Wonder Football 2017
2017 Varsity and Junior Varsity Football Schedules
2017 Varsity Schedule
Aug 18: @ Hopewell *Endowment Aug 25: Marvin Ridge Sep 1: @ Carson Sep 8: Mooresville * MA Sep 15: @ West Rowan Sep 22: @ Davie Co Sep 29: ****Bye Week**** Oct 6: Central Cabarrus Oct 13: @ Cox Mill Oct 20: @ Northwest Cabarrus Oct 27: Robinson Nov 3: Concord (Senior Night) |
2017 Junior Varsity Schedule
Aug 17: ****Open**** Aug 24: @ Marvin Ridge Aug 31: Carson Sep 7: @ Mooresville Sep 14: West Rowan Sep 21: Davie Co Sep 28: ****Bye Week**** Oct 5: @ Central Cabarrus Oct 12: Cox Mill Oct 19: Northwest Cabarrus Oct 26: @ Robinson Nov 2: @ Concord |
The South Piedmont Conference for 2017
Combined Season Schedules
A.L. Brown Wonders
Overall SPC 10-3 4-1 Aug 18 @ Hopewell W 56-0
Aug 25 Marvin Ridge L 35-14 Sep 01 @ Carson W 50-0 Sep 08 Mooresville W 24-16 Sep 15 @ West Rowan W 31-7 Sep 22 @ Davie County W 30-17 Sep 29 ***Bye Week*** Oct 06 Central Cabarrus W 38-15 Oct 13 @ Cox Mill W 21-7 Oct 20 @ NW Cabarrus W 28-15 Oct 27 J.M. Robinson L 49-42 Nov 03 Concord W 14-12 Playoffs Nov 10 Asheville Erwin W 44-34 Nov 17 South Iredell L 41-21 Season Completed |
Concord Spiders
Overall SPC 5-7 2-3 Aug 18 @ Hickory Ridge L 34-14
Aug 25 Pine Forest W 28-19 Sep 01 @ Hough L 28-14 Sep 08 Mount Pleasant W Sep 15 ***Bye Week*** Sep 22 West Rowan L 12-9 Sep 29 @ Berry Academy W 42-20 Oct 06 @ Cox Mill L 31-17 Oct 13 J.M. Robinson L 36-22 Oct 20 @ Central Cabarrus W 29-25 Oct 27 NW Cabarrus W 41-20 Nov 03 @ A.L. Brown L 14-12 Playoffs Nov 10 Stewart Cramer L 21-20 Season Completed |
Jay M Robinson Buldogs
Overall SPC 10-2 5-0 Aug 18 @ Hibriten L 33-6
Aug 25 Cuthbertson W 33-8 Sep 01 @ Hickory Ridge L 18-0 Sep 08 ***Bye Week*** Sep 15 @ Anson County W 51-28 Sep 22 @ Mount Pleasant W 22-18 Sep 29 West Stanley W 56-6 Oct 06 NW Cabarrus W 33-0 Oct 13 @ Concord W 36-22 Oct 20 Cox Mill W 21-13 Oct 27 @ A.L. Brown W 49-42 Nov 03 Central Cabarrus W 54-33 Playoffs Nov 10 Tuscola W 69-41 Nov 17 Crest W 24-21 Nov 24 Kings Mountain |
Central Cabarrus Vikings
Overall SPC 4-7 1-4 Aug 18 Piedmont W 22-9
Aug 25 Hickory Ridge L 47-37 Sep 01 @ Mount Pleasant L 31-6 Sep 08 East Rowan W 33-13 Sep 15 ***Bye Week*** Sep 22 @ Carson W 22-20 Sep 29 Forest Hills L 46-39 Oct 06 @ A.L. Brown L 38-15 Oct 13 NW Cabarrus L 41-16 Oct 20 Concord L 29-25 Oct 27 @ Cox Mill W 27-24 Nov 03 @ J.M. Robinson L 54-33 Season Completed |
Cox Mill Chargers
Overall SPC 4-7 1-4 Aug 18 @ Mount Pleasant L 35-7
Aug 25 @ Hunter Huss L 33-0 Sep 01 Parkwood W 28-14 Sep 08 @ South Iredell L 45-13 Sep 15 North Meck L 35-10 Sep 22 @ Central Academy W 70-0 Sep 29 ***Bye Week*** Oct 06 Concord W 31-17 Oct 13 A.L. Brown L 21-7 Oct 20 @ J.M. Robinson L 21-13 Oct 27 Central Cabarrus L 27-24 Nov 03 @ NW Cabarrus L 28-21 Season Completed |
Northwest Cabarrus Trojans
Overall SPC 6-6 2-3 Aug 18 @ West Stanley W 49-13
Aug 25 Mount Pleasant L 27-24 Sep 01 ***Bye Week*** Sep 08 Hickory Ridge L 28-14 Sep 15 @ North Stanley W 24-14 Sep 22 East Rowan W 48-6 Sep 29 North Iredell W 48-0 Oct 06 @ J.M. Robinson L 33-0 Oct 13 @ Central Cabarrus W 41-16 Oct 20 A.L. Brown L 28-15 Oct 27 @ Concord L 41-20 Nov 03 Cox Mill W 28-21 Playoffs Nov 10 South Iredell L 44-34 Season Completed |
2017 Season Results
Varsity Football Scores:
Kannapolis-56 Hopewell-0 Kannapolis-14 Marvin Ridge-35 Kannapolis-50 Carson-0 Kannapolis-24 Mooresville-16 Kannapolis-31 West Rowan-7 Kannapolis-30 Davie County-17 Kannapolis-38 Central Cabarrus-15 Kannapolis-21 Cox Mill-7 Kannapolis-28 NW Cabarrus-15 Kannapolis-42 J.M. Robinson-49 Kannapolis-14 Concord-12 Playoffs Kannapolis-44 Clyde Erwin-34 Kannapolis-21 South Iredell-41 10-3 |
Junior Varsity Football Scores:
Kannapolis-21 Marvin Ridge-6 Kannapolis-21 Carson-6 Kannapolis-20 Mooresville-35 Kannapolis-55 West Rowan-0 Kannapolis-48 Davie County-20 Kannapolis-41 Central Cabarrus-6 Kannapolis-46 Cox Mill-0 Kannapolis-46 NW Cabarrus-0 Kannapolis-46 J.M. Robinson-20 Kannapolis-55 Concord-6 9-1 |
Wonders by Position
2017 Coaches and Support Staff
The 2017 Junior Varsity A.L. Brown Wonders
2017 Summer Warriors
2017 Varsity and Junior Varsity Cheerleaders
"Sights from Picture Day 2017"
Game #1
Kannapolis
VS
Hopewell
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – Even when the A.L. Brown offense was bad against Hopewell Friday, it was good. As those moments started to accumulate in the first and second quarters, it became evident what the game-long results would be. The Cream of Cabarrus second-ranked Wonders walked away with a 56-0 season-opening victory, and there was nothing the host Titans could do about it.
A.L. Brown rolled up 452 yards offense, 352 on the ground. The only thing that slowed the Wonders’ rushing attack was a collection of five first half-holding penalties. The scoreboard looked good but we have a lot of mistakes we need to clean up, which is what you’re going to have in the first game,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome.
“We knew we could run the ball (tonight). We felt good about that. We have a bunch of people that are very dangerous with the ball. We have to get a little bit better blocking, especially some of those same people that run the ball. As good as they are running with it, they have to become better blockers. That will show up against better teams.”
The Wonders were flagged twice for holding on each of their first two drives, both which ended in touchdowns. The fifth holding penalty was called on the play before Brown’s third touchdown, in the second quarter. On the five holding plays, the Wonders gained 32 yards for an average of 6.4 yards per play. That’s twice as productive as what Hopewell averaged over its 23 total rushing attempts (2.6 yards) Newsome’s reaction to the penalties was different frp, how coaches usually address a rash of first-game infractions. He didn’t point a finger at his players.
“I think it was more domination blocks, really,” said Newsome. “We drive (Hopewell defenders) down the field 10 yards, then their guy would fall down. To the official, I can see where it would look like a hold. That’s a reason I called an early timeout. Sometimes you go and say you have to look at that a little closer. We didn’t get a whole bunch of (holding penalties) after that. I think that was a little bit of first-game jitters by the officials and some domination blocks by our offensive line. They played really well tonight.”
Opening the holes for Brown’s ball carriers were linemen Ryan O’Kelly, Jalen Goode, Jeremy Davis, Malachi Lyles, and Chandler Teal. The Wonders rushers were more methodical than explosive. They averaged more than 11 per carry, but only three of their 31 carries went for more than 20 yards. Jaren Cooper led Brown with 113 yards on 11 carries. Nick Lyerly was close behind with 109 yards on 10 carries. Jalen Neal had 43 yards and a touchdown on four carries and also caught a touchdown pass. Quarterback Jordan Medley rushed for 76 yards on five carries and also completed 6-9 passes for 100 yards. All of those skill position players are juniors. After the game, Lyerly was asked to compare this year’s running backs to Brown’s reputation for producing effective ground gainers.
“We’re all trying to make history,” he said. “We have big goals.”
The goal line is what Lyerly reached twice in the first half. The first one was for only 5 yards but it finished in gladiator-like fashion, as Lyerly outmuscled an oncoming Hopewell defender to gain the final 2 yards. Cooper also scored twice. His first came on a 30-yard jaunt in which he looked like he was sling-shot through the middle of the line.
Neal scored on a 3-yard run with seconds remaining in the second quarter, but the third-quarter scoring play on which he hauled in Medley’s 20-yard pass was a thing of beauty. Neal was so wide open in the end zone the closest Hopewell player may have been one standing on the bench. Next week’s game will surely be more challenging for A.L. Brown. The Wonders host Marvin Ridge, a team that beat 4A South Mecklenburg, 33-19, on Friday. Last year, the Mavericks beat Concord and Jay M. Robinson in the 3A state playoffs before losing to Hickory Ridge in overtime in the third round.
A.L. Brown rolled up 452 yards offense, 352 on the ground. The only thing that slowed the Wonders’ rushing attack was a collection of five first half-holding penalties. The scoreboard looked good but we have a lot of mistakes we need to clean up, which is what you’re going to have in the first game,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome.
“We knew we could run the ball (tonight). We felt good about that. We have a bunch of people that are very dangerous with the ball. We have to get a little bit better blocking, especially some of those same people that run the ball. As good as they are running with it, they have to become better blockers. That will show up against better teams.”
The Wonders were flagged twice for holding on each of their first two drives, both which ended in touchdowns. The fifth holding penalty was called on the play before Brown’s third touchdown, in the second quarter. On the five holding plays, the Wonders gained 32 yards for an average of 6.4 yards per play. That’s twice as productive as what Hopewell averaged over its 23 total rushing attempts (2.6 yards) Newsome’s reaction to the penalties was different frp, how coaches usually address a rash of first-game infractions. He didn’t point a finger at his players.
“I think it was more domination blocks, really,” said Newsome. “We drive (Hopewell defenders) down the field 10 yards, then their guy would fall down. To the official, I can see where it would look like a hold. That’s a reason I called an early timeout. Sometimes you go and say you have to look at that a little closer. We didn’t get a whole bunch of (holding penalties) after that. I think that was a little bit of first-game jitters by the officials and some domination blocks by our offensive line. They played really well tonight.”
Opening the holes for Brown’s ball carriers were linemen Ryan O’Kelly, Jalen Goode, Jeremy Davis, Malachi Lyles, and Chandler Teal. The Wonders rushers were more methodical than explosive. They averaged more than 11 per carry, but only three of their 31 carries went for more than 20 yards. Jaren Cooper led Brown with 113 yards on 11 carries. Nick Lyerly was close behind with 109 yards on 10 carries. Jalen Neal had 43 yards and a touchdown on four carries and also caught a touchdown pass. Quarterback Jordan Medley rushed for 76 yards on five carries and also completed 6-9 passes for 100 yards. All of those skill position players are juniors. After the game, Lyerly was asked to compare this year’s running backs to Brown’s reputation for producing effective ground gainers.
“We’re all trying to make history,” he said. “We have big goals.”
The goal line is what Lyerly reached twice in the first half. The first one was for only 5 yards but it finished in gladiator-like fashion, as Lyerly outmuscled an oncoming Hopewell defender to gain the final 2 yards. Cooper also scored twice. His first came on a 30-yard jaunt in which he looked like he was sling-shot through the middle of the line.
Neal scored on a 3-yard run with seconds remaining in the second quarter, but the third-quarter scoring play on which he hauled in Medley’s 20-yard pass was a thing of beauty. Neal was so wide open in the end zone the closest Hopewell player may have been one standing on the bench. Next week’s game will surely be more challenging for A.L. Brown. The Wonders host Marvin Ridge, a team that beat 4A South Mecklenburg, 33-19, on Friday. Last year, the Mavericks beat Concord and Jay M. Robinson in the 3A state playoffs before losing to Hickory Ridge in overtime in the third round.
Pre Game Gallery
Action Gallery #1
Action Gallery #2
Game #2
Kannapolis
vs
Marvin Ridge
KANNAPOLIS – Failure to convert a fourth down inside Waxhaw Marvin Ridge’s 10-yard line just before halftime proved to be a momentum-changer Cream of Cabarrus second-ranked A.L. Brown couldn’t overcome, as the Wonders dropped a 35-14 decision at home Friday. .A.L. Brown couldn’t contain Mavericks senior quarterback Bryce McLain, who threw for three scores and totaled 235 yards of offense.
“We saw some stuff we thought we could take advantage of,” said Marvin Ridge coach Aubrey Carter. “Honestly, some of that was the short passing game, getting the ball out of our quarterback’s hands. Early in the game we gave up a couple sacks and had a couple of holding penalties, and we knew we had to neutralize that.”
Trailing 14-6, the Wonders were poised to answer a late second-quarter touchdown by Marvin Ridge with one of their own. A 45-yard catch-and-run by Jalen Nixon helped the Wonders reach Marvin Ridge’s 9-yard line. Facing fourth-and-2, Wonders quarterback Jordan Medley ran left but was stopped at the line of scrimmage by the Mavericks’ Will Smith.
“The good thing about our offensive line is those guys are really confident in the job they can get done,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. “I think we just went one gap too wide. We get that first down or score right there, and it would have been a big difference.”
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS
Marvin Ridge:
-- McLain completed 18 of 26 passes for 161 yards and added 74 yards rushing on eight carries.
-- Senior linebacker/running back Caleb Deveaux had at least six tackles before halftime, including a sack. He also rushed for 23 yards and added a fourth quarter touchdown.
A.L. Brown:
-- In the fourth quarter, junior linebacker Justin Holsclaw picked off a pass at A.L. Brown’s 43-yard line and returned it to the Marvin Ridge 7. The Wonders scored on the next play. He also had three third-quarter tackles.
-- Linebacker Tobias Massey recorded four of his six tackles in the game’s final 14 minutes.
3 OBSERVATIONS
-- A.L. Brown’s 1997 3A state championship team was honored before the game. Close to 30 players, coaches, and team personnel were in attendance, including former head coach Bruce Hardin; his son Justin Hardin, the team’s starting quarterback; and standout running back Nick Maddox, who played at Florida State and in the NFL.
-- It looks like Wonders senior placekicker Brian Gutierrez can be a solid punter, too. His three punts in the first half travelled an average of 33 yards, but they held pretty good hang time and none was returned.
--- Marvin Ridge’s kicking game was near-dominant. Every one of Jason Stricker’s six kickoffs landed in the end zone. Placekicker Alejandro Lopez connected on all five of his extra point attempts and averaged 37 yards on four punts.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
A.L. Brown visits Carson for the schools’ first meeting. Marvin Ridge plays at Ardrey Kell.
GAME SUMMARY
Marvin Ridge 0 14 7 14 -- 35
A.L. Brown 0 6 0 8 -- 14
MR – Caleb Woodley 5 run (Alejandro Lopez kick)
ALB – Jordan Medley 9 run (kick blocked)
MR – Devin Powell 11 pass from Bryce McLain (Lopez kick)
MR – Powell 7 pass from McLain (Lopez kick)
MR – Caleb Deveaux 1 run (Lopez kick)
ALB – Tossaan Ruffin 7 run (Jalen Nixon pass from Medley)
MR – Sean Brown 5 pass from McLain (Lopez kick)
“We saw some stuff we thought we could take advantage of,” said Marvin Ridge coach Aubrey Carter. “Honestly, some of that was the short passing game, getting the ball out of our quarterback’s hands. Early in the game we gave up a couple sacks and had a couple of holding penalties, and we knew we had to neutralize that.”
Trailing 14-6, the Wonders were poised to answer a late second-quarter touchdown by Marvin Ridge with one of their own. A 45-yard catch-and-run by Jalen Nixon helped the Wonders reach Marvin Ridge’s 9-yard line. Facing fourth-and-2, Wonders quarterback Jordan Medley ran left but was stopped at the line of scrimmage by the Mavericks’ Will Smith.
“The good thing about our offensive line is those guys are really confident in the job they can get done,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. “I think we just went one gap too wide. We get that first down or score right there, and it would have been a big difference.”
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS
Marvin Ridge:
-- McLain completed 18 of 26 passes for 161 yards and added 74 yards rushing on eight carries.
-- Senior linebacker/running back Caleb Deveaux had at least six tackles before halftime, including a sack. He also rushed for 23 yards and added a fourth quarter touchdown.
A.L. Brown:
-- In the fourth quarter, junior linebacker Justin Holsclaw picked off a pass at A.L. Brown’s 43-yard line and returned it to the Marvin Ridge 7. The Wonders scored on the next play. He also had three third-quarter tackles.
-- Linebacker Tobias Massey recorded four of his six tackles in the game’s final 14 minutes.
3 OBSERVATIONS
-- A.L. Brown’s 1997 3A state championship team was honored before the game. Close to 30 players, coaches, and team personnel were in attendance, including former head coach Bruce Hardin; his son Justin Hardin, the team’s starting quarterback; and standout running back Nick Maddox, who played at Florida State and in the NFL.
-- It looks like Wonders senior placekicker Brian Gutierrez can be a solid punter, too. His three punts in the first half travelled an average of 33 yards, but they held pretty good hang time and none was returned.
--- Marvin Ridge’s kicking game was near-dominant. Every one of Jason Stricker’s six kickoffs landed in the end zone. Placekicker Alejandro Lopez connected on all five of his extra point attempts and averaged 37 yards on four punts.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
A.L. Brown visits Carson for the schools’ first meeting. Marvin Ridge plays at Ardrey Kell.
GAME SUMMARY
Marvin Ridge 0 14 7 14 -- 35
A.L. Brown 0 6 0 8 -- 14
MR – Caleb Woodley 5 run (Alejandro Lopez kick)
ALB – Jordan Medley 9 run (kick blocked)
MR – Devin Powell 11 pass from Bryce McLain (Lopez kick)
MR – Powell 7 pass from McLain (Lopez kick)
MR – Caleb Deveaux 1 run (Lopez kick)
ALB – Tossaan Ruffin 7 run (Jalen Nixon pass from Medley)
MR – Sean Brown 5 pass from McLain (Lopez kick)
Action Gallery #1
Action Gallery #2
Action Gallery #3
Celebrating the 1997 State 3A Champions
20th Anniversary 2017
August 25, 2017 the state 3A Champion A.L. Brown Wonders of 1997 reunited at A.L. Brown High School to celebrate and commemorate the 20th Anniversary of their state 3A title. The event was sponsored by Friday Nights in K-Town with the cooperation and assistance of A.L. Brown High School and the Kannapolis Boosters Club. 25 former players and coaches were in attendance to enjoy a pre game meal courtesy of former Wonder standout from the 1989 state champion Wonders Mr Mike Morton. The meal was catered by Field House BBQ in Kannapolis. The team was then escorted from the cafeteria to the back of the Bullock gymnasium, where they all walked down the hill for another time to await on field recognition for their accomplishments that season.
Notable players and coaches in attendance were both the Offensive and Defensive MVPs of the state title game, Mr Nick Maddox and Mr Rashad Robinson, along with then head coach of the year Mr Bruce G Hardin. The honorary team captain for the evening was Miss Theo Wilkerson who is the mother of the late Quincy Pedew. Quincy was a member of the 1997 state championship team, and defending state champions of 1998. Quincy passed away in 2014 after a long courageous battle with acute myeloid leukemia. Miss Wilkerson was awarded the honor of flipping the commemorative coin on the field during the coin toss for the evening's football contest. It was a great time for all in attendance, and a very fitting way to honor and commemorate such an accomplished team as the 1997 Wonders. -The editor
Notable players and coaches in attendance were both the Offensive and Defensive MVPs of the state title game, Mr Nick Maddox and Mr Rashad Robinson, along with then head coach of the year Mr Bruce G Hardin. The honorary team captain for the evening was Miss Theo Wilkerson who is the mother of the late Quincy Pedew. Quincy was a member of the 1997 state championship team, and defending state champions of 1998. Quincy passed away in 2014 after a long courageous battle with acute myeloid leukemia. Miss Wilkerson was awarded the honor of flipping the commemorative coin on the field during the coin toss for the evening's football contest. It was a great time for all in attendance, and a very fitting way to honor and commemorate such an accomplished team as the 1997 Wonders. -The editor
Reunion Night Candids
"A Night of Celebration and Commemoration"
The 1997 State 3A Champions
Game #3
Kannapolis
vs
Carson
CHINA GROVE — Carson’s football team looked like schoolboys who wandered into the wrong classroom Thursday night. The Cougars’ first-ever match with visiting A.L. Brown quickly turned into a mismatch before disintegrating into a 50-0 non-conference loss.
We thought we had corrected all those things in practice,” coach Joe Pinyan said after Carson (1-2) turned the ball over four times in the first half. “In practice we looked good. We fixed all the snap problems, the exchanges and all that. Then we went out and fumbled on a play that should have been a 10-yard gain on the very first play.”
It was that kind of night for Carson. Sure, the Cougars drowned against the favored Wonders (2-1), but they also helped fill the pool.
“We didn’t give ourselves a chance,” said hard-nosed quarterback Cole Sifford. “To have a chance against a team as good as Kannapolis, you’ve got to take care of the football and grind it out. We just didn’t do that.”
Instead, they made things easy for the guests. Kannapolis used a short-field advantage to go ahead, 7-0, before the game was two-minutes old. A perfectly placed 80-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Medley to Antonio Knight — just two snaps after Carson’s second giveaway — pushed the lead to 14-0.
“Turnovers made a big difference,” Medley said after passing for 141 yards, all in the first half. “When you start on the other 20-yard line, it’s so much easier to score. I just read the safety on the second touchdown. I saw him go to the wide receiver (teammate Jalen Nixon), which left Antonio wide open.”
Carson’s third first-period fumble laid out another red carpet to the end zone for Kannapolis. This time, Medley steered the Wonders from the Carson 28, fired short completions to Jaran Young, Jr. and Nixon, then handed off to fullback Nick Lyerly for a 5-yard TD burst.
“They were really physical and came at us,” Carson defensive tackle Teolyn Woodruff said after Kannapolis rushed for 230 yards. “But if we hadn’t made a few minor mistakes, we could have stayed in the game a little longer.”
That became less likely on K-town’s next possession — a nine-play, 67-yard pilgrimage capped when junior back Jaron Cooper scored his second touchdown on a 5-yard blast. It gave the Wonders a 27-0 lead midway through the second quarter. The back-breaker for Carson came three minutes later when linebacker Tobias Massey intercepted a Sifford pass and returned it 52 yards for another score.
“When you turn the ball over that much, it makes it tough to win,” said winning coach Mike Newsome. “Especially when we play as solid as we did. We felt like we could come over here and get the win. I’m sure Coach Pinyan felt the same way, that we were the better team.”
Pinyan, to his credit, spent some post-game moments searching for answers rather than excuses.
“Things just progressively got worse for us,” he said. “You’re not gonna beat many teams turning the ball over. You’re not gonna beat a good team turning it over at all. We did everything wrong we could do.”
Carson reached the Kannapolis 7-yard line before the first half ended with a botched reverse play. And it penetrated as deep as the Wonders’ nine in the third quarter, only to be stopped short on fourth-and-2. Knight’s 89-yard punt return made it 41-0 midway through the period, and second-stringer Terry Anderson bolted 41 yards for the game’s final TD early in the fourth quarter.
“I don’t know,” Sifford said afterward. “I think we had three or four drives inside their 20, but didn’t finish. If we had scored before the second fumble, it would have been 7-7. Who knows what could’ve happened next?”
When it ended, all the Cougars wanted to do was forget it. “We’re a young varsity team, thin on numbers,” said junior DB Jacob Taylor. “Next year we’ll play better and give them a run for their money.”
NOTES: Carson managed only 111 total yards and just 32 in the second half. … Woodruff recovered a fumble at the Carson 37 early in the third quarter. … Sifford ran for 19 yards and passed for 29, but impressed Newsome. “He’s one of the toughest jokers I’ve seen. He took a licking and kept on ticking. I appreciate players like that,” he said. … Carson visits North Rowan next Friday while Kannapolis hosts Mooresville.
We thought we had corrected all those things in practice,” coach Joe Pinyan said after Carson (1-2) turned the ball over four times in the first half. “In practice we looked good. We fixed all the snap problems, the exchanges and all that. Then we went out and fumbled on a play that should have been a 10-yard gain on the very first play.”
It was that kind of night for Carson. Sure, the Cougars drowned against the favored Wonders (2-1), but they also helped fill the pool.
“We didn’t give ourselves a chance,” said hard-nosed quarterback Cole Sifford. “To have a chance against a team as good as Kannapolis, you’ve got to take care of the football and grind it out. We just didn’t do that.”
Instead, they made things easy for the guests. Kannapolis used a short-field advantage to go ahead, 7-0, before the game was two-minutes old. A perfectly placed 80-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Medley to Antonio Knight — just two snaps after Carson’s second giveaway — pushed the lead to 14-0.
“Turnovers made a big difference,” Medley said after passing for 141 yards, all in the first half. “When you start on the other 20-yard line, it’s so much easier to score. I just read the safety on the second touchdown. I saw him go to the wide receiver (teammate Jalen Nixon), which left Antonio wide open.”
Carson’s third first-period fumble laid out another red carpet to the end zone for Kannapolis. This time, Medley steered the Wonders from the Carson 28, fired short completions to Jaran Young, Jr. and Nixon, then handed off to fullback Nick Lyerly for a 5-yard TD burst.
“They were really physical and came at us,” Carson defensive tackle Teolyn Woodruff said after Kannapolis rushed for 230 yards. “But if we hadn’t made a few minor mistakes, we could have stayed in the game a little longer.”
That became less likely on K-town’s next possession — a nine-play, 67-yard pilgrimage capped when junior back Jaron Cooper scored his second touchdown on a 5-yard blast. It gave the Wonders a 27-0 lead midway through the second quarter. The back-breaker for Carson came three minutes later when linebacker Tobias Massey intercepted a Sifford pass and returned it 52 yards for another score.
“When you turn the ball over that much, it makes it tough to win,” said winning coach Mike Newsome. “Especially when we play as solid as we did. We felt like we could come over here and get the win. I’m sure Coach Pinyan felt the same way, that we were the better team.”
Pinyan, to his credit, spent some post-game moments searching for answers rather than excuses.
“Things just progressively got worse for us,” he said. “You’re not gonna beat many teams turning the ball over. You’re not gonna beat a good team turning it over at all. We did everything wrong we could do.”
Carson reached the Kannapolis 7-yard line before the first half ended with a botched reverse play. And it penetrated as deep as the Wonders’ nine in the third quarter, only to be stopped short on fourth-and-2. Knight’s 89-yard punt return made it 41-0 midway through the period, and second-stringer Terry Anderson bolted 41 yards for the game’s final TD early in the fourth quarter.
“I don’t know,” Sifford said afterward. “I think we had three or four drives inside their 20, but didn’t finish. If we had scored before the second fumble, it would have been 7-7. Who knows what could’ve happened next?”
When it ended, all the Cougars wanted to do was forget it. “We’re a young varsity team, thin on numbers,” said junior DB Jacob Taylor. “Next year we’ll play better and give them a run for their money.”
NOTES: Carson managed only 111 total yards and just 32 in the second half. … Woodruff recovered a fumble at the Carson 37 early in the third quarter. … Sifford ran for 19 yards and passed for 29, but impressed Newsome. “He’s one of the toughest jokers I’ve seen. He took a licking and kept on ticking. I appreciate players like that,” he said. … Carson visits North Rowan next Friday while Kannapolis hosts Mooresville.
Action Gallery #1
Action Gallery #2
Action Gallery #3
Game #4
Kannapolis
vs
Mooresville
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – Jalen Nixon and Jordan Medley hooked up on two touchdowns, though one was a bit unconventional, as Cream of Cabarrus second-ranked A.L. Brown slid past visiting Mooresville, 24-16, in a non-conference high school football game Friday at Memorial Stadium. Trailing 9-7 in the second quarter, Medley, the Wonders’ junior quarterback, sprinted to the right for a 10-yard gain, but the ball squirted loose as he was being tackled. Nixon hauled it in and had nothing but daylight for the final 63 yards and a touchdown. Medley and Nixon connected on a 59-yard screen pass in the third quarter to create a comfortable 24-16 advantage.
“We know Jalen is a playmaker,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. “We have several playmakers for us. We have some guys who, any time they touch the ball, can go the distance for us. Last week (against Carson), it was Antonio Knight. Tonight it was Jalen Nixon.”
RECORDS:
Mooresville 1-2, 0-0 I-Meck 4A Conference; A.L. Brown 3-1, 0-0, South Piedmont 3A
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
Protecting a 17-16 lead late in the third quarter, A.L. Brown faced third-and-6 at its 41-yard line. Medley looked to pass but faced a heavy rush. He threw quickly to Nixon, who was just four yards off the line of scrimmage, but most of the Mooresville defense had already locked in on Medley. Nixon cruised up the left sideline for an easy score.
“I just used my speed,” said Nixon, a senior wide receiver. “That’s what I’m good at. I just took off like I knew I could, and I knew I wasn’t getting caught.”
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
Mooresville:
-- Jamari Caldwell blocked an A.L. Brown punt in the end zone for a safety on the game’s opening possession
-- Lazarus Hayes, a senior running back, gained 103 yards on 16 carries. His 41-yard first-quarter run gave the Blue Devils an early 9-0 lead.
A.L. Brown:
-- Fifty-three of Jaran Cooper’s 86 yards rushing came in the second half when A.L. Brown was nursing a narrow lead.
-- Junior linebacker Justin Holsclaw recovered a Mooresville fumble in the first quarter, recorded a sack on the second play of the fourth quarter and blocked a punt on the play after that.
-- Brian Gutierrez’ 21-yard field goal gave the Wonders the lead for good in the third quarter.
3 OBSERVATIONS:
--- Friday marked the first time Mooresville head coach Marty Paxton coached a game on Cabarrus County turf since he left Hickory Ridge after the 2015 season. Paxton lives in Kannapolis about 10 minutes from A.L. Brown.
--- A.L. Brown’s “K” logo that stretches from hash mark to hash mark at midfield of Memorial Stadium was painted in the style of the American flag for Military Appreciation Night. It was odd to see it painted in a scheme different than Kannapolis’ Kelly Green. But if there are colors worthy of an alteration, they are Red, White, and Blue.
--- In the first quarter, A.L. Brown ran 27 plays compared to Mooresville’s eight but still trailed 9-7.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
On Friday, Mooresville hosts South Iredell in its final non-conference game, while A.L. Brown visits West Rowan in a non-conference battle.
GAME SUMMARY:
Mooresville 9 7 0 0 -- 16
A.L. Brown 7 7 10 0 -- 24
First quarter:
M-Jamari Caldwell blocked punt in end zone for safety
M-Lazarus Hayes 41 run (Isaac Riffle kick)
ALB – Jaran Cooper 11 run (Brian Gutierrez kick)
Second quarter:
ALB – Jalen Nixon 63 run (Gutierrez kick)
M – Elijah Wright 67 run (Riffle kick)
Third quarter:
ALB – Gutierrez 21 FG
ALB – Nixon 59 pass from Jordan Medley (Gutierrez kick)
Fourth quarter:
No scoring
“We know Jalen is a playmaker,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. “We have several playmakers for us. We have some guys who, any time they touch the ball, can go the distance for us. Last week (against Carson), it was Antonio Knight. Tonight it was Jalen Nixon.”
RECORDS:
Mooresville 1-2, 0-0 I-Meck 4A Conference; A.L. Brown 3-1, 0-0, South Piedmont 3A
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
Protecting a 17-16 lead late in the third quarter, A.L. Brown faced third-and-6 at its 41-yard line. Medley looked to pass but faced a heavy rush. He threw quickly to Nixon, who was just four yards off the line of scrimmage, but most of the Mooresville defense had already locked in on Medley. Nixon cruised up the left sideline for an easy score.
“I just used my speed,” said Nixon, a senior wide receiver. “That’s what I’m good at. I just took off like I knew I could, and I knew I wasn’t getting caught.”
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
Mooresville:
-- Jamari Caldwell blocked an A.L. Brown punt in the end zone for a safety on the game’s opening possession
-- Lazarus Hayes, a senior running back, gained 103 yards on 16 carries. His 41-yard first-quarter run gave the Blue Devils an early 9-0 lead.
A.L. Brown:
-- Fifty-three of Jaran Cooper’s 86 yards rushing came in the second half when A.L. Brown was nursing a narrow lead.
-- Junior linebacker Justin Holsclaw recovered a Mooresville fumble in the first quarter, recorded a sack on the second play of the fourth quarter and blocked a punt on the play after that.
-- Brian Gutierrez’ 21-yard field goal gave the Wonders the lead for good in the third quarter.
3 OBSERVATIONS:
--- Friday marked the first time Mooresville head coach Marty Paxton coached a game on Cabarrus County turf since he left Hickory Ridge after the 2015 season. Paxton lives in Kannapolis about 10 minutes from A.L. Brown.
--- A.L. Brown’s “K” logo that stretches from hash mark to hash mark at midfield of Memorial Stadium was painted in the style of the American flag for Military Appreciation Night. It was odd to see it painted in a scheme different than Kannapolis’ Kelly Green. But if there are colors worthy of an alteration, they are Red, White, and Blue.
--- In the first quarter, A.L. Brown ran 27 plays compared to Mooresville’s eight but still trailed 9-7.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
On Friday, Mooresville hosts South Iredell in its final non-conference game, while A.L. Brown visits West Rowan in a non-conference battle.
GAME SUMMARY:
Mooresville 9 7 0 0 -- 16
A.L. Brown 7 7 10 0 -- 24
First quarter:
M-Jamari Caldwell blocked punt in end zone for safety
M-Lazarus Hayes 41 run (Isaac Riffle kick)
ALB – Jaran Cooper 11 run (Brian Gutierrez kick)
Second quarter:
ALB – Jalen Nixon 63 run (Gutierrez kick)
M – Elijah Wright 67 run (Riffle kick)
Third quarter:
ALB – Gutierrez 21 FG
ALB – Nixon 59 pass from Jordan Medley (Gutierrez kick)
Fourth quarter:
No scoring
Pre Game Gallery
Action Gallery #1
Action Gallery #2
Game #5
Kannapolis
vs
West Rowan
MOUNT ULLA — It was supposed to be one of those statement games for West Rowan — a chance to regain form and measure itself against a formidable opponent. Instead, the Falcons barely managed an incomplete sentence in Friday’s confidence-sapping, 31-7 loss to visiting Kannapolis A.L. Brown.
“I don’t know,” disappointed coach Joe Nixon said after West’s defense yielded 303 rushing yards. “They’re just a good team. I thought our kids kept us within striking distance, but Kannapolis just made a lot more plays that we did.”
The Wonders (4-1, 3-0 on the road) played China Wall defense, limiting West (1-3) to 206 total yards — nearly a hundred below its season average. And though the Falcons took 31 snaps in the Wonders’ territory, it reached the end zone only in the second quarter, when quarterback Payne Stolsworth threaded a 20-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Jalen Houston.
“We’re a dominant team with a dominant defense,” two-way lineman Malachi Lyles said after the Wonders huffed and puffed and blew West’s house down. “Any team that wants to beat us has to beat our defense.”
West twice failed that test in the opening period. After A.L. Brown drove 68 yards on eight plays and took a 7-0 lead on Nick Lyerly’s short TD burst to start the game, the Falcons advanced to the visitors’ 32-yard line on their first possession. But the drive stalled when Stolsworth was chopped down in the backfield on a fourth-and-5 bootleg.
As the quarter ticked to a close, Stolsworth again steered the Falcons deep into A.L. Brown territory. Junior scatback Jalen Perry snapped off a 45-yard run to the 20 and consecutive runs by Martavio Rankin pushed the ball to the 11. West came up empty when a fourth-and-inches screen pass to Rankin lost five yards. The second quarter provided more of the same. Following a fumble recovery by Baiden Suddarth, West took over on the Wonders’ 16-yard line, only to be foiled when Jayden Jones was thumped for no gain on fourth-and-1 from the seven.
“I think we missed like two or three fourth-and-ones,” Stolsworth said. “All in the red zone, too. That hurt a lot. If we convert those, it’s probably a different game.”
West was finally rewarded on its fourth possession, when Stolsworth and Houston hooked up for the fifth time this season. It tied the score with 7:45 remaining in the first half, but that’s when Brown quarterback Jordan Medley and his beefy offensive line began asserting their will. The Wonders took the ensuing kickoff and marched 70 yards for the go-ahead score — a 34-yard touchdown run by halfback Jalen Neal with 4:47 on the clock.
“Our power runs really worked to the outside,” Medley said after passing for 85 yards. “They opened up the post routes and opened up a lot of other things. Give credit to our offensive line. West is really tough team, but those guys on our line were even tougher.”
Those guys helped A.L. Brown drive two more touchdowns in the second half, the last when Neal skirted around the left side on a 5-yard sweep and into the end zone for the third time. “On offense, we wanted to break their DL,” said Lyles, a senior left guard. “We wanted to push them down field and put them on their butts.”
Kicker Brian Gutierrez’ 28-yard field goal with 4:24 to play closed the scoring. Houston, meanwhile, made five receptions for 69 yards but was well-defended in the second half. He had only one catch for 13 yards after the break. Stolsworth had an explanation.
“They started putting one defensive back in front of him on the line so he wouldn’t get a free release,” the QB said. “Then they’d put another DB behind him to help guard him. It was tough.”
So was Stolsworth’s night. He completed only four of 14 passes in the second half — including a pair to sophomore Ty’kese Warren on West’s too-late-to-matter final possession. But in his defense, he did face a steady diet of four- and five-man rushes throughout the game.
“They kept putting a lot more people in the box and blitzed off the edges,” he said. “We didn’t have enough protection up front.”
It was enough to keep the Falcons in over their helmets.
NOTES: West special teams player Anthony Chance recovered a fumble on a third-quarter punt, but that drive went nowhere. … Perry finished with 107 yards on 14 carries. The rest of the team combined for 17 yards rushing. … Wonders’ senior Equarius Baldwin recovered a botched exchange in the third period, setting up the Wonders’ third TD. … West visits Concord and A.L. Brown travels to Davie County next Friday.
“I don’t know,” disappointed coach Joe Nixon said after West’s defense yielded 303 rushing yards. “They’re just a good team. I thought our kids kept us within striking distance, but Kannapolis just made a lot more plays that we did.”
The Wonders (4-1, 3-0 on the road) played China Wall defense, limiting West (1-3) to 206 total yards — nearly a hundred below its season average. And though the Falcons took 31 snaps in the Wonders’ territory, it reached the end zone only in the second quarter, when quarterback Payne Stolsworth threaded a 20-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Jalen Houston.
“We’re a dominant team with a dominant defense,” two-way lineman Malachi Lyles said after the Wonders huffed and puffed and blew West’s house down. “Any team that wants to beat us has to beat our defense.”
West twice failed that test in the opening period. After A.L. Brown drove 68 yards on eight plays and took a 7-0 lead on Nick Lyerly’s short TD burst to start the game, the Falcons advanced to the visitors’ 32-yard line on their first possession. But the drive stalled when Stolsworth was chopped down in the backfield on a fourth-and-5 bootleg.
As the quarter ticked to a close, Stolsworth again steered the Falcons deep into A.L. Brown territory. Junior scatback Jalen Perry snapped off a 45-yard run to the 20 and consecutive runs by Martavio Rankin pushed the ball to the 11. West came up empty when a fourth-and-inches screen pass to Rankin lost five yards. The second quarter provided more of the same. Following a fumble recovery by Baiden Suddarth, West took over on the Wonders’ 16-yard line, only to be foiled when Jayden Jones was thumped for no gain on fourth-and-1 from the seven.
“I think we missed like two or three fourth-and-ones,” Stolsworth said. “All in the red zone, too. That hurt a lot. If we convert those, it’s probably a different game.”
West was finally rewarded on its fourth possession, when Stolsworth and Houston hooked up for the fifth time this season. It tied the score with 7:45 remaining in the first half, but that’s when Brown quarterback Jordan Medley and his beefy offensive line began asserting their will. The Wonders took the ensuing kickoff and marched 70 yards for the go-ahead score — a 34-yard touchdown run by halfback Jalen Neal with 4:47 on the clock.
“Our power runs really worked to the outside,” Medley said after passing for 85 yards. “They opened up the post routes and opened up a lot of other things. Give credit to our offensive line. West is really tough team, but those guys on our line were even tougher.”
Those guys helped A.L. Brown drive two more touchdowns in the second half, the last when Neal skirted around the left side on a 5-yard sweep and into the end zone for the third time. “On offense, we wanted to break their DL,” said Lyles, a senior left guard. “We wanted to push them down field and put them on their butts.”
Kicker Brian Gutierrez’ 28-yard field goal with 4:24 to play closed the scoring. Houston, meanwhile, made five receptions for 69 yards but was well-defended in the second half. He had only one catch for 13 yards after the break. Stolsworth had an explanation.
“They started putting one defensive back in front of him on the line so he wouldn’t get a free release,” the QB said. “Then they’d put another DB behind him to help guard him. It was tough.”
So was Stolsworth’s night. He completed only four of 14 passes in the second half — including a pair to sophomore Ty’kese Warren on West’s too-late-to-matter final possession. But in his defense, he did face a steady diet of four- and five-man rushes throughout the game.
“They kept putting a lot more people in the box and blitzed off the edges,” he said. “We didn’t have enough protection up front.”
It was enough to keep the Falcons in over their helmets.
NOTES: West special teams player Anthony Chance recovered a fumble on a third-quarter punt, but that drive went nowhere. … Perry finished with 107 yards on 14 carries. The rest of the team combined for 17 yards rushing. … Wonders’ senior Equarius Baldwin recovered a botched exchange in the third period, setting up the Wonders’ third TD. … West visits Concord and A.L. Brown travels to Davie County next Friday.
Pre Game Gallery
Action Gallery #1
Action Gallery #2
Game #6
Kannapolis
vs
Davie County
MOCKSVILLE, N.C. – The fans who made the drive to Mocksville on Friday night to see A.L. Brown face off with Davie High were probably a bit surprised by the brand of football they saw. The Wonders finished the night with negative rushing yardage, which isn’t a recipe for success, but still left with a huge victory over a 4A powerhouse, 30-17.
“You saw a totally different A.L. Brown,” coach Mike Newsome said. “We had minus-5 yards rushing and threw for 318 yards. That’s kind of the opposite of what you would usually see from an A.L. Brown game.”
According to Newsome, the War Eagles (3-3, 0-0 Central Piedmont 4A) had a game plan center around doing everything they could to stop the typically powerful running game and force the Wonders (5-1, 0-0 South Piedmont 3A) to beat them through the air. This is where junior quarterback Jordan Medley stepped up, as he threw for 318 yards, well above his average of 100 yards per game entering the night.
“We knew we could throw to win, and we talked about it all week,” Newsome said. “We talked about Medley stepping up, and he did. I think it does a lot for Jordan,” Newsome continued. “I think it does a ton for Jordan’s personal confidence, and I think it does a lot for our team’s confidence in Jordan.”
Overall, Friday night’s game was a huge test for the Wonders, which they passed with flying colors. Although it wasn’t always easy, especially after Davie County scored a touchdown within the first minute of the game. A.L. Brown fought back to lead 14-10 at the half and then held off the home team in the second half. A lot of the success in Mocksville was due to a strong performance by the A.L. Brown defense, which forced eight turnovers, including six interceptions, one of which was returned by Keon McGee for a touchdown.
“Our defense was unbelievable,” Newsome said. “It was truly an unbelievable defensive effort to just keep giving us the ball and field position allowing us to capitalize.”
Senior safety Equarius Baldwin also had a huge night, as he was responsible for three of the team’s six interceptions. Since losing in disappointing fashion to Marvin Ridge in Week 2, the Wonders have been downright unstoppable. A.L. Brown will have this coming Friday off before beginning conference play on Oct. 6 at home against Central Cabarrus.
“We’re excited right now,” Newsome said. “I don’t think we’re peaking right now. We’re winning games at a perfect time, and we’re right where we need to be heading into conference.” -Independent Tribune
MOCKSVILLE —Cooper Wall’s return had the makings for something special last night at War Eagle Stadium. After missing the first five games while recovering from a basketball knee injury, Davie’s senior receiver went to the house on his first touch. Visiting A.L. Brown, however, ultimately reduced Wall’s thunderous season debut to a footnote, forcing seven turnovers and scoring 23 unanswered points on the way to a 30-17 win.
The Wonders (5-1) ran their winning streak to four as they gained a measure of revenge for a 4A playoff loss at Davie last November. Davie (3-3) saw its three-game winning streak curbed in its final non-conference game. On the second play from scrimmage, Wall caught a Josh Hall pass. Around midfield, he delivered a vicious stiff arm that sent a Wonder reeling, left his feet to cross the goal line, completing a jaw-dropping, 79-yard touchdown. Davie led, 7-0, just 32 seconds into the game.
The buzz coming in was about Brown’s ground-and-pound game — it was averaging 304 rushing yards per contest — but Davie’s front seven completely stymied Brown’s ball carriers all night. The Wonders had minus-18 yards on 29 rushing attempts. It did not matter one bit. Brown quarterback Jordan Medley took over early and never stopped, completing 21 of 34 passes for 239 yards, including three TDs to offset interceptions by Broc Barnette and Mason Wilson.
Medley’s strikes to Jalen Nixon (10 catches for 100 yards), Justin Rodgers (4-90), Antonio Knight (4-85) and Keon McGee (3-54) compensated for Brown’s struggles on third down (3 for 13), penalties (13 for 102 yards) and frequent punts (seven). Medley’s 67-yard hookup with Rodgers led to McGee’s 20-yard TD grab on third-and-11 to tie the game at 7-all on Brown’s first series.
Back-to-back plays resulted in interceptions in the second quarter, with Brown senior Equaris Baldwin making the second of his three picks and Broc Barnette returning the favor for Davie. On third-and-23, Wall turned a bubble screen into 23 yards and Skyler Schoppe drilled a 33-yard field goal to give Davie a 10-7 lead with 3:13 left in the first half.
Brown caught a break with 1:49 left in the half. A low snap sent punter Barnette to his knee, and he was immediately whistled down at the Davie 17. Brown cashed in the short field to take a 14-10 halftime lead. Davie failed to take advantage of Wilson’s interception in the first two minutes of the third quarter. Brown’s Brian Gutierrez converted a 22-yard field goal to bump the margin to 17-10.
Hall looked for Wall on a fade and Brown’s Jaran Young intercepted at the Davie 42. The turnovers were out of a character for a Davie team that had been dominating that department during its winning streak. Medley sneaked in from the 2-yard line to push Brown’s lead to 24-10. Brown was controlling field position throughout the second half, taking over at the Davie 40 after a short punt and scoring on Medley’s 30-yard pass to Knight. It was now out of reach at 30-10 with 11:21 to play. Davie had a turnover on downs at the Brown 11-yard line, but the War Eagles kept battling. Kinston Whitener blocked a punt to set the War Eagles up at the Brown 19, and on fourth-and-9, Wilson laid out and kept his toes in bounds for an 18-yard touchdown grab. But only 4:52 remained and Brown recovered the ensuing onside kick, salting the game away.
Davie only managed 28 rushing yards. Hall went 16-of-39 for 271 yards and two TDs. After a four-catch, 132-yard first half, Wall settled for five catches for 140 yards — not nearly enough on a night when Davie had more turnovers in one game than it had in five previous games combined. Wall, Davie’s career receptions leader, had his ninth 100-yard receiving game, two from the school record. He surged to second in career receiving yards (2,530). -Salisbury Post
“You saw a totally different A.L. Brown,” coach Mike Newsome said. “We had minus-5 yards rushing and threw for 318 yards. That’s kind of the opposite of what you would usually see from an A.L. Brown game.”
According to Newsome, the War Eagles (3-3, 0-0 Central Piedmont 4A) had a game plan center around doing everything they could to stop the typically powerful running game and force the Wonders (5-1, 0-0 South Piedmont 3A) to beat them through the air. This is where junior quarterback Jordan Medley stepped up, as he threw for 318 yards, well above his average of 100 yards per game entering the night.
“We knew we could throw to win, and we talked about it all week,” Newsome said. “We talked about Medley stepping up, and he did. I think it does a lot for Jordan,” Newsome continued. “I think it does a ton for Jordan’s personal confidence, and I think it does a lot for our team’s confidence in Jordan.”
Overall, Friday night’s game was a huge test for the Wonders, which they passed with flying colors. Although it wasn’t always easy, especially after Davie County scored a touchdown within the first minute of the game. A.L. Brown fought back to lead 14-10 at the half and then held off the home team in the second half. A lot of the success in Mocksville was due to a strong performance by the A.L. Brown defense, which forced eight turnovers, including six interceptions, one of which was returned by Keon McGee for a touchdown.
“Our defense was unbelievable,” Newsome said. “It was truly an unbelievable defensive effort to just keep giving us the ball and field position allowing us to capitalize.”
Senior safety Equarius Baldwin also had a huge night, as he was responsible for three of the team’s six interceptions. Since losing in disappointing fashion to Marvin Ridge in Week 2, the Wonders have been downright unstoppable. A.L. Brown will have this coming Friday off before beginning conference play on Oct. 6 at home against Central Cabarrus.
“We’re excited right now,” Newsome said. “I don’t think we’re peaking right now. We’re winning games at a perfect time, and we’re right where we need to be heading into conference.” -Independent Tribune
MOCKSVILLE —Cooper Wall’s return had the makings for something special last night at War Eagle Stadium. After missing the first five games while recovering from a basketball knee injury, Davie’s senior receiver went to the house on his first touch. Visiting A.L. Brown, however, ultimately reduced Wall’s thunderous season debut to a footnote, forcing seven turnovers and scoring 23 unanswered points on the way to a 30-17 win.
The Wonders (5-1) ran their winning streak to four as they gained a measure of revenge for a 4A playoff loss at Davie last November. Davie (3-3) saw its three-game winning streak curbed in its final non-conference game. On the second play from scrimmage, Wall caught a Josh Hall pass. Around midfield, he delivered a vicious stiff arm that sent a Wonder reeling, left his feet to cross the goal line, completing a jaw-dropping, 79-yard touchdown. Davie led, 7-0, just 32 seconds into the game.
The buzz coming in was about Brown’s ground-and-pound game — it was averaging 304 rushing yards per contest — but Davie’s front seven completely stymied Brown’s ball carriers all night. The Wonders had minus-18 yards on 29 rushing attempts. It did not matter one bit. Brown quarterback Jordan Medley took over early and never stopped, completing 21 of 34 passes for 239 yards, including three TDs to offset interceptions by Broc Barnette and Mason Wilson.
Medley’s strikes to Jalen Nixon (10 catches for 100 yards), Justin Rodgers (4-90), Antonio Knight (4-85) and Keon McGee (3-54) compensated for Brown’s struggles on third down (3 for 13), penalties (13 for 102 yards) and frequent punts (seven). Medley’s 67-yard hookup with Rodgers led to McGee’s 20-yard TD grab on third-and-11 to tie the game at 7-all on Brown’s first series.
Back-to-back plays resulted in interceptions in the second quarter, with Brown senior Equaris Baldwin making the second of his three picks and Broc Barnette returning the favor for Davie. On third-and-23, Wall turned a bubble screen into 23 yards and Skyler Schoppe drilled a 33-yard field goal to give Davie a 10-7 lead with 3:13 left in the first half.
Brown caught a break with 1:49 left in the half. A low snap sent punter Barnette to his knee, and he was immediately whistled down at the Davie 17. Brown cashed in the short field to take a 14-10 halftime lead. Davie failed to take advantage of Wilson’s interception in the first two minutes of the third quarter. Brown’s Brian Gutierrez converted a 22-yard field goal to bump the margin to 17-10.
Hall looked for Wall on a fade and Brown’s Jaran Young intercepted at the Davie 42. The turnovers were out of a character for a Davie team that had been dominating that department during its winning streak. Medley sneaked in from the 2-yard line to push Brown’s lead to 24-10. Brown was controlling field position throughout the second half, taking over at the Davie 40 after a short punt and scoring on Medley’s 30-yard pass to Knight. It was now out of reach at 30-10 with 11:21 to play. Davie had a turnover on downs at the Brown 11-yard line, but the War Eagles kept battling. Kinston Whitener blocked a punt to set the War Eagles up at the Brown 19, and on fourth-and-9, Wilson laid out and kept his toes in bounds for an 18-yard touchdown grab. But only 4:52 remained and Brown recovered the ensuing onside kick, salting the game away.
Davie only managed 28 rushing yards. Hall went 16-of-39 for 271 yards and two TDs. After a four-catch, 132-yard first half, Wall settled for five catches for 140 yards — not nearly enough on a night when Davie had more turnovers in one game than it had in five previous games combined. Wall, Davie’s career receptions leader, had his ninth 100-yard receiving game, two from the school record. He surged to second in career receiving yards (2,530). -Salisbury Post
Action Gallery #1
Action Gallery #2
Game #7
Kannapolis
vs
Central Cabarrus
KANNAPOLIS – The A.L. Brown football team had a great homecoming to the South Piedmont 3A Conference ,as it outlasted determined Central Cabarrus, 38-15, Friday at Kannapolis Memorial Stadium.
“I think we were trying too hard at the beginning of the game, and that kind of made us make some mistakes,” Wonders coach Mike Newsome said. “But once we settled down and starting taking what they were giving us, it was much better.”
The Wonder offense was nearly unstoppable, as it put up 562 total yards, while the defense allowed just 281.
The Vikings hung tough for a while and had the game within a possession in the third quarter. However, they just couldn’t keep up with a more athletic A.L. Brown team that eventually wore them down.
“There are a lot of things that we need to clean up,” Vikings coach Kenneth McClamrock said. “But I thought we played a heck of a lot better this week than we did last week (in a loss to Forest Hills).”
RECORDS
Central Cabarrus 3-4, 0-1 South Piedmont 3A Conference; A.L. Brown 6-1, 0-0 SPC
THE PLAY OF THE GAME
Late in the second quarter, Central Cabarrus scored a touchdown to cut the A.L. Brown lead to 7-6. However, it would not stay that way for long. On the firt pla of the ensuing drive, as Wonders quarterback Jordan Medley found Jalen Nixon in the flat, and Nixon broke several tackles on his way to an 80-yard touchdown.
“Every play, I try to tell myself, ‘Make a play and go to the house,’” Nixon said. “All year long, I’ve been pretty good at breaking tackles, and it just showed on that play.”
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
Central Cabarrus:
-- Quarterback Evan McGee threw the ball more than 50 times for 243 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
-- Jeremiah Taylor had five receptions for 70 yards and a score.
-- Justin Underwood intercepted a pass early in the second half and returned it to the A.L. Brown 4-yard line, setting up a David Collins field goal.
A.L. Brown:
-- Medley had just nine completions, but he threw for 244 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions while also running for an additional 87 yards.
-- Nixon had three touches for 93 yards and a touchdown.
-- Antonio Knight was explosive when he got the ball, as he used his three touches to go 91 yards and score a touchdown.
OBSERVATIONS:
-- During the first half, A.L. Brown recognized the Classes of 1987 and 1997, which are celebrating their 30- and 20-year reunions this weekend.
-- It was homecoming for the Wonders, as students took the field at halftime to announce the homecoming court and the king and queen.
-- With little to no wind in the stadium, the smoke from the cannon which is fired after every Wonders score hung in the air, creating a beautiful effect with the stadium lights.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The Vikings will play host to Northwest Cabarrus next Friday, while the Wonders travel to Cox Mill.
GAME SUMMARY:
Central Cabarrus 0 6 3 6 - 15
A.L. Brown 0 17 0 21 - 38
ALB – Antonio Knight 74 run (Brian Gutierrez kick)
CC – Jeremiah Taylor 8 pass from Evan McGee (kick blocked by Malik Keller)
ALB – Jalen Nixon 80 pass from Jordan Medley (Gutierrez kick)
ALB – Gutierrez 37 field goal
CC – David Collins 22 field goal
ALB – Nick Lyerly 8 run (Gutierrez kick)
ALB – Jalen Neal 3 run (Gutierrez kick)
CC – Chandler Rivers 27 pass from McGee (pass failed)
ALB – Terry Anderson 47 run (Gutierrez kick)
“I think we were trying too hard at the beginning of the game, and that kind of made us make some mistakes,” Wonders coach Mike Newsome said. “But once we settled down and starting taking what they were giving us, it was much better.”
The Wonder offense was nearly unstoppable, as it put up 562 total yards, while the defense allowed just 281.
The Vikings hung tough for a while and had the game within a possession in the third quarter. However, they just couldn’t keep up with a more athletic A.L. Brown team that eventually wore them down.
“There are a lot of things that we need to clean up,” Vikings coach Kenneth McClamrock said. “But I thought we played a heck of a lot better this week than we did last week (in a loss to Forest Hills).”
RECORDS
Central Cabarrus 3-4, 0-1 South Piedmont 3A Conference; A.L. Brown 6-1, 0-0 SPC
THE PLAY OF THE GAME
Late in the second quarter, Central Cabarrus scored a touchdown to cut the A.L. Brown lead to 7-6. However, it would not stay that way for long. On the firt pla of the ensuing drive, as Wonders quarterback Jordan Medley found Jalen Nixon in the flat, and Nixon broke several tackles on his way to an 80-yard touchdown.
“Every play, I try to tell myself, ‘Make a play and go to the house,’” Nixon said. “All year long, I’ve been pretty good at breaking tackles, and it just showed on that play.”
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
Central Cabarrus:
-- Quarterback Evan McGee threw the ball more than 50 times for 243 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
-- Jeremiah Taylor had five receptions for 70 yards and a score.
-- Justin Underwood intercepted a pass early in the second half and returned it to the A.L. Brown 4-yard line, setting up a David Collins field goal.
A.L. Brown:
-- Medley had just nine completions, but he threw for 244 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions while also running for an additional 87 yards.
-- Nixon had three touches for 93 yards and a touchdown.
-- Antonio Knight was explosive when he got the ball, as he used his three touches to go 91 yards and score a touchdown.
OBSERVATIONS:
-- During the first half, A.L. Brown recognized the Classes of 1987 and 1997, which are celebrating their 30- and 20-year reunions this weekend.
-- It was homecoming for the Wonders, as students took the field at halftime to announce the homecoming court and the king and queen.
-- With little to no wind in the stadium, the smoke from the cannon which is fired after every Wonders score hung in the air, creating a beautiful effect with the stadium lights.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The Vikings will play host to Northwest Cabarrus next Friday, while the Wonders travel to Cox Mill.
GAME SUMMARY:
Central Cabarrus 0 6 3 6 - 15
A.L. Brown 0 17 0 21 - 38
ALB – Antonio Knight 74 run (Brian Gutierrez kick)
CC – Jeremiah Taylor 8 pass from Evan McGee (kick blocked by Malik Keller)
ALB – Jalen Nixon 80 pass from Jordan Medley (Gutierrez kick)
ALB – Gutierrez 37 field goal
CC – David Collins 22 field goal
ALB – Nick Lyerly 8 run (Gutierrez kick)
ALB – Jalen Neal 3 run (Gutierrez kick)
CC – Chandler Rivers 27 pass from McGee (pass failed)
ALB – Terry Anderson 47 run (Gutierrez kick)
Pre Game Gallery
Action Gallery #1
Action Gallery #2
Congratulation Avery Crowley, 2017 A.L. Brown Homecoming Queen
Game #8
Kannapolis
vs
Cox Mill
CONCORD, N.C. – Both teams lived up to their Cream of Cabarrus billing in this one. In a physical contest that saw No. 2-ranked A.L. Brown deliver an early blow, No. 5 Cox Mill struck back to let the Wonders know they were in for a fight.
But A.L. Brown’s final haymaker – a tenacious defense and a strong rushing attack – kept the Chargers at bay, and the Wonders left with a 21-7 victory Friday night. A.L. Brown took a 7-0 lead on Jordan Medley’s 27-yard touchdown run, but Cox Mill freshman running back Jeylenn Barnett tied it up a few series later. Junior Terry Anderson (118 yards and a touchdown), Nick Lyerly and Jalen Neal gave the Wonders some breathing room in the second half and allowed them to win their sixth consecutive game.
“We had a good week of practice, but I just don’t think our kids were extremely focused,” A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome said. When everybody’s telling you that you’re going to beat a team and you’re going to dominate all week long, it makes tough for (the players) to get that out of their heads"
"We told them (the Chargers) were tough and had some big players and they do some good things. And hats off to (Cox Mill) for playing a good ball game. But I’m just proud of our guys. As long as we can keep winning, I’m fine. It’s like I told them: ‘The only stat I care about is the W.’”
RECORDS:
A.L. Brown 7-1, 2-0 South Piedmont 3A Conference; Cox Mill 3-5, 1-1 SPC
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
With the score tied at 7 midway through the second quarter, Cox Mill moved into A.L. Brown territory with a chance to take the lead. Charger quarterback Wesley Pointdexter threw deep to a receiver, but A.L. Brown’s Tossaan Ruffin broke up the pass and forced a punt.
A.L. Brown went on a methodical 12-play drive – all running plays – that took nearly four minutes and was culminated by Neal’s 4-yard run to give the Wonders a 14-7 halftime lead.
“We were in the game the whole time; we just had a couple mistakes here and there,” Cox Mill coach Craig Stewart said. “We helped the other team out, and Kannapolis is too good. You can’t help them out in any way. If we’d have cut some of that out, it could’ve been different. But it wasn’t, so we’ve got to learn from it and get ready for next week.”
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
A.L. Brown:
-- Anderson got his 118 yards on just nine carries and had a 58-yard touchdown run.
-- Malik Keller blocked a 45-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter.
-- Keon McGee (40 yards) and Justin Rodgers (22) had two catches apiece, and they all went for first downs.
-- The Wonder defense limited Cox Mill to 155 yards total offense.
Cox Mill:
-- The brotherly backfield of Vincent Barnette and Jeylenn Barnett was a good combination for the Chargers, who were without standout runner Fred Peace Jr. (concussion). Vincent had 48 yards, and Jeylenn, who was called up from JV this week, scored the team’s only touchdown.
-- Another set of brothers, Tim Dawkins and Terrell Dawkins, made several timely tackles and pressured Medley much of the night.
-- Michael Lewis caught four passes for 63 yards.
3 OBSERVATIONS
-- It was homecoming night at Cox Mill, and a pair of athletes won the top honors. Girls basketball player Shamiya Surratt was named the queen and football player Carson Wayne was chosen as the king.
-- On Wednesday, Cox Mill senior John Brosnahan decided to accept an opportunity to be a preferred walk-on at Penn State, and it’s clear the Nittany Lions are getting something special. Brosnahan booted a 62-yard punt in the first half that put A.L. Brown on its own 5-yard line.
-- Much of the crowd stuck around after the game to watch the Cox Mill band performance what would’ve been its halftime show, if not for the homecoming court ceremonies.
WHAT’S UP NEXT:
Next Friday, Cox Mill will travel to Jay M. Robinson, while A.L. Brown visits Northwest Cabarrus.
GAME SUMMARY:
A.L. Brown 7 7 7 0 -- 21
Cox Mill 0 7 0 0 -- 7
First quarter
ALB – Jordan Medley 27 run (Brian Gutierrez kick)
Second quarter
CM – Jeylenn Barnett 2 run (John Brosnahan kick)
ALB – Jalen Neal 4 run (Gutierrez kick)
Third quarter
T. Anderson 58 run (Gutierrez kick)
Fourth quarter
None
But A.L. Brown’s final haymaker – a tenacious defense and a strong rushing attack – kept the Chargers at bay, and the Wonders left with a 21-7 victory Friday night. A.L. Brown took a 7-0 lead on Jordan Medley’s 27-yard touchdown run, but Cox Mill freshman running back Jeylenn Barnett tied it up a few series later. Junior Terry Anderson (118 yards and a touchdown), Nick Lyerly and Jalen Neal gave the Wonders some breathing room in the second half and allowed them to win their sixth consecutive game.
“We had a good week of practice, but I just don’t think our kids were extremely focused,” A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome said. When everybody’s telling you that you’re going to beat a team and you’re going to dominate all week long, it makes tough for (the players) to get that out of their heads"
"We told them (the Chargers) were tough and had some big players and they do some good things. And hats off to (Cox Mill) for playing a good ball game. But I’m just proud of our guys. As long as we can keep winning, I’m fine. It’s like I told them: ‘The only stat I care about is the W.’”
RECORDS:
A.L. Brown 7-1, 2-0 South Piedmont 3A Conference; Cox Mill 3-5, 1-1 SPC
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
With the score tied at 7 midway through the second quarter, Cox Mill moved into A.L. Brown territory with a chance to take the lead. Charger quarterback Wesley Pointdexter threw deep to a receiver, but A.L. Brown’s Tossaan Ruffin broke up the pass and forced a punt.
A.L. Brown went on a methodical 12-play drive – all running plays – that took nearly four minutes and was culminated by Neal’s 4-yard run to give the Wonders a 14-7 halftime lead.
“We were in the game the whole time; we just had a couple mistakes here and there,” Cox Mill coach Craig Stewart said. “We helped the other team out, and Kannapolis is too good. You can’t help them out in any way. If we’d have cut some of that out, it could’ve been different. But it wasn’t, so we’ve got to learn from it and get ready for next week.”
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
A.L. Brown:
-- Anderson got his 118 yards on just nine carries and had a 58-yard touchdown run.
-- Malik Keller blocked a 45-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter.
-- Keon McGee (40 yards) and Justin Rodgers (22) had two catches apiece, and they all went for first downs.
-- The Wonder defense limited Cox Mill to 155 yards total offense.
Cox Mill:
-- The brotherly backfield of Vincent Barnette and Jeylenn Barnett was a good combination for the Chargers, who were without standout runner Fred Peace Jr. (concussion). Vincent had 48 yards, and Jeylenn, who was called up from JV this week, scored the team’s only touchdown.
-- Another set of brothers, Tim Dawkins and Terrell Dawkins, made several timely tackles and pressured Medley much of the night.
-- Michael Lewis caught four passes for 63 yards.
3 OBSERVATIONS
-- It was homecoming night at Cox Mill, and a pair of athletes won the top honors. Girls basketball player Shamiya Surratt was named the queen and football player Carson Wayne was chosen as the king.
-- On Wednesday, Cox Mill senior John Brosnahan decided to accept an opportunity to be a preferred walk-on at Penn State, and it’s clear the Nittany Lions are getting something special. Brosnahan booted a 62-yard punt in the first half that put A.L. Brown on its own 5-yard line.
-- Much of the crowd stuck around after the game to watch the Cox Mill band performance what would’ve been its halftime show, if not for the homecoming court ceremonies.
WHAT’S UP NEXT:
Next Friday, Cox Mill will travel to Jay M. Robinson, while A.L. Brown visits Northwest Cabarrus.
GAME SUMMARY:
A.L. Brown 7 7 7 0 -- 21
Cox Mill 0 7 0 0 -- 7
First quarter
ALB – Jordan Medley 27 run (Brian Gutierrez kick)
Second quarter
CM – Jeylenn Barnett 2 run (John Brosnahan kick)
ALB – Jalen Neal 4 run (Gutierrez kick)
Third quarter
T. Anderson 58 run (Gutierrez kick)
Fourth quarter
None
Pre Game Gallery
Action Gallery #1
Action Gallery #2
Game #9
Kannapolis
vs
Northwest Cabarrus
CONCORD, N.C. – Cream of Cabarrus second-ranked A.L. Brown cleared its path to a conference championship showdown next week by turning away sixth-ranked Northwest Cabarrus Friday 28-15.The Wonders will play host to Jay M. Robinson next Friday in a battle between the South Piedmont 3A’s two undefeated teams in conference play. A.L Brown utilized its crisp passing game, a blocked punt for a touchdown and a dominant defense for three quarters to open a 28-3 lead. Northwest Cabarrus had scoring drives of 67 and 75 yards in the fourth quarter. Both were aided by an A.L. Brown pass interference penalty.
“Good win, man,” said Wonders coach Mike Newsome. “(Northwest coach Brandon) Gentry’s done a fabulous job of getting these guys believing they can win.
“Great conference win.”
RECORDS:
A.L. Brown 8-1, 3-0 South Piedmont 3A Conference; Northwest Cabarrus 5-4, 1-2 South Piedmont 3A.
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
Northwest Cabarrus lined up to punt from its 48-yard line midway through the first quarter. A.L. Brown’s rush resembled a jailbreak, and junior Jalen Goode blocked the kick cleanly.
Senior Malik Keller picked it up at the Trojans 28, 10 yards from the threat of being tackled. There was such a clear path to the end zone, it looked like Keller was being provided a police escort by Goode and another teammate.
The touchdown gave A.L. Brown a 14-0 lead only 5 1/2 minutes into the game.
“We lined up, the gaps were real wide,” said Goode. “I told (teammate) Rhaheem (Holbrook), ‘We’re going to go get this. They’re not going to be able to stop us.”
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
A.L. Brown:
-- Quarterback Jordan Medley completed seven of his nine pass attempts in the first half for 129 yards and two touchdowns. He finished with 150 yards and three scores.
-- Jalen Nixon caught four passes for 74 yards and a couple of touchdowns.
-- Senior Jaran Young had two interceptions, and Justin Holsclaw added another.
-- Linemen Darion Milborne-Lott, Najee Williams and C.C. Huntley made things miserable for the Trojans most of the game.
Northwest Cabarrus:
-- Tyrese Blake rushed for 91 yards on 25 carries.
-- Senior kicker Mario Alvarado booted a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter. All three of his long kickoff attempts went for a touchbacks. His only other kickoff was an onsides attempt late in the game.
3 OBSERVATIONS:
-- On Military Appreciation Night, members of Northwest Cabarrus’ Air Force ROTC greeted fans as they entered the stadium’s gates.
-- Northwest Cabarrus public address announcer is always good for a humorous tip of the cap to the stadium’s concession stand, claiming it was voted “the nation’s top concession stand for the 66th year in a row by the Concession Stand Television Network.”
-- A.L. Brown was flagged for 15 penalties for 150 yards.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
A.L. Brown has a conference showdown at home with Jay M. Robinson on Friday, while Northwest Cabarrus has a league game at Concord.
GAME SUMMARY:
A.L. Brown 14 7 7 0 -- 28
Northwest Cabarrus 0 3 0 12 -- 15
First quarter
ALB – Antonio Knight 33 pass from Jordan Medley (Brian Gutierrez kick
ALB – Malik Keller 28 punt return (Gutierrez kick)
Second quarter
NW – Mario Alvarado 30 FG
ALB – Jalen Nixon 22 pass from Medley (Gutierrez kick)
Third quarter
ALB – Nixon 12 pass from Medley (Gutierrez kick)
Fourth quarter
NW – Elijah Isom 13 pass from Sam Walker (pass failed)
NW – Jalen Cannon 11 pass from Walker (pass failed)
“Good win, man,” said Wonders coach Mike Newsome. “(Northwest coach Brandon) Gentry’s done a fabulous job of getting these guys believing they can win.
“Great conference win.”
RECORDS:
A.L. Brown 8-1, 3-0 South Piedmont 3A Conference; Northwest Cabarrus 5-4, 1-2 South Piedmont 3A.
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
Northwest Cabarrus lined up to punt from its 48-yard line midway through the first quarter. A.L. Brown’s rush resembled a jailbreak, and junior Jalen Goode blocked the kick cleanly.
Senior Malik Keller picked it up at the Trojans 28, 10 yards from the threat of being tackled. There was such a clear path to the end zone, it looked like Keller was being provided a police escort by Goode and another teammate.
The touchdown gave A.L. Brown a 14-0 lead only 5 1/2 minutes into the game.
“We lined up, the gaps were real wide,” said Goode. “I told (teammate) Rhaheem (Holbrook), ‘We’re going to go get this. They’re not going to be able to stop us.”
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
A.L. Brown:
-- Quarterback Jordan Medley completed seven of his nine pass attempts in the first half for 129 yards and two touchdowns. He finished with 150 yards and three scores.
-- Jalen Nixon caught four passes for 74 yards and a couple of touchdowns.
-- Senior Jaran Young had two interceptions, and Justin Holsclaw added another.
-- Linemen Darion Milborne-Lott, Najee Williams and C.C. Huntley made things miserable for the Trojans most of the game.
Northwest Cabarrus:
-- Tyrese Blake rushed for 91 yards on 25 carries.
-- Senior kicker Mario Alvarado booted a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter. All three of his long kickoff attempts went for a touchbacks. His only other kickoff was an onsides attempt late in the game.
3 OBSERVATIONS:
-- On Military Appreciation Night, members of Northwest Cabarrus’ Air Force ROTC greeted fans as they entered the stadium’s gates.
-- Northwest Cabarrus public address announcer is always good for a humorous tip of the cap to the stadium’s concession stand, claiming it was voted “the nation’s top concession stand for the 66th year in a row by the Concession Stand Television Network.”
-- A.L. Brown was flagged for 15 penalties for 150 yards.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
A.L. Brown has a conference showdown at home with Jay M. Robinson on Friday, while Northwest Cabarrus has a league game at Concord.
GAME SUMMARY:
A.L. Brown 14 7 7 0 -- 28
Northwest Cabarrus 0 3 0 12 -- 15
First quarter
ALB – Antonio Knight 33 pass from Jordan Medley (Brian Gutierrez kick
ALB – Malik Keller 28 punt return (Gutierrez kick)
Second quarter
NW – Mario Alvarado 30 FG
ALB – Jalen Nixon 22 pass from Medley (Gutierrez kick)
Third quarter
ALB – Nixon 12 pass from Medley (Gutierrez kick)
Fourth quarter
NW – Elijah Isom 13 pass from Sam Walker (pass failed)
NW – Jalen Cannon 11 pass from Walker (pass failed)
Pre Game Gallery
Action Gallery #1
Action Gallery #2
Game #10
Kannapolis
vs
J.M. Robinson
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – It was (thisclose) to being the Great Wonders Comeback of 2017. Instead, it turned into the night that the Jay M. Robinson Bulldogs exorcised a demon and hoisted their helmets as conference champions for the second year in a row. After A.L. Brown rallied from a 22-point first-half deficit and were in position to tie – or win -- the game in the waning seconds, Jay M. Robinson senior Que Reid intercepted a pass in the end zone to secure a 49-42 victory over the Wonders Friday night at Kannapolis Memorial Stadium. It was the first time in 13 tries that the Bulldogs had bested the Cream of Cabarrus No. 2-ranked Wonders, and No. 3 Jay M. Robinson won its second consecutive South Piedmont 3A Conference title.
“It’s huge for our program, but what’s more huge than that is beating a team like Kannapolis,” Bulldogs coach Joe Glass said. “Nobody gave us a shot. Everybody had us two-touchdown underdogs. We came out here and jumped on them pretty good, and I thought, ‘Oh, we’re cruising,’ and then they came back. But this is huge. It’s monumental for our school. Thirteen years they’ve been beating on us. I can’t say enough about our kids, I can’t say enough about our coaches.”
Jay M. Robinson jumped out to a 29-lead early in the second quarter, thanks to heads-up defensive plays from Dominique Wiley, Bryson Furr, Jahari Young, Jake Hames and Jalen Allamby to go with superior offense from Reid, Dawson Williams and quarterback Chase Orrock. However, A.L. Brown fought back and narrowed the margin to 35-21 at halftime and, more important, seemed to snatch some momentum. In the second half, A.L. Brown twice tied the game, at 35-35 and 42-42, but the Bulldogs were able to stave off the tradition-rich Wonders.
“At halftime, our kids really believed,” A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome said. “We knew we’d get the ball coming out the second half and felt like we could go down and score and make it a one-score ball game and that things were going to be different. We really felt like we could push them around upfront, which we did, but they just made more plays when it came time to make them.”
RECORDS:
Jay M. Robinson is 8-2 overall, 4-0 in the SPC; A.L. Brown is 8-2, 3-1 SPC
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
Trailing by a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, A.L. Brown’s defense stopped the Bulldogs to force a punt, and the Wonders took possession on their own 21-yard line with 2 minutes, 33 seconds remaining. The Wonders quickly faced fourth-and-1, but Medley sneaked two yards for the first down. From there, A.L. Brown coolly worked the ball downfield, with Medley repeatedly making clutch throws with defenders delivering hard hits just as he threw.
A.L. Brown receivers were clutch, too, with Jalen Nixon catching four passes during the drive and Keon McGee grabbing two, as the Wonders worked down to the 12-yard line for the championship-deciding play. Finally, on second-and-10 with just 22 seconds left, Medley threw a pass behind the line of scrimmage to receiver Antonio Knight, who then turned to pass to an open A.L. Brown teammate in the end zone. Suddenly, Reid leaped and pulled down the interception in the end zone and started charging the other way, ending the 12-play drive and securing another league title for the Bulldogs.
“I was like, ‘Oh, they’re throwing a screen!’” Reid said of the play. “That’s when I decided to step back because I saw the wing come behind me out of the corner of my eye. I said, ‘He must be right behind me.’ I just dropped back, and it came right to me. It felt so good.”
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
Jay M. Robinson:
-- Dawson Williams was virtually unstoppable, catching two touchdown passes, running for another score and scurrying in for a two-point conversion.
-- In addition to his title-clinching interception, Que Reid ran six times for 107 yards, including a 78-yard touchdown.
-- Chase Orrock tossed three touchdowns and ran for a 37-yard touchdown just as the third quarter ended.
-- Chris Caldwell threw one touchdown pass and caught another.
-- Dominque Wiley was everywhere, making key tackles and breaking up passes. He recovered a fumble and ran it back for a long touchdown, but it was called back because of penalties.
-- With the score tied at 42 midway through the fourth quarter, junior Bryson Furr recovered a muffed punt, allowing the Bulldogs to retain possession and go in for what proved to be the game-winning score with 5 minutes, 25 seconds left.
A.L. Brown:
-- Quarterback Medley was electric at times, as he threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns, and also made several big plays as a runner.
-- Tight end Justin Rodgers caught two touchdowns and a two-point conversion.
-- Running back Terry Anderson carried 16 times for 89 yards and a touchdown.
-- Senior cornerback Equarius Baldwin intercepted a first-quarter pass on the A.L. Brown side of the field and returned it to the Bulldogs’ 20-yard line, setting up a touchdown that gave the Wonders their only lead of the game, 7-0.
3 OBSERVATIONS
-- At halftime, Miss A.L. Brown was chosen. Madison Crabtreee was crowned the winner, and she was escorted by JROTC Cadet Christian Gonzalez.
-- In the second quarter, play was stopped several minutes when junior cornerback Jnaz Jordan was injured and had to be helped off the field by medical personnel. Jordan did not return to the game.
-- After the postgame handshake, Jay M. Robinson players ran to the visitors’ bleachers and celebrated with their fans.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
Jay M. Robinson welcomes Central Cabarrus to Bulldog Stadium next Friday, and A.L. Brown plays host to rival Concord in the Battle for the Bell.
GAME SUMMARY:
First quarter:
ALB -- Justin Rodgers 4 pass from Jordan Medley (Brian Gutierrez kick)
JMR -- Que Reid 78 run (Dawson Williams run)
JMR – Williams 42 pass from Chase Orrock (Braden Tautkus kick)
JMR – Williams 33 run (Tautkus kick)
Second quarter:
JMR – Chris Caldwell 30 pass from Orrock (Tautkus kick)
ALB – Antonio Knight 17 pass from Medley (kick failed)
ALB – Rodgers 49 pass from Medley (Rodgers pass from Medley)
JMR – Noah Love 53 pass from Caldwell (kick blocked)
Third quarter:
ALB – Terry Anderson 11 run (Gutierrez kick)
JMR – Orrock 37 run (Tautkus kick)
Fourth quarter:
ALB – Jaran Cooper 3 run (Gutierrez kick)
JMR – Williams 21 pass from Orrock (Tautkus kick)
KANNAPOLIS — Robinson outscored A.L. Brown, 49-42, on Friday in Kannapolis in a football battle for first place in the South Piedmont Conference. Que Reid’s interception in the end zone sealed victory for the Bulldogs (8-2, 4-0), who beat the Wonders for the first time on their 12th try.
The Wonders (8-2, 3-1) had a seven-game winning streak snapped. Chase Orrock’s 21-yard TD pass to Dawson Williams with 5:25 remaining provided the decisive TD for the Bulldogs. A.L. Brown scored first on a Jordan Medley 5-yard flip to Justin Rodgers, but after that it was a Robinson avalanche — 29 unanswered points, with rushing TDs from Williams and Reid along with Orrock TD passes to Williams and Chris Caldwell.
Down 29-7, the Wonders got back in the game with Medley’s 33-yard scoring pass to Antonio Knight and his 49-yard connection with Rodgers. Action was fast and furious in the third quarter. Down 35-21, the Wonders caught up at 35-all on rushing TDs by Terry Anderson and Jaron Cooper. Orrock’s 37-yard rushing TD at the end of the third quarter put Robinson up 42-35. With 9:16 remaining, the Wonders got even for the last time, with Medley and Rodgers connecting again. Rodgers had never scored a varsity touchdown. He had three on Friday. Still, Robinson got in the last word with Williams’ third touchdown of the night. The Wonders finish the regular season at home next week against Concord. Robinson hosts Central Cabarrus.
“It’s huge for our program, but what’s more huge than that is beating a team like Kannapolis,” Bulldogs coach Joe Glass said. “Nobody gave us a shot. Everybody had us two-touchdown underdogs. We came out here and jumped on them pretty good, and I thought, ‘Oh, we’re cruising,’ and then they came back. But this is huge. It’s monumental for our school. Thirteen years they’ve been beating on us. I can’t say enough about our kids, I can’t say enough about our coaches.”
Jay M. Robinson jumped out to a 29-lead early in the second quarter, thanks to heads-up defensive plays from Dominique Wiley, Bryson Furr, Jahari Young, Jake Hames and Jalen Allamby to go with superior offense from Reid, Dawson Williams and quarterback Chase Orrock. However, A.L. Brown fought back and narrowed the margin to 35-21 at halftime and, more important, seemed to snatch some momentum. In the second half, A.L. Brown twice tied the game, at 35-35 and 42-42, but the Bulldogs were able to stave off the tradition-rich Wonders.
“At halftime, our kids really believed,” A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome said. “We knew we’d get the ball coming out the second half and felt like we could go down and score and make it a one-score ball game and that things were going to be different. We really felt like we could push them around upfront, which we did, but they just made more plays when it came time to make them.”
RECORDS:
Jay M. Robinson is 8-2 overall, 4-0 in the SPC; A.L. Brown is 8-2, 3-1 SPC
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
Trailing by a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, A.L. Brown’s defense stopped the Bulldogs to force a punt, and the Wonders took possession on their own 21-yard line with 2 minutes, 33 seconds remaining. The Wonders quickly faced fourth-and-1, but Medley sneaked two yards for the first down. From there, A.L. Brown coolly worked the ball downfield, with Medley repeatedly making clutch throws with defenders delivering hard hits just as he threw.
A.L. Brown receivers were clutch, too, with Jalen Nixon catching four passes during the drive and Keon McGee grabbing two, as the Wonders worked down to the 12-yard line for the championship-deciding play. Finally, on second-and-10 with just 22 seconds left, Medley threw a pass behind the line of scrimmage to receiver Antonio Knight, who then turned to pass to an open A.L. Brown teammate in the end zone. Suddenly, Reid leaped and pulled down the interception in the end zone and started charging the other way, ending the 12-play drive and securing another league title for the Bulldogs.
“I was like, ‘Oh, they’re throwing a screen!’” Reid said of the play. “That’s when I decided to step back because I saw the wing come behind me out of the corner of my eye. I said, ‘He must be right behind me.’ I just dropped back, and it came right to me. It felt so good.”
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
Jay M. Robinson:
-- Dawson Williams was virtually unstoppable, catching two touchdown passes, running for another score and scurrying in for a two-point conversion.
-- In addition to his title-clinching interception, Que Reid ran six times for 107 yards, including a 78-yard touchdown.
-- Chase Orrock tossed three touchdowns and ran for a 37-yard touchdown just as the third quarter ended.
-- Chris Caldwell threw one touchdown pass and caught another.
-- Dominque Wiley was everywhere, making key tackles and breaking up passes. He recovered a fumble and ran it back for a long touchdown, but it was called back because of penalties.
-- With the score tied at 42 midway through the fourth quarter, junior Bryson Furr recovered a muffed punt, allowing the Bulldogs to retain possession and go in for what proved to be the game-winning score with 5 minutes, 25 seconds left.
A.L. Brown:
-- Quarterback Medley was electric at times, as he threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns, and also made several big plays as a runner.
-- Tight end Justin Rodgers caught two touchdowns and a two-point conversion.
-- Running back Terry Anderson carried 16 times for 89 yards and a touchdown.
-- Senior cornerback Equarius Baldwin intercepted a first-quarter pass on the A.L. Brown side of the field and returned it to the Bulldogs’ 20-yard line, setting up a touchdown that gave the Wonders their only lead of the game, 7-0.
3 OBSERVATIONS
-- At halftime, Miss A.L. Brown was chosen. Madison Crabtreee was crowned the winner, and she was escorted by JROTC Cadet Christian Gonzalez.
-- In the second quarter, play was stopped several minutes when junior cornerback Jnaz Jordan was injured and had to be helped off the field by medical personnel. Jordan did not return to the game.
-- After the postgame handshake, Jay M. Robinson players ran to the visitors’ bleachers and celebrated with their fans.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
Jay M. Robinson welcomes Central Cabarrus to Bulldog Stadium next Friday, and A.L. Brown plays host to rival Concord in the Battle for the Bell.
GAME SUMMARY:
First quarter:
ALB -- Justin Rodgers 4 pass from Jordan Medley (Brian Gutierrez kick)
JMR -- Que Reid 78 run (Dawson Williams run)
JMR – Williams 42 pass from Chase Orrock (Braden Tautkus kick)
JMR – Williams 33 run (Tautkus kick)
Second quarter:
JMR – Chris Caldwell 30 pass from Orrock (Tautkus kick)
ALB – Antonio Knight 17 pass from Medley (kick failed)
ALB – Rodgers 49 pass from Medley (Rodgers pass from Medley)
JMR – Noah Love 53 pass from Caldwell (kick blocked)
Third quarter:
ALB – Terry Anderson 11 run (Gutierrez kick)
JMR – Orrock 37 run (Tautkus kick)
Fourth quarter:
ALB – Jaran Cooper 3 run (Gutierrez kick)
JMR – Williams 21 pass from Orrock (Tautkus kick)
KANNAPOLIS — Robinson outscored A.L. Brown, 49-42, on Friday in Kannapolis in a football battle for first place in the South Piedmont Conference. Que Reid’s interception in the end zone sealed victory for the Bulldogs (8-2, 4-0), who beat the Wonders for the first time on their 12th try.
The Wonders (8-2, 3-1) had a seven-game winning streak snapped. Chase Orrock’s 21-yard TD pass to Dawson Williams with 5:25 remaining provided the decisive TD for the Bulldogs. A.L. Brown scored first on a Jordan Medley 5-yard flip to Justin Rodgers, but after that it was a Robinson avalanche — 29 unanswered points, with rushing TDs from Williams and Reid along with Orrock TD passes to Williams and Chris Caldwell.
Down 29-7, the Wonders got back in the game with Medley’s 33-yard scoring pass to Antonio Knight and his 49-yard connection with Rodgers. Action was fast and furious in the third quarter. Down 35-21, the Wonders caught up at 35-all on rushing TDs by Terry Anderson and Jaron Cooper. Orrock’s 37-yard rushing TD at the end of the third quarter put Robinson up 42-35. With 9:16 remaining, the Wonders got even for the last time, with Medley and Rodgers connecting again. Rodgers had never scored a varsity touchdown. He had three on Friday. Still, Robinson got in the last word with Williams’ third touchdown of the night. The Wonders finish the regular season at home next week against Concord. Robinson hosts Central Cabarrus.
Pre Game Gallery
Action Gallery #1
Action Gallery #2
Game #11
Kannapolis
vs
Concord
"The Complete 3-Peat"
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.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
As the second-place finisher in the SPC, A.L. Brown earned a bid to the state playoffs, which begin next Friday. Concord will wait to find out if it received a wild card berth when brackets are announced this weekend.
GAME SUMMARY:
Concord 0 0 6 6 -- 12
A.L. Brown 7 0 7 0 -- 14
First quarter
ALB – Jordan Medley 1 run (Brian Gutierrez kick)
Second quarter
None
Third quarter
C – Antonio Campbell 7 run (kick blocked)
ALB – Nick Lyerly 6 run (Gutierrez kick)
Fourth quarter
C – Jadon Bell 4 run (pass failed)
“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.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
As the second-place finisher in the SPC, A.L. Brown earned a bid to the state playoffs, which begin next Friday. Concord will wait to find out if it received a wild card berth when brackets are announced this weekend.
GAME SUMMARY:
Concord 0 0 6 6 -- 12
A.L. Brown 7 0 7 0 -- 14
First quarter
ALB – Jordan Medley 1 run (Brian Gutierrez kick)
Second quarter
None
Third quarter
C – Antonio Campbell 7 run (kick blocked)
ALB – Nick Lyerly 6 run (Gutierrez kick)
Fourth quarter
C – Jadon Bell 4 run (pass failed)
Pre Game Gallery
Action Gallery #1
Action Gallery #2
Action Gallery #3
Post Game Victory Celebration Gallery
In the End...
3-Peat Complete...
Game #12
Rnd #1 State 3AA Playoffs
Kannapolis
vs
Asheville Erwin
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – Nearly 400 yards of offense, numerous key special teams plays and a fourth quarter goal-line stand helped Cream of Cabarrus third-ranked A.L. Brown slide past visiting Asheville Erwin in a first-round Class 3AA state playoff game Friday.
Long kickoff returns by Martrail Williams set up A.L. Brown touchdowns on its first two possessions of the second half, allowing the Wonders to establish and maintain a double-digit lead.Quarterback Jordan Medley had 174 yards passing and 56 rushing yards and accounted for three touchdowns. Running back Jaran Cooper scored twice and had 170 total yards. He caught two passes for 71 yards of a 96-yard scoring drive that gave the Wonders an insurmountable 44-27 lead early in the fourth quarter. Protecting its 44-34 advantage midway in the final period, A.L. Brown stopped Erwin inches short of the end zone on a fourth-and-goal.
“We have to be able to play solid defense,” said Wonders coach Mike Newsome. “We bent a lot and didn’t break there at the end, which I’m fine with, but we have to definitely make sure we’re on the guys we need to be on.”
RECORDS:
Asheville Erwin 6-5; A.L. Brown 10-2
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
With the score knotted, 20-20, in the second quarter, A.L. Brown forced Erwin to punt from the Warriors 33-yard line. Deep for the Wonders was senior Zaquan Clyburn, eager to make his first return of the season. Clyburn fielded the kick at his own 38 and first took a couple steps to his right. Seeing a dead end ahead, he quickly shifted to his left, where there was open field. Clyburn found a path along the sideline as Erwin defenders continued to pursue, even as he got closer to the end zone. But a couple of Wonder teammates made key blocks inside the 15 as Clyburn scored. A.L. Brown never lost the lead after that.
“I feel like (returning punts) is a great move for me,” said Clyburn. “I’m quick and explosive, so I can really do anything I set my mind to.”
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
Erwin:
-- Senior running back Isaiah Poore provided a wealth of yardage, gaining 179 yards on 15 carries. He had touchdown runs of 76 and 58 yards.
-- Junior Simeon Thompson caught six passes for 86 yards and caught touchdown passes of 22 and 10 yards.
A.L. Brown:
-- Senior Malik Keller blocked a punt on Erwin’s first possession. Medley scored two plays later for an early A.L. Brown lead.
-- Martrail Williams, a senior, had kickoff returns of 40 and 82 yards in the third quarter, both which led to Wonders touchdowns.
-- Cooper rushed for 98 yards on 18 carries and had 79 yards on three catches, including two scores.
-- Senior defensive lineman Malachi Lyles stopped Erwin running back Don Mosley twice on two-point conversion runs in the first quarter.
3 OBSERVATIONS:
-- A.L. Brown had three touchdowns called back by penalties. The Wonders still scored after the first one, in the first quarter. But A.L. Brown had to punt after it was flagged on two consecutive scoring plays in the second quarter.
-- Erwin quarterback Kendrick Weaver completed five-of-10 pass attempts in the first quarter, including two touchdown passes. Brown did not allow him to complete any of his five attempts in the second quarter.
-- The Warriors were 1-for-3 in two point conversion attempts in the first half. Romaric Ventura was successful on his two PAT kicks in the second half, but he missed on a 30-yard field goal try late in the game.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
A.L. Brown, seeded sixth in the 3AA West Region, will travel to third -seeded South Iredell, a 44-34 winner over Northwest Cabarrus, for a second-round game next Friday. Erwin’s season came to an end with its loss.
GAME SUMMARY:
Erwin 12 8 7 7 -- 34
A.L. Brown 14 13 10 7 -- 44
First quarter:
ALB – Jordan Medley 15 run (Brian Gutierrez kick)
E-Trey Martin 20 pass from Kendrick Weaver (run failed)
ALB – Jaran Cooper 8 pass from Medley (Gutierrez kick)
E-Simeon Thompson 22 pass from Weaver (run failed)
Second quarter:
E – Isaiah Poore 76 run (Tristian Brank pass from Weaver)
ALB – Jalen Nixon 29 run (kick failed)
ALB – Zaquan Clyburn 62 punt return (Gutierrez kick)
Third quarter:
ALB – Gutierrez 28 FG
E – Poore 58 run (Romaric Ventura kick)
ALB – Nixon 3 run (Gutierrez kick)
Fourth quarter:
ALB – Cooper 21 pass from Medley (Gutierrez kick)
E – Thompson 10 pass from Weaver (Ventura kick)
Long kickoff returns by Martrail Williams set up A.L. Brown touchdowns on its first two possessions of the second half, allowing the Wonders to establish and maintain a double-digit lead.Quarterback Jordan Medley had 174 yards passing and 56 rushing yards and accounted for three touchdowns. Running back Jaran Cooper scored twice and had 170 total yards. He caught two passes for 71 yards of a 96-yard scoring drive that gave the Wonders an insurmountable 44-27 lead early in the fourth quarter. Protecting its 44-34 advantage midway in the final period, A.L. Brown stopped Erwin inches short of the end zone on a fourth-and-goal.
“We have to be able to play solid defense,” said Wonders coach Mike Newsome. “We bent a lot and didn’t break there at the end, which I’m fine with, but we have to definitely make sure we’re on the guys we need to be on.”
RECORDS:
Asheville Erwin 6-5; A.L. Brown 10-2
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
With the score knotted, 20-20, in the second quarter, A.L. Brown forced Erwin to punt from the Warriors 33-yard line. Deep for the Wonders was senior Zaquan Clyburn, eager to make his first return of the season. Clyburn fielded the kick at his own 38 and first took a couple steps to his right. Seeing a dead end ahead, he quickly shifted to his left, where there was open field. Clyburn found a path along the sideline as Erwin defenders continued to pursue, even as he got closer to the end zone. But a couple of Wonder teammates made key blocks inside the 15 as Clyburn scored. A.L. Brown never lost the lead after that.
“I feel like (returning punts) is a great move for me,” said Clyburn. “I’m quick and explosive, so I can really do anything I set my mind to.”
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
Erwin:
-- Senior running back Isaiah Poore provided a wealth of yardage, gaining 179 yards on 15 carries. He had touchdown runs of 76 and 58 yards.
-- Junior Simeon Thompson caught six passes for 86 yards and caught touchdown passes of 22 and 10 yards.
A.L. Brown:
-- Senior Malik Keller blocked a punt on Erwin’s first possession. Medley scored two plays later for an early A.L. Brown lead.
-- Martrail Williams, a senior, had kickoff returns of 40 and 82 yards in the third quarter, both which led to Wonders touchdowns.
-- Cooper rushed for 98 yards on 18 carries and had 79 yards on three catches, including two scores.
-- Senior defensive lineman Malachi Lyles stopped Erwin running back Don Mosley twice on two-point conversion runs in the first quarter.
3 OBSERVATIONS:
-- A.L. Brown had three touchdowns called back by penalties. The Wonders still scored after the first one, in the first quarter. But A.L. Brown had to punt after it was flagged on two consecutive scoring plays in the second quarter.
-- Erwin quarterback Kendrick Weaver completed five-of-10 pass attempts in the first quarter, including two touchdown passes. Brown did not allow him to complete any of his five attempts in the second quarter.
-- The Warriors were 1-for-3 in two point conversion attempts in the first half. Romaric Ventura was successful on his two PAT kicks in the second half, but he missed on a 30-yard field goal try late in the game.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
A.L. Brown, seeded sixth in the 3AA West Region, will travel to third -seeded South Iredell, a 44-34 winner over Northwest Cabarrus, for a second-round game next Friday. Erwin’s season came to an end with its loss.
GAME SUMMARY:
Erwin 12 8 7 7 -- 34
A.L. Brown 14 13 10 7 -- 44
First quarter:
ALB – Jordan Medley 15 run (Brian Gutierrez kick)
E-Trey Martin 20 pass from Kendrick Weaver (run failed)
ALB – Jaran Cooper 8 pass from Medley (Gutierrez kick)
E-Simeon Thompson 22 pass from Weaver (run failed)
Second quarter:
E – Isaiah Poore 76 run (Tristian Brank pass from Weaver)
ALB – Jalen Nixon 29 run (kick failed)
ALB – Zaquan Clyburn 62 punt return (Gutierrez kick)
Third quarter:
ALB – Gutierrez 28 FG
E – Poore 58 run (Romaric Ventura kick)
ALB – Nixon 3 run (Gutierrez kick)
Fourth quarter:
ALB – Cooper 21 pass from Medley (Gutierrez kick)
E – Thompson 10 pass from Weaver (Ventura kick)
Pre Game Gallery
Action Gallery #1
Action Gallery #2
Game #13
Rnd #2
Kannapolis
vs
South Iredell
STATESVILLE, N.C. – The A.L. Brown football coaching staff spent countless hours this week watching film and noting every variation of formation that South Iredell employed. They would then relay all this information to the players, filling their heads with as much information as possible. But there was one thing Mike Newsome and his staff didn’t prepare the squad for: losing.
“Coaches aren’t sitting back and thinking of what to say at games like this,” Newsome said. “We’re expecting to win, and so you don’t think of a concession speech. So as hard as this is to talk about, we didn’t expect it to end like this.”
Unfortunately for the Wonders, who finished with a 10-3 record, this was the scenario which played out as a variety of early turnovers put them in a hole they couldn’t overcome and they fell to South Iredell in the second round of the 3AA playoffs, 41-21. For the 23 seniors on this year’s team, it will be the last time they don the famous green and white jerseys, and this realization after the game proved to be an emotional one for most.
“This season and this team has honestly meant the world to me,” senior receiver Justin Rodgers said. “We had some ups and downs, but those are my brothers, and it’s going to hurt to not be with them every day. Life goes on, and the juniors, the sophomores, and the freshmen, they’re going to ball out next year.”
Rodgers, like many of his teammates and fellow seniors, has a family history of playing for the Wonders, and he couldn’t have been prouder to represent the school that means a lot to his family.
“It meant everything,” Rodgers said. “Honestly, my brother (Cameron) is one of my biggest role models, and he played for A.L. Brown, and he made a name for himself. So I just did all I could to do the same.”
Rodgers was not the only emotional Wonder that lingered on the field not quite ready to take off the uniform.
“We had a lot of good guys on this team,” senior defensive back Equaris Baldwin said. “We gave it all we had, but it was a good ride. I’m going to miss these boys.”
For Baldwin, his ability to play came into question midway through the season as he suffered an injury which threatened to prematurely end his high school career. However, he was able to work back and finish out the season with his team, something which clearly meant a great deal to him.
“Whenever I got injured, it hurt not being able to get on the field,” he said, fighting back tears. “When I made my return, there’s no question I wanted to go out and give it all I had. I had to get back and contribute to the team.”
Seniors like Rodgers and Baldwin have made the Wonders one of the better football teams in this area over recent years, and they did it during one of the most trying times in program history. In the four seasons prior to 2017, A.L. Brown not only played 4A ball but it competed against some of the strongest teams in the entire state in the MECKA 4A Conference, and they more than held their own.
“This group has made it through a tough time in our football history,” Newsome said. “We played in one of the toughest leagues in the state of North Carolina. A lot of kids would have quit having to face the likes of Mallard Creek and Vance and the Houghs and teams on paper that are much better than you were,” Newsome continued. “They got us through a very tough period of A.L. Brown football, and they did it in great fashion. We weren’t by any means the yard dog getting kicked every day. We were a team that everybody had to play.
“Then this year in this league, we got back to a more customary season where we’re winning 10 games,” Newsome added. “That’s the type of thing this group did, and I’m proud of them for sticking it out.”
The future is still bright for the Wonders, as they will have 29 juniors eligible to return next year, including quarterback Jordan Medley and the strong running duo of Jaran Cooper and Nick Lyerly.
“I feel good,” Cooper said. “There’s a lot of things we need to work on as a team, and a lot of things we need to work on individually. Us coming back, we’re hopefully going to take this and succeed even more.”
Life will go on for one of the state’s more storied programs, but for now, the wounds are fresh. These seniors will take solace, though, that just because the season is over, their connection to this team is not.
“Wonderland, this is a great community,” Baldwin said. “This is a great family right here. I’m always going to be a Wonder.”
TROUTMAN — A.L. Brown’s hopes for a run in the 3AA state playoffs crashed and burned on Friday. Five Wonder turnovers were the biggest culprit in a 41-21 loss to South Iredell. The third-seeded Vikings (11-2) took advantage of two early special-teams mistakes by the Wonders — a muffed punt and a pooched kickoff that was recovered by the Vikings. The Wonders’ defense held on both occasions, but South Iredell turned that great field position into two field goals and led, 6-0. Sixth-seeded A.L.Brown (10-3) answered with a touchdown, with Terry Anderson locating the end zone from the 11-yard line. A.L. Brown took a 7-6 lead on the Brian Gutierrez PAT, but the Wonders wouldn’t lead again.
South Iredell got the next three TDs in a snowball with quarterback Brady Pope and receiver Dydrion Leach capitalizing on A.L. Brown mistakes. With the Wonders trailing late in the first half, 27-7, Jalen Nixon got a rushing TD after picking up a fumbled snap. That provided halftime momentum for the Wonders, and they were still in striking distance at 27-4, but South Iredell wasn’t fazed. The Vikings scored first in the second half. Jordan Medley’s 10-yard scoring pass to Keon McGee got the Wonders within 34-21 with 4:18 left in the third quarter, but the Wonders got no closer. South Iredell will play at second-seeded Asheville A.C. Reynolds next. Reynolds won against seventh-seeded Southwest Guilford, 21-7.
.
“Coaches aren’t sitting back and thinking of what to say at games like this,” Newsome said. “We’re expecting to win, and so you don’t think of a concession speech. So as hard as this is to talk about, we didn’t expect it to end like this.”
Unfortunately for the Wonders, who finished with a 10-3 record, this was the scenario which played out as a variety of early turnovers put them in a hole they couldn’t overcome and they fell to South Iredell in the second round of the 3AA playoffs, 41-21. For the 23 seniors on this year’s team, it will be the last time they don the famous green and white jerseys, and this realization after the game proved to be an emotional one for most.
“This season and this team has honestly meant the world to me,” senior receiver Justin Rodgers said. “We had some ups and downs, but those are my brothers, and it’s going to hurt to not be with them every day. Life goes on, and the juniors, the sophomores, and the freshmen, they’re going to ball out next year.”
Rodgers, like many of his teammates and fellow seniors, has a family history of playing for the Wonders, and he couldn’t have been prouder to represent the school that means a lot to his family.
“It meant everything,” Rodgers said. “Honestly, my brother (Cameron) is one of my biggest role models, and he played for A.L. Brown, and he made a name for himself. So I just did all I could to do the same.”
Rodgers was not the only emotional Wonder that lingered on the field not quite ready to take off the uniform.
“We had a lot of good guys on this team,” senior defensive back Equaris Baldwin said. “We gave it all we had, but it was a good ride. I’m going to miss these boys.”
For Baldwin, his ability to play came into question midway through the season as he suffered an injury which threatened to prematurely end his high school career. However, he was able to work back and finish out the season with his team, something which clearly meant a great deal to him.
“Whenever I got injured, it hurt not being able to get on the field,” he said, fighting back tears. “When I made my return, there’s no question I wanted to go out and give it all I had. I had to get back and contribute to the team.”
Seniors like Rodgers and Baldwin have made the Wonders one of the better football teams in this area over recent years, and they did it during one of the most trying times in program history. In the four seasons prior to 2017, A.L. Brown not only played 4A ball but it competed against some of the strongest teams in the entire state in the MECKA 4A Conference, and they more than held their own.
“This group has made it through a tough time in our football history,” Newsome said. “We played in one of the toughest leagues in the state of North Carolina. A lot of kids would have quit having to face the likes of Mallard Creek and Vance and the Houghs and teams on paper that are much better than you were,” Newsome continued. “They got us through a very tough period of A.L. Brown football, and they did it in great fashion. We weren’t by any means the yard dog getting kicked every day. We were a team that everybody had to play.
“Then this year in this league, we got back to a more customary season where we’re winning 10 games,” Newsome added. “That’s the type of thing this group did, and I’m proud of them for sticking it out.”
The future is still bright for the Wonders, as they will have 29 juniors eligible to return next year, including quarterback Jordan Medley and the strong running duo of Jaran Cooper and Nick Lyerly.
“I feel good,” Cooper said. “There’s a lot of things we need to work on as a team, and a lot of things we need to work on individually. Us coming back, we’re hopefully going to take this and succeed even more.”
Life will go on for one of the state’s more storied programs, but for now, the wounds are fresh. These seniors will take solace, though, that just because the season is over, their connection to this team is not.
“Wonderland, this is a great community,” Baldwin said. “This is a great family right here. I’m always going to be a Wonder.”
TROUTMAN — A.L. Brown’s hopes for a run in the 3AA state playoffs crashed and burned on Friday. Five Wonder turnovers were the biggest culprit in a 41-21 loss to South Iredell. The third-seeded Vikings (11-2) took advantage of two early special-teams mistakes by the Wonders — a muffed punt and a pooched kickoff that was recovered by the Vikings. The Wonders’ defense held on both occasions, but South Iredell turned that great field position into two field goals and led, 6-0. Sixth-seeded A.L.Brown (10-3) answered with a touchdown, with Terry Anderson locating the end zone from the 11-yard line. A.L. Brown took a 7-6 lead on the Brian Gutierrez PAT, but the Wonders wouldn’t lead again.
South Iredell got the next three TDs in a snowball with quarterback Brady Pope and receiver Dydrion Leach capitalizing on A.L. Brown mistakes. With the Wonders trailing late in the first half, 27-7, Jalen Nixon got a rushing TD after picking up a fumbled snap. That provided halftime momentum for the Wonders, and they were still in striking distance at 27-4, but South Iredell wasn’t fazed. The Vikings scored first in the second half. Jordan Medley’s 10-yard scoring pass to Keon McGee got the Wonders within 34-21 with 4:18 left in the third quarter, but the Wonders got no closer. South Iredell will play at second-seeded Asheville A.C. Reynolds next. Reynolds won against seventh-seeded Southwest Guilford, 21-7.
.