Sun Valley SpartansSun Valley (9-3, 3-1)
The Spartans look to continue their success under HC Ryan Smith. Sun Valley, for the 2nd straight year reached the 2nd round of the state playoffs falling to rival Weddington. The Spartan offense will be led by senior QB Noah Lineberry. Lineberry, UCHSF 2nd Team took almost every snap in 2024 connecting on 63% of his passes for 2561 yards and 30 TDs to just 7 interceptions. Senior RB Zach Cullen, UCHSF 2nd Team will look to have a BIG senior year after leading the Spartans with 674 yards rushing & 9 TDs. Wide receivers Andrew Doody (UCHSF 2nd Team) and Wyatt Lineberry will be back in 2025. Doody had 593 receiving yards on 43 catches and 5 TDs and Lineberry had 30 catches for 468 receiving yards and 2 TDs. Cullen is a threat catching the ball out of the backfield (13 catches for 93 yards and 2 TDs).
Defensively the Spartans will be led by their linebackers. Senior LB Brandon Creech was named 1st Team UCHSF after finishing 2nd in total tackles for Union Co. with 136 in 2024 and added 2 sacks. Zach Cullen registered 60 stops & 1 sack as a junior. And Doody had 52 stops and 3 sacks in 2024. In the Sun Valley defensive backfield will need to be rebuilt with the graduation of DB’s Amare Thomas, Jamari Nicholson, Jaylen Flowe and Rowan McQueen. The Spartan kicking game will need to replace kicker Don Leimkuhler who graduated. The Spartans will open the 2024 season on the road at Lake Norman on Aug. 22nd.