedmont 6A/7A Conference. The league features Davie County, Lake Norman, Mooresville, North Iredell, South Iredell, and Statesville.

Lake Norman returns a lot of talent and projects to finish near or at the top of the league. Defending champion Mooresville will certainly have a say in that, though. Davie County continues its upward momentum while Statesville and South Iredell experienced coaching changes with the former Greyhound front man departing for his alma mater, the Vikings, this spring. Similarly, North Iredell welcomes a new head coach as it tries to right the ship after a rough 2025 season.

There is plenty of talent in the North Piedmont, and an array of coaching changes should help to make it an interesting season.

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Davie County

Players who will be missed: Ethan Driver (WR), Xavier Parker (OL), Maddox Creason (OL), Gavin Reese (WR/CB), Josh Jones (WR/CB), Austin Heath (LB)

Returning players to know: Elijah Chaffin (senior LB), Braylon Arnold (senior DL), Braxton Bowing (senior RB), Kaleb Bales (senior OL), Max Cornatzer (junior DB), Noah Dulin (junior WR), Draeton Nance (junior QB), Christian Collins (junior OL), Evan Helms (senior TE), Ahmaad McGee (senior DL), Colt Miller (senior DB)

New faces to look out for: Eli Ott (junior DL), Cam James (freshman ATH)

Davie County jumped from 3-7 in 2024 to 7-5 in 2025 as a first round playoff host in Year 1 under head coach Brian Hinson. Entering his second year at the helm, Hinson said his Eagles will have several returning players to lean on, but will need to find solid replacements at key positions.

One of those positions is wide receiver, where the graduated Ethan Driver, leaves a hole. However, Davie will be able to depend on the team’s leading receiver from 2025: junior Noah Dulin. As a sophomore, he racked up 827 receiving yards on 55 receptions for five touchdowns. He will be a frequent target again for returning quarterback Draeton Nance.

Nance threw for 1,565 yards as a sophomore. He had a 61.1% completion rate with nine touchdowns and five interceptions. He and Dulin are two of the most prolific offensive returnees, but far from the only ones.

The team’s leading rusher from a season ago, Braxton Bowling, is back for his senior season. The running back had 900 yards on the ground with 13 touchdowns. He rushed for nearly 800 more yards than any other Eagle.

Hinson said the offensive line could be his thinnest group in 2026. The Eagles lost a pair of senior linemen in Xavier Parker and Maddox Creason. Kaleb Bales and Christian Collins return to the line, though. Davie also added Eli Ott to the OL — a 6-foot-4, 240-pound transfer from Wisconsin.

Defensively, the Eagles return a deep unit at linebacker, including the team’s leading tackler Elijah Chaffin Jr. According to Hinson, Chaffin could be chasing the school’s career tackle record as a senior

Team outlook: With a strong returning base, Davie should be competitive in the North Piedmont and have a chance at another playoff push in 2026.

Lake Norman

Players who will be missed: Jaylen Glover (FS), Micah Slaughter (WR), Jayden Nordtveit (RB), Allen Jones (RB)

Returning players to know: Sammy Wooten (senior OL), Mason Hefner (senior FS), Elijah Foster (senior OL), Memphis Barb (senior LB), Reed Joyce (senior LB), Noah Jacobsen (senior WR), Kaden Craft (junior QB), Doc Caldwell (junior WR/QB), Charlie Jones (junior LB), Jeremy Mitchell (senior DB), Keyshon Morrison (senior DL), Bryce Briones (senior DL)

New faces to look out for: Jayden Lewis-Williams (senior WR), Bryson Pohlman (junior RB), Artez Massey (junior RB), Thailan Bellamy (senior WR), Nick Medley (junior OL), Wyatt Sherrill (sophomore OL), Phoenix Fann (sophomore OL), Chase Johnson (sophomore DL)

The Wildcats were rather young in 2025, and yet they were successful. Jonathan Oliphant’s team advanced to the third round of the NCHSAA 7A state playoffs and ended the season at 8-4 overall as the runner-up in the North Piedmont. The only conference loss from Lake Norman came on Halloween night to champion Mooresville, 23-21.

With a large cast of veterans, Oliphant believes experience and leadership are what set this team apart from last year’s squad.

This is Year 9 for Oliphant and his staff at Lake Norman. They are two wins away from becoming the winningest staff in school history. After eight years, they amassed a 53-35 record, leaving them just shy of former head coach Rob McNeely and his staff, which went 54-44 over a similar eight-year stretch.

This season presents a great opportunity to add to those win totals. The Wildcats enter the season the favorite to win the North Piedmont, but of course they will have to go through defending champion Mooresville to do so. A strong group of returnees should help LNHS do just that.

Four-star prospect Kaden Craft returns at quarterback as a junior. At 6-foot-4, he is rated as the No. 8 QB in the class of 2028 by 247sports, and has an array of Power 5 offers. He tallied 17 touchdowns with 1,739 yards on 60% completion as a sophomore. He will be joined by familiar targets Noah Jacobsen and Doc Caldwell as receivers.

On the offensive line, Lake Norman has Appalachian State commit Sammy Wooten ready to protect its top-level QB at all times.

The team lost its top two rushers from 2025, but has some new faces ready to fill in the gaps, like juniors Bryson Pohlman and Artez Massey.

Defensively, Oliphant said Lake Norman will have one of the best tackling secondaries in the state. Seniors Memphys Barb and Reed Joyce as well as junior Charlie Jones have college interest. East Carolina commit Mason Hefner returns to lead the strong secondary as well.

Team outlook: Will be tough to beat in the North Piedmont this season. Could dethrone Mooresville for the conference title and could be a real 7A playoff threat.

Mooresville

Players who will be missed: Brody Norman (QB), Gavin Barber (TE), Jace McCullum (DE), K,J. Gillespie (DE), Dom Morin (WR), Ja’Darius McCombs (RB), Maddox Blackburn (LB)

Returning players to know: Chase Bost (senior WR), Mason Holt (senior OL), Tanner Finnerty (senior LB), Khamari Carr (junior LB), Carter Crisco (senior OL), Aaron Thomas (senior DL), Charles Sayre (junior DE), Tyler Myers (junior WR)

New faces to look out for: Owen Dill (junior RB), Weston Michalak (junior QB)

Mooresville’s three losses last year were the most for the program in a single season since 2021. That’s how high the standard is for the Blue Devils.

Year 3 under head coach Zach Mayo brought a conference championship and a trip to the NCHSAA 7A third round before being thwarted in a 1-point loss to Reagan. But now, Mayo and his staff must retool and develop young talent after graduating a unit of veteran contributors.

Quarterback Brody Norman is headed to Temple after winning NPC Offensive Player of the Year as a senior with 1,934 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and six interceptions with 59.2% completion. Without Norman, Mooresville will turn to Ambassador Christian transfer Weston Michalak.

Michalak was the starting quarterback at Ambassador Christian during his freshman year. He threw for 2,321 yards, 21 touchdowns, and nine interceptions while completing 57.4% of his attempts.

The Blue Devils were thinned out at running back as well. Ja’Darius McCombs graduated after leading the team with 998 rushing yards. Stepping in as a starter will be another Ambassador Christian transfer — Owen Dill. Mayo described the junior as very dynamic.

The receiving core was broken up by the graduation of team receiving leader Dom Morin and tight end Gavin Barber. However, senior Chanse Bost — who has Division I interest — returns after logging 480 yards in 2025 with five touchdowns.

The Blue Devils return more college-level players on the offensive line, where Mayo says they are strongest. Army commit Mason Holt will help anchor things as a senior. He is joined by 6-foot-4, 280-pound junior Khamari Carr.

Finally, the linebackers will be led by senior Tanner Finnerty after the departure of the team’s leading tackler from 2025: Maddox Blackburn.

Team outlook: Finding the right combinations will be key with a younger roster in 2026, but Mooresville projects to be one of the top contenders in the NPC for 2026. A home playoff game seems very likely for the Blue Devils once again.

North Iredell

Players who will be missed: Kaleb Sales (RB), Harold Jackson (RB)

Returning players to know: Garret Reneger (senior DL), Nathan Dillard (senior LB), D’Angelo Russo (senior ATH)

Then North Iredell head coach Andy Howell resigned following the first game of the 2025 season due to family reasons and Kent Millsaps served as interim head coach. A year before, Howell seemed to have the program pointed in the right direction after securing its first playoff appearance since 2006. But in the aftermath of Howell’s departure, the Raiders struggled mightily in 2025, finishing with a 1-9 record without a single conference victory.

Now, North Iredell is looking to put those defeats and complications in the rearview as it turns to a new era with a new coach: Tony Pyland. He brings 26 years of coaching experience from around Texas and North Carolina.

Pyland said he is implementing new schemes on both ends this season. That will give the Raiders a new look in playstyle, and North Iredell will have plenty of new faces on the team as well.

The Raiders lost athlete Kaleb Sales and running back Harold Jackson, who were responsible for much of the team’s offensive output a year ago. In 2026, the Raiders will turn to the development of young talent to fill those voids.

Team outlook: The Raiders are turning over a new page with the hiring of Pyland, but a turnaround could be a multi-year process. A playoff berth will be difficult to obtain in 2026.

South Iredell

Players who will be missed: Brody Hunt (WR) , Brooks Culp (OL), Landon McClain (RB), Thailan Bellamy (ATH), Adam Sharpe (WR), Jon Taylor (DL), Griffin Luxton (LB)

Returning players to know: Tristan Cowan (junior QB), Donovan Henderson Jr. (senior RB), Andrew Harrah (junior LB/TE)

After four years at Statesville, including an 8-4 record and a second round state playoff appearance in 2025, Rydell Cowan left the Greyhounds to return to his alma mater at South Iredell. He replaced Lee Linville, who was head coach for three seasons, including a 3-8 finish in 2025.

The intraconference move should shake things up in the North Piedmont. Cowan had a good track record with Statesville, where he led the program to a 32-15 record in four seasons. But now he returns to the place where he donned Viking colors from 1996-99 before playing collegiately at Appalachian State.

Cowan also welcomes former North Iredell head coach Andy Howell as his defensive coordinator. Howell led the Raiders to the state playoffs for the first time in 18 years in 2024 before resigning one game into the 2025 campaign for family reasons.

Cowan said he wants his team to play fast and physically and that begins by establishing a culture with returning talent.

The Vikings bring back a host of guys from a team that eked into the playoffs with a 3-7 record last regular season. Among the returners is quarterback Tristan Cowan. As a sophomore, he dealt 20 touchdowns and 14 interceptions with 2,100 yards on 52.6% completion.

Coach Cowan said his offensive line could be his thinnest position in Year 1 at his alma mater. That’s an area that will be crucial with such a potentially-impactful returning quarterback on roster.

Much of the receiving core departed. However, Cowan said it is still the team’s deepest slot. The Vikings lost Brody Hunt, who pulled down 10 touchdowns with 1,0005 receiving yards, as well as Thailan Bellamy, who transferred to Lake Norman. But, the Vikings have a unit of young and new faces ready to fill the void.

Team outlook: Cowan has a proven track record in the county, but competition is stiff in the NPC, especially at the top. South Iredell could be competitive, but may teeter on the edge of the playoff bubble, much like last year.

Statesville

Players who will be missed: Tyreek Carter (RB), Timothy Flowers (DL), Braylen Daniels (DL), Jaikoda Harrington (QB), Paul Cathen Jr. (WR)

Returning players to know: Jerome Newman (senior WR/DE), Javin Bailey (junior LB), Tyson Mills (senior LB), Chance Taylor (senior WR/DB), Naljeh Stackhouse (junior WR), Isaiah Crosland (senior RB/DB), Manuel Gladden (senior QB/WR), Santario White (junior RB/LB), Price Hedrick (senior LS), Kamdyn Clarke (junior OL/DL)

New faces to look out for: Camilio Binndio (junior OL/DL), M.J. Parker (sophomore QB), Andre Jackson (sophomore OL), Kingston Rivera (junior OL)

After Rydell Cowan departed from Statesville after four years to coach his alma mater at South Iredell, the Greyhounds opted to do the same by hiring an alum of their own — 2009 Statesville graduate Breon Holmes.

Holmes returned to Statesville after three years as the head coach at Cox Mill, where he led the Chargers to an 11-21 record. The new front man is inheriting a good deal of talent from a Greyhound team that was 8-4 overall and reached the second round of the state playoffs under Cowan. Though, Statesville suffered its fair share of departures due to graduation and transfer.

Perhaps the most notable player back is senior receiver and defensive end, Jerome Newman, who is receiving college interest. Newman was second on the team to only Paul Cathen Jr. in receiving yards last season. Cauthen Jr. transferred to Reidsville this offseason, where he will join a defending state championship Rams team.

Quarterback Jaikoda Harrington also transferred out of Statesville to Reagan. As a sophomore, he threw for 1,383 yards, 14 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, converting on 56.6% of his attempts. Without him, Statesville must find a new QB1. Sophomore M.J. Parker and senior Manuel Gladden could be players to watch after seeing limited run at the position in 2025.

The Greyhounds lost leading rushers Harrington and Tyreek Carter, but returned a host of options at running back. Santario White and Isaiah Crosland rushed for 314 and 273 yards respectively as sophomores last season.

Holmes said the offensive line could be a bit thin, but the Greyhounds will have some new faces to help with that. Juniors Camilio Binndio and Kingston Rivera as well as sophomore Andre Jackson should be set to help familiar face Kamdyn Clarke on the line.

Team outlook: Balancing personnel changes will make things interesting. The Greyhounds may not jump in the North Piedmont standings, but they should remain a playoff team with a chance to host in the first round again.

Conference Superlatives

Toughest schedule: Mooresville — The Blue Devils start the season against power program Weddington at home. Then, they head to Sun Valley and A.L. Brown for Weeks 2 and 3. They finish non-conference play by hosting reigning 8A champion Hough and a tough East Forsyth team.
Most favorable schedule: Statesville — The Greyhounds have a slate of winnable non-conference games. They host East Surry and Butler for the first two games. Weeks 3 and 4 will be at Hopewell and Alexander Central before returning home for West Stokes.
Breakout team: Davie County — It’s hard to call Davie County a breakout team after hosting a playoff game last season, but the Eagles return so much talent that it looks like another jump could be possible.
Team with most questions: Statesville — A coaching change and the transfer of multiple crucial starters will be difficult to balance simultaneously. Though, there is still plenty of talent to work with for the Greyhounds. Time will tell how it pans out.
Player of the Year favorite: Kaden Craft, Lake Norman (junior QB)
Player who could have biggest breakout: Owen Dill, Mooresville (junior RB)

Standing Prediction

Lake Norman
Mooresville
Davie County
Statesville
South Iredell
North Iredell

Playoff Forecast

Likely to earn a home game: Lake Norman, Mooresville, Davie County
Likely to make it: Statesville
On the bubble: South Iredell, North Iredell