"The Battle for the Bell"
2010-2022
"The 2010 Battle for the Bell"
Bringing it Back Home for a Fallen Brother
#44
Kannapolis-28 Concord-21
The mantra for the Wonders in the 2010 Battle for the Bell game would simply be "Atonement." Having to swallow the bitter pill of defeat in 2009 to a group of Spiders who on paper appeared to be a far inferior opponent, the Wonders were determined on making the Spiders feel the same sting of defeat just as bad as they had the year before. The Spiders on the flip side of the coin felt invincible going into this game much like the Wonders felt in 2009 only this time the shoe was reversed. Tensions were high this night as it would get a little animated in the parking lot just before entering Bailey Stadium which gave this member of the Wonder nation even more motivation to get this win. The Wonders were still dealing with the painful wound of losing one of it's own in a car crash just four games prior, and the pain was still fresh. In a symbolic gesture of sympathy and good will, Spider nation chose to spray paint the #44 in memory of the fallen Wonder Dajon Torrence at the 50 yard line proving that lives are more important than touchdowns.
The Wonders got one of it's star brothers back just in time to get the pay back we all wanted. This night would be a night nobody would forget, and a night where Wonder nation truly united as one entity sold on a single purpose. To Win. Period!! This game would prove to be the healing experience everyone needed, and as an added bonus the Wonders would return their workhorse Travis Riley back into the lineup.
CONCORD — The A.L. Brown Wonders were ringing the Victory Bell and their fans were beginning to savor the return of their bragging rights. Brown coach Ron Massey may have been the only man wearing green at Bailey Stadium without a smile on his face. Friday’s 28-21 win over Concord was a joyous regular-season
finish for the Wonders, but it was obvious the journey had taken a toll on their leader.
“It’s a great feeling,” Massey said with a stoic expression. “This group of kids has been through a lot. Obviously losing Travis [Riley] early and then the death of Dajon Torrence. It’s been a tough year. It really has. I’m so proud of our young men, because they’ve acted like young men.”
A knee injury sidelined the Wonders’ best player in the season opener and their mettle was tested again midseason when Torrence, a key defensive cog and a team leader, was killed in a car crash. However, the team never faltered, winning eight straight games to finish the season. Considering what they’ve already been through, Concord’s early 7-0 lead wasn’t much of an obstacle for the SPC-champion Wonders (10-1, 7-0), who will be seeded in the playoffs as an undefeated team. Their loss to Thomasville will not count toward seeding. Playing in his second game since returning from injury, Riley carried the load for Brown in the second half. He finished with 153 yards on 19 carries, 14 of them coming after halftime. His 14-yard score gave Brown the lead in the second quarter, and his 39-yarder had the same result in the third.
Massey had serious doubts about Riley’s availability earlier this week due to soreness in his knee. However, he credited his senior with putting forth a gutsy effort when the Wonders needed it most.
“Travis had a great game tonight,” said Brown quarterback Martel Campbell, whose 19-yard scramble on third-and-15 sealed the win with two minutes left. “He’s been waiting to get back on the field. Finally he got his opportunity in a big game, and he did what he does – make big plays for us.”
Concord made its fair share of big plays, too. Quarterback B.J. Beecher, who was 13-for-28 passing for 232 yards, tossed touchdowns on Concord’s first and final first-half drives. Trailing by two scores, he hooked
up with Marsalis Moore on a 69-yard completion and then hit Alex Salado on an eight-yard touchdown pass with 4:36 left in the game. However, the Spiders were plagued by drops, poor throws and an inabilityto move the ball on the ground – they had just 24 rushing yards on 13 carries. A second-half fumble and interception – Beecher’s accuracy faded as the rain worsened after the break –didn’t help either.
“Especially in the third quarter when it was raining so hard, we were having trouble keeping the balls dry,” Concord coach Glen Padgett said. “A couple of passes slipped out of B.J.’s hands. They were bigger than we were up front. We knew that, and they were able to control the line of scrimmage. That was the key.”
Still, the Spiders had their chances. Clinging to a seven-point lead, the Wonders started their final possession at their own 30. Soon enough it was third-and-15 and Campbell took the shotgun snap and rolled left, looking to throw. When the play broke down, he found loads of running room to the right and sprinted for the first down, clinching the safe return of the Victory Bell. The Wonders enter the postseason with momentum and, perhaps more importantly, all the confidence in the world.
“This game means so much,” Campbell said. “You can’t put it into words. We had a disappointing performance against them last year. So, we had this circled on our calendar for 365 days. To be able to come out here and get this win is huge for us.
“I feel like we’re high on energy right now going into the playoffs. We just hope it develops as we go further and further.” (The Salisbury Post)
finish for the Wonders, but it was obvious the journey had taken a toll on their leader.
“It’s a great feeling,” Massey said with a stoic expression. “This group of kids has been through a lot. Obviously losing Travis [Riley] early and then the death of Dajon Torrence. It’s been a tough year. It really has. I’m so proud of our young men, because they’ve acted like young men.”
A knee injury sidelined the Wonders’ best player in the season opener and their mettle was tested again midseason when Torrence, a key defensive cog and a team leader, was killed in a car crash. However, the team never faltered, winning eight straight games to finish the season. Considering what they’ve already been through, Concord’s early 7-0 lead wasn’t much of an obstacle for the SPC-champion Wonders (10-1, 7-0), who will be seeded in the playoffs as an undefeated team. Their loss to Thomasville will not count toward seeding. Playing in his second game since returning from injury, Riley carried the load for Brown in the second half. He finished with 153 yards on 19 carries, 14 of them coming after halftime. His 14-yard score gave Brown the lead in the second quarter, and his 39-yarder had the same result in the third.
Massey had serious doubts about Riley’s availability earlier this week due to soreness in his knee. However, he credited his senior with putting forth a gutsy effort when the Wonders needed it most.
“Travis had a great game tonight,” said Brown quarterback Martel Campbell, whose 19-yard scramble on third-and-15 sealed the win with two minutes left. “He’s been waiting to get back on the field. Finally he got his opportunity in a big game, and he did what he does – make big plays for us.”
Concord made its fair share of big plays, too. Quarterback B.J. Beecher, who was 13-for-28 passing for 232 yards, tossed touchdowns on Concord’s first and final first-half drives. Trailing by two scores, he hooked
up with Marsalis Moore on a 69-yard completion and then hit Alex Salado on an eight-yard touchdown pass with 4:36 left in the game. However, the Spiders were plagued by drops, poor throws and an inabilityto move the ball on the ground – they had just 24 rushing yards on 13 carries. A second-half fumble and interception – Beecher’s accuracy faded as the rain worsened after the break –didn’t help either.
“Especially in the third quarter when it was raining so hard, we were having trouble keeping the balls dry,” Concord coach Glen Padgett said. “A couple of passes slipped out of B.J.’s hands. They were bigger than we were up front. We knew that, and they were able to control the line of scrimmage. That was the key.”
Still, the Spiders had their chances. Clinging to a seven-point lead, the Wonders started their final possession at their own 30. Soon enough it was third-and-15 and Campbell took the shotgun snap and rolled left, looking to throw. When the play broke down, he found loads of running room to the right and sprinted for the first down, clinching the safe return of the Victory Bell. The Wonders enter the postseason with momentum and, perhaps more importantly, all the confidence in the world.
“This game means so much,” Campbell said. “You can’t put it into words. We had a disappointing performance against them last year. So, we had this circled on our calendar for 365 days. To be able to come out here and get this win is huge for us.
“I feel like we’re high on energy right now going into the playoffs. We just hope it develops as we go further and further.” (The Salisbury Post)
"He's Back"
Travis Riley Returns to Get Pay Back
The big storyline behind the eightieth Battle for the Bell was the return of "The Workhorse" Travis Riley. Riley who was forced to sit out most of his senior season after suffering a knee injury in the first game of the 2010 season at Statesville worked hard rehabbing his injury for just this purpose. There was no way Travis Riley was not going to play in this game in his senior season especially after the way his junior season ended at the hands of the Spiders. Nobody was going to punk Travis Riley on his home turf without retribution being served on the Spiders turf. Not only did Riley play, but he was a driving force behind the Wonders 28-21 victory at Bailey Stadium rushing the ball nineteen times for 153 yards. Travis remembered the feeling of defeat in 2009, and was not going to repeat the process in 2010.
(Picture Above) Spiders exchange victory bell in 2010 after 28-21 defeat
(Picture Left) Concord Spiders exchange the victory bell with Kannapolis after a 28-21 defeat to the Wonders in 2010. Wonder LB and Captain #41 Andrew Leslie shows typical Kannapolis sportsmanship as #56 Sheldon Saddler looks on.
(Picture Right) Emotion was the word of the night after the 28-21 defeat of the Spiders at Bailey Stadium. This photo was sent to me capturing the Moment Quin Gill broke down after realizing he had accomplished what he had set out to do and who he set out to do it for. It was a very humbling experience, but a very gratifying one being able to lend a shoulder to a friend.
(Picture Above) Quin Gill and Gerald Holt (Photo Courtesy of Crystal pearson)
(Picture Left) Gerald Holt, and Quin Gill give an unidentified Wonder a victory ride on the bell at Bailey Stadium after the Wonders defeated the Spiders in the 80th r.
"Get Ya "4s" Up"
"The 2011 Battle for the Bell"
Kannapolis-31 Concord-26
"Eighty First Battle for the Bell"
Not for the Faint of Heart
On the Wonders first possession of the game running back Damien Washington would score on a twelve yard touchdown run around the left side putting the Wonders up 7-0 with just under eleven minutes left in the first period.
After the Spiders fumbled the ball on their first possession the Wonders would find the endzone again on this Kalif Phillips five yard touchdown run around right end. The Wonders would jump out to an early 14-0 lead.
Touchdown Washington, Touchdown Phillips, Field goal Amaya, Touchdown Phillips. Even before the second quarter began the Wonders had already built a 24-0 cushion on the shell shocked Spiders in Memorial Stadium for the eighty first meeting between Kannapolis and rival Concord. Fortunes soon turned as the Spiders began clicking offensively behind the rifle arm of Spider field general B.J. Beecher. It wasn't until just seconds before halftime as the Wonders went into hurry up mode when Brandon Eppinger found Keeon Johnson streaking down the middle of the field for what would be the final Wonder points needed to put the Spiders away for good.
The Wonders would go into the break leading 31-14. In the second half Beecher would take the Spiders on yet another unanswered thirteen point scoring spree that pulled the Spiders within six of the Wonders, and the fight to maintain a six point lead began. With The Wonders battling desperatley to keep their dreams of an undisputed South Piedmont Conference Championship within their grasp, the Wonder offense got the ball back with 4:30 left in regulation and began and eight play drive that effectively put the Spiders comeback hopes away. Though the Wonders were unable to convert on a final fourth and short the Wonder defense would be called upon for one final stand to secure the victory. On the final play of the game QB B.J. Beecher threw a hail mary pass towards the middle of the field near the Wonder twenty five yard line which fell incomplete sealing the Spiders fate. The Wonders victory was complete which garnered them back to back South Piedmont Conference Champions as well as securing the #3 seed out of the midwest for the playoffs in the 3AA bracket.
The Wonders would go into the break leading 31-14. In the second half Beecher would take the Spiders on yet another unanswered thirteen point scoring spree that pulled the Spiders within six of the Wonders, and the fight to maintain a six point lead began. With The Wonders battling desperatley to keep their dreams of an undisputed South Piedmont Conference Championship within their grasp, the Wonder offense got the ball back with 4:30 left in regulation and began and eight play drive that effectively put the Spiders comeback hopes away. Though the Wonders were unable to convert on a final fourth and short the Wonder defense would be called upon for one final stand to secure the victory. On the final play of the game QB B.J. Beecher threw a hail mary pass towards the middle of the field near the Wonder twenty five yard line which fell incomplete sealing the Spiders fate. The Wonders victory was complete which garnered them back to back South Piedmont Conference Champions as well as securing the #3 seed out of the midwest for the playoffs in the 3AA bracket.
After the Spiders failed to move the ball on their second possession they would punt the ball back to the Wonders. The Wonders would shoot themselves in the foot with penalties on this drive which ended in a Erick Emaya 33 yard field goal putting the Wonders ahead by 17-0.
Capitalizing on yet another Spider turnover the Wonders sailed down the field on a great run by Robert Pinkston which set up this thirty two yard touchdown masterpiece by Kalif Phiilips who bounced his way through several Spider defenders before reaching the promised land. This put the Wonders in a commanding 24-0 first quarter lead.
Tired of being bullied around by the Wonders, the Spiders would finally get on the board on this short slant pass from Beecher to wide out Alex Asbury for seven. Spider kicker Rober Salsich would make the PAT, and the Wonders would now lead 24-7.
On third and eight from the Wonder twenty three the Spiders would score again on this pass from B.J. Beecher to Terrance Knox for six points. Robert Salsich would make the PAT, and the Spiders would inch ever closer to tieing the game.
The Spiders would be unable to move the ball, and would give the Wonders the ball back with just fifty nine seconds left before the break. The Wonders went into hurry up mode and the final Wonder points would come courtesy of Keeon Johnson after he pulled in a thirty two yard touchdown strike from QB Brandon Eppinger. These points would prove to be the difference in the game.
With just under nine minutes left in the third quarter Spider QB B.J. Beecher would find Bravon Howard in the back of the end zone on this fifteen yard touchdown strike closing the gap even tighter at 31-21. Robert Salsich would miss the vital PAT, and the Wonders were now feeling their confortable cushion quickly slipping away.
The final points of the game for Concord would come with 5:51 left in the fourth quarter. QB B.J. Beecher would call his own number on this QB Keeper from one yard out bringing the Spiders now within five of the Wonders. The Spiders would elect to go for the two point conversion, but Beecher would be unable to handle the ball making the attempt no good. It would now be left to the Wonder offense to mount a drive that would take enough time off the clock to secure the Wonder victory.
With nothing left to lose Spider QB B.J. Beecher would attempt a hail mary pass to wide out Alex Asbury which fell incomplete, and the Wonders perfect run through the SPC would be complete. Wonder fans storm the field, and the celebration in K-Town begins. Wonders are undisputed 2011 South Piedmont Conference Champions retaining the victory bell.
"Wonders Rule the SPC for yet Another Year"
Since 1977 the Wonders have created a 25-10 winning differential in the Battle for the Bell game series, and after the Wonder victory in 2011 the series is only one Wonder victory from being tied. So far in the new millinium the Wonders have an 9 and 3 record over the Spiders.
"The 2012 Battle for the Bell"
Kannapolis-14 Concord-21
The Final Battle in the SPC for Kannapolis
The 82nd Battle for the Bell proved not to be the way the Wonders wanted to go out in their final year in the South Piedmont Conference. This year would be a year of firsts in the Battle for the Bell as neither Kannapolis or Concord would capture the 2012 South Piedmont Conference title as that honor would go to first time ever recipient Hickory Ridge. The Wonders would would get the #4 seed out of the SPC which would give them one home playoff round against North Forsyth The Wonders would once again give up a chance to tie the series at 39 games a piece and will have to wait another two years before that goal can be accomplished.
The 82nd Battle for the Bell proved not to be the way the Wonders wanted to go out in their final year in the South Piedmont Conference. This year would be a year of firsts in the Battle for the Bell as neither Kannapolis or Concord would capture the 2012 South Piedmont Conference title as that honor would go to first time ever recipient Hickory Ridge. The Wonders would would get the #4 seed out of the SPC which would give them one home playoff round against North Forsyth The Wonders would once again give up a chance to tie the series at 39 games a piece and will have to wait another two years before that goal can be accomplished.
"The 2013 Battle for the Bell"
Kannapolis-20 Concord-33
"Spiders First Back to Back Bell Game Wins in Twenty Seven Years"
"The 2014 Battle for the Bell
Kannapolis-14 Concord-20
The 2015 Battle for the Bell
Kannapolis-26 Concord-15
2016 Battle for the Bell
Kannapolis-31 Concord-19
2017 Battle for the Bell
Kannapolis-14 Concord-12
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – Cream of Cabarrus third-ranked A.L. Brown survived a hectic final two minutes and staved off an ambitious fifth-ranked Concord team to win, 14-12, Friday in the annual Battle of the Bell rivalry game at Kannapolis Memorial Stadium. Spiders quarterback Jadon Bell scored on a 4-yard run with 11.6 seconds left in the game, but the Wonders’ Equaris Baldwin successfully defended a Concord pass play on the two-point conversion try. An A.L. Brown unsportsmanlike conduct penalty allowed Concord to kick off from the Wonders 45. The Spiders’ Emmanuel Arias recovered the onside kick attempt at the A.L. Brown 32. With no timeouts left, Bell attempted to get off a pass, but defensive lineman Najee Williams smothered him for a 6-yard loss as time expired.
“I saw that (Bell) still had the ball,” said Williams, who was named the game’s MVP. “I had tunnel vision the whole time. I hit him, got up, the clock was still running. It was amazing. I wish I could relive it.”
RECORDS:
Concord 5-6, 2-3 South Piedmont 3A Conference; A.L. Brown 9-2, 4-1 South Piedmont 3A Conference.
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
It took Concord three tries to get off its two-point conversion play after it had pulled within two points in the final seconds. First, the Spiders were penalized five yards for delay of game, which repositioned the ball at the 8-yard line. An incomplete pass play was nullified by offsetting penalties: an illegal shift by Concord and a defensive hold on A.L. Brown. On the third attempt, Bell looked to throw but made a move toward the goal line before pulling up and lofting a high-arching pass toward the left, back corner of the end zone. Zyoin Boger made the catch, but Baldwin gave him a forceful shove and the Spiders’ receiver was ruled out of bounds.
“It seems like this game always comes down to something in the fourth quarter,” said Concord coach Glen Padgett, who is retiring when the Spiders’ season is complete.
“I just can’t say how proud I am of this staff and these players and their undying refusal to quit. In the end, we put ourselves in position to be successful.”
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
Concord:
-- After a 2-yard loss on the first play of the second half, Concord had exactly zero rushing yards. But L.J. Currie rushed for 50 of his 51 yards after halftime, and Jay Wilkerson had 48 following intermission and finished with 46.
-- Safety Jo Bond had a team-high 10 tackles, and Rocco D’Souza, J.D. Miller, Jourdan Heilig, Clint Bost, and Jaden Smith all had at least five.
-- After catching an overhand lateral from quarterback Jadon Bell, Antonio Campbell connected with Boger for a 37-yard completion on the first play of the Spiders’ last-minute touchdown drive.
A.L. Brown:
-- Jaran Young had 10 tackles, the most important one coming on a 40-yard run by Concord’s Jay Wilkerson. Young saved a touchdown by catching Wilkerson at the Wonders’ 17.
-- Justin Holsclaw had nine tackles and an interception on the first play of the fourth quarter.
--- Najee Williams had six tackles including two fourth-quarter sacks.
--- In a game decided by two points, the Wonders blocked a Spiders extra point attempt in the third quarter and blocked a 33-yard field goal attempt in the fourth.
3 OBSERVATIONS:
-- A.L. Brown had a knight in shining armor, literally, ride on to the field before the game. A horseman, calling himself The Green Knight and hoisting a green and white candy-striped lance, entered from the east end zone and galloped to midfield.
-- Concord was represented by a lance of its own at midfield before the game. Lance Lewis, a 2008 graduate and an all-state football and basketball player, was inducted into the Great American Rivalry Series Hall of Fame along with 2013 A.L. Brown graduate and former Charlotte 49ers star Kalif Phillips.
-- The game was delayed 23 minutes in the first quarter when a set of stadium lights went out. Pyrotechnics from Plummer’s Perch, beyond the visiting bleachers, provided some momentary entertainment.
“I saw that (Bell) still had the ball,” said Williams, who was named the game’s MVP. “I had tunnel vision the whole time. I hit him, got up, the clock was still running. It was amazing. I wish I could relive it.”
RECORDS:
Concord 5-6, 2-3 South Piedmont 3A Conference; A.L. Brown 9-2, 4-1 South Piedmont 3A Conference.
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
It took Concord three tries to get off its two-point conversion play after it had pulled within two points in the final seconds. First, the Spiders were penalized five yards for delay of game, which repositioned the ball at the 8-yard line. An incomplete pass play was nullified by offsetting penalties: an illegal shift by Concord and a defensive hold on A.L. Brown. On the third attempt, Bell looked to throw but made a move toward the goal line before pulling up and lofting a high-arching pass toward the left, back corner of the end zone. Zyoin Boger made the catch, but Baldwin gave him a forceful shove and the Spiders’ receiver was ruled out of bounds.
“It seems like this game always comes down to something in the fourth quarter,” said Concord coach Glen Padgett, who is retiring when the Spiders’ season is complete.
“I just can’t say how proud I am of this staff and these players and their undying refusal to quit. In the end, we put ourselves in position to be successful.”
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
Concord:
-- After a 2-yard loss on the first play of the second half, Concord had exactly zero rushing yards. But L.J. Currie rushed for 50 of his 51 yards after halftime, and Jay Wilkerson had 48 following intermission and finished with 46.
-- Safety Jo Bond had a team-high 10 tackles, and Rocco D’Souza, J.D. Miller, Jourdan Heilig, Clint Bost, and Jaden Smith all had at least five.
-- After catching an overhand lateral from quarterback Jadon Bell, Antonio Campbell connected with Boger for a 37-yard completion on the first play of the Spiders’ last-minute touchdown drive.
A.L. Brown:
-- Jaran Young had 10 tackles, the most important one coming on a 40-yard run by Concord’s Jay Wilkerson. Young saved a touchdown by catching Wilkerson at the Wonders’ 17.
-- Justin Holsclaw had nine tackles and an interception on the first play of the fourth quarter.
--- Najee Williams had six tackles including two fourth-quarter sacks.
--- In a game decided by two points, the Wonders blocked a Spiders extra point attempt in the third quarter and blocked a 33-yard field goal attempt in the fourth.
3 OBSERVATIONS:
-- A.L. Brown had a knight in shining armor, literally, ride on to the field before the game. A horseman, calling himself The Green Knight and hoisting a green and white candy-striped lance, entered from the east end zone and galloped to midfield.
-- Concord was represented by a lance of its own at midfield before the game. Lance Lewis, a 2008 graduate and an all-state football and basketball player, was inducted into the Great American Rivalry Series Hall of Fame along with 2013 A.L. Brown graduate and former Charlotte 49ers star Kalif Phillips.
-- The game was delayed 23 minutes in the first quarter when a set of stadium lights went out. Pyrotechnics from Plummer’s Perch, beyond the visiting bleachers, provided some momentary entertainment.
2018 Battle for the Bell
Kannapolis-54 Concord-35
CONCORD – Someone once sang “Saturday night’s alright for fighting,” and A.L. Brown and Concord definitely got a little action in during their annual “Battle for the Bell” game. A player whose name is much in tune – A.L. Brown’s Jordan Medley – was his team’s catalyst, as the Cream of Cabarrus fourth-ranked Wonders and the host Spiders combined for the most points in the legendary series’ history. In a game postponed a day because of Friday rains, the senior quarterback ran for two scores and threw for three more, as A.L. Brown left Robert C. Bailey Stadium with a 54-35 victory. The regular-season series, which began in 1931, is now tied for the first time since 1932. Both teams have won 42 times, and there have been four ties.
“We knew we couldn’t take (Concord) lightly,” said A.L. Brown senior receiver Antonio Knight, who scored a touchdown receiving and rushing. “We knew we had something we could do that’s not been done in a long time, which is having the Bell four years. So we had to make sure we could handle that.”
The last time A.L. Brown won four Bell Games in a row was 1997-2003 (which included a Concord forfeit loss in 2001). The Wonders’ handled extending their winning streak against their rival as well as plenty of other things. They built an insurmountable lead of 26-0 in the second quarter and rolled to 516 total yards. Medley, who was named the game’s most valuable player, completed 11 of 17 passes for 172 yards and ran for 124 yards on 14 carries. He even caught a pass in the red zone from receiver Jose Vargas for 12 yards which led to A.L. Brown’s fourth touchdown, a 6-yard Medley-to-Knight score. Senior running back Jaron Cooper rushed for 150 yards on 17 carries, giving him three straight games with more than 100 yards and allowing him to eclipse 1,000 yards for the year. His 17-yard scoring run early in the third quarter led to a 33-15 lead and broke the momentum Concord had going into halftime.
The Spiders scored 15 points in the last five minutes, 25 seconds of the second quarter. Two of L.J. Currie’s three touchdowns were scored in that span, sandwiched around a safety the Spiders tallied when they blocked a punt through the back of the end zone. Like his quarterback counterpart, Concord’s Dajon Johnson had a fine game, passing for a season-high 203 yards by completing 15 of 26 attempts. He also rushed for 85 yards on 15 carries, many of them scrambles. The Spiders finished with 423 yards.
“Our kids are very resilient,” said Concord coach Marty Paxton. “They could have given up when it was 26-0. I told them at halftime I was a little nervous. But I knew the kids that I know don’t quit, and those guys showed up.”
RECORDS:
A.L. Brown 6-5 overall, 2-3 South Piedmont 3A; Concord 1-10, 0-5 SPC
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
Among A.L. Brown’s eight touchdown plays, the most important was the one that came on the first play of the second quarter. The game’s outcome was still undecided, and the Wonders were nurturing a 6-0 margin.
Facing second and 4 at the Concord 46, Medley looked to pass and locked in on Vargas sprinting down the middle of the field. Medley took two steps forward and winged a throw in Vargas’ direction.
The Spiders’ defender kept his pace, but Medley placed the ball perfectly for Vargas, who caught it at the 5-yard line and galloped across the goal line for a 12-0 lead.
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
A.L. Brown:
-- Steven Robinson caught three passes for 92 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown in the third quarter on which he was uncovered and ran almost 50 yards after making the catch.
-- Linebackers B.J. Foster, Antonio Kennedy, and Dezmond Adams, lineman Terry Williams, and defensive back Tyreik Harris were the Wonders’ defensive standouts.
-- Sophomore Mario Carmona, up from the junior varsity, made all five of his extra point attempts.
Concord:
-- Currie scored two of three touchdowns in the first half, but he compiled most of his rushing yardage in the second half. The junior gained 54 of his 70 yards after halftime.
-- Deonte Brown had a game-high five receptions for 53 yards. One of his two fourth-quarter touchdowns went for 14 yards and was a one-handed catch on a fourth-down play.
-- Senior linebackers Clint Bost and Jourdan Heilig stood out defensively.
3 OBSERVATIONS:
-- Bost and A.L. Brown’s Alex Zimmerman were named Great American Rivalry Series Scholar-Athletes before the game.
-- Attendance was definitely high but not the packed house that the Bell Game normally brings. Even though there were people standing on the rim of the Bailey Stadium bowl, there were open seats in both the home and visitors bleachers.
-- Concord twice entered the red zone without scoring. Its first drive of the game resulted in a missed field goal, and a short second-quarter possession ended on a Jacob Booker interception just inside the end zone.
“We knew we couldn’t take (Concord) lightly,” said A.L. Brown senior receiver Antonio Knight, who scored a touchdown receiving and rushing. “We knew we had something we could do that’s not been done in a long time, which is having the Bell four years. So we had to make sure we could handle that.”
The last time A.L. Brown won four Bell Games in a row was 1997-2003 (which included a Concord forfeit loss in 2001). The Wonders’ handled extending their winning streak against their rival as well as plenty of other things. They built an insurmountable lead of 26-0 in the second quarter and rolled to 516 total yards. Medley, who was named the game’s most valuable player, completed 11 of 17 passes for 172 yards and ran for 124 yards on 14 carries. He even caught a pass in the red zone from receiver Jose Vargas for 12 yards which led to A.L. Brown’s fourth touchdown, a 6-yard Medley-to-Knight score. Senior running back Jaron Cooper rushed for 150 yards on 17 carries, giving him three straight games with more than 100 yards and allowing him to eclipse 1,000 yards for the year. His 17-yard scoring run early in the third quarter led to a 33-15 lead and broke the momentum Concord had going into halftime.
The Spiders scored 15 points in the last five minutes, 25 seconds of the second quarter. Two of L.J. Currie’s three touchdowns were scored in that span, sandwiched around a safety the Spiders tallied when they blocked a punt through the back of the end zone. Like his quarterback counterpart, Concord’s Dajon Johnson had a fine game, passing for a season-high 203 yards by completing 15 of 26 attempts. He also rushed for 85 yards on 15 carries, many of them scrambles. The Spiders finished with 423 yards.
“Our kids are very resilient,” said Concord coach Marty Paxton. “They could have given up when it was 26-0. I told them at halftime I was a little nervous. But I knew the kids that I know don’t quit, and those guys showed up.”
RECORDS:
A.L. Brown 6-5 overall, 2-3 South Piedmont 3A; Concord 1-10, 0-5 SPC
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
Among A.L. Brown’s eight touchdown plays, the most important was the one that came on the first play of the second quarter. The game’s outcome was still undecided, and the Wonders were nurturing a 6-0 margin.
Facing second and 4 at the Concord 46, Medley looked to pass and locked in on Vargas sprinting down the middle of the field. Medley took two steps forward and winged a throw in Vargas’ direction.
The Spiders’ defender kept his pace, but Medley placed the ball perfectly for Vargas, who caught it at the 5-yard line and galloped across the goal line for a 12-0 lead.
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
A.L. Brown:
-- Steven Robinson caught three passes for 92 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown in the third quarter on which he was uncovered and ran almost 50 yards after making the catch.
-- Linebackers B.J. Foster, Antonio Kennedy, and Dezmond Adams, lineman Terry Williams, and defensive back Tyreik Harris were the Wonders’ defensive standouts.
-- Sophomore Mario Carmona, up from the junior varsity, made all five of his extra point attempts.
Concord:
-- Currie scored two of three touchdowns in the first half, but he compiled most of his rushing yardage in the second half. The junior gained 54 of his 70 yards after halftime.
-- Deonte Brown had a game-high five receptions for 53 yards. One of his two fourth-quarter touchdowns went for 14 yards and was a one-handed catch on a fourth-down play.
-- Senior linebackers Clint Bost and Jourdan Heilig stood out defensively.
3 OBSERVATIONS:
-- Bost and A.L. Brown’s Alex Zimmerman were named Great American Rivalry Series Scholar-Athletes before the game.
-- Attendance was definitely high but not the packed house that the Bell Game normally brings. Even though there were people standing on the rim of the Bailey Stadium bowl, there were open seats in both the home and visitors bleachers.
-- Concord twice entered the red zone without scoring. Its first drive of the game resulted in a missed field goal, and a short second-quarter possession ended on a Jacob Booker interception just inside the end zone.
2019 Battle for the Bell
Kannapolis-59 Concord-21
KANNAPOLIS - The Bell was technically up for grabs in the annual “Battle for the Bell” football rivalry, but it didn’t take long to realize it was staying at A.L. Brown High School after the Wonders dominated Concord, 59-21, at Kannapolis Memorial Stadium Friday night. The game was featured as part of the Great American Rivalry Series, a nationwide organization honoring the best high school football rivalries in America. It’s the fifth straight win for the Wonders against Concord, and now the series is deadlocked at 43-43-4.
“We just came out on fire, really, in all aspects of the game -- defense, offense, special teams. They all played great,” said Wonders coach Mike Newsome.
The Wonders got off to a quick start, scoring on their first two possessions. After Jahkiry Bennett rushed seven straight times for 61 yards, quarterback Cameron Kromah hit Isaiah Black on a 9-yard touchdown pass. Then, Todd Kennedy Jr. ran for a 2-yard score to make it 14-0. In the second quarter, the scoreboard really blew up. The Wonders scored 24 points to make it 38-0. Ty Woods nailed a 27-yard field goal, and then the Wonders recovered a fumble. Bennett scored on a 24-yard touchdown run. After a turnover on downs, the Wonders faced a fourth-and-8 near the red zone. Kromah pump-faked and then hit Black on a 23-yard touchdown pass. The following drive, Kromah found Jose Vargas for a 47-yard touchdown pass. At that point, the score was 38-0.
“(I was) just seeing open shots that I can take,” said Kromah, who finished with four touchdowns and 216 passing yards.. “Taking those shots in practice helped me in this game, so I was just taking what’s there.”
Concord finally woke up with 46 seconds left in the half. Nijel Robinson returned the kickoff, breaking multiple tackles, 70 yards for a touchdown. The Spiders then recovered an onside kick and had a 43-yard play that was unfortunately erased on a penalty. The score was 38-7 at half. The Spiders started the second half with two huge plays: a fourth and 22 fake punt conversion and then a 51-yard touchdown pass from Deonte Brown to Robinson. After that, A.L. Brown’s defense took over again.
“We got some exciting players on defense,” Newsome said. “They can make great plays all over the field. They’ve been able to keep us in games all year long, and they can make plays at any time.”
RECORDS:
Concord 1-10 overall, 1-4 South Piedmont 3A Conference; A.L. Brown 7-3, 3-2
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
After allowing 14 unanswered points and the second onside kick of the game, Concord was gaining momentum and closing the deficit. A.L. Brown cornerback Josiah Cauthen shut down any hope for a comeback.
On fourth-and-2 near the red zone, Concord running back Travion Wilson took a handoff to the left side. He tried to break some tackles, but the ball popped out of his grip. Cauthen picked it up, broke a tackle and ran 73 yards for the score.
“We forced a fumble, and I saw the ball went through some people,” Cauthen said. “I picked it up, and I saw green grass. I made sure I didn’t get caught.”
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
Concord
-- Robinson did it all for Concord. He returned a kickoff for a touchdown and caught three passes for 64 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown reception.
-- Jacori James rushed for 45 yards on 10 carries and caught one pass for 15 yards.
-- Punter Isaiah Clark converted a fourth-and-22 fake punt near his own 20-yard line, running for 23 yards. He also had a punt that went more than 50 yards and had two onside kicks recovered.
A.L. Brown
-- Jakhiry Bennett won the Great American Rivalry Series MVP, rushing for 145 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
-- Black scored three touchdowns on five receptions and had 130 yards
-- Cauthen had an interception and a 73-yard fumble recovery touchdown
3 OBSERVATIONS:
-- If it weren’t for a penalty, the Wonders would have scored a touchdown on special teams, too. A penalty also erased a third defensive touchdown. Four possible non-offensive touchdowns shows how well they were clicking on all cylinders.
-- Concord’s special teams did extremely well. They returned a kickoff for a touchdown, recovered two onside kicks and converted a fourth-and-22 fake punt. All in all, the special teams gave life to Concord.
-- As part of the Great American Rivalry Series, there’s a pull-up competition between students of each school. A.L. Brown won that as well, knocking out 1,497 pull-ups to Concord’s 1,145.
“We just came out on fire, really, in all aspects of the game -- defense, offense, special teams. They all played great,” said Wonders coach Mike Newsome.
The Wonders got off to a quick start, scoring on their first two possessions. After Jahkiry Bennett rushed seven straight times for 61 yards, quarterback Cameron Kromah hit Isaiah Black on a 9-yard touchdown pass. Then, Todd Kennedy Jr. ran for a 2-yard score to make it 14-0. In the second quarter, the scoreboard really blew up. The Wonders scored 24 points to make it 38-0. Ty Woods nailed a 27-yard field goal, and then the Wonders recovered a fumble. Bennett scored on a 24-yard touchdown run. After a turnover on downs, the Wonders faced a fourth-and-8 near the red zone. Kromah pump-faked and then hit Black on a 23-yard touchdown pass. The following drive, Kromah found Jose Vargas for a 47-yard touchdown pass. At that point, the score was 38-0.
“(I was) just seeing open shots that I can take,” said Kromah, who finished with four touchdowns and 216 passing yards.. “Taking those shots in practice helped me in this game, so I was just taking what’s there.”
Concord finally woke up with 46 seconds left in the half. Nijel Robinson returned the kickoff, breaking multiple tackles, 70 yards for a touchdown. The Spiders then recovered an onside kick and had a 43-yard play that was unfortunately erased on a penalty. The score was 38-7 at half. The Spiders started the second half with two huge plays: a fourth and 22 fake punt conversion and then a 51-yard touchdown pass from Deonte Brown to Robinson. After that, A.L. Brown’s defense took over again.
“We got some exciting players on defense,” Newsome said. “They can make great plays all over the field. They’ve been able to keep us in games all year long, and they can make plays at any time.”
RECORDS:
Concord 1-10 overall, 1-4 South Piedmont 3A Conference; A.L. Brown 7-3, 3-2
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
After allowing 14 unanswered points and the second onside kick of the game, Concord was gaining momentum and closing the deficit. A.L. Brown cornerback Josiah Cauthen shut down any hope for a comeback.
On fourth-and-2 near the red zone, Concord running back Travion Wilson took a handoff to the left side. He tried to break some tackles, but the ball popped out of his grip. Cauthen picked it up, broke a tackle and ran 73 yards for the score.
“We forced a fumble, and I saw the ball went through some people,” Cauthen said. “I picked it up, and I saw green grass. I made sure I didn’t get caught.”
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
Concord
-- Robinson did it all for Concord. He returned a kickoff for a touchdown and caught three passes for 64 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown reception.
-- Jacori James rushed for 45 yards on 10 carries and caught one pass for 15 yards.
-- Punter Isaiah Clark converted a fourth-and-22 fake punt near his own 20-yard line, running for 23 yards. He also had a punt that went more than 50 yards and had two onside kicks recovered.
A.L. Brown
-- Jakhiry Bennett won the Great American Rivalry Series MVP, rushing for 145 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
-- Black scored three touchdowns on five receptions and had 130 yards
-- Cauthen had an interception and a 73-yard fumble recovery touchdown
3 OBSERVATIONS:
-- If it weren’t for a penalty, the Wonders would have scored a touchdown on special teams, too. A penalty also erased a third defensive touchdown. Four possible non-offensive touchdowns shows how well they were clicking on all cylinders.
-- Concord’s special teams did extremely well. They returned a kickoff for a touchdown, recovered two onside kicks and converted a fourth-and-22 fake punt. All in all, the special teams gave life to Concord.
-- As part of the Great American Rivalry Series, there’s a pull-up competition between students of each school. A.L. Brown won that as well, knocking out 1,497 pull-ups to Concord’s 1,145.
2020 Battle For the Bell
Kannapolis-28 Concord-0
Cream of Cabarrus top-ranked A.L. Brown controlled the ball for only 3½ minutes in the first half but still scored on all three of its full possessions and came away with a 28-0 victory at rival Concord at E.Z. Smith at Robert C. Bailey Stadium Friday. The Wonders won their sixth straight Battle for the Bell game and finished undefeated in conference play for the first time since 2011. Not including a Concord forfeit in 2001, the last time there was a shutout in the historic series was in 2000, when A.L. Brown won by the same score, 28-0.
“This game is special and to win The Bell makes it even more special,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. “I told our kids before the game they should feel privileged and honored to be able to play in this game. To get the win is a plus.”
Concord coach Marty Paxton said the Spiders’ game plan was to keep the ball away from A.L. Brown as much as possible. Concord had the ball for the game’s first nine minutes, 34 seconds before relinquishing possession. What the Spiders couldn’t do in almost 10 minutes, A.L. Brown was able to do in 1:10. The Wonders covered 58 yards in four plays and took a 7-0 lead on Jamison Flowe’s 2-yard score. A.L. Brown had two more scoring drives of two plays and five plays in the second quarter to take a 21-0 halftime lead. Though time of possession was much more balanced in the second half, Concord held the ball for 20:32 over the first two quarters.
RECORDS
A.L. Brown 6-1 overall, 6-0 South Piedmont 3A Conference; Concord 2-5, 1-5 SPC
THE PLAY OF THE GAME
Early in the second quarter, Concord had just lost the ball on downs after a long possession for the second time in the game. Starting at his own 32-yard line, Wonders’ running back Jamison Flowe gained 13 yards to the right for a first down. On the next play, Flowe ran left and broke through the Spiders’ last line of defense at their 45. Five Spiders defenders chased after Flowe to the end zone, but the junior running back looked like he was in a different gear. The long touchdown run gave A.L. Brown a 14-0 lead with seven minutes left in the first half. The Wonders had scored twice, even though they had possessed the ball for only 1:40 to that point.
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS
A.L. Brown
● Though he didn’t have another carry after A.L. Brown’s first possession of the second half, Flowe had a game-high 115 rushing yards and two touchdowns on eight carries.
● Both of receiver Isaiah Black’s receptions went for touchdowns. The first covered 38 yards in the second quarter, and his second, for 7 yards, closed the scoring in the third period. He also had a second-quarter interception.
● Linebackers Brycen Schenck and Torren Wright led the Wonders with 12 and 10 tackles, respectively.
Concord
Running back Jacori James, one of only two senior starters on offense for the Spiders, carried 20 times for 69 yards.
● Punter Isaiah Clark was Concord’s second-leading rusher. Though he lined up to punt, he actually only kicked once, for 35 yards. Clark faked a punt in the fourth quarter and ran for 27 yards. In the second quarter, he fumbled a snap and took off for an 11-yard gain, 1 yard shy of a first down.
3 OBSERVATIONS
● Several people in the press box commented how spectacular the natural grass of E.Z. Smith Field looked Friday. The grass was so luscious it rivaled the green of A.L. Brown’s helmets.
● A.L. Brown’s Nathan Baucom and Concord’s Sam Cochran were honored at midfield before the game as their team’s senior player with the “highest academic standing,” presented by The Great American Rivalry Series and the Marine Corp. Baucom, a center, plans to attend UNC Chapel Hill. Cochran, a tight end and linebacker, will matriculate to the United States Air Force Academy.
● Concord reached inside the A.L. Brown 35-yard line three times but never got farther than the 31.
“This game is special and to win The Bell makes it even more special,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. “I told our kids before the game they should feel privileged and honored to be able to play in this game. To get the win is a plus.”
Concord coach Marty Paxton said the Spiders’ game plan was to keep the ball away from A.L. Brown as much as possible. Concord had the ball for the game’s first nine minutes, 34 seconds before relinquishing possession. What the Spiders couldn’t do in almost 10 minutes, A.L. Brown was able to do in 1:10. The Wonders covered 58 yards in four plays and took a 7-0 lead on Jamison Flowe’s 2-yard score. A.L. Brown had two more scoring drives of two plays and five plays in the second quarter to take a 21-0 halftime lead. Though time of possession was much more balanced in the second half, Concord held the ball for 20:32 over the first two quarters.
RECORDS
A.L. Brown 6-1 overall, 6-0 South Piedmont 3A Conference; Concord 2-5, 1-5 SPC
THE PLAY OF THE GAME
Early in the second quarter, Concord had just lost the ball on downs after a long possession for the second time in the game. Starting at his own 32-yard line, Wonders’ running back Jamison Flowe gained 13 yards to the right for a first down. On the next play, Flowe ran left and broke through the Spiders’ last line of defense at their 45. Five Spiders defenders chased after Flowe to the end zone, but the junior running back looked like he was in a different gear. The long touchdown run gave A.L. Brown a 14-0 lead with seven minutes left in the first half. The Wonders had scored twice, even though they had possessed the ball for only 1:40 to that point.
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS
A.L. Brown
● Though he didn’t have another carry after A.L. Brown’s first possession of the second half, Flowe had a game-high 115 rushing yards and two touchdowns on eight carries.
● Both of receiver Isaiah Black’s receptions went for touchdowns. The first covered 38 yards in the second quarter, and his second, for 7 yards, closed the scoring in the third period. He also had a second-quarter interception.
● Linebackers Brycen Schenck and Torren Wright led the Wonders with 12 and 10 tackles, respectively.
Concord
Running back Jacori James, one of only two senior starters on offense for the Spiders, carried 20 times for 69 yards.
● Punter Isaiah Clark was Concord’s second-leading rusher. Though he lined up to punt, he actually only kicked once, for 35 yards. Clark faked a punt in the fourth quarter and ran for 27 yards. In the second quarter, he fumbled a snap and took off for an 11-yard gain, 1 yard shy of a first down.
3 OBSERVATIONS
● Several people in the press box commented how spectacular the natural grass of E.Z. Smith Field looked Friday. The grass was so luscious it rivaled the green of A.L. Brown’s helmets.
● A.L. Brown’s Nathan Baucom and Concord’s Sam Cochran were honored at midfield before the game as their team’s senior player with the “highest academic standing,” presented by The Great American Rivalry Series and the Marine Corp. Baucom, a center, plans to attend UNC Chapel Hill. Cochran, a tight end and linebacker, will matriculate to the United States Air Force Academy.
● Concord reached inside the A.L. Brown 35-yard line three times but never got farther than the 31.
2021 Battle For the Bell
Kannapolis-47 Concord-0
What promised to be Concord’s best shot in years of taking back the coveted Victory Bell from A.L. Brown turned into the most lopsided shutout in the vaunted series’ history. Playing at their Memorial Stadium home, the Wonders dominated the Cream of Cabarrus third-ranked Spiders for a 47-0 non-conference victory Friday night, their seventh consecutive win in the series. When Concord captured the South Piedmont 3A Conference championship in its final conference game of the season last week, it secured a first-round home game in the state playoffs next week. A.L. Brown, however, will be following the state athletic association’s announcement of 4A playoff berths today to see if their .500 record is good enough to earn the Wonders a wild card bid.
“I think you had a Wonders team that was really talented that had a lot of setbacks in the season and kind of made a pact among themselves all week long to come out and play the way they were capable of,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. “It’s nice to see when a plan comes together. It’s a very talented group that underachieved a little bit, and that’s on me. But I’m really glad to see them get an opportunity to go out in the Bell Game like this with a huge win.”
A.L. Brown’s 47-point differential was the second largest margin of victory in the rivalry’s 92-game history. The Wonders, which extended their program-record consecutive Bell Game victories streak to seven, leads the all-time series 45-43-4.Sophomore two-way player Xavier Chambers scored first-half touchdowns on a 33-yard pass reception and an 80-yard defensive fumble recovery, and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. A.L. Brown’s defense limited Concord to 137 yards rushing and one pass completion for 6 yards, which came on the Spiders’ last possession of the game. That was after the Wonders scored their final points midway through the fourth quarter, forcing a running clock for the rest of the game.
“We definitely didn’t perform up to our level,” said Concord coach Marty Paxton. “Too many turnovers (two). And (A.L. Brown) came ready to play, and it looked like we didn’t.”
RECORDS:
Concord 6-3 overall, 6-0 South Piedmont 3A; A.L. Brown 5-5, 1-5 Greater Metro 4A.
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
Early in the second quarter, Concord had made its deepest penetration into A.L. Brown territory by establishing a first-and-10 at the Wonders’ 15-yard line. Concord wingback Xavier Sanders gained a few yards to the left but was stopped abruptly by a couple of A.L. Brown tacklers. One of them poked the ball loose, and it squirted straight into the hands of Chambers, who was flanking the action to the right of his linemen. The defensive back got such a big jump and reached the end zone so effortlessly that it looked like the Spiders were desperately hoping the play would be called back for some reason. Instead of the Spiders continuing to pursue their best scoring opportunity of the game, the Wonders doubled their lead to 14-0.
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
Concord:
● Alexander Petroff (42) makes the tackle on Kash Smith (7).
Todd Maulden/Special to the Independent Tribune● Freshman linebacker Alex Petroff and senior linemen Jameson Hackett each had seven tackles.
● Sophomore Keyon Phillips blocked two extra point attempts.
● Kevels Phillips (23) finds a rare hole.
● Senior Keveus Phillips had a team-high 52 yards on 10 carries.
A.L Brown:
● In addition to his two scores, Chambers set up another A.L. Brown touchdown in the second quarter when he returned a punt 32 yards to the Concord 5-yard line.
● Jaden Johnson, who rushed for a team-high 74 yards, benefitted from Chambers’ long punt return. On the ensuing play by, he scored on a 5-yard run – the first of his two touchdowns.
● Starting his first game at quarterback, junior Ashnah Lowery completed 8 of 17 pass attempts for 130 yards and two scores. He also rushed for 36 yards on seven carries.
● Senior middle linebacker Brock Morgan had a team-high 12 tackles
3 OBSERVATIONS:
● A.L. Brown’s Trent Thompson and Concord’s Joey Reali were honored at midfield before the game as their teams’ senior player with the “highest academic standing,” presented by The Great American Rivalry Series and the Marine Corp. Thompson, a starter in the defensive backfield, is his school’s National Honor Society president. Reali is a starter on the offensive line and serves as class president.
● Don Hines, a member of the Memorial Stadium chain gang for 40 years, was recognized with a public address announcement during the game. Since it’s unlikely the Wonders will host a state playoff game, Friday’s game is likely Hines’ last as he is retiring at the end of the season. A 1967 A.L. Brown graduate, the Hines has worked more than 450 varsity and JV games. I WONDER how many first downs that translates into.
● No one had a more vindicating moment than A.L. Brown receiver Derick Brazil. One play after dropping a wide-open pass in the end zone, Lowery targeted Brazil again just inside the left pylon for an 18-yard touchdown reception between two Concord defenders.
“I think you had a Wonders team that was really talented that had a lot of setbacks in the season and kind of made a pact among themselves all week long to come out and play the way they were capable of,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. “It’s nice to see when a plan comes together. It’s a very talented group that underachieved a little bit, and that’s on me. But I’m really glad to see them get an opportunity to go out in the Bell Game like this with a huge win.”
A.L. Brown’s 47-point differential was the second largest margin of victory in the rivalry’s 92-game history. The Wonders, which extended their program-record consecutive Bell Game victories streak to seven, leads the all-time series 45-43-4.Sophomore two-way player Xavier Chambers scored first-half touchdowns on a 33-yard pass reception and an 80-yard defensive fumble recovery, and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. A.L. Brown’s defense limited Concord to 137 yards rushing and one pass completion for 6 yards, which came on the Spiders’ last possession of the game. That was after the Wonders scored their final points midway through the fourth quarter, forcing a running clock for the rest of the game.
“We definitely didn’t perform up to our level,” said Concord coach Marty Paxton. “Too many turnovers (two). And (A.L. Brown) came ready to play, and it looked like we didn’t.”
RECORDS:
Concord 6-3 overall, 6-0 South Piedmont 3A; A.L. Brown 5-5, 1-5 Greater Metro 4A.
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
Early in the second quarter, Concord had made its deepest penetration into A.L. Brown territory by establishing a first-and-10 at the Wonders’ 15-yard line. Concord wingback Xavier Sanders gained a few yards to the left but was stopped abruptly by a couple of A.L. Brown tacklers. One of them poked the ball loose, and it squirted straight into the hands of Chambers, who was flanking the action to the right of his linemen. The defensive back got such a big jump and reached the end zone so effortlessly that it looked like the Spiders were desperately hoping the play would be called back for some reason. Instead of the Spiders continuing to pursue their best scoring opportunity of the game, the Wonders doubled their lead to 14-0.
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
Concord:
● Alexander Petroff (42) makes the tackle on Kash Smith (7).
Todd Maulden/Special to the Independent Tribune● Freshman linebacker Alex Petroff and senior linemen Jameson Hackett each had seven tackles.
● Sophomore Keyon Phillips blocked two extra point attempts.
● Kevels Phillips (23) finds a rare hole.
● Senior Keveus Phillips had a team-high 52 yards on 10 carries.
A.L Brown:
● In addition to his two scores, Chambers set up another A.L. Brown touchdown in the second quarter when he returned a punt 32 yards to the Concord 5-yard line.
● Jaden Johnson, who rushed for a team-high 74 yards, benefitted from Chambers’ long punt return. On the ensuing play by, he scored on a 5-yard run – the first of his two touchdowns.
● Starting his first game at quarterback, junior Ashnah Lowery completed 8 of 17 pass attempts for 130 yards and two scores. He also rushed for 36 yards on seven carries.
● Senior middle linebacker Brock Morgan had a team-high 12 tackles
3 OBSERVATIONS:
● A.L. Brown’s Trent Thompson and Concord’s Joey Reali were honored at midfield before the game as their teams’ senior player with the “highest academic standing,” presented by The Great American Rivalry Series and the Marine Corp. Thompson, a starter in the defensive backfield, is his school’s National Honor Society president. Reali is a starter on the offensive line and serves as class president.
● Don Hines, a member of the Memorial Stadium chain gang for 40 years, was recognized with a public address announcement during the game. Since it’s unlikely the Wonders will host a state playoff game, Friday’s game is likely Hines’ last as he is retiring at the end of the season. A 1967 A.L. Brown graduate, the Hines has worked more than 450 varsity and JV games. I WONDER how many first downs that translates into.
● No one had a more vindicating moment than A.L. Brown receiver Derick Brazil. One play after dropping a wide-open pass in the end zone, Lowery targeted Brazil again just inside the left pylon for an 18-yard touchdown reception between two Concord defenders.
2022 Battle For the Bell
Kannapolis-17 Concord-8
CONCORD – Having played a small roll in letting the two-score lead it had in the fourth quarter slip away, the A.L. Brown defense vindicated itself with a key stop late in the game Friday night in the famed “Battle for the Bell.” As a result, the visiting Wonders, tied for fourth in The Independent Tribune’s Cream of Cabarrus rankings, held off Concord at E.Z. Smith Field at Robert C. Bailey Stadium Friday, 17-8. Kannapolis’ non-conference win was its eighth straight over its arch rival in the Bell Game. The Wonders (6-4 overall) now lead the series 46-43-4. A.L. Brown’s nine-point triumph was its narrowest margin of victory in the long-standing series since 2017, when it won 14-12.
“All-in-all, our kids played well,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome in a phone interview with The Independent Tribune. “We were able to stop them on defense when we had to … Offensively, we have to run the ball a little better. Up front we have to play a little better.”
Kannapolis led, 10-0, going into the fourth quarter. Having made its second entrance into the Wonders’ red zone in the second half, Concord faced a fourth-and-2 at the A.L. Brown 17-yard line early in the final period. Concord quarterback Keyon Phillips fielded a low snap, darted right, and threw a pass up for grabs toward the Wonders’ goal line. A.L. Brown defensive back Christian Hopper made the interception, but his return was stopped at the 1-yard line.
On the next play, A.L. Brown running back Jamare Robinson, who had a touchdown in the second quarter, was stuffed inside the end zone by Kobe Watts-Williams as Concord picked up points off a safety. The Spiders (3-7) made quick work of its ensuing possession. Concord completed a 56-yard drive when Nylon Fair-Steele broke a couple tackles up the left sideline for a 20-yard touchdown run. Attempting to tie the score, Jerell Redick was tackled in the backfield on the two-point conversion try with 7 minutes, 38 seconds left in the game.After a Wonders’ three-and-out, Concord took over at its own 26-yard line with a few minutes remaining.
The Spiders reached their own 43, but an intentional grounding penalty after a low and difficult shotgun snap pushed Concord back to the 18. Two plays later, on fourth-and-long, Phillips was sacked with fewer than three minutes left. A.L. Brown needed just three plays to cover 25 yards for a touchdown. Elijah Lawson had the last 7 yards on a scoring run with 2:24 left. The Wonders’ dodged a disaster early in the third quarter when Concord had a first-and-goal at their 3-yard line. A chop-block penalty on first down pulled the Spiders out of touchdown range, and what had been first-and-goal from inside the 10-yard-line turned into first and goal from the 27. They Spiders later missed a 34-yard field goal attempt.
Kannapolis’ first points of the game came on a 31-yard Ty Woods field goal in the first quarter. Robinson gave his team a 10-0 edge right before halftime on an 8-yard touchdown run. Neither team had much success through the air, as A.L. Brown quarterback C.J. Gray was limited to 7-of-18 passing for 87 yards with two interceptions. Phillips ended the night by completing only three of his 12 passes for 46 yards and three interceptions, but he had 91 yards rushing to finish with 1,062 on the season. Redick’s 39 yards rushing gave him 913 for 2022. Fair-Steele had 41 yards rushing and 28 receiving on Friday.
Junior linebacker Alex Petroff paced Concord’s defense with four tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage. Calee Davis had 3.5 tackles and an interception, and Ethan Treadway added three takedowns. Tyvonta Rushmeyer contributed an interception for the Spiders. Robinson led the Wonders with 35 yards rushing and 40 yards receiving, and Lawson added 25 yards on the ground and his touchdown.
Nyki Celestine was A.L. Brown’s top tackler with 11 stops, and senior defensive end Jack Schultz added nine tackles and a sack. Christian Hopper and Todd Massey tallied four tackles apiece. Hopper, Ashnah Lowery and Kash Smith each had interceptions. The Wonders will likely make the state playoffs and await the announcement of the 4A bracket on Saturday. Concord’s season ended with Friday’s loss.
“I’m proud of our players and our staff,” said Concord coach Darren Shepherd, also in a phone interview with The Independent Tribune. “It sounds simple, but these kids played hard in every single game … Our kids played with pride: school pride, program pride. And I think we have a shot to be pretty good next year.”
SCORING BY QUARTERS:
A.L. Brown 3 7 0 7 -- 17
Concord 0 0 0 8 -- 8
“All-in-all, our kids played well,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome in a phone interview with The Independent Tribune. “We were able to stop them on defense when we had to … Offensively, we have to run the ball a little better. Up front we have to play a little better.”
Kannapolis led, 10-0, going into the fourth quarter. Having made its second entrance into the Wonders’ red zone in the second half, Concord faced a fourth-and-2 at the A.L. Brown 17-yard line early in the final period. Concord quarterback Keyon Phillips fielded a low snap, darted right, and threw a pass up for grabs toward the Wonders’ goal line. A.L. Brown defensive back Christian Hopper made the interception, but his return was stopped at the 1-yard line.
On the next play, A.L. Brown running back Jamare Robinson, who had a touchdown in the second quarter, was stuffed inside the end zone by Kobe Watts-Williams as Concord picked up points off a safety. The Spiders (3-7) made quick work of its ensuing possession. Concord completed a 56-yard drive when Nylon Fair-Steele broke a couple tackles up the left sideline for a 20-yard touchdown run. Attempting to tie the score, Jerell Redick was tackled in the backfield on the two-point conversion try with 7 minutes, 38 seconds left in the game.After a Wonders’ three-and-out, Concord took over at its own 26-yard line with a few minutes remaining.
The Spiders reached their own 43, but an intentional grounding penalty after a low and difficult shotgun snap pushed Concord back to the 18. Two plays later, on fourth-and-long, Phillips was sacked with fewer than three minutes left. A.L. Brown needed just three plays to cover 25 yards for a touchdown. Elijah Lawson had the last 7 yards on a scoring run with 2:24 left. The Wonders’ dodged a disaster early in the third quarter when Concord had a first-and-goal at their 3-yard line. A chop-block penalty on first down pulled the Spiders out of touchdown range, and what had been first-and-goal from inside the 10-yard-line turned into first and goal from the 27. They Spiders later missed a 34-yard field goal attempt.
Kannapolis’ first points of the game came on a 31-yard Ty Woods field goal in the first quarter. Robinson gave his team a 10-0 edge right before halftime on an 8-yard touchdown run. Neither team had much success through the air, as A.L. Brown quarterback C.J. Gray was limited to 7-of-18 passing for 87 yards with two interceptions. Phillips ended the night by completing only three of his 12 passes for 46 yards and three interceptions, but he had 91 yards rushing to finish with 1,062 on the season. Redick’s 39 yards rushing gave him 913 for 2022. Fair-Steele had 41 yards rushing and 28 receiving on Friday.
Junior linebacker Alex Petroff paced Concord’s defense with four tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage. Calee Davis had 3.5 tackles and an interception, and Ethan Treadway added three takedowns. Tyvonta Rushmeyer contributed an interception for the Spiders. Robinson led the Wonders with 35 yards rushing and 40 yards receiving, and Lawson added 25 yards on the ground and his touchdown.
Nyki Celestine was A.L. Brown’s top tackler with 11 stops, and senior defensive end Jack Schultz added nine tackles and a sack. Christian Hopper and Todd Massey tallied four tackles apiece. Hopper, Ashnah Lowery and Kash Smith each had interceptions. The Wonders will likely make the state playoffs and await the announcement of the 4A bracket on Saturday. Concord’s season ended with Friday’s loss.
“I’m proud of our players and our staff,” said Concord coach Darren Shepherd, also in a phone interview with The Independent Tribune. “It sounds simple, but these kids played hard in every single game … Our kids played with pride: school pride, program pride. And I think we have a shot to be pretty good next year.”
SCORING BY QUARTERS:
A.L. Brown 3 7 0 7 -- 17
Concord 0 0 0 8 -- 8