Football 2021-A
(South Piedmont Conference Champions)
2021-A Varsity Spring Football Results
Kannapolis-51 NW Cabarrus-19
Kannapolis-30 Central Cabarrus-29
Kannapolis-35 Cox Mill-28
Kannapolis-47 West Cabarrus-0
Kannapolis-14 South Meck-17
Kannapolis-29 JM Robinson-14
Kannapolis-28 Concord-0
Playoffs
Kannapolis-29 TC Roberson-36
Kannapolis-51 NW Cabarrus-19
Kannapolis-30 Central Cabarrus-29
Kannapolis-35 Cox Mill-28
Kannapolis-47 West Cabarrus-0
Kannapolis-14 South Meck-17
Kannapolis-29 JM Robinson-14
Kannapolis-28 Concord-0
Playoffs
Kannapolis-29 TC Roberson-36
2020 A.L. Brown Varsity Football Roster
Game #1
Kannapolis
vs
Northwest Cabarrus
Kannapolis-51 Northwest Cabarrus-19
The A.L. Brown Wonders started their football season off strong by blowing past the visiting Northwest Cabarrus Trojans, 51-19, Thursday night at Kannapolis Memorial Stadium. The Wonders had 27 unanswered points to open the game. After a 14-point first quarter for the Wonders, they added two more touchdowns early in the second and went up 27-0 on Jamison Flowe’s second touchdown run.
When Northwest scored its first touchdown with fewer than two minutes to play in the half, A.L. Brown responded with a kickoff return for a touchdown to regain the momentum. The Wonders continued to add points throughout the night. The Wonders’ offense was effective in the air and on the ground. Junior quarterback Cameron Kromah responsible for three passing touchdowns. And outside of two big Trojan passes, the Wonders’ defense only gave up 170 yards.
The victory helped A.L. Brown ended a two-year losing streak to the Trojans, a team the Wonders had beaten for 42 years in a row up to 2018. But Thursday night belonged to the Wonders.
“This is the Battle of Kannapolis, that’s what we call it,” said A.L. Brown receiver Isaiah Black, who caught one of Kromah’s touchdown passes on the night. “We were ready to come out and show who Kannapolis really is.”
Thursday was the Trojans first game under a new coaching staff led by head man Eric Morman.
“There’s no excuses,” said Morman, who used to be an A.L. Brown assistant coach years ago. “What we’re going to do is we’re going to go back to work next week.”
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
With Northwest Cabarrus fresh off its first touchdown of the night, courtesy of a 76-yard pass from quarterback Alex Walker to receiver Tru Sierra, the Trojans were trying to seize the momentum. On the ensuing kickoff, however, A.L. Brown returner Amareon Plummer burst through the middle of the field for an 89-yard kickoff return, which put the Wonders ahead. 34-7, and stifled Northwest’s comeback attempt.
“I’m just so glad that these kids got the opportunity to play football,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. “I’ve been a part of a lot of football teams over the years, and I’ve been a part of a lot of wins. But just getting the opportunity to play football, win, lose or draw, is awesome.”
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS
A.L. Brown:
-- Kromah completed 18 passes for more than 200 yards with the three touchdowns.
-- Teddy Russell had 58 rushing yards and a score, and Jamison Flowe had 70 yards and two touchdowns.
-- The defense produced four turnovers, with Trent Thompson recording two interceptions and Justin Morgan snagging an interception and a fumble recovery.
-- Antarron Turner and Jacob Adams helped hold Northwest Cabarrus to 41 total rushing yards.
Northwest Cabarrus:
-- Alex Walker completed 16 of 34 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those touchdown passes were more than 60 yards.
-- Sam Aldorasi had more than 10 tackles for the Trojans.
3 OBSERVATIONS:
-- Northwest senior Shaun Browne suffered a serious leg injury midway through the second quarter, requiring an ambulance. Browne was one of several Trojans went down, with many being for cramps.
-- Special teams played a large factor in A.L. Brown’s lopsided win, as Northwest fumbled kickoff returns twice and had multiple special teams penalties. Meanwhile, the Wonders consistently gained big yardage on punt and kickoff returns.
A.L. Brown kicker Ty Woods.
Joan Moore/Special to The Independent Tribune.-- A.L. Brown capitalized on the Trojans’ four turnovers, turning each one into points (three touchdowns and a field goal). The Wonders also did not give the ball up once and only punted twice the entire game.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
A.L. Brown travels to Central Cabarrus next week, while Northwest Cabarrus will play host to Jay M. Robinson.
SCORING SUMMARY:
A.L. Brown 14 20 3 14 -- 51
Northwest Cabarrus 0 13 0 6 -- 19
First Quarter
ALB -- Isaiah Black 8 pass from Kromah (Ty Woods kick)
ALB -- Jamison Flowe 17 run (Woods kick)
Second Quarter
ALB -- Torren Wright 16 pass from Kromah (Woods kick)
ALB -- Flowe 6 run (kick missed)
NW -- Tru Sierra 76 pass from Walker (Travis Westover kick)
ALB -- Amareon Plummer 89 kickoff return (Woods kick)
NW -- Tevin Tucker 37 pass from Walker (kick missed)
Third Quarter
ALB -- Woods 27 field goal
Fourth Quarter
NW -- Tucker 61 pass from Walker (kick missed)
ALB -- Jacob Booker 29 pass from Kromah (Woods kick)
ALB -- Russell 2 run (Woods kick)
Story Courtesy of Independent Tribune: Photos in Slideshow Courtesy of Joan Moore Independent Tribune
When Northwest scored its first touchdown with fewer than two minutes to play in the half, A.L. Brown responded with a kickoff return for a touchdown to regain the momentum. The Wonders continued to add points throughout the night. The Wonders’ offense was effective in the air and on the ground. Junior quarterback Cameron Kromah responsible for three passing touchdowns. And outside of two big Trojan passes, the Wonders’ defense only gave up 170 yards.
The victory helped A.L. Brown ended a two-year losing streak to the Trojans, a team the Wonders had beaten for 42 years in a row up to 2018. But Thursday night belonged to the Wonders.
“This is the Battle of Kannapolis, that’s what we call it,” said A.L. Brown receiver Isaiah Black, who caught one of Kromah’s touchdown passes on the night. “We were ready to come out and show who Kannapolis really is.”
Thursday was the Trojans first game under a new coaching staff led by head man Eric Morman.
“There’s no excuses,” said Morman, who used to be an A.L. Brown assistant coach years ago. “What we’re going to do is we’re going to go back to work next week.”
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
With Northwest Cabarrus fresh off its first touchdown of the night, courtesy of a 76-yard pass from quarterback Alex Walker to receiver Tru Sierra, the Trojans were trying to seize the momentum. On the ensuing kickoff, however, A.L. Brown returner Amareon Plummer burst through the middle of the field for an 89-yard kickoff return, which put the Wonders ahead. 34-7, and stifled Northwest’s comeback attempt.
“I’m just so glad that these kids got the opportunity to play football,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. “I’ve been a part of a lot of football teams over the years, and I’ve been a part of a lot of wins. But just getting the opportunity to play football, win, lose or draw, is awesome.”
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS
A.L. Brown:
-- Kromah completed 18 passes for more than 200 yards with the three touchdowns.
-- Teddy Russell had 58 rushing yards and a score, and Jamison Flowe had 70 yards and two touchdowns.
-- The defense produced four turnovers, with Trent Thompson recording two interceptions and Justin Morgan snagging an interception and a fumble recovery.
-- Antarron Turner and Jacob Adams helped hold Northwest Cabarrus to 41 total rushing yards.
Northwest Cabarrus:
-- Alex Walker completed 16 of 34 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those touchdown passes were more than 60 yards.
-- Sam Aldorasi had more than 10 tackles for the Trojans.
3 OBSERVATIONS:
-- Northwest senior Shaun Browne suffered a serious leg injury midway through the second quarter, requiring an ambulance. Browne was one of several Trojans went down, with many being for cramps.
-- Special teams played a large factor in A.L. Brown’s lopsided win, as Northwest fumbled kickoff returns twice and had multiple special teams penalties. Meanwhile, the Wonders consistently gained big yardage on punt and kickoff returns.
A.L. Brown kicker Ty Woods.
Joan Moore/Special to The Independent Tribune.-- A.L. Brown capitalized on the Trojans’ four turnovers, turning each one into points (three touchdowns and a field goal). The Wonders also did not give the ball up once and only punted twice the entire game.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
A.L. Brown travels to Central Cabarrus next week, while Northwest Cabarrus will play host to Jay M. Robinson.
SCORING SUMMARY:
A.L. Brown 14 20 3 14 -- 51
Northwest Cabarrus 0 13 0 6 -- 19
First Quarter
ALB -- Isaiah Black 8 pass from Kromah (Ty Woods kick)
ALB -- Jamison Flowe 17 run (Woods kick)
Second Quarter
ALB -- Torren Wright 16 pass from Kromah (Woods kick)
ALB -- Flowe 6 run (kick missed)
NW -- Tru Sierra 76 pass from Walker (Travis Westover kick)
ALB -- Amareon Plummer 89 kickoff return (Woods kick)
NW -- Tevin Tucker 37 pass from Walker (kick missed)
Third Quarter
ALB -- Woods 27 field goal
Fourth Quarter
NW -- Tucker 61 pass from Walker (kick missed)
ALB -- Jacob Booker 29 pass from Kromah (Woods kick)
ALB -- Russell 2 run (Woods kick)
Story Courtesy of Independent Tribune: Photos in Slideshow Courtesy of Joan Moore Independent Tribune
Game #2
Kannapolis
vs
Central Cabarrus
Kannapolis-30 Central Cabarrus-29
CONCORD — A.L. Brown led Central Cabarrus 17-0 at one point on the road, but Friday’s wild South Piedmont Conference game came down to extra points. Ty Woods kicked the decisive PAT in the second overtime to give the Wonders a rousing 30-29 victory. Central needed only to kick a PAT to win the game in the first OT and topple A.L. Brown for the third year in a row, but the Wonders blocked the kick to stay alive. Defenses dominated a scoreless first half. The Wonders (2-0, 2-0) broke through with a 40-yard scoring run by Jamison Flowe in the third quarter.
A field goal by Woods made it 10-0, and it was 17-0 after a pick-six by Justin Morgan with 4:32 left in the third. But the Vikings (1-1, 1-1) stormed back for 17 unanswered points to force overtime. The Wonders scored briskly in the first OT, with Flowe barreling into the end zone on first down. But Woods’ PAT kick failed. Central scored a touchdown with the aid of a penalty that took the ball to the 5 and had victory in its grasp, but the PAT kick was rejected, as Wonders crashed right up the middle.
Central had the ball first in the second overtime and Elijah Horton scored for a 29-23 lead, but the Wonders stopped a 2-point conversion attempt. Then the Wonders scored and tacked on the decisive kick by Woods. The Wonders play at home against Cox Mill, which fell to West Cabarrus, next week. Central Cabarrus has a non-conference game against Providence.
A field goal by Woods made it 10-0, and it was 17-0 after a pick-six by Justin Morgan with 4:32 left in the third. But the Vikings (1-1, 1-1) stormed back for 17 unanswered points to force overtime. The Wonders scored briskly in the first OT, with Flowe barreling into the end zone on first down. But Woods’ PAT kick failed. Central scored a touchdown with the aid of a penalty that took the ball to the 5 and had victory in its grasp, but the PAT kick was rejected, as Wonders crashed right up the middle.
Central had the ball first in the second overtime and Elijah Horton scored for a 29-23 lead, but the Wonders stopped a 2-point conversion attempt. Then the Wonders scored and tacked on the decisive kick by Woods. The Wonders play at home against Cox Mill, which fell to West Cabarrus, next week. Central Cabarrus has a non-conference game against Providence.
Game #3
Kannapolis
vs
Cox Mill
Kannapolis-35 Cox Mill-28
Game #4
Kannapolis
vs
West Cabarrus Cabarrus
Kannapolis-47 West Cabarrus-0
Game #5
Kannapolis
vs
South Mecklenburg
Kannapolis-14 South Mecklenburg-17
Game #6
Kannapolis
vs
J.M. Robinson
Kannapolis-29 J.M. Robinson-14
Two long touchdown plays helped Cream of Cabarrus top-ranked A.L. Brown win its first conference championship since 2011, as the Wonders brought down host and third-ranked Jay M. Robinson, 29-14, in a South Piedmont 3A showdown Thursday. Both teams entered the contest undefeated in league play. Its victory over the previously unbeaten Bulldogs guaranteed that A.L. Brown would be the SPC’s top seed in the upcoming state playoffs. Even if the Wonders lose their final regular-season game next week, they would still finish no worse than tied for first place and get the playoff-seeding nod ahead of Jay M. Robinson. The Bulldogs can clinch the conference’s second state playoff bid with a victory next week.
“(I feel) just great for the kids,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. “Especially after this tough, tough year we’ve had to go through with coronavirus, to be able to end with a conference championship. It’s kind of a relief after a tough year to come out on top.”
Down 8-7 early in the second quarter, A.L. Brown scored touchdowns on its next two drives, which totaled four plays and 1 minute, 38 seconds.
“We have a standard of excellence around here, but we didn’t live up to it tonight,” said Bulldogs coach Darius Robinson. “We’ll fix it, and we’ll be ready for Friday.”
THE PLAY OF THE GAME
Trailing 8-7 with 8:16 left in the second quarter, A.L. Brown started a drive from its own 30-yard line with a modest 6-yard run by Jamison Flowe. On second down, quarterback Cameron Kromah found receiver Isaiah Black over the middle just across midfield.
Sprinting, Black hauled in Kromah’s dart and realized everybody on both teams was behind him. He outraced two Jay M. Robinson defenders to the end zone for the score. A.L. Brown got some help from the Bulldogs when Jay M. Robinson was penalized for offsides on the Wonders’ extra point attempt. Instead, A.L. Brown elected to go for two points, and fullback Todd Kennedy, Jr. followed the strength of his offensive line and barreled over the goal line for a 15-8 lead.
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS
A.L. Brown
● Flowe rushed for a game-high 172 yards on 13 carries. His 60-yard touchdown run came on A.L. Brown’s possession following Black’s earlier score.
● After a slow start, Kromah completed six straight passes between the first and third quarters. Two of them were touchdowns, including an 11-yarder to Gavin Thompson. Only five of his 114 yards passing came after halftime. Junior linebackers Torren Wright and Trent Thompson led their team with eight and seven tackles, respectfully.
● Terrance Chapman rushed for a team-high 133 yards on 14 carries. His 70-yard jaunt in the fourth quarter helped set up Jay M. Robinson’s second touchdown.
J.M. Robinson
● Quarterback Blue Monroe ran for both the Bulldogs’ touchdowns. He completed eight of 10 passes in the first half for 68 yards but added just three yards in the second half.
● Linebacker Daevin Hobbs had a game-high nine tackles. He also contributed to four sacks and two additional tackles for loss.
3 OBSERVATIONS
● Jay M. Robinson students Robert Connelly and Marlee Wolford were crowned homecoming king and queen, respectfully, at halftime.
● A game official got confused by which ball should be in play after A.L. Brown kicked off to Jay M. Robinson midway through the second quarter. He lost track of which ball needed to leave the field and which one should enter the game, crossing each team’s ball boy who was scrambling to locate his team’s ball. It’s not a glamorous job, so here’s a shoutout to all the ball boys in Cabarrus County. ● Hobbs recovered a fumble late in the second quarter for the game’s only turnover. Jay M. Robinson couldn’t take advantage, though, since there were only 16 seconds left in the first half.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
Both teams wrap up their regular-season schedules with conference games on the road. A.L. Brown faces Concord in the annual Battle for the Bell game, while Jay M. Robinson plays at rival Central Cabarrus.
SCORING SUMMARY
A.L. Brown 7 15 0 7 – 29
Jay M. Robinson 0 8 0 6 – 14
First Quarter
ALB – Gavin Thompson 11 pass from Cameron Kromah (Ty Woods kick)
Second Quarter
R – Blue Monroe 1 run (Bryson Mason pass from Monroe)
ALB – Isaiah Black 64 pass from Kromah (Todd Kennedy, Jr. run)
ALB – Jamison Flowe 60 run (Woods kick)
Third Quarter
None
Fourth Quarter
R – Monroe 2 run (pass failed)
ALB – Kennedy 1 run (Woods kick)
Story by Independent Tribune Sports Writer Joe Habina: Photos by Independent Tribune Staff Photographer Lester Barnes:
“(I feel) just great for the kids,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. “Especially after this tough, tough year we’ve had to go through with coronavirus, to be able to end with a conference championship. It’s kind of a relief after a tough year to come out on top.”
Down 8-7 early in the second quarter, A.L. Brown scored touchdowns on its next two drives, which totaled four plays and 1 minute, 38 seconds.
“We have a standard of excellence around here, but we didn’t live up to it tonight,” said Bulldogs coach Darius Robinson. “We’ll fix it, and we’ll be ready for Friday.”
THE PLAY OF THE GAME
Trailing 8-7 with 8:16 left in the second quarter, A.L. Brown started a drive from its own 30-yard line with a modest 6-yard run by Jamison Flowe. On second down, quarterback Cameron Kromah found receiver Isaiah Black over the middle just across midfield.
Sprinting, Black hauled in Kromah’s dart and realized everybody on both teams was behind him. He outraced two Jay M. Robinson defenders to the end zone for the score. A.L. Brown got some help from the Bulldogs when Jay M. Robinson was penalized for offsides on the Wonders’ extra point attempt. Instead, A.L. Brown elected to go for two points, and fullback Todd Kennedy, Jr. followed the strength of his offensive line and barreled over the goal line for a 15-8 lead.
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS
A.L. Brown
● Flowe rushed for a game-high 172 yards on 13 carries. His 60-yard touchdown run came on A.L. Brown’s possession following Black’s earlier score.
● After a slow start, Kromah completed six straight passes between the first and third quarters. Two of them were touchdowns, including an 11-yarder to Gavin Thompson. Only five of his 114 yards passing came after halftime. Junior linebackers Torren Wright and Trent Thompson led their team with eight and seven tackles, respectfully.
● Terrance Chapman rushed for a team-high 133 yards on 14 carries. His 70-yard jaunt in the fourth quarter helped set up Jay M. Robinson’s second touchdown.
J.M. Robinson
● Quarterback Blue Monroe ran for both the Bulldogs’ touchdowns. He completed eight of 10 passes in the first half for 68 yards but added just three yards in the second half.
● Linebacker Daevin Hobbs had a game-high nine tackles. He also contributed to four sacks and two additional tackles for loss.
3 OBSERVATIONS
● Jay M. Robinson students Robert Connelly and Marlee Wolford were crowned homecoming king and queen, respectfully, at halftime.
● A game official got confused by which ball should be in play after A.L. Brown kicked off to Jay M. Robinson midway through the second quarter. He lost track of which ball needed to leave the field and which one should enter the game, crossing each team’s ball boy who was scrambling to locate his team’s ball. It’s not a glamorous job, so here’s a shoutout to all the ball boys in Cabarrus County. ● Hobbs recovered a fumble late in the second quarter for the game’s only turnover. Jay M. Robinson couldn’t take advantage, though, since there were only 16 seconds left in the first half.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
Both teams wrap up their regular-season schedules with conference games on the road. A.L. Brown faces Concord in the annual Battle for the Bell game, while Jay M. Robinson plays at rival Central Cabarrus.
SCORING SUMMARY
A.L. Brown 7 15 0 7 – 29
Jay M. Robinson 0 8 0 6 – 14
First Quarter
ALB – Gavin Thompson 11 pass from Cameron Kromah (Ty Woods kick)
Second Quarter
R – Blue Monroe 1 run (Bryson Mason pass from Monroe)
ALB – Isaiah Black 64 pass from Kromah (Todd Kennedy, Jr. run)
ALB – Jamison Flowe 60 run (Woods kick)
Third Quarter
None
Fourth Quarter
R – Monroe 2 run (pass failed)
ALB – Kennedy 1 run (Woods kick)
Story by Independent Tribune Sports Writer Joe Habina: Photos by Independent Tribune Staff Photographer Lester Barnes:
Game #7
Kannapolis
vs
Concord
Kannapolis-28 Concord-0
Cream of Cabarrus top-ranked A.L. Brown controlled the ball for only 3½ minutes in the first half but still scored on all three of its full possessions and came away with a 28-0 victory at rival Concord at E.Z. Smith at Robert C. Bailey Stadium Friday. The Wonders won their sixth straight Battle for the Bell game and finished undefeated in conference play for the first time since 2011. Not including a Concord forfeit in 2001, the last time there was a shutout in the historic series was in 2000, when A.L. Brown won by the same score, 28-0.
“This game is special and to win The Bell makes it even more special,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. “I told our kids before the game they should feel privileged and honored to be able to play in this game. To get the win is a plus.”
Concord coach Marty Paxton said the Spiders’ game plan was to keep the ball away from A.L. Brown as much as possible. Concord had the ball for the game’s first nine minutes, 34 seconds before relinquishing possession. What the Spiders couldn’t do in almost 10 minutes, A.L. Brown was able to do in 1:10. The Wonders covered 58 yards in four plays and took a 7-0 lead on Jamison Flowe’s 2-yard score. A.L. Brown had two more scoring drives of two plays and five plays in the second quarter to take a 21-0 halftime lead. Though time of possession was much more balanced in the second half, Concord held the ball for 20:32 over the first two quarters.
RECORDS
A.L. Brown 6-1 overall, 6-0 South Piedmont 3A Conference; Concord 2-5, 1-5 SPC
THE PLAY OF THE GAME
Early in the second quarter, Concord had just lost the ball on downs after a long possession for the second time in the game. Starting at his own 32-yard line, Wonders’ running back Jamison Flowe gained 13 yards to the right for a first down. On the next play, Flowe ran left and broke through the Spiders’ last line of defense at their 45. Five Spiders defenders chased after Flowe to the end zone, but the junior running back looked like he was in a different gear. The long touchdown run gave A.L. Brown a 14-0 lead with seven minutes left in the first half. The Wonders had scored twice, even though they had possessed the ball for only 1:40 to that point.
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS
A.L. Brown
● Though he didn’t have another carry after A.L. Brown’s first possession of the second half, Flowe had a game-high 115 rushing yards and two touchdowns on eight carries.
● Both of receiver Isaiah Black’s receptions went for touchdowns. The first covered 38 yards in the second quarter, and his second, for 7 yards, closed the scoring in the third period. He also had a second-quarter interception.
● Linebackers Brycen Schenck and Torren Wright led the Wonders with 12 and 10 tackles, respectively.
Concord
Running back Jacori James, one of only two senior starters on offense for the Spiders, carried 20 times for 69 yards.
● Punter Isaiah Clark was Concord’s second-leading rusher. Though he lined up to punt, he actually only kicked once, for 35 yards. Clark faked a punt in the fourth quarter and ran for 27 yards. In the second quarter, he fumbled a snap and took off for an 11-yard gain, 1 yard shy of a first down.
3 OBSERVATIONS
● Several people in the press box commented how spectacular the natural grass of E.Z. Smith Field looked Friday. The grass was so luscious it rivaled the green of A.L. Brown’s helmets.
● A.L. Brown’s Nathan Baucom and Concord’s Sam Cochran were honored at midfield before the game as their team’s senior player with the “highest academic standing,” presented by The Great American Rivalry Series and the Marine Corp. Baucom, a center, plans to attend UNC Chapel Hill. Cochran, a tight end and linebacker, will matriculate to the United States Air Force Academy.
● Concord reached inside the A.L. Brown 35-yard line three times but never got farther than the 31.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
Concord’s season ended with Friday’s loss. A.L. Brown awaits state playoff seeding, which is schedule to be announced Saturday.
SCORING SUMMARY
A.L. Brown 7 14 7 0 28
Concord 0 0 0 0 0
First Quarter
ALB – Jamison Flowe 2 run (Ty Woods kick)
Second Quarter
ALB – Flowe 55 run (Woods kick)
ALB – Isaiah Black 38 pass from Cameron Kromah (Woods kick)
Third Quarter
ALB – Black 7 pass from Kromah (Woods kick)
Fourth Quarter
None
“This game is special and to win The Bell makes it even more special,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. “I told our kids before the game they should feel privileged and honored to be able to play in this game. To get the win is a plus.”
Concord coach Marty Paxton said the Spiders’ game plan was to keep the ball away from A.L. Brown as much as possible. Concord had the ball for the game’s first nine minutes, 34 seconds before relinquishing possession. What the Spiders couldn’t do in almost 10 minutes, A.L. Brown was able to do in 1:10. The Wonders covered 58 yards in four plays and took a 7-0 lead on Jamison Flowe’s 2-yard score. A.L. Brown had two more scoring drives of two plays and five plays in the second quarter to take a 21-0 halftime lead. Though time of possession was much more balanced in the second half, Concord held the ball for 20:32 over the first two quarters.
RECORDS
A.L. Brown 6-1 overall, 6-0 South Piedmont 3A Conference; Concord 2-5, 1-5 SPC
THE PLAY OF THE GAME
Early in the second quarter, Concord had just lost the ball on downs after a long possession for the second time in the game. Starting at his own 32-yard line, Wonders’ running back Jamison Flowe gained 13 yards to the right for a first down. On the next play, Flowe ran left and broke through the Spiders’ last line of defense at their 45. Five Spiders defenders chased after Flowe to the end zone, but the junior running back looked like he was in a different gear. The long touchdown run gave A.L. Brown a 14-0 lead with seven minutes left in the first half. The Wonders had scored twice, even though they had possessed the ball for only 1:40 to that point.
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS
A.L. Brown
● Though he didn’t have another carry after A.L. Brown’s first possession of the second half, Flowe had a game-high 115 rushing yards and two touchdowns on eight carries.
● Both of receiver Isaiah Black’s receptions went for touchdowns. The first covered 38 yards in the second quarter, and his second, for 7 yards, closed the scoring in the third period. He also had a second-quarter interception.
● Linebackers Brycen Schenck and Torren Wright led the Wonders with 12 and 10 tackles, respectively.
Concord
Running back Jacori James, one of only two senior starters on offense for the Spiders, carried 20 times for 69 yards.
● Punter Isaiah Clark was Concord’s second-leading rusher. Though he lined up to punt, he actually only kicked once, for 35 yards. Clark faked a punt in the fourth quarter and ran for 27 yards. In the second quarter, he fumbled a snap and took off for an 11-yard gain, 1 yard shy of a first down.
3 OBSERVATIONS
● Several people in the press box commented how spectacular the natural grass of E.Z. Smith Field looked Friday. The grass was so luscious it rivaled the green of A.L. Brown’s helmets.
● A.L. Brown’s Nathan Baucom and Concord’s Sam Cochran were honored at midfield before the game as their team’s senior player with the “highest academic standing,” presented by The Great American Rivalry Series and the Marine Corp. Baucom, a center, plans to attend UNC Chapel Hill. Cochran, a tight end and linebacker, will matriculate to the United States Air Force Academy.
● Concord reached inside the A.L. Brown 35-yard line three times but never got farther than the 31.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
Concord’s season ended with Friday’s loss. A.L. Brown awaits state playoff seeding, which is schedule to be announced Saturday.
SCORING SUMMARY
A.L. Brown 7 14 7 0 28
Concord 0 0 0 0 0
First Quarter
ALB – Jamison Flowe 2 run (Ty Woods kick)
Second Quarter
ALB – Flowe 55 run (Woods kick)
ALB – Isaiah Black 38 pass from Cameron Kromah (Woods kick)
Third Quarter
ALB – Black 7 pass from Kromah (Woods kick)
Fourth Quarter
None
***Story by Independent Tribune Staff Writer Joe Habina**
***Photos Courtesy of Independent Staff Photographer Lester Barnes and A.L. Brown Football***
***Photos Courtesy of Independent Staff Photographer Lester Barnes and A.L. Brown Football***
Playoffs
Kannapolis
vs
T.C. Roberson
Kannapolis-29 TC Roberson-36
Hosting a first-round playoff game for the first time since 2017, Cream of Cabarrus top ranked A.L. Brown fell victim to the team whose home playoff opener it spoiled last season, Asheville T.C. Roberson. Handling quarterbacking and placekicking responsibilities, Rams senior Brody Whitson accounted for all his team’s points as T.C. Roberson scored 21 straight in the second half to capture a 36-29 victory at Kannapolis Memorial Stadium Friday night. T.C. Roberson avenged last season’s first-round playoff loss to the Wonders, when A.L. Brown took a 56-50 victory in Asheville. Friday night’s outing was close, too.
A.L. Brown, the West Region’s fourth seed, closed the scoring and pulled within a touchdown of fifth-seeded T.C. Roberson with 1 minute, 46 seconds left in the game on Jacob Booker’s 31-yard pass reception from Cameron Kromah. The Wonders used their final timeout 10 seconds later, and Whitson ran out the final 6.6. seconds when he purposefully accepted a 24-yard loss on a fourth-and-11 play from the Rams’ 49-yard line.
“Sometimes when you’re faced with adversity, you know you got to step up,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. “And our guys did that tonight. It looked so promising at the beginning (of the game), and when things started to turn and we had a couple plays we didn’t make here or there, it seemed like we just never got over that hump in the second half that would allow us to win the football game.”
Booker’s first scoring reception, a 37-yarder with 5:16 left in the first quarter, gave A.L. Brown a 14-0 lead. Amareon Plummer’s nifty 5-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter helped the Wonders to a 22-15 halftime advantage. Whitson’s 13-yard scoring run helped T.C. Roberson tie the score, 22-22, on the first possession of the second half. The Rams added two touchdowns in the final quarter to open a 36-22 margin with 2:38 left in the game.
RECORDS
T.C. Roberson 7-1; A.L. Brown 6-2.
THE PLAY OF THE GAME
With the score tied 22-22, T.C. Roberson accepted good field position at the A.L. Brown 36-yard line after a short Wonders punt. On first down, Whitson and receiver Rodney McDay partnered on a 6-yard completion.
On second down, the pair connected again on a 30-yard touchdown thrown perfectly by Whitson and caught in stride by McDay at the 10-yard line. The score gave the Rams the lead for good with 7:18 left in the game.
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS
T.C. Roberson
● Before the game’s final play, Whitson had accumulated 129 rushing yards and 259 yards through the air. The senior quarterback ran for two touchdowns, threw for three more, and tossed an additional pair of two-point conversion passes. Called in as an emergency placekicker, Whitson booted two of three extra point kick attempts, with one being blocked.
● McDay caught 13 passes for 138 yards and two scores, and added a two-point conversion reception.
● Running back Zharius Looper covered 83 yards on 18 carries.
A.L. Brown
● Hard-running sophomore Teddy Russell came off the bench to gain a team-high 67 yards on 10 carries.
● Booker’s only two receptions both went for touchdowns as he gained 68 of Kromah’s 157 passing yards. ● Senior linebacker Brycen Schenck had a team-high 12 tackles and stopped a T.C. Roberson scoring threat in the second quarter by forcing a fumble that he also recovered.
● Highly recruited linebacker Torren Wright accumulated 11 tackles. He and fellow junior linebacker Brock Morgan had the Wonders’ two sacks.
3 OBSERVATIONS
● Kromah vs. Whitson made for a rare all-left-handed quarterbacks game. Whitson performed some of T.C. Roberson’s kicking duties and managed all of its punts, also from the left side.
● A.L. Brown’s Kelly Green camouflaged jerseys sometimes made deciphering players’ numbers difficult. But that’s camo being camo, isn’t it? The Kannapolis defense had its hands full Friday, often times with Rams. Todd Maulden/Special to the Independent Tribune● Not sure if this was a season-long trend, but Plummer’s Perch, the loft a neighbor has in his yard that provides a covetous vantage point looking into Kannapolis’ Memorial Stadium, was empty for much of the game.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
A.L. Brown’s season comes to an end with Friday’s loss. T.C. Roberson advanced to play host to Greensboro Dudley in a second round game next week.
SCORING SUMMARY
T.C. Roberson 7 8 7 14 – 36
A.L. Brown 14 8 0 7 -- 29
First Quarter
ALB – Tyriek Harris 2 run (Ty Woods kick)
ALB – Jacob Booker 37 pass from Cameron Kromah (Woods kick)
TCR – Brody Whitson 9 run (Whitson kick)
Second Quarter
TCR – Kamryn White 5 pass from Whitson (Deshaun Whitmire pass from Whitson)
ALB – Amareon Plummer 5 run (Gavin Thompson pass from Kromah)
Third Quarter
TCR – Whitson 13 run (Whitson kick)
Fourth Quarter
TCR – Rodney McDay 30 pass from Whitson (kick blocked)
TCR – McDay 35 pass from Whitson (McDay pass from Whitson)
ALB – Booker 31 pass from Kromah (Woods kick)
***Story Courtesy of Independent Tribune Sports Writer Joe Habina
Kannapolis- Brody Whitson didn't see any openings to his left, so the Roberson quarterback turned around, breaking a tackle of one A.L. Brown defender and cutting horizontally to buy time from another in the second quarter Friday. By that point, the Wonders defense had collapsed on Whitson, leaving wide receiver Kam White all alone on the right side of the field. Whitson got the ball back in his trusty left hand and fired to White for a five-yard score. Roberson's senior quarterback was dominant against A.L. Brown in the NCHSAA 3AA first round, dancing out of the pocket en route to five total touchdowns as part of a Rams performance that showed their development from last season. In a rematch of a 2019 first-round barnburner, Roberson beat the Wonders 36-29, using Whitson's newfound scrambling ability and an improved defense to earn the team's first playoff win since 2007.
"I've known all along our defense has gotten a little better," Rams coach J.D. Dinwiddie said. "[But] as competition increases, people are going to put points on the board. Fortunately we have an absolute leader in the quarterback position who does so many great things, and I couldn't be prouder of a young man."
Even in a season full of standout games, Friday's showing was a unique one for Whitson. Due to a season-ending injury to kicker Brady Buckner earlier in the week, Whitson added extra-point duties to his regular roles as quarterback and punter, meaning he received credit for all 36 of Roberson's points: three passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns, two extra points and two two-point conversion passes. By the end of the game, he handled kickoffs, too. For good measure, he made a tackle after booting it deep.
"We were trying to find new kickers, they said, 'Try this,' and I made a couple," Whitson said. "They're like, 'All right, you're it.'"
Even before being a place-kicker, though, Whitson had already become a different player than the version the Wonders saw in 2019. In that game, he finished with 10 rushing yards on nine attempts. On Friday, he had six runs of at least 10 yards, scored on the ground twice, and two of his three passing touchdowns came from outside of the pocket.
"From last year to this year, just his confidence in his ability to be elusive [has changed]," Dinwiddie said. "It's been wonderful."
Whitson finished 25-for-41 for 261 yards through the air and rushed 19 times for 121 yards, which includes a 15-yard loss to milk clock on the final play of the game. He scrambled for conversions on fourth-and-12 and third-and-goal from the 14 in the second half, sidestepping some defenders, running others over and diving for pylons to help Roberson overcome a slow start after the bus ride east.
"I didn't run much at all [last season], I was getting chased down a lot," Whitson said. "Something just changed this year where I was able to get rid of people that are on my back and find the end zone and first down marker."
Last season, the Rams' high-powered offense often just meant they would lose shootouts such as the 106-point heartbreaker to A.L. Brown in the playoffs. This year, Roberson's defense took a step forward, though the start of Friday's game was a bit concerning. The Wonders scored 14 points in the first seven minutes, frequently running past the Roberson secondary en route to a 22-21 halftime advantage.
"We had to wake up a little bit," Dinwiddie said. "But give credit, they have a heck of a football team. ... They did some things early on we had to make adjustments to."
Roberson only allowed seven points after halftime, giving its offense the cushion necessary to make up for a couple of costly first-half fumbles. A. L. Brown managed just 116 yards in the second half, with the Rams' defensive line stuffing the run game and pressuring quarterback Cam Kromah.
"Lots of pass rush drills and lifting every morning," junior lineman Chandler Norton said, explaining the keys to the improvement up front. "It's not just the week of the game, it's what you do all year."
Two deep touchdowns to wide receiver Rodney McDay (14 receptions, 147 yards, two twouchdowns) late helped ice the game, setting off a celebration Roberson hasn't experienced in 13 seasons.
"I came up as a freshman and sophomore only seeing 3-8 seasons," Whitson said. "Being able to slowly change that, it's a great feeling, knowing you can do that."
Dinwiddie, who's in his fifth year with the Rams knows the biggest difference between previous seasons is the signal-caller. Whitson has a ton on his plate, as evidenced by his 3,300-plus total yards and 47 total touchdowns. If Roberson is to win Friday's second round against Dudley, he will need to keep adding to those tallies.
"I don't need to say anything, I think everybody in the stands knows who Brody Whitson is," Dinwiddie said. "He's a tremendous leader for our kids, and he refuses to lose.
"You need a quarterback with that mentality. I'm so very blessed to have that kid."
***Story Courtesy of Asheville Citizen Times Sports Writer James Hannigan
KANNAPOLIS — T.C. Roberson had taken A.L. Brown down to the wire twice in classic playoff games, including last season’s 56-50 verdict. On Friday, the Rams got over the hump and beat the Wonders 36-29 in a first-round 3AA playoff game at Memorial Stadium. A.L. Brown scored with 1:46 left to get within a touchdown, but the Wonders couldn’t recover the ensuing onside kick.
The fourth-seeded Wonders (6-2) were in control early, taking a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter on a short TD run by Tyreik Harris. A fumble recovery led to a 37-yard Cam Kromah to Jacob Booker touchdown pass, and the Wonders had a 14-0 lead. But T.C. Roberson quarterback Brody Whitson had a phenomenal night. He would lead the Rams back, with three touchdown passes, two TD runs, two 2-point conversion passes and two PAT kicks. He had a hand or foot in all 36 points scored by the fifth-seeded Rams (7-1).
The Wonders went down 15-14 in the second quarter, but took a 22-15 lead two minutes before halftime on a 5-yard run by Amareon Plummer and a 2-point conversion pass. It was 22-all heading to the fourth quarter, but Whitson and receiver Rodney McDay turned it on. With the Wonders trailing 36-22, Kromah hit Booker for a 40-yard score with 1:46 left. T.C. Roberson will be at home next week against No. 8 Dudley. Dudley beat No. 1 seed Watauga 28-8.
***Story Courtesy of Salisbury Post Staff Writer Mike London
***Photos by Independent Tribune Sports Photographer Todd Maulden
A.L. Brown, the West Region’s fourth seed, closed the scoring and pulled within a touchdown of fifth-seeded T.C. Roberson with 1 minute, 46 seconds left in the game on Jacob Booker’s 31-yard pass reception from Cameron Kromah. The Wonders used their final timeout 10 seconds later, and Whitson ran out the final 6.6. seconds when he purposefully accepted a 24-yard loss on a fourth-and-11 play from the Rams’ 49-yard line.
“Sometimes when you’re faced with adversity, you know you got to step up,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. “And our guys did that tonight. It looked so promising at the beginning (of the game), and when things started to turn and we had a couple plays we didn’t make here or there, it seemed like we just never got over that hump in the second half that would allow us to win the football game.”
Booker’s first scoring reception, a 37-yarder with 5:16 left in the first quarter, gave A.L. Brown a 14-0 lead. Amareon Plummer’s nifty 5-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter helped the Wonders to a 22-15 halftime advantage. Whitson’s 13-yard scoring run helped T.C. Roberson tie the score, 22-22, on the first possession of the second half. The Rams added two touchdowns in the final quarter to open a 36-22 margin with 2:38 left in the game.
RECORDS
T.C. Roberson 7-1; A.L. Brown 6-2.
THE PLAY OF THE GAME
With the score tied 22-22, T.C. Roberson accepted good field position at the A.L. Brown 36-yard line after a short Wonders punt. On first down, Whitson and receiver Rodney McDay partnered on a 6-yard completion.
On second down, the pair connected again on a 30-yard touchdown thrown perfectly by Whitson and caught in stride by McDay at the 10-yard line. The score gave the Rams the lead for good with 7:18 left in the game.
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS
T.C. Roberson
● Before the game’s final play, Whitson had accumulated 129 rushing yards and 259 yards through the air. The senior quarterback ran for two touchdowns, threw for three more, and tossed an additional pair of two-point conversion passes. Called in as an emergency placekicker, Whitson booted two of three extra point kick attempts, with one being blocked.
● McDay caught 13 passes for 138 yards and two scores, and added a two-point conversion reception.
● Running back Zharius Looper covered 83 yards on 18 carries.
A.L. Brown
● Hard-running sophomore Teddy Russell came off the bench to gain a team-high 67 yards on 10 carries.
● Booker’s only two receptions both went for touchdowns as he gained 68 of Kromah’s 157 passing yards. ● Senior linebacker Brycen Schenck had a team-high 12 tackles and stopped a T.C. Roberson scoring threat in the second quarter by forcing a fumble that he also recovered.
● Highly recruited linebacker Torren Wright accumulated 11 tackles. He and fellow junior linebacker Brock Morgan had the Wonders’ two sacks.
3 OBSERVATIONS
● Kromah vs. Whitson made for a rare all-left-handed quarterbacks game. Whitson performed some of T.C. Roberson’s kicking duties and managed all of its punts, also from the left side.
● A.L. Brown’s Kelly Green camouflaged jerseys sometimes made deciphering players’ numbers difficult. But that’s camo being camo, isn’t it? The Kannapolis defense had its hands full Friday, often times with Rams. Todd Maulden/Special to the Independent Tribune● Not sure if this was a season-long trend, but Plummer’s Perch, the loft a neighbor has in his yard that provides a covetous vantage point looking into Kannapolis’ Memorial Stadium, was empty for much of the game.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
A.L. Brown’s season comes to an end with Friday’s loss. T.C. Roberson advanced to play host to Greensboro Dudley in a second round game next week.
SCORING SUMMARY
T.C. Roberson 7 8 7 14 – 36
A.L. Brown 14 8 0 7 -- 29
First Quarter
ALB – Tyriek Harris 2 run (Ty Woods kick)
ALB – Jacob Booker 37 pass from Cameron Kromah (Woods kick)
TCR – Brody Whitson 9 run (Whitson kick)
Second Quarter
TCR – Kamryn White 5 pass from Whitson (Deshaun Whitmire pass from Whitson)
ALB – Amareon Plummer 5 run (Gavin Thompson pass from Kromah)
Third Quarter
TCR – Whitson 13 run (Whitson kick)
Fourth Quarter
TCR – Rodney McDay 30 pass from Whitson (kick blocked)
TCR – McDay 35 pass from Whitson (McDay pass from Whitson)
ALB – Booker 31 pass from Kromah (Woods kick)
***Story Courtesy of Independent Tribune Sports Writer Joe Habina
Kannapolis- Brody Whitson didn't see any openings to his left, so the Roberson quarterback turned around, breaking a tackle of one A.L. Brown defender and cutting horizontally to buy time from another in the second quarter Friday. By that point, the Wonders defense had collapsed on Whitson, leaving wide receiver Kam White all alone on the right side of the field. Whitson got the ball back in his trusty left hand and fired to White for a five-yard score. Roberson's senior quarterback was dominant against A.L. Brown in the NCHSAA 3AA first round, dancing out of the pocket en route to five total touchdowns as part of a Rams performance that showed their development from last season. In a rematch of a 2019 first-round barnburner, Roberson beat the Wonders 36-29, using Whitson's newfound scrambling ability and an improved defense to earn the team's first playoff win since 2007.
"I've known all along our defense has gotten a little better," Rams coach J.D. Dinwiddie said. "[But] as competition increases, people are going to put points on the board. Fortunately we have an absolute leader in the quarterback position who does so many great things, and I couldn't be prouder of a young man."
Even in a season full of standout games, Friday's showing was a unique one for Whitson. Due to a season-ending injury to kicker Brady Buckner earlier in the week, Whitson added extra-point duties to his regular roles as quarterback and punter, meaning he received credit for all 36 of Roberson's points: three passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns, two extra points and two two-point conversion passes. By the end of the game, he handled kickoffs, too. For good measure, he made a tackle after booting it deep.
"We were trying to find new kickers, they said, 'Try this,' and I made a couple," Whitson said. "They're like, 'All right, you're it.'"
Even before being a place-kicker, though, Whitson had already become a different player than the version the Wonders saw in 2019. In that game, he finished with 10 rushing yards on nine attempts. On Friday, he had six runs of at least 10 yards, scored on the ground twice, and two of his three passing touchdowns came from outside of the pocket.
"From last year to this year, just his confidence in his ability to be elusive [has changed]," Dinwiddie said. "It's been wonderful."
Whitson finished 25-for-41 for 261 yards through the air and rushed 19 times for 121 yards, which includes a 15-yard loss to milk clock on the final play of the game. He scrambled for conversions on fourth-and-12 and third-and-goal from the 14 in the second half, sidestepping some defenders, running others over and diving for pylons to help Roberson overcome a slow start after the bus ride east.
"I didn't run much at all [last season], I was getting chased down a lot," Whitson said. "Something just changed this year where I was able to get rid of people that are on my back and find the end zone and first down marker."
Last season, the Rams' high-powered offense often just meant they would lose shootouts such as the 106-point heartbreaker to A.L. Brown in the playoffs. This year, Roberson's defense took a step forward, though the start of Friday's game was a bit concerning. The Wonders scored 14 points in the first seven minutes, frequently running past the Roberson secondary en route to a 22-21 halftime advantage.
"We had to wake up a little bit," Dinwiddie said. "But give credit, they have a heck of a football team. ... They did some things early on we had to make adjustments to."
Roberson only allowed seven points after halftime, giving its offense the cushion necessary to make up for a couple of costly first-half fumbles. A. L. Brown managed just 116 yards in the second half, with the Rams' defensive line stuffing the run game and pressuring quarterback Cam Kromah.
"Lots of pass rush drills and lifting every morning," junior lineman Chandler Norton said, explaining the keys to the improvement up front. "It's not just the week of the game, it's what you do all year."
Two deep touchdowns to wide receiver Rodney McDay (14 receptions, 147 yards, two twouchdowns) late helped ice the game, setting off a celebration Roberson hasn't experienced in 13 seasons.
"I came up as a freshman and sophomore only seeing 3-8 seasons," Whitson said. "Being able to slowly change that, it's a great feeling, knowing you can do that."
Dinwiddie, who's in his fifth year with the Rams knows the biggest difference between previous seasons is the signal-caller. Whitson has a ton on his plate, as evidenced by his 3,300-plus total yards and 47 total touchdowns. If Roberson is to win Friday's second round against Dudley, he will need to keep adding to those tallies.
"I don't need to say anything, I think everybody in the stands knows who Brody Whitson is," Dinwiddie said. "He's a tremendous leader for our kids, and he refuses to lose.
"You need a quarterback with that mentality. I'm so very blessed to have that kid."
***Story Courtesy of Asheville Citizen Times Sports Writer James Hannigan
KANNAPOLIS — T.C. Roberson had taken A.L. Brown down to the wire twice in classic playoff games, including last season’s 56-50 verdict. On Friday, the Rams got over the hump and beat the Wonders 36-29 in a first-round 3AA playoff game at Memorial Stadium. A.L. Brown scored with 1:46 left to get within a touchdown, but the Wonders couldn’t recover the ensuing onside kick.
The fourth-seeded Wonders (6-2) were in control early, taking a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter on a short TD run by Tyreik Harris. A fumble recovery led to a 37-yard Cam Kromah to Jacob Booker touchdown pass, and the Wonders had a 14-0 lead. But T.C. Roberson quarterback Brody Whitson had a phenomenal night. He would lead the Rams back, with three touchdown passes, two TD runs, two 2-point conversion passes and two PAT kicks. He had a hand or foot in all 36 points scored by the fifth-seeded Rams (7-1).
The Wonders went down 15-14 in the second quarter, but took a 22-15 lead two minutes before halftime on a 5-yard run by Amareon Plummer and a 2-point conversion pass. It was 22-all heading to the fourth quarter, but Whitson and receiver Rodney McDay turned it on. With the Wonders trailing 36-22, Kromah hit Booker for a 40-yard score with 1:46 left. T.C. Roberson will be at home next week against No. 8 Dudley. Dudley beat No. 1 seed Watauga 28-8.
***Story Courtesy of Salisbury Post Staff Writer Mike London
***Photos by Independent Tribune Sports Photographer Todd Maulden