The Charlotte area has a new high school football team, as two schools merge into one
BY LANGSTON WERTZ JR. UPDATED JULY 28, 2022 4:55 PM
SouthLake Christian and Davidson Day are merging to form a high school football team this fall
Four years ago, Cannon School and Concord Academy were facing low numbers with their football teams and decided to merge to avoid ending the sport. The combined team was called the Cabarrus Warriors and the schools began playing in the fall of 2019. After going 2-8 the first year, the Warriors were 5-3 in 2020. Last season, they finished 11-2 and won the NCISAA Division II state championship.
Now, two other local teams hope to follow a similar formula. SouthLake Christian and Davidson Day are merging to form the SouthLake Christian-Davidson Day Eagles. Eagles is SouthLake’s traditional mascot. Davidson Day is the Patriots.
SouthLake Christian was 1-7 last season, but did not play in the 2020 season after school officials determined that playing during the COVID pandemic was not safe. Prior to that, the Eagles had back-to-back winning seasons (8-4 and 7-5). Davidson Day was a state power under former coach Chad Grier, who led the team to a 62-9 record in six seasons. Davidson Day won four state titles before Grier left after the 2016 season. Grier is now at Providence Day.
Since Grier left, the Patriots have had trouble fielding a team, struggling with numbers. The new combined team will be coached by Cheron Farley, who has coached the SouthLake team for the past three seasons. Farley said that youth will be an issue, but that the team will have a lot of talent at the skill positions and good team speed
The Eagles’ first game will be Friday, Aug. 19, at Lake Norman Charter.
: SOUTHLAKE CHRISTIAN-DAVIDSON DAY EAGLES
Head coach: Cheron Farley (9-11, 4th season)
2021 record: 1-7 Returning Lettermen: 9
Returning Starters: 8 Key Returners: WR/S Jim Burnham (6-3,, 160, Sr.); RB/OLB Austin Williams (6-2, 170, Soph); WR/DB Nate Aguilar (5-10, 160, Sr.); OL/DL Cole Walker (5-9, 170, Sr.); WR/S Larson Gazzaway (6-3, 185, Sr.)
Fresh Faces: LB/RB Xander Bowen (5-10, 205, Sr.); OL/DL Braeden Hanson (6-0, 200, Sr.); LB/RB David Alexanian (6-1, 185, Jr.); OL/DL Power Mba (6-2, 260, Fr.); WR/DB Gavin mason (5-8, Jr.); OL/DE John Link (6-2, 195, Sr.)
BY LANGSTON WERTZ JR. UPDATED JULY 28, 2022 4:55 PM
SouthLake Christian and Davidson Day are merging to form a high school football team this fall
Four years ago, Cannon School and Concord Academy were facing low numbers with their football teams and decided to merge to avoid ending the sport. The combined team was called the Cabarrus Warriors and the schools began playing in the fall of 2019. After going 2-8 the first year, the Warriors were 5-3 in 2020. Last season, they finished 11-2 and won the NCISAA Division II state championship.
Now, two other local teams hope to follow a similar formula. SouthLake Christian and Davidson Day are merging to form the SouthLake Christian-Davidson Day Eagles. Eagles is SouthLake’s traditional mascot. Davidson Day is the Patriots.
SouthLake Christian was 1-7 last season, but did not play in the 2020 season after school officials determined that playing during the COVID pandemic was not safe. Prior to that, the Eagles had back-to-back winning seasons (8-4 and 7-5). Davidson Day was a state power under former coach Chad Grier, who led the team to a 62-9 record in six seasons. Davidson Day won four state titles before Grier left after the 2016 season. Grier is now at Providence Day.
Since Grier left, the Patriots have had trouble fielding a team, struggling with numbers. The new combined team will be coached by Cheron Farley, who has coached the SouthLake team for the past three seasons. Farley said that youth will be an issue, but that the team will have a lot of talent at the skill positions and good team speed
The Eagles’ first game will be Friday, Aug. 19, at Lake Norman Charter.
: SOUTHLAKE CHRISTIAN-DAVIDSON DAY EAGLES
Head coach: Cheron Farley (9-11, 4th season)
2021 record: 1-7 Returning Lettermen: 9
Returning Starters: 8 Key Returners: WR/S Jim Burnham (6-3,, 160, Sr.); RB/OLB Austin Williams (6-2, 170, Soph); WR/DB Nate Aguilar (5-10, 160, Sr.); OL/DL Cole Walker (5-9, 170, Sr.); WR/S Larson Gazzaway (6-3, 185, Sr.)
Fresh Faces: LB/RB Xander Bowen (5-10, 205, Sr.); OL/DL Braeden Hanson (6-0, 200, Sr.); LB/RB David Alexanian (6-1, 185, Jr.); OL/DL Power Mba (6-2, 260, Fr.); WR/DB Gavin mason (5-8, Jr.); OL/DE John Link (6-2, 195, Sr.)
