2024 Preview: Catawba Ridge Copperheads

Catawba Ridge did not play up to their standard and expectation in 2023, finishing with a 1-9 record and missing the playoffs. But with a combined 16 starters back on each side of the ball, head coach Zac Lendyak is optimistic that things will turn around in 2024.   “If we're a type of team that's going to be mentally tough, we're going to play for 48 minutes. We're going to be the first guy up off the ground every time and if we can embrace those types of things, I think you're going to see a nice climb from a 1-9 team to what we have traditionally been,” Lendyak said.   One of the biggest questions for Catawba Ridge has been answered in that they know who their starting quarterback will be. Lendyak told us that [player_tooltip player_id='1574007' first='CJ' last='Couch'] will be the starting quarterback in 2024.   “We're excited to see what he can do this year. He missed, I think, eight or nine games last year with an ankle injury before the season ever started so we're excited to get him out there on August 23 and showcase what he can do.”   Other starters back offensively include [player_tooltip player_id='1592500' first='Darius' last='Sutton'] at wide receiver as well as Brayden Wasik at running back. Lendyak told us they will be running back by committee with Wasik back and Dev Crawford working his way in the rotation as well. Most of the offensive line returns with [player_tooltip player_id='1340977' first='Parker' last='Arnold'], Zach Webster and Nolan Frailing headlining the group. The Copperheads will look a little different than they have in the past and they want to tailor the offense to what they have.   Moving over to the defensive side of the ball, a good nucleus on the front seven return with [player_tooltip player_id='1270438' first='Connor' last='McFadden'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1603727' first='Alex' last='Johnson'] back on the defensive line. Returning at linebacker is Chase Elliott, who is coming off an ACL injury. Ian Babcock will anchor things in the secondary. Camden Gifford is back at kicker, along with Tre Sanders at punter and Owen Rennick at long snapper.   Catawba Ridge will open the 2024 season at home against Chapin on August 23.   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1283702' first='Braylen' last='Burgis'] WR, 2025 – Burgis (pictured above) will be the leader of the pack in the receiving room in 2024. He told us he has been working on his route running during the offseason along with his speed and ability to catch the ball. He has offers from UNC Pembroke and Sewanee University in Tennessee.    [player_tooltip player_id='809747' first='Brady' last='Ambrose'] TE, 2025 – Ambrose was a big target for the Copperheads in 2023, catching 18 balls for 273 yards and one touchdown. We expect that to continue in 2024. He has been working on building his confidence in the receiving game along with his speed. Colleges have taken notice as he has offers from Dartmouth, Cornell, Brown, Penn, VMI, Sacred Heart, The Citadel and Lenoir Rhyne.   Ambrose on camps and combines this summer: “It's really about getting back with the team because camps are nice for yourself and everything but you don't want to go 1-9 no matter how many offers you have, so just everyday you can get there without a camp to summer workouts and everything, it's just nice being with the team. It's been helpful just working on everything, getting to finally be yourself in front of other people.”   [player_tooltip player_id='1360198' first='Lewis' last='Price'] OL/DL, 2025 – Price will see action on both sides of the ball in 2024, but we expect he will be tough for opposing offensive lineman to block in 2024 and it's something Price has made his priority in preparing for the year. He's been to around 10 camps this summer and has enjoyed being able to go against different competition from all over the country.   Price on his pass rushing abilities: “I prefer to just bull rush a lot of the time so becoming more versatile for third down, like third-and-long pass situations, being able to get back there and rush the passer.”   FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1422524' first='Josh' last='Dobson'] CB, 2027 – Dobson is active at his cornerback position and has the instincts that you need at the position. He can rally and make tackles in space to prevent a long gain and find the ball in the air to make interceptions. He already has offers from Tennessee and Virginia Tech.    KEY LOSSES   Ira Mister RB – Mister is now at North Greenville University. He was an impact player on both sides of the ball for the Copperheads at running back and linebacker.   Chayson Anderton OL – A big interior presence for the Copperheads up front who is now at Newberry College.   THREE POTENTIAL RISING STARS   [player_tooltip player_id='1592496' first='Nolan' last='Jones'] LB, 2026 – Jones is an impact player on special teams and on defense. He can come up and make tackles and limit the return. He can also make tackles against the run and has good speed in reacting to plays.   [player_tooltip player_id='1821547' first='Judah' last='Ponce'] CB, 2026 – Ponce is an aggressive cornerback who can recognize plays quickly and make tackles in space. He can turn and flip his hips and has good eye discipline as well.    Richardson is a guy who can make plays in space with the ball in his hands. He can catch the ball and get up field quickly for extra yards. He transferred to Catawba Ridge from Northwestern last year and should be a valuable asset. He has offers from Western Kentucky and East Tennessee State.   Lendyak on Richardson: “He's kind of one of those kids you've got to assign a couple plays a game just to make sure to get the ball in his hands because when he touches it, he can do some special things with it for sure.”

Catawba Ridge did not play up to their standard and expectation in 2023, finishing with a 1-9 record and missing the playoffs. But with a combined 16 starters back on each side of the ball, head coach Zac Lendyak is optimistic that things will turn around in 2024.

“If we're a type of team that's going to be mentally tough, we're going to play for 48 minutes. We're going to be the first guy up off the ground every time and if we can embrace those types of things, I think you're going to see a nice climb from a 1-9 team to what we have traditionally been,” Lendyak said.

One of the biggest questions for Catawba Ridge has been answered in that they know who their starting quarterback will be. Lendyak told us that CJ Couch CJ Couch 6'2" | 200 lbs | QB Catawba Ridge | 2025 State SC will be the starting quarterback in 2024.

“We're excited to see what he can do this year. He missed, I think, eight or nine games last year with an ankle injury before the season ever started so we're excited to get him out there on August 23 and showcase what he can do.”

Other starters back offensively include Darius Sutton Darius Sutton 5'11" | 175 lbs | WR Catawba Ridge | 2026 State SC at wide receiver as well as Brayden Wasik at running back. Lendyak told us they will be running back by committee with Wasik back and Dev Crawford working his way in the rotation as well. Most of the offensive line returns with Parker Arnold Parker Arnold 6'2" | 225 lbs | OL Catawba Ridge | 2025 State SC , Zach Webster and Nolan Frailing headlining the group. The Copperheads will look a little different than they have in the past and they want to tailor the offense to what they have.

Moving over to the defensive side of the ball, a good nucleus on the front seven return with Connor McFadden Connor McFadden 6'3" | 225 lbs | DL/TE Catawba Ridge | 2026 State SC and Alex Johnson Alex Johnson 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL Catawba Ridge | 2027 State SC back on the defensive line. Returning at linebacker is Chase Elliott, who is coming off an ACL injury. Ian Babcock will anchor things in the secondary. Camden Gifford is back at kicker, along with Tre Sanders at punter and Owen Rennick at long snapper.

Catawba Ridge will open the 2024 season at home against Chapin on August 23.

STARS SET TO SHINE

Braylen Burgis Braylen Burgis 6'0" | 185 lbs | WR Catawba Ridge | 2025 State SC WR, 2025 – Burgis (pictured above) will be the leader of the pack in the receiving room in 2024. He told us he has been working on his route running during the offseason along with his speed and ability to catch the ball. He has offers from UNC Pembroke and Sewanee University in Tennessee.

Brady Ambrose Brady Ambrose 6'4" | 230 lbs | TE Catawba Ridge | 2025 State SC TE, 2025 – Ambrose was a big target for the Copperheads in 2023, catching 18 balls for 273 yards and one touchdown. We expect that to continue in 2024. He has been working on building his confidence in the receiving game along with his speed. Colleges have taken notice as he has offers from Dartmouth, Cornell, Brown, Penn, VMI, Sacred Heart, The Citadel and Lenoir Rhyne.

Ambrose on camps and combines this summer: “It's really about getting back with the team because camps are nice for yourself and everything but you don't want to go 1-9 no matter how many offers you have, so just everyday you can get there without a camp to summer workouts and everything, it's just nice being with the team. It's been helpful just working on everything, getting to finally be yourself in front of other people.”

Lewis Price Lewis Price 6'4" | 280 lbs | DL Catawba Ridge | 2025 State SC OL/DL, 2025 – Price will see action on both sides of the ball in 2024, but we expect he will be tough for opposing offensive lineman to block in 2024 and it's something Price has made his priority in preparing for the year. He's been to around 10 camps this summer and has enjoyed being able to go against different competition from all over the country.

Price on his pass rushing abilities: “I prefer to just bull rush a lot of the time so becoming more versatile for third down, like third-and-long pass situations, being able to get back there and rush the passer.”

FILM REVIEW

Josh Dobson Josh Dobson 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB William A. Hough | 2027 State NC CB, 2027 – Dobson is active at his cornerback position and has the instincts that you need at the position. He can rally and make tackles in space to prevent a long gain and find the ball in the air to make interceptions. He already has offers from Tennessee and Virginia Tech.

KEY LOSSES

Ira Mister RB – Mister is now at North Greenville University. He was an impact player on both sides of the ball for the Copperheads at running back and linebacker.

Chayson Anderton OL – A big interior presence for the Copperheads up front who is now at Newberry College.

THREE POTENTIAL RISING STARS

Nolan Jones Nolan Jones 5'10" | 170 lbs | LB Catawba Ridge | 2026 State SC LB, 2026 – Jones is an impact player on special teams and on defense. He can come up and make tackles and limit the return. He can also make tackles against the run and has good speed in reacting to plays.

Judah Ponce Judah Ponce Catawba Ridge | 2026 SC CB, 2026 – Ponce is an aggressive cornerback who can recognize plays quickly and make tackles in space. He can turn and flip his hips and has good eye discipline as well.