By Mike London
Salisbury Post
Sixth in a series of reports on local football programs …
MOUNT ULLA — West Rowan has a senior quarterback who has thrown for 300 yards in a playoff victory and has amassed 3,421 passing yards and 32 TD passes in his career.
That QB is 6-foot-2 Brant Graham, a three-sport athlete who has committed to Catawba College baseball, but is ready for a big final fling with football. He’ll be starting for the third varsity season on the gridiron and should give the Falcons a tangible advantage over all those teams breaking in a new QB or still trying to figure out who their QB will be.
“He’s been in a lot of Friday night battles and the game has slowed down for Brant a lot over the years,” West head coach Louis Kraft said. “He’s a phenomenal QB, a gifted passer, and he makes a play in practice every day that leaves us shaking out heads. His voice is getting louder. He’s becoming a leader.”
Graham and two 2025 graduates (receiver/running back Evan Kennedy and running back Jaylen Neely) put up impressive numbers last season, but West continued a trend of only being pretty good. West is 4-4, 7-4, 9-3, 5-6 and 7-5 in Kraft’s five seasons, and is still waiting for a breakthrough year and an elusive conference championship. West hasn’t won a conference title since 2011.
Robinson has pounded the Falcons the last two seasons, and Northwest Cabarrus has beaten West three years in a row. Yes, West could have beaten Northwest in 2024, but the Falcons weren’t able to finish.
West appeared to be on the verge of putting something serious together late in the 2024 season and won four in a row, including a playoff game with Freedom, but then the Falcons ran into that West Charlotte buzz saw, and it was time to pack up the uniforms.
A 66-0 loss to Mooresville — the most lopsided setback in school history — and that brutal second-round loss to West Charlotte crushed West’s final team stats last season, but the Falcons were good on offense and good on defense most of the time. Still stronger and more determined their most of their adversaries, they were giving up zeroes, 6s and 7s in most of their South Piedmont Conference games.
Neely was tough — he battled for two 1,000-yard rushing seasons — and Kennedy was a unique threat, who put up 2,466 receiving yards and 2,075 rushing yards in a special career, but West still is confident it will be better in 2025 than it was in 2024.
Scheduling matters, and Mooresville is off the schedule. The Blue Devils had beaten West four years in a row. North Rowan, Davie and Walkertown are the non-conference games. Kraft is excited about the new SPC, with Salisbury replacing Central Cabarrus. Now there are four Rowan opponents in West’s league, and victories over those teams count double if you employ West Rowan math — because they are county wins as well as conference wins.
West plays all of the other five Rowan schools, so a county sweep is high on West’s list of objectives for the 2025 season.
Minus Neely and Kennedy, Graham will be handing off to a new crew. Cooper Martin would have been a major part of the running back mix last season, but he was lost for the season to an ACL on opening night. He’s back full strength.
Kraft believes young Devaunh White and Salisbury transfer Jamantay Cox, a big back, can also be stars.
“The goal is three 1,000-yard backs,” Kraft said. “Not many teams have five offensive linemen like we have. We want to play extra-fast on offense because we’ve got the athletes to go with those linemen.”
Kraft is always super-optimistic, but he’s serious about three 1,000-yard backs being a goal. West’s offensive line, coached by Timmy Pangburn, is expected to be good enough that Kraft could run for 500 yards behind it. Pangburn probably could get 400.
Left tackle Max Kalinowski, a third-year starter, is the senior leader. Right tackle Myles Howell, center Caleb “Chipper” Jones, right guard Marcus Bailey and right tackle Tristan Gilmore are still young, but they all have Friday experience. Abe Perry will be an important part of that crew.
Kraft is a former blocking tight end and has an appreciation for the position, which helps explain why West uses a lot of formations that require two tight ends. Cox will be used some in an H-back role. John Walters and Owen Hoffner will play a lot of snaps at tight end, although they will be asked to block more than they catch passes.
Brennon Stevenson is the marquee receiver returning. A tall sprinter, he caught 18 passes for 423 yards and two TDs. Jacob Kirk, who also will serve as the backup QB, had nine catches, one of them for a TD, last season.
“His gift is his brain,” Kraft said. “He’ll be really good as one of the inside receivers.”
Jaylen “Batman” Donaldson, a jayvee standout, is ready for prime time. Dillon Smith is one of the school’s best athletes. A standout long jumper, he has the potential to be a key addition to the receiving corps.
Ja’mih Tucker was an effective receiver in 2024, but the plan is to let Tucker focus on defense this season.
Kraft believes sophomore interior defensive lineman Kayden Weeks can be a game-changing force.
“He’s a game-wrecker,” Kraft said. “”Great motor. I believe as he goes, we’ll go. As good as our offensive line is, we have trouble blocking him in practice.”
Bryson Ellis looks like he can be another outstanding sophomore DL.
“Good bloodlines,” Kraft said.
Harry Hartwell, Xavier Gray and Trent Freeman are the top outside guys on the defensive line.
“Harry is so strong, and he has been electrifying in the preseason,” Kraft said. “Gray is wider and bigger, but he’s still fast enough to play outside.”
Kaden Sanders is a terrific high school player and leads West’s linebackers.
“He’s strong, he’s fast, and he’s got a motor,” Kraft said. “Probably a college player.”
Elijah Davidson and Jacob Thurston will be other key members of that group.
West has experienced safeties back. Lucas Watts has a nose for the ball and could lead the county in picks. Avion Casey started every varsity game as a freshman.
Tucker, Jeremiah Bostic and Payton Patterson are the top corners, while freshman Bryce White is already pushing for a role on the varsity squad.
The kicking will be excellent for a high school team. Carter Durant can put his punts up in the lights and can drill 40-yard field goals. Graham will be the holder. Walters will be the long snapper.
Some things never change at West. Tim Dixon is back for his 29th year as an assistant coach, while Kevin Parks is back for his 22nd.
Jason Stanley returns as defensive coordinator.
“Robinson has ruled the roost, but maybe this is the year we can catch up to them.” Kraft said. “I’ve never known a West Rowan team not to be physical and not to be tough. We’ve still got those qualities, we’ve got some special athletes and we’ve got really good chemistry. There’s a good vibe to this team. We should be contenders.”
With the sweeping NCHSAA realignment to eight classifications, West is one of the smallest 5A schools. The Falcons will play in a South Piedmont Conference that will have six 5As, plus 4As South Rowan and Salisbury.
