Sports - July 2002

LHS coaches get sneak peak

By MIKE POWELL, LTN correspondent

July 26, 2002 - Even though some of his players were still on vacation and others were away on a church mission, Lincolnton head football coach Scott Cloninger was pleased with the turnout at Thursday's final session of a rain-shortened mini-camp.

The voluntary camp, a prelude to Monday's first official day of workouts, drew 62 freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. The camp opened on Tuesday but was rained out on Wednesday.

Dressed in shorts, T-shirts and helmets, the players worked their way  through a series of drills and conditioning exercises under the direction of Cloninger and his assistant coaches.

"I'm really expecting the numbers to be in the mid-70s when we start," said Cloninger. "That's good. That's about what we want. You don't have to have a hundred, just 11 on the field that can play."

The mini-camp closed out what Cloninger feels was a productive summer. Attendance at the weight room was up as Lincolnton reaped the dividends of last year's success, highlighted by a run to the semifinals of the 2A state playoffs.

"We had very good participation by our young people in the weight room. It was the best group I have seen show up in a long time. A lot of them were ninth graders and 10th graders from Pumpkin Center (Middle School) and Lincolnton Middle. They saw the success we had last year, and they want some of that success," Cloninger said.

Questions abound as Cloninger ushers in his third season as head coach. The Wolves suffered heavy graduation losses from a club that was perhaps only one play away from advancing to the state 2A championship game. The major holes to fill are in the offensive line, the linebacking corps, receiver and the defensive backfield.

There is also the question of who will play quarterback.

But for Cloninger, the primary concern is the offensive front, whose thin ranks have been further depleted by an injury to sophomore Wesley Winburn, one of  two starting linemen returning. Winburn injured a knee while on vacation and his status for the season is uncertain.

Going into the preseason, Cloninger made it clear that senior Randall Chambers, an understudy last year to William Lineberger, is the heir apparent at quarterback.

"Randall is a senior. He deserves that shot. He went to a quarterback camp (at Wingate) this summer, and he looked good the other day," Cloninger said.

Elsewhere on offense, the Wolves appeared loaded again at running back. There is such depth there that even the graduation of Midwest 2A Conference offensive player of the year Damien Forney does not loom large.

One running back to keep an eye on is junior Darren Wilson, who reported to camp in excellent shape after hitting the weights this summer.

"Darren worked real hard in the weight room, and he looks great," Cloninger said.

At tight end, Cloninger has high expectations for junior Eric Wilson and senior Webster Metts, who transferred back to Lincolnton after a year at a private school.

The defense, a strong point last year, could be good again, Cloninger said.

"We have a lot of replace on defense, but I see a lot of talent there. The only problem is that I don't see any backups for them," Cloninger said.

"The people I am mentioning on offense, I am also mentioning on defense. Depth-wise, we could be in a little trouble."

It is obvious that last year's deep run in the playoffs was a  boost for the program in terms of regaining lost prestige as well as giving younger players more practice time and game experience.

"That's almost half a season. They got to learn four weeks of stuff," Cloninger said of the 2001 postseason. "And any time you have that much success, you draw off that. Everybody wants to be a part of that program."

Notes: The Wolves get their first scrimmage action Aug. 10 in a jamboree at Lincolnton Memorial Stadium. Cherryville, Bessemer City, Highland Tech and North Wilkes round out the field. Highland Tech, embarking on its first season of varsity football, is coached by West Lincoln alumnus Lanny Ford. .. The season opener is Aug. 23 at home against Maiden in the state endowment game. ...

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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