By Mike London
mlondon@salisburypost.com
J.W. Cathcart is understandably fired up about the 2008 all-county football team because it includes two members of his family tree.
A couple of branches apart.
The youngest of Cathcart’s 14 children is Salisbury cornerback Martin Hosch-Cathcart, and South Rowan running back Deandre Harris is a grandchild of Cathcart’s. Harris’ father, Eric, was a defensive back at South who played on the 1983 team that set the school record with 11 victories.
Cathcart is a 1959 graduate of J.C. Price, which served black Salisbury students from 1922-69. As a pulling guard, he was one of two sophomores to start for the Red Devils in the 1956 season.
Legendary coach S.W. Lancaster switched Cathcart to halfback after that.
Cathcart, who also kicked PATs, enjoyed his finest hour against Reidsville Washington in 1957. He had scoring runs of 50 and 56 yards ó both in the first quarter ó and the Red Devils went on to win 24-14.
Cathcart is excited his son and grandson will likely have the opportunity to extend their playing careers in the college ranks.
“The boys have a lot better chance now,” he said. “I went to work.”
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There are a record 34 players, including a record 13 from 3A state champion West Rowan, on this year’s all-county team,
West had 12 when it went 13-1 in 2005. Like West, Salisbury lost once on the field. It placed 10 on the squad.
Neighbors South and Carson have four representatives each. North has two. East has one.
If you want your child to grow up to be an all-county football player, get him to start wearing No. 32 now.
While it’s uncertain if any of today’s players have even heard of Jim Brown, the Cleveland back who made the No. 32 jersey famous in the 1960s, four all-county players wore No. 32 this year ó Salisbury’s Dario Hamilton, North’s Javon Hargrave, West’s Marco Gupton and South’s Josh Wike.
Sandy Koufax, Dave Winfield, Magic Johnson, Karl Malone, Kevin McHale and Marcus Allen also did OK wearing No. 32.
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Seven players repeated from the 2007 all-county team ó Salisbury’s Hamilton, Hosch-Cathcart and A.J. Ford, West’s K.P. Parks, Chris Smith and Garrett Teeter and East’s Ben DeCelle.
Parks, DeCelle and Hamilton are all-county for the third time. Parks could join an exclusive club as a four-time all-county player in 2009. Current members of that group are Jeff Chambers (North), Cal Hayes Jr. (East) and Danny Misenheimer (East).
Parks could become the first three-time offensive player of the year next season, while Smith will try to be the first to repeat as defensive player of the year since North linebacker Brent Chambers in 1978.
Two players, South’s Wike and Carson’s Daniel Yates, made the team as sophomores, missed out as juniors and are back as seniors.
For fans tired of hearing about West, sorry, but the end isn’t in sight. Six of the 15 all-county sophomores and juniors are Falcons.
Seniors (19)
Frankie Cardelle, Salisbury The region player of the year in soccer, Cardelle was the Hornets’ kicking game.
He booted four field goals along with 42 PATs and averaged 36 yards on 26 punts.Ben DeCelle, East Had he played on a high-profile team, people would be naming babies and streets after DeCelle, who was usually a 48-minute man.
He had a county-high 49 receptions for 640 yards and four TDs, rushed for 318 yards, returned a kickoff for a TD and made plenty of tackles at free safety. Finished with 95 tackles.
Kenderic Dunlap, West Standout interior lineman helped West’s defense stuff the run, and he also made his share of sacks.
Nate Dulin, West The playoffs opened with the fireplug linebacker sending a Franklin ballcarrier’s helmet into orbit on first-and-goal at the West 1. Franklin didn’t get in the end zone, and the rest is history. He broke up four passes in the 3A title game.A.J. Ford, Salisbury The Hornets spread carries around, but Ford had 855 rushing yards. He found the end zone 16 times this year and had 28 career TDs.
O’Bryan Graham, Salisbury
Listed as a QB, Graham was a linebacker and a tough hitter. He was among the county leaders in forced fumbles and helmets sent flying.
Austin Greenwood, West The free safety picked off six passes, made 109 tackles and was a momentum-changing madman in the playoffs. His TD run on a fake punt against Carver saved West’s season and was the biggest play of the year. He scored on a blocked punt a week later in a state semifinal win against South Point.
Marco Gupton, West Strong safety was the brains and brawn of a new secondary and kept playing even after he tore an ACL late in the regular season.
The secondary was torched in an early loss to Davie. By the end of the year, West had no weakness.
Dario Hamilton, Salisbury Rushed for 937 yards this season and finished career with 55 TDs. He ranks third in county history with a school-record 3,553 rushing yards.Brantley Horton, West The former QB led the county in TD catches (11) and receiving yards (876).
Martin Hosch-Cathcart, SHS Six more picks this season gave the cornerback 13 in two years. Got two against North.
Pierre Jimenez, Salisbury
Ringleader of a Salisbury defense that permitted only 11.5 points per game.
Ricky Moore, West
Offensive guard helped the Falcons roll to a county-record 612 points and 14 straight wins.
John Mullis, Carson
Outside linebacker was credited with 118 first hits, plus 46 assists. He was in on 21 tackles against South.
Reid Shaver, South
“Red Reid” produced four fumble recoveries, a pile of tackles and a pick-six.
Shaver didn’t play football as a sophomore. He was a captain, a leader and a standout linebacker as a senior.
Garrett Teeter, West Center played through injuries and helped West pound out 4,153 yards on the ground.
Tory Turner, Salisbury Leader of an offensive line that rushed for 270 yards per game and helped Hamilton set a school record.
Josh Wike, South South held eight of 12 opponents under 100 passing yards, and the tough cornerback was a big reason.
Mostly a running back as a sophomore and junior, Wike chipped in with 277 rushing yards this season. He ran for a 71-yard touchdown in a 7-3 victory against Lake Norman.
Daniel Yates, CarsonYates’ game against Lake Norman was a 48-minute fairy tale of one-handed grabs, leaping catches and 90-yard kickoff returns.
Yates was huge in the first three wins in Carson history. Had a TD run and kickoff return TD against East.
Juniors (9)
Jon Crucitti, WestHard to beat for versatility. Against East, he threw a TD pass, ran for a TD and made a TD catch.
Had 285 rushing yards, 299 passing yards and 586 receiving yards. Also West’s punter (37.0 per kick), he returned punts and kickoffs.
Eli Goodson, WestWest held 13 of 16 foes under 100 rushing yards, and the sturdy nose guard was a big reason why.
Jenson Harden, CarsonFree safety had three picks and was one of the Cougars’ leading tacklers.
Came up big against East Rowan with a crushing hit to stop a fake punt, another tackle to force a turnover on downs, an interception and a 21-yard rush on a fake punt.
Deandre Harris, SouthRushed 200 times for 1,026 yards and 17 TDs. Four 100-yard games, including 187 against East Rowan.
Cadarreus Mason, SouthDefensive end blossomed after move from linebacker, and he is still growing. Had series of dominant games until opponents started running away from him.
Tim Pangburn, WestAlphabetically and on West running plays, Pangburn comes right before Parks. Consensus choice as the county’s best offensive lineman, the big left tackle had 102 knockdown blocks and allowed only two sacks in 16 games.
K.P. Parks, WestWith a work ethic to match his talent, the tailback already has piled up 7,121 yards and 99 TDs.
Vince Shropshire, NorthA workhorse both ways. He was the Cavs’ top offensive threat with 619 rushing yards, and he was a hard-nosed linebacker.
Chris Smith, WestPass-rush king led the county in sacks (26) and fueled a defensive unit that posted four shutouts and held 11 opponents under 10 points. Made 84 tackles.
Sophomores (6)
Javon Hargrave, NorthNorth lined him up at defensive end and linebacker, and he created havoc. Unheard of for a sophomore on a last-place team, but he was voted CCC Defensive Player of the Year.
Made 75 tackles and had 15 sacks.John Knox, SalisburyDirected an offense that produced 45 or more points five times. Passed for 805 yards and rushed for 432. Threw only three picks.
Romar Morris, SalisburyA big play waiting to happen, he had to be the county’s fastest offensive player.
Rushed 18 times for 221 yards and caught 21 passes for 327 yards, including a game-turning screen for a TD against Lexington. Also returned a kickoff for a TD.
Kiontae Rankin, SalisburyRun-stuffer was listed at 6-foot-4, 385 pounds, and he was even larger in reality. He made it tough for opponents to gain yards between the tackles.
Shaun Warren, CarsonThe guy everyone calls “Bush” was a workhorse with 220 carries for 1,079 yards. Went down in history as the first 1,000-yard rusher in Carson history.
B.J. Sherrill, WestWest’s solution to having three quarterbacks? Put Sherrill at QB, move Horton to receiver and line Crucitti up all over. That decision was a key to the championship run.
Second in the county in total offense, Sherrill threw for 1,643 yards and 15 TDs. In the playoffs, he made plays with his legs and scored on a 52-yard scramble in the title game.