LANDIS — There have been a plethora of points scored by South Rowan the first three weeks of the football season — 140 to be exact — so there have been a lot of Raider kickoffs.
Head coach Chris Walsh has enjoyed watching those Caleb Stirewalt kickoffs sail, usually to the opponents’ 10-yard line, and then he has watched the Carlberg brothers, Lincoln and Willie, charge down the field.
“Those two are special-teams maniacs,” Walsh said, using maniacs as a highly complementary description. “Sometimes it’s a race to see which one can get to the return man first.”
Walsh said the Raiders have emphasized special teams more than ever this season, and so far, so good. Special teams have been a plus. The Carlbergs are big on special teams. Lincoln, a senior, is South’s punter, although South hasn’t had to punt very often in the early going.
Willie, a sophomore, is a starting receiver and provides depth at safety and cornerback on defense, but some of his best work comes on special teams, whether it’s making a tackle or making a return.
“I’m on the punt return, kickoff return and kickoff teams,” Willie said. “Execution on special teams has been an important factor for us.”
The Carlbergs became a footnote in South history in Friday’s 35-0 win at Trinity as both scored a touchdown. It’s not every Friday that brothers score a touchdown in the same game.
“That was pretty special,” Walsh said. “A very cool moment for us.”
It was pretty big news when Lincoln transferred to South from Cox Mill prior to his junior year. He had thrown a couple of TDs for the Chargers varsity as a sophomore, and it was generally assumed he would be South’s QB1 for two years. Willie was just finishing up middle school then, so no one in Rowan County knew much about the little brother, but he was coming to South, as well.
It didn’t work out smoothly for Lincoln as South’s quarterback in 2025. He got banged up, was limited to appearing in six games and threw two TD passes while being intercepted six times.
Brooks Hunter, the jayvee quarterback most of the 2025 season, showed enough after he moved up to the varsity that South coaches were convinced Hunter would be their guy taking the snaps in 2026.
But the Raiders still believed in Lincoln as an athlete and person. He was still one of their best 11 on offense, and they would find a position for him. In the offseason, he was asked to make a transformation to tight end. There were several conversations.
He agreed and he has done the work. He has bulked up to about 215 pounds.
There’s a lot less glamour at tight end than quarterback. It’s mostly just blue-collar toil, especially on a run-heavy team such as South, but Lincoln has embraced his new role. He blocks with passion, even if he’s only targeted once or twice a night.
“There were some days last summer when I really didn’t know if I could ever be comfortable playing the tight end position, but that’s in the past,” he said. “I’ve become acclimated to being a tight end, and honestly, it’s been a ton of fun. There’s a lot less stress. I can play loose and free and have fun. The only regret I have is that I didn’t make the switch earlier in my career.”
Lincoln has caught four passes so far. That modest total actually leads the team. Hunter has shown he can throw with some precision, but South has dominated its first three opponents mostly with a powerful running game and stingy defense. Hunter, a 6-foot-1 junior, has thrown only 19 passes in the three lopsided wins, but he has four TD aerials. That matches South’s total from the entire 2025 season.
Hunter threw a touchdown pass Friday — to Lincoln. It was a short one late in the first quarter. Ironically, Willie did a lot of the work to set up his sibling’s touchdown, making a fine catch to beat one-on-one coverage and then dragging a defender like a piece of luggage nearly to the goal line. It was a 54-yard gain.
“Lincoln kind of stole Willie’s touchdown,” Walsh said with a laugh. “But we knew if we had a chance to make it up to Willie we would. And we did get that chance.”
Later, South ran a play for Willie, who lined up as a receiver and came in motion from left to right. The timing was perfect. Willie didn’t have to break stride as Hunter took the snap, turned and handed him the ball. Then he had enough speed to turn the right corner. He looked like a running back as he maneuvered his way to the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown.
“Trinity wasn’t real strong on the edges, but that touchdown doesn’t happen without Lincoln,” Willie said. “He definitely made the key block on that play. He sealed off Trinity’s best defender.”
Walsh was ecstatic. The Raiders executed perfectly on a play they don’t run often and both Carlbergs had a TD.
“A lot of firsts for both of those guys,” Walsh said. “Lincoln getting a touchdown catch and Willie getting a touchdown run. Couldn’t happen for two better kids. They’re not only really solid athletes, they are guys that do the job off the field, as well.”
Willie, who is about 5-foot-11, 165 pounds, has a 4.5 GPA and is one of the top scholars in his class, especially in math. He explained that he was taking high-school level courses while he was still in middle school. He’s always been a math whiz.
Lincoln has his head on straight for a teenager. He plans on a career in the Air Force. He believes that entering the armed forces will be a better fit for him than going to college.
“It’s a chance to serve and there are some great benefits in the service,” he said. “I made that decision to commit to the Air Force some time ago. It makes a lot of sense for me.”
Walsh and both Carlbergs are smart enough to know it’s not going to be this easy every week. The South Piedmont Conference schedule starts on Sept. 18.
But they are optimistic. They have good reason to be.
South won its first three last season, then lost eight in a row. That’s not likely to happen this time. The Raiders look like they can win some in the SPC. The defense and the offensive line have come a long way. As have both Carlbergs.
“I think we are capable of competing in every game we play,” Willie said. “And I believe we will pull some games out.”
