Wonder Football Fall 2021 Varsity Football Team
Wonder Football Fall 2021 JV Football Team
Rosters
Meet the Fall 2021 A.L. Brown Wonders
Game #1
Kannapolis
vs
North Mecklenburg
Kannapolis-28 North Mecklenburg-14
Game #2
Kannapolis
vs
Sun Valley
Kannapolis-41 Sun Valley-13
Three second-quarter touchdowns from senior Jaden Johnson were all A.L. Brown needed Friday night, as the Wonders took down Monroe Sun Valley, 41-13, at Kannapolis Memorial Stadium. Johnson finished with seven rushes for 48 yards with two touchdowns and six catches for 115 yards and another score, but it was his second quarter which truly made the difference. He had both touchdown runs of 1 and 13 yards in the quarter and a touchdown catch of 60 yard to give the Wonders a two-score lead they would never relinquish.
“He wants the ball in his hands,” A.L. Brown head coach Mike Newsome said of Johnson. “That’s what you want from a guy like him. You want him to want the ball. But probably the best thing about him is he had some plays happen that he needed to do better, and that’s what (he focused on). He told me, ‘Coach, I won’t make that mistake again,’ and that’s what makes a really good player when he knows that he didn’t do as well as he should and he proves he wants to do better.”
Johnson had two fumbles in the game, one of which he lost, another of which he was saved by his sophomore teammate Xavier Chambers.But even after a key fumble which actually cost the Wonders a touchdown, Johnson found a way to bounce back and scored a 60-yard, backbreaking touchdown just one possession after he fumbled into his own end zone.
“We’re 2-0,” Newsome said. “That’s all you can be is 2-0, and I’m excited about this group. We’re thin, we’re going to have to be some warriors here a little bit because we’re going to have to play some guys that are kind of banged up some, but I’m excited about where we’re at.”
Following Johnson’s fumble into the end zone resulting in a touchback for Sun Valley and an 80-yard touchdown pass on the ensuing play from Spartans quarterback Eli Fletcher to receiver Jaden Goeller, the Wonders were on the brink of letting the game get out of hand.
But thanks to a heads-up play from Xavier Chambers on a fumble on a third-down conversion catch by Johnson, the Wonders were able to keep their lead and extend it two plays later. Johnson took a wide receiver screen from quarterback Joey Vanover and fought his way through a couple of tackles and broke into the open field. Once he got past the safety, it was over. Johnson took the pass 60 yards for a touchdown, and the Wonders had landed the gut punch from which Sun Valley would never recover. A.L. Brown added another touchdown on its next series, as Kash Smith scored a touchdown on the opening second-half kickoff, and never allowed the Spartans in striking distance again. Wonders quarterback Joey Vanover finished 15-of-19 passing for 205 yards with two touchdowns. He also threw an interception, but that came off of a bobbled pass toward the end of the first half.Chambers has scored multiple touchdowns in each of the first two games of the season. He had five catches for 77 yards with a touchdown Friday to go with one 3-yard touchdown run.
Even though N.C. State commit Torren Wright didn’t have any splash plays like a sack or a forced turnover, he made his presence felt on two consecutive goal-line plays in the third quarter. With Sun Valley with a first-and-goal from the 3-yard line, Wright cut down Sun Valley running back Toney McFadden at the line of scrimmage. One play later after a holding call on the Spartans, Wright tackled Goeller on a jet sweep for a loss of 4 yards, pushing Sun Valley back to second-and-goal from the 17-yard line after a holding penalty. Add in a false start, and the Spartans never got closer than the 22-yard line on the drive, and Wright had everything to do with that development.
— Senior Brock Morgan was in on several tackles around the line of scrimmage all game and truly capitalized in the second quarter with a safety which put the Wonders up 14-0, making up for two failed extra points earlier on in the quarter. Vanover might not have been who the Wonders thought they would have starting back in the spring, but he absolutely looked like a starting quarterback Friday night. Sure, a good amount of his yards came via the wide receiver screen, but he worked the intermediate passing game well and just missed on one deep ball in the third quarter that was well-thrown but also well-covered. Vanover is impressing his coach early on in the year.
“He doesn’t have the actual game-playing time, but he’s been in that position,” Newsome said. “He actually used to play varsity as a sophomore. He backed up as a sophomore on the varsity, so he’s played varsity for three years now, and it was his opportunity, you know? I’m so glad that he’s doing what he’s doing. He’s playing the way he’s playing, and the great thing is he’s resilient, so if something doesn’t go as well as what he thinks it should he’s going to come back the next play and make up for it and do better. So I’m so proud of Joey and how he’s playing right now.”
SCORING SUMMARY
A.L. Brown 0 27 8 6 — 41
Sun Valley 0 7 0 6 — 13
First quarter
No scoring
Second quarter
ALB – Jaden Johnson 1 run (kick failed)
ALB — Jaden Johnson 13 run (kick blocked)
ALB — Brock Morgan safety
SV — Eli Fletcher 80 pass to Jaden Goeller (Colin Vick kick)
ALB — Joey Vanover 60 pass to Jaden Johnson (kick failed)
1:27 — Chambers 3 run (Ty Woods kick)
Third quarter
ALB — Kash Smith 97 kickoff return (Chambers run)
Fourth quarter
SV — Toney McFadden 7 run (run failed)
ALB — Joey Vanover 31 pass to Xavier Chambers (run failed)
-Independent Tribune Thomas Lott
“He wants the ball in his hands,” A.L. Brown head coach Mike Newsome said of Johnson. “That’s what you want from a guy like him. You want him to want the ball. But probably the best thing about him is he had some plays happen that he needed to do better, and that’s what (he focused on). He told me, ‘Coach, I won’t make that mistake again,’ and that’s what makes a really good player when he knows that he didn’t do as well as he should and he proves he wants to do better.”
Johnson had two fumbles in the game, one of which he lost, another of which he was saved by his sophomore teammate Xavier Chambers.But even after a key fumble which actually cost the Wonders a touchdown, Johnson found a way to bounce back and scored a 60-yard, backbreaking touchdown just one possession after he fumbled into his own end zone.
“We’re 2-0,” Newsome said. “That’s all you can be is 2-0, and I’m excited about this group. We’re thin, we’re going to have to be some warriors here a little bit because we’re going to have to play some guys that are kind of banged up some, but I’m excited about where we’re at.”
Following Johnson’s fumble into the end zone resulting in a touchback for Sun Valley and an 80-yard touchdown pass on the ensuing play from Spartans quarterback Eli Fletcher to receiver Jaden Goeller, the Wonders were on the brink of letting the game get out of hand.
But thanks to a heads-up play from Xavier Chambers on a fumble on a third-down conversion catch by Johnson, the Wonders were able to keep their lead and extend it two plays later. Johnson took a wide receiver screen from quarterback Joey Vanover and fought his way through a couple of tackles and broke into the open field. Once he got past the safety, it was over. Johnson took the pass 60 yards for a touchdown, and the Wonders had landed the gut punch from which Sun Valley would never recover. A.L. Brown added another touchdown on its next series, as Kash Smith scored a touchdown on the opening second-half kickoff, and never allowed the Spartans in striking distance again. Wonders quarterback Joey Vanover finished 15-of-19 passing for 205 yards with two touchdowns. He also threw an interception, but that came off of a bobbled pass toward the end of the first half.Chambers has scored multiple touchdowns in each of the first two games of the season. He had five catches for 77 yards with a touchdown Friday to go with one 3-yard touchdown run.
Even though N.C. State commit Torren Wright didn’t have any splash plays like a sack or a forced turnover, he made his presence felt on two consecutive goal-line plays in the third quarter. With Sun Valley with a first-and-goal from the 3-yard line, Wright cut down Sun Valley running back Toney McFadden at the line of scrimmage. One play later after a holding call on the Spartans, Wright tackled Goeller on a jet sweep for a loss of 4 yards, pushing Sun Valley back to second-and-goal from the 17-yard line after a holding penalty. Add in a false start, and the Spartans never got closer than the 22-yard line on the drive, and Wright had everything to do with that development.
— Senior Brock Morgan was in on several tackles around the line of scrimmage all game and truly capitalized in the second quarter with a safety which put the Wonders up 14-0, making up for two failed extra points earlier on in the quarter. Vanover might not have been who the Wonders thought they would have starting back in the spring, but he absolutely looked like a starting quarterback Friday night. Sure, a good amount of his yards came via the wide receiver screen, but he worked the intermediate passing game well and just missed on one deep ball in the third quarter that was well-thrown but also well-covered. Vanover is impressing his coach early on in the year.
“He doesn’t have the actual game-playing time, but he’s been in that position,” Newsome said. “He actually used to play varsity as a sophomore. He backed up as a sophomore on the varsity, so he’s played varsity for three years now, and it was his opportunity, you know? I’m so glad that he’s doing what he’s doing. He’s playing the way he’s playing, and the great thing is he’s resilient, so if something doesn’t go as well as what he thinks it should he’s going to come back the next play and make up for it and do better. So I’m so proud of Joey and how he’s playing right now.”
SCORING SUMMARY
A.L. Brown 0 27 8 6 — 41
Sun Valley 0 7 0 6 — 13
First quarter
No scoring
Second quarter
ALB – Jaden Johnson 1 run (kick failed)
ALB — Jaden Johnson 13 run (kick blocked)
ALB — Brock Morgan safety
SV — Eli Fletcher 80 pass to Jaden Goeller (Colin Vick kick)
ALB — Joey Vanover 60 pass to Jaden Johnson (kick failed)
1:27 — Chambers 3 run (Ty Woods kick)
Third quarter
ALB — Kash Smith 97 kickoff return (Chambers run)
Fourth quarter
SV — Toney McFadden 7 run (run failed)
ALB — Joey Vanover 31 pass to Xavier Chambers (run failed)
-Independent Tribune Thomas Lott
****Slideshow Game Images courtesy of Joan Moore Sports Photographer Independent Tribune****
A.L. Brown sophomore Xavier Chambers has scored four touchdowns in the Wonders’ first two games, but a fumble recovery that won’t even show up in Friday’s box score might have been the most impactful play he has made on the young season.The Cream of Cabarrus second-ranked Wonders defeated the Monroe Sun Valley Spartans, 41-13, on Friday, but the game was far from a blowout in the second quarter, and at one point in particular, the Spartans had the Wonders on their heels.
A.L. Brown took a 14-0 lead off two Jaden Johnson touchdown runs and a Brock Morgan safety, but on the next offensive drive the Wonders got handed a tough break when Johnson was called for a fumble at the goal line, which resulted in a touchback. A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome said after the game it appeared upon further review Johnson had broken the plane, but the call was what it was and the Spartans took over at their own 20. On the next play following a false start on first-and-10, Spartans quarterback Eli Fletcher hit wide receiver Jaden Goeller streaking down the sideline for an 85-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 14-7. It was the type of gut punch needed to get Sun Valley back into the game.
“That’s really a 14-point swing, if you think about us not scoring there and them scoring on the long play,” Newsome said. “That’s a 14-point swing, and you hate those plays to happen.”
It only felt even more important when A.L. Brown came out on its next series and Kash Smith was tackled for a loss of 1 and on the next play a bad snap led to a 10-yard loss, bringing the Wonders back to their own 9-yard line. It was third-and-a-mile for the Wonders, and a stop would give the Spartans a chance to tie the game on their next possession. The following play brought what could only be described as a rollercoaster of emotions for the Wonders and their fan base at Kannapolis Memorial Stadium.
Senior quarterback Joey Vanover was good all night, completing 78.9 percent of his passes, including several key ones over the middle, and he found Johnson on one of those intermediate passes for what looked to be a monumental first down.
Johnson caught the ball just inside the left hash mark and sprinted his way up and across the field, past the first down marker, and he looked to be off to the races.
“I (saw) my boy catch the ball, and I thought he was going to break free,” Chambers said.
Johnson must have thought the same thing because, at that moment, he got a little bit careless. He wasn’t carrying the ball with quite as much care as he should have, and when a defensive back came in and delivered a big hit, the ball popped loose and onto the turf for anyone to snatch up. The Wonders looked like they had overcome a daunting third-and-21 and taken the momentum right back, but for a terrifying second it looked like they were about to give the ball back to the Spartans deep in their own territory. But that wasn’t Friday night’s story to be told because Chambers was in the right place at the right time.
On the play in question, Chambers is supposed to be reading the safety. If there is no safety, he stays down the seam, creating a void across the middle. If there is a safety, he’s supposed to break off his route. With no safety, though, he stayed along the seam just beyond where Johnson was carving out his path down the field. At that point Chambers was just doing his best to help his teammate out.
“I’m running to go get a block,” Chambers said.
But when he saw the ball pop out, he was right where he needed to be. Chambers fell on the ball, helping prevent a turnover and convert a key first down.
“The thing is is that, when you’ve got a special player, when the ball is around he’s going to make special plays, and that’s what that kid has done the first two games,” Newsome said of Chambers, “and that’s what he’s going to continue doing.”
That play itself wouldn’t have necessarily been so big had the drive fizzled out in a turnover on downs. It would have just been another play in a game that wound up being a blowout. But what made it special was what happened two plays later. Following a 1-yard loss on a run by Jamel Cosby — who did wind up running for 49 yards on 10 carries in the game — Johnson got another chance to make a play in the passing game. Vanover connected with Johnson on a wide receiver screen, and the senior split two defenders, broke a tackle, and was off to the races for a 61-yard touchdown. It was an absolute dagger to the heart of Sun Valley. The Spartans had the Wonders in a third-and-21 from their own 9-yard line down seven just a minute before, and after that TD they were down 14 and once again on their heels. It was a play they would never recover from, but it was also only the beginning of the finishing blow the Wonders would deal to Sun Valley courtesy of Chambers.
On the ensuing possession, Chambers picked off a pass from Fletcher and returned it deep into Spartan territory. Then, on the following offensive series, following pass plays of 8, 8 and 9 from Vanover to Johnson and Cam’Ron Kenney, Chambers took the ball on a counter sweep into the end zone from three yards out to put A.L. Brown up 27-7 just before the half. The game was over, and it was only further determined when Kash Smith returned the opening kickoff to start the half 97 yards for a touchdown. But those two minutes where Chambers recovered a fumble preventing a turnover, picked off a pass, and rushed for a touchdown completely put away the Spartans and helped seal a 2-0 start to the season for the Wonders.
A.L. Brown took a 14-0 lead off two Jaden Johnson touchdown runs and a Brock Morgan safety, but on the next offensive drive the Wonders got handed a tough break when Johnson was called for a fumble at the goal line, which resulted in a touchback. A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome said after the game it appeared upon further review Johnson had broken the plane, but the call was what it was and the Spartans took over at their own 20. On the next play following a false start on first-and-10, Spartans quarterback Eli Fletcher hit wide receiver Jaden Goeller streaking down the sideline for an 85-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 14-7. It was the type of gut punch needed to get Sun Valley back into the game.
“That’s really a 14-point swing, if you think about us not scoring there and them scoring on the long play,” Newsome said. “That’s a 14-point swing, and you hate those plays to happen.”
It only felt even more important when A.L. Brown came out on its next series and Kash Smith was tackled for a loss of 1 and on the next play a bad snap led to a 10-yard loss, bringing the Wonders back to their own 9-yard line. It was third-and-a-mile for the Wonders, and a stop would give the Spartans a chance to tie the game on their next possession. The following play brought what could only be described as a rollercoaster of emotions for the Wonders and their fan base at Kannapolis Memorial Stadium.
Senior quarterback Joey Vanover was good all night, completing 78.9 percent of his passes, including several key ones over the middle, and he found Johnson on one of those intermediate passes for what looked to be a monumental first down.
Johnson caught the ball just inside the left hash mark and sprinted his way up and across the field, past the first down marker, and he looked to be off to the races.
“I (saw) my boy catch the ball, and I thought he was going to break free,” Chambers said.
Johnson must have thought the same thing because, at that moment, he got a little bit careless. He wasn’t carrying the ball with quite as much care as he should have, and when a defensive back came in and delivered a big hit, the ball popped loose and onto the turf for anyone to snatch up. The Wonders looked like they had overcome a daunting third-and-21 and taken the momentum right back, but for a terrifying second it looked like they were about to give the ball back to the Spartans deep in their own territory. But that wasn’t Friday night’s story to be told because Chambers was in the right place at the right time.
On the play in question, Chambers is supposed to be reading the safety. If there is no safety, he stays down the seam, creating a void across the middle. If there is a safety, he’s supposed to break off his route. With no safety, though, he stayed along the seam just beyond where Johnson was carving out his path down the field. At that point Chambers was just doing his best to help his teammate out.
“I’m running to go get a block,” Chambers said.
But when he saw the ball pop out, he was right where he needed to be. Chambers fell on the ball, helping prevent a turnover and convert a key first down.
“The thing is is that, when you’ve got a special player, when the ball is around he’s going to make special plays, and that’s what that kid has done the first two games,” Newsome said of Chambers, “and that’s what he’s going to continue doing.”
That play itself wouldn’t have necessarily been so big had the drive fizzled out in a turnover on downs. It would have just been another play in a game that wound up being a blowout. But what made it special was what happened two plays later. Following a 1-yard loss on a run by Jamel Cosby — who did wind up running for 49 yards on 10 carries in the game — Johnson got another chance to make a play in the passing game. Vanover connected with Johnson on a wide receiver screen, and the senior split two defenders, broke a tackle, and was off to the races for a 61-yard touchdown. It was an absolute dagger to the heart of Sun Valley. The Spartans had the Wonders in a third-and-21 from their own 9-yard line down seven just a minute before, and after that TD they were down 14 and once again on their heels. It was a play they would never recover from, but it was also only the beginning of the finishing blow the Wonders would deal to Sun Valley courtesy of Chambers.
On the ensuing possession, Chambers picked off a pass from Fletcher and returned it deep into Spartan territory. Then, on the following offensive series, following pass plays of 8, 8 and 9 from Vanover to Johnson and Cam’Ron Kenney, Chambers took the ball on a counter sweep into the end zone from three yards out to put A.L. Brown up 27-7 just before the half. The game was over, and it was only further determined when Kash Smith returned the opening kickoff to start the half 97 yards for a touchdown. But those two minutes where Chambers recovered a fumble preventing a turnover, picked off a pass, and rushed for a touchdown completely put away the Spartans and helped seal a 2-0 start to the season for the Wonders.
Game #3
Kannapolis
vs
Rocky River
Kannapolis-28 Rocky River-6
th one of the marquee matchups in Cabarrus County looming for A.L. Brown in two weeks, the Cream of Cabarrus second-ranked Wonders made sure they took care of business first. With a defense forcing six turnovers, along with Xavier Chambers being a major factor on both sides of the ball, A.L. Brown rolled to a 28-6 win at Mint Hill Rocky River on Friday night.
The Wonders will now have two weeks to prepare for their mega-matchup on Sept. 17 at No. 1 Hickory Ridge. The Bulls remained undefeated Friday with a 27-7 victory over South Point. A.L. Brown head coach Mike Newsome had no worries about his team looking ahead to the matchup with Hickory Ridge.
“I always tell our team that our next game is our most important game,” Newsome said. “We do have a big matchup coming up, but we have to make sure we have things taken care of here. too.”
While the Wonders were in control for most of the game, it was still not the smoothest of performances. While A.L. Brown forced six turnovers, its offense committed three turnovers of its own.
The Wonders will now have two weeks to prepare for their mega-matchup on Sept. 17 at No. 1 Hickory Ridge. The Bulls remained undefeated Friday with a 27-7 victory over South Point. A.L. Brown head coach Mike Newsome had no worries about his team looking ahead to the matchup with Hickory Ridge.
“I always tell our team that our next game is our most important game,” Newsome said. “We do have a big matchup coming up, but we have to make sure we have things taken care of here. too.”
While the Wonders were in control for most of the game, it was still not the smoothest of performances. While A.L. Brown forced six turnovers, its offense committed three turnovers of its own.
Game #4
Kannapolis
vs
Hickory Ridge
Kannapolis-14 Hickory Ridge-48
The much-anticipated showdown between the Cream of Cabarrus’ top two teams was definitely all “show” for No. 1 Hickory Ridge and much more of a “down”er for second-ranked A.L. Brown. The Ragin’ Bulls tallied touchdowns on four first-quarter possessions and added another score by recovering a blocked punt in A.L. Brown’s end zone and thumped the Wonders 48-14 at The Ridge.
The lopsided victory makes Hickory Ridge the first frontrunner in Greater Metro 4 Conference history, as Friday’s game was one of two on the newly formed conference’s opening slate. The rivals in opposite corners of Cabarrus County were matched up for the first time since 2012. The Bulls have won the last two regular-season contests, but the Wonders, which defeated Hickory Ridge in a 2012 state playoff game, hold the series edge 6-2.
Hickory Ridge was dominant on both sides of the ball Friday, especially in the first half. The Bulls outgained the Wonders before halftime 346 to 114. A.L. Brown didn’t get a first down until the last play of the first quarter and scored a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter. That only shaved their gap to 36-7 at that point.
“I was a little nervous going into the game,” said Hickory Ridge coach Jupiter Wilson. “We were 2-2, and they were 3-0, and they were playing well. I look back on our out-of-conference schedule that really prepared us, going to Charlotte (Chambers) and to Charlotte Catholic. “Getting here, I didn’t really understand if our kids were going to take off, in terms of their emotions and stuff. I was little nervous at the beginning how they were warming up, but they came out and were ready to go. I think when we got the ball and scored it kind of got everybody going.”
RECORDS:
A.L. Brown 3-1 overall, 0-1 Greater Metro 4 Conference; Hickory Ridge 3-2, 1-0
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
Hickory Ridge opened the game with a 12-play, 79-yard touchdown drive. Eight of its plays went for 6 yards or more. The Bulls were rolling. Wishing to respond with the same pizazz, A.L. Brown gained 9 yards on its first three plays and called a timeout before lining up on a fourth-and-1 at its own 29-yard line. Setting up in their wing-T formation, the Wonders’ Joey Vanover patiently angled for a hole on a quarterback sneak but was stuffed by a band of Bulls at the line of scrimmage.
Junior linebacker Kyle Perry led the charge, establishing Hickory Ridge’s dominance on defense after it had already done the same on offense. The Bulls scored again just three plays later, taking a 14-0 lead five minutes and 15 seconds in to the game. It was all but over.
A.L. Brown:
-- Standout senior linebacker Torren Wright was a beast, logging a game-high 16 tackles.
-- Senior defensive end Jaleel Pemberton and senior middle linebacker Brock Morgan both had nine tackles.
-- Senior tight end Jaden Johnson outran a couple of close defenders to score on a 63-yard touchdown reception early in the second quarter. He finished with four catches for 80 yards and also managed six tackles on defense.
Hickory Ridge:
-- Alex Bentley was pulled at halftime with Hickory Ridge leading 45-7, but the senior quarterback was still able to throw for 170 yards on 17-of-21 passing. He added three touchdown passes and threw for a pair of two-point conversions.
-- Junior running back Aaron Carey rushed 12 times for a game-high 108 yards, all but nine of those yards coming after starter Randall Fisher walked off the field in the second quarter favoring an ailing left arm.
-- Perry played an all-around solid game. He had five tackles from his middle linebacker position, blocked a punt that teammate Jamari Rodgers-Freeman recovered in the end zone for a touchdown, and completed a 25-yard pass as the up-man on a fake punt play that gave his team a first down.
3 OBSERVATIONS:
-- Per an on-field sign decorated by the Hickory Ridge cheerleaders, it was Red, White and Bulls night at The Ridge. Some tricked-out motorcycles from the American Legion Riders Chapter 51 took a lap around the field during pregame on Military Appreciation Night, and about a dozen Hickory Ridge parents who were either military veterans or on active duty were recognized during pregame.
-- Not only did Hickory Ridge score two touchdowns inside the game’s first six minutes, the Bulls added two-point conversions after both to take a 16-0 lead. It wasn’t because the Bulls don’t have a kicking game. Senior Will Laing connected on two of his three extra-point kicks and added field goals of 24 and 18 yards later in the game.
-- Primarily because of all of Hickory Ridge’s scoring, the first half lasted a loooong 88 minutes. That’s over 10 hours in dog minutes. It was especially “ruff” on A.L. Brown.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
Both teams will be home for conference games on Sept. 24: A.L. Brown plays host to Lake Norman, while Hickory Ridge welcomes Mooresville.
SCORING SUMMARY
A.L. Brown 0 7 0 7 – 14
Hickory Ridge 36 9 3 0 – 48
First Quarter:
HR – Jalen Harris 3 pass from Alex Bentley (Sabin McLaughlin pass from Bentley)
HR – Randall Fisher 2 run (Christian Hamilton pass from Bentley)
HR – Hamilton 31 pass from Bentley (pass failed)
HR – Jamari Rodgers-Freeman blocked punt recovered in end zone (Will Laing kick)
HR – McLaughlin 20 pass from Bentley (Laing kick)
Second Quarter:
ALB – Jaden Johnson 63 pass from Joey Vanover (Ty Woods kick)
HR – Laing 24 FG
HR – Elijah Kendrick 2 run (kick blocked)
Third Quarter:
HR -- Laing 18 FG
Fourth Quarter:
ALB – Elijah Lawson 9 run (Woods kick)
-Story from Independent Tribune Sports Writer Joe Habina
The lopsided victory makes Hickory Ridge the first frontrunner in Greater Metro 4 Conference history, as Friday’s game was one of two on the newly formed conference’s opening slate. The rivals in opposite corners of Cabarrus County were matched up for the first time since 2012. The Bulls have won the last two regular-season contests, but the Wonders, which defeated Hickory Ridge in a 2012 state playoff game, hold the series edge 6-2.
Hickory Ridge was dominant on both sides of the ball Friday, especially in the first half. The Bulls outgained the Wonders before halftime 346 to 114. A.L. Brown didn’t get a first down until the last play of the first quarter and scored a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter. That only shaved their gap to 36-7 at that point.
“I was a little nervous going into the game,” said Hickory Ridge coach Jupiter Wilson. “We were 2-2, and they were 3-0, and they were playing well. I look back on our out-of-conference schedule that really prepared us, going to Charlotte (Chambers) and to Charlotte Catholic. “Getting here, I didn’t really understand if our kids were going to take off, in terms of their emotions and stuff. I was little nervous at the beginning how they were warming up, but they came out and were ready to go. I think when we got the ball and scored it kind of got everybody going.”
RECORDS:
A.L. Brown 3-1 overall, 0-1 Greater Metro 4 Conference; Hickory Ridge 3-2, 1-0
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
Hickory Ridge opened the game with a 12-play, 79-yard touchdown drive. Eight of its plays went for 6 yards or more. The Bulls were rolling. Wishing to respond with the same pizazz, A.L. Brown gained 9 yards on its first three plays and called a timeout before lining up on a fourth-and-1 at its own 29-yard line. Setting up in their wing-T formation, the Wonders’ Joey Vanover patiently angled for a hole on a quarterback sneak but was stuffed by a band of Bulls at the line of scrimmage.
Junior linebacker Kyle Perry led the charge, establishing Hickory Ridge’s dominance on defense after it had already done the same on offense. The Bulls scored again just three plays later, taking a 14-0 lead five minutes and 15 seconds in to the game. It was all but over.
A.L. Brown:
-- Standout senior linebacker Torren Wright was a beast, logging a game-high 16 tackles.
-- Senior defensive end Jaleel Pemberton and senior middle linebacker Brock Morgan both had nine tackles.
-- Senior tight end Jaden Johnson outran a couple of close defenders to score on a 63-yard touchdown reception early in the second quarter. He finished with four catches for 80 yards and also managed six tackles on defense.
Hickory Ridge:
-- Alex Bentley was pulled at halftime with Hickory Ridge leading 45-7, but the senior quarterback was still able to throw for 170 yards on 17-of-21 passing. He added three touchdown passes and threw for a pair of two-point conversions.
-- Junior running back Aaron Carey rushed 12 times for a game-high 108 yards, all but nine of those yards coming after starter Randall Fisher walked off the field in the second quarter favoring an ailing left arm.
-- Perry played an all-around solid game. He had five tackles from his middle linebacker position, blocked a punt that teammate Jamari Rodgers-Freeman recovered in the end zone for a touchdown, and completed a 25-yard pass as the up-man on a fake punt play that gave his team a first down.
3 OBSERVATIONS:
-- Per an on-field sign decorated by the Hickory Ridge cheerleaders, it was Red, White and Bulls night at The Ridge. Some tricked-out motorcycles from the American Legion Riders Chapter 51 took a lap around the field during pregame on Military Appreciation Night, and about a dozen Hickory Ridge parents who were either military veterans or on active duty were recognized during pregame.
-- Not only did Hickory Ridge score two touchdowns inside the game’s first six minutes, the Bulls added two-point conversions after both to take a 16-0 lead. It wasn’t because the Bulls don’t have a kicking game. Senior Will Laing connected on two of his three extra-point kicks and added field goals of 24 and 18 yards later in the game.
-- Primarily because of all of Hickory Ridge’s scoring, the first half lasted a loooong 88 minutes. That’s over 10 hours in dog minutes. It was especially “ruff” on A.L. Brown.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
Both teams will be home for conference games on Sept. 24: A.L. Brown plays host to Lake Norman, while Hickory Ridge welcomes Mooresville.
SCORING SUMMARY
A.L. Brown 0 7 0 7 – 14
Hickory Ridge 36 9 3 0 – 48
First Quarter:
HR – Jalen Harris 3 pass from Alex Bentley (Sabin McLaughlin pass from Bentley)
HR – Randall Fisher 2 run (Christian Hamilton pass from Bentley)
HR – Hamilton 31 pass from Bentley (pass failed)
HR – Jamari Rodgers-Freeman blocked punt recovered in end zone (Will Laing kick)
HR – McLaughlin 20 pass from Bentley (Laing kick)
Second Quarter:
ALB – Jaden Johnson 63 pass from Joey Vanover (Ty Woods kick)
HR – Laing 24 FG
HR – Elijah Kendrick 2 run (kick blocked)
Third Quarter:
HR -- Laing 18 FG
Fourth Quarter:
ALB – Elijah Lawson 9 run (Woods kick)
-Story from Independent Tribune Sports Writer Joe Habina
Game #5
Kannapolis
vs
Lake Norman
With the limited scoring opportunities it had, Cream of Cabarrus second-ranked A.L. Brown couldn’t afford to make mistakes against visiting Lake Norman Friday. But a blocked extra-point attempt and two interceptions, including one inside the Wildcats’ 10-yard line on the Wonders’ final possession, contributed to a 14-13 Greater Metro 4 loss at Kannapolis Memorial Stadium. A.L. Brown head coach Mike Newsome. A.L. Brown has opened its conference schedule with two straight defeats after triumphing over all three of its non-conference foes.
“The players are frustrated,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. “This is not typical for us when we get in the conference. We had some issues back years ago when we were playing in the (4A) Charlotte-(based) league when we were playing some really tough teams and would go down some games. These are teams (in the Greater Metro 4 in which) you’re not playing the state championship Mallard Creek teams or the state championship-caliber teams like (Cornelius) Hough. You’re playing teams you have a chance to beat. But every game is going to be a solid game”
Lake Norman’s triple-option offense ran 38 plays to A.L. Brown’s 12 in the first half as the Wonders got down 14-7 at intermission. Just as it had in the first two quarters, A.L. Brown had just four possessions in the second half, including one in the third quarter that ended with Xavier Chamber’s 29-yard touchdown catch. When the Wonders turned the ball over on its final possession late in the fourth quarter, Lake Norman running back A.J. Baker gained two yards on a fourth-and-1 play at his own 24-yard line, and the Wildcats ran out the clock
RECORDS
Lake Norman 4-1 overall, 2-0 Greater Metro 4 Conference; A.L. Brown 3-2, 0-2 GMC
The Play of the Game:
Down 14-13 late in the game, A.L. Brown took possession at midfield. The outlook was bleak after an incomplete pass and an 8-yard loss on a sack. But quarterback Joey Vanover gained 16 yards on a scramble up the left sideline, and Jaden Johnson registered a first down on a 21-yard fourth-down run to the Lake Norman 21. On second-and-10, Vanover took a snap from under center and stepped back a couple of yards. The play was developing almost in slow motion, but it gave Vanover ample time to select a receiver downfield. The senior tried to connect with receiver Torren Wright, but Lake Norman safety Jack Baker stepped in front of him for an easy interception at the 6-yard line, ending the Wonders’ chances.
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
Lake Norman
-- Junior halfback Ryan Peacock rushed for a game-high 91 yards on eight carries. His two longest runs were his first carry of the game for 19 yards and his first carry after halftime for 35 yards.
-- Junior halfback Chase Wigginton, son of former Major League Baseball player and current Lake Norman baseball coach Ty Wigginton, gained 76 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.
-- In addition to gaining a key first down on the last possession of the game, A.J. Baker was dynamic in gaining 52 yards on five carries. His first two runs, which didn’t come until the second quarter, went for 27 and 12 yards, respectively.
A.L. Brown:
-- Establishing himself with three tackles on Lake Norman’s game-opening possession, senior linebacker Brock Morgan had a career-high 20 tackles. Some of his best work came in key situations, including a Wonders’ goal-line stand near the end of the first half .-- Xavier Chambers had a solid game on both sides of the ball. His 29-yard touchdown reception contributed to a three-catch, 42-yard night, and he also had six tackles as a defensive back.
-- Jaden Johnson had some of the Wonders’ biggest plays: a 28-yard reception on their first touchdown drive in the first quarter, an interception in the third quarter, and a 21-yard run on a fourth-quarter fourth-down play.
3 OBSERVATIONS:
-- Both teams added some color to their kickoffs. All of Lake Norman’s players, including kicker Michael Buck, bunched together between the hash marks and quickly charged their 40-yard line before retreating to a conventional formation and a conventional kickoff. Members of A.L. Brown’s kickoff team uniformly swung their arms in a half-windmill motion as they waited for Ty Woods to kick off and then used the momentum to join Woods in his approach to the ball
.-- Nothing good happened for Lake Norman on its only three passing attempts. In the second quarter, the ball was jarred loose from quarterback Jackson Garlick’s arm the first time he looked to throw, and the fumble was recovered by A.L Brown’s Jaleel Pemberton. Xavier Chambers almost intercepted his second attempt in the end zone in the third quarter. And Jaden Johnson’s interception came on a faulty halfback-option pass by Wigginton shortly after halftime.
-- Newsome said Lake Norman’s block of Ty Woods’ extra-point attempt after Chambers’ touchdown in the third quarter was due to a missed blocking assignment. It was a difference-maker in A.L. Brown’s one-point loss.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
Both teams play conference games on Oct. 1. Lake Norman hosts West Cabarrus while A.L. Brown visits Cox Mill.
SCORING SUMMARY:
Lake Norman 7 7 0 0 -- 14
A.L. Brown 0 7 6 0 -- 13
First Quarter:
LN – Jackson Garlick 1 run (Michael Buck kick)
Second Quarter:
ALB – Elijah Lawson 5 run (Ty Woods kick)
LN – Chase Wigginton 5 run (Buck kick)
Third Quarter:
ALB – Xavier Chambers 29 pass from Joey Vanover (kick blocked)
Fourth Quarter: No scoring.
Storyline: Joe Habina Independent Tribune
“The players are frustrated,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. “This is not typical for us when we get in the conference. We had some issues back years ago when we were playing in the (4A) Charlotte-(based) league when we were playing some really tough teams and would go down some games. These are teams (in the Greater Metro 4 in which) you’re not playing the state championship Mallard Creek teams or the state championship-caliber teams like (Cornelius) Hough. You’re playing teams you have a chance to beat. But every game is going to be a solid game”
Lake Norman’s triple-option offense ran 38 plays to A.L. Brown’s 12 in the first half as the Wonders got down 14-7 at intermission. Just as it had in the first two quarters, A.L. Brown had just four possessions in the second half, including one in the third quarter that ended with Xavier Chamber’s 29-yard touchdown catch. When the Wonders turned the ball over on its final possession late in the fourth quarter, Lake Norman running back A.J. Baker gained two yards on a fourth-and-1 play at his own 24-yard line, and the Wildcats ran out the clock
RECORDS
Lake Norman 4-1 overall, 2-0 Greater Metro 4 Conference; A.L. Brown 3-2, 0-2 GMC
The Play of the Game:
Down 14-13 late in the game, A.L. Brown took possession at midfield. The outlook was bleak after an incomplete pass and an 8-yard loss on a sack. But quarterback Joey Vanover gained 16 yards on a scramble up the left sideline, and Jaden Johnson registered a first down on a 21-yard fourth-down run to the Lake Norman 21. On second-and-10, Vanover took a snap from under center and stepped back a couple of yards. The play was developing almost in slow motion, but it gave Vanover ample time to select a receiver downfield. The senior tried to connect with receiver Torren Wright, but Lake Norman safety Jack Baker stepped in front of him for an easy interception at the 6-yard line, ending the Wonders’ chances.
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
Lake Norman
-- Junior halfback Ryan Peacock rushed for a game-high 91 yards on eight carries. His two longest runs were his first carry of the game for 19 yards and his first carry after halftime for 35 yards.
-- Junior halfback Chase Wigginton, son of former Major League Baseball player and current Lake Norman baseball coach Ty Wigginton, gained 76 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.
-- In addition to gaining a key first down on the last possession of the game, A.J. Baker was dynamic in gaining 52 yards on five carries. His first two runs, which didn’t come until the second quarter, went for 27 and 12 yards, respectively.
A.L. Brown:
-- Establishing himself with three tackles on Lake Norman’s game-opening possession, senior linebacker Brock Morgan had a career-high 20 tackles. Some of his best work came in key situations, including a Wonders’ goal-line stand near the end of the first half .-- Xavier Chambers had a solid game on both sides of the ball. His 29-yard touchdown reception contributed to a three-catch, 42-yard night, and he also had six tackles as a defensive back.
-- Jaden Johnson had some of the Wonders’ biggest plays: a 28-yard reception on their first touchdown drive in the first quarter, an interception in the third quarter, and a 21-yard run on a fourth-quarter fourth-down play.
3 OBSERVATIONS:
-- Both teams added some color to their kickoffs. All of Lake Norman’s players, including kicker Michael Buck, bunched together between the hash marks and quickly charged their 40-yard line before retreating to a conventional formation and a conventional kickoff. Members of A.L. Brown’s kickoff team uniformly swung their arms in a half-windmill motion as they waited for Ty Woods to kick off and then used the momentum to join Woods in his approach to the ball
.-- Nothing good happened for Lake Norman on its only three passing attempts. In the second quarter, the ball was jarred loose from quarterback Jackson Garlick’s arm the first time he looked to throw, and the fumble was recovered by A.L Brown’s Jaleel Pemberton. Xavier Chambers almost intercepted his second attempt in the end zone in the third quarter. And Jaden Johnson’s interception came on a faulty halfback-option pass by Wigginton shortly after halftime.
-- Newsome said Lake Norman’s block of Ty Woods’ extra-point attempt after Chambers’ touchdown in the third quarter was due to a missed blocking assignment. It was a difference-maker in A.L. Brown’s one-point loss.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
Both teams play conference games on Oct. 1. Lake Norman hosts West Cabarrus while A.L. Brown visits Cox Mill.
SCORING SUMMARY:
Lake Norman 7 7 0 0 -- 14
A.L. Brown 0 7 6 0 -- 13
First Quarter:
LN – Jackson Garlick 1 run (Michael Buck kick)
Second Quarter:
ALB – Elijah Lawson 5 run (Ty Woods kick)
LN – Chase Wigginton 5 run (Buck kick)
Third Quarter:
ALB – Xavier Chambers 29 pass from Joey Vanover (kick blocked)
Fourth Quarter: No scoring.
Storyline: Joe Habina Independent Tribune
Game #6
Kannapolis
vs
Cox Mill
Kannapolis-3 Cox Mill-16
CONCORD – Cream of Cabarrus sixth-ranked Cox Mill’s defense held visiting A.L. Brown, the second-ranked team, to 65 yards and six harmless first downs, as the Chargers won, 16-3, to break a three-game losing streak Friday at Cox Mill Stadium. It was the Chargers’ first victory in the Greater Metro 4 Conference, while the Wonders slipped to their third straight loss.
“It feels amazing,” said Cox Mill junior Tyrell Coard, who rushed for a game-high 130 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. “Coming off losing three games is really hard. So coming out and winning this game is a great feeling.”
A.L. Brown’s points were limited to a 25-yard Ty Woods field goal in the first quarter following a Cox Mill turnover.
“(We’re) down a quarterback, we’re down a starting defensive lineman, (and) every (team) you play is good,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. “You believe in the kids to go out there and fight. We just didn’t have enough offense. The defense played great.”
RECORDS:
A.L. Brown 3-3 overall, 0-3 Greater Metro 4 Conference; Cox Mill 4-2 overall, 1-2 GMC
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
Down 3-0 in the second quarter, facing a fourth-and-10 at A.L. Brown’s 27-yard line, and playing without injured placekicker Sam Weber, Cox Mill coach Shawn Baker felt his only option was to try and gain a first down.
To that point of the game, with fewer than three minutes left in the first half, Cox Mill quarterback Bennett Trimble had completed only two of eight passing attempts for 14 yards. But the junior spotted sophomore receiver Saxon Jenkins wide open on the left side of the field.
Jenkins made the easy catch but fought for a few extra yards to gain the first down to the Wonders’ 16-yard line. On the next play, Coard scored the first of his two touchdowns by taking a delayed handoff and scuttling to the end zone.
Cox Mill never trailed after that.
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
A.L. Brown
-- Senior outside linebacker Torren Wright, who has committed to play at N.C. State, led A.L. Brown with 14 tackles while senior middle linebacker Brock Morgan chipped in with 11.
-- A trio of Wonders tacklers – defensive end Jaleel Pemberton and linebackers Antarron Turner and Jalan Chambers -- added eight takedowns each. Turner added a fumble recovery that led to A.L. Brown’s only points.
-- In addition to his 25-yard field goal, Ty Woods averaged 39 yards over nine punts, including a booming 59-yarder in the fourth quarter.
-- Coard’s 130 yards included runs of 36 and 39 yards. In the second half, Coard caught four of his five receptions and had 21 yards receiving.
-- Reserve quarterback Kendall Harris, who contributes mostly as a wide receiver, rushed for 74 yards on six designed runs. His top two runs went for 43 and 22 yards.
-- While Trimble struggled in the first half, he threw for 65 of his 93 yards in the second half when the A.L. Brown defense was affording him some space to throw underneath the coverage. He completed 13 of 29 attempts.
3 OBSERVATIONS:
-- Cox Mill girls sports were being honored throughout the evening. At halftime, school Principal Andrew Crook handed out rings to girls soccer coach Adam Henry and members of last season’s 3A state championship team. Before the game, the athletics department received a $1,000 donation in recognition of the state athletic association honoring the 50th anniversary of Title IX.
-- A.L. Brown (nine penalties) and Cox Mill (10) combined for 146 yards of infractions. -- If you count poor snaps and muffed punt returns, the teams combined to put the ball on the turf 10 times. Quarterback Cam’Ron Kennedy recovered one of A.L. Brown’s fumbles in his own end zone, resulting in a third-quarter safety.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
A.L. Brown plays host to West Cabarrus in a conference game next Friday, while Cox Mill takes a week off before welcoming Lake Norman on Oct. 15.
SCORING SUMMARY:
A.L. Brown 3 0 0 0 -- 3
Cox Mill 0 7 2 7 -- 16
First Quarter
ALB – Ty Woods 25 FG
Second Quarter
CM – Tyrell Coard 16 run (Harry Ledermann kick)
Third Quarter
CM – Safety. A.L. Brown recovers fumble in its own endzone.
Fourth Quarter
CM – Coard 2 run (Ledermann kick)
Summary- Joe Habina Independent Tribune
“It feels amazing,” said Cox Mill junior Tyrell Coard, who rushed for a game-high 130 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. “Coming off losing three games is really hard. So coming out and winning this game is a great feeling.”
A.L. Brown’s points were limited to a 25-yard Ty Woods field goal in the first quarter following a Cox Mill turnover.
“(We’re) down a quarterback, we’re down a starting defensive lineman, (and) every (team) you play is good,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. “You believe in the kids to go out there and fight. We just didn’t have enough offense. The defense played great.”
RECORDS:
A.L. Brown 3-3 overall, 0-3 Greater Metro 4 Conference; Cox Mill 4-2 overall, 1-2 GMC
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
Down 3-0 in the second quarter, facing a fourth-and-10 at A.L. Brown’s 27-yard line, and playing without injured placekicker Sam Weber, Cox Mill coach Shawn Baker felt his only option was to try and gain a first down.
To that point of the game, with fewer than three minutes left in the first half, Cox Mill quarterback Bennett Trimble had completed only two of eight passing attempts for 14 yards. But the junior spotted sophomore receiver Saxon Jenkins wide open on the left side of the field.
Jenkins made the easy catch but fought for a few extra yards to gain the first down to the Wonders’ 16-yard line. On the next play, Coard scored the first of his two touchdowns by taking a delayed handoff and scuttling to the end zone.
Cox Mill never trailed after that.
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
A.L. Brown
-- Senior outside linebacker Torren Wright, who has committed to play at N.C. State, led A.L. Brown with 14 tackles while senior middle linebacker Brock Morgan chipped in with 11.
-- A trio of Wonders tacklers – defensive end Jaleel Pemberton and linebackers Antarron Turner and Jalan Chambers -- added eight takedowns each. Turner added a fumble recovery that led to A.L. Brown’s only points.
-- In addition to his 25-yard field goal, Ty Woods averaged 39 yards over nine punts, including a booming 59-yarder in the fourth quarter.
-- Coard’s 130 yards included runs of 36 and 39 yards. In the second half, Coard caught four of his five receptions and had 21 yards receiving.
-- Reserve quarterback Kendall Harris, who contributes mostly as a wide receiver, rushed for 74 yards on six designed runs. His top two runs went for 43 and 22 yards.
-- While Trimble struggled in the first half, he threw for 65 of his 93 yards in the second half when the A.L. Brown defense was affording him some space to throw underneath the coverage. He completed 13 of 29 attempts.
3 OBSERVATIONS:
-- Cox Mill girls sports were being honored throughout the evening. At halftime, school Principal Andrew Crook handed out rings to girls soccer coach Adam Henry and members of last season’s 3A state championship team. Before the game, the athletics department received a $1,000 donation in recognition of the state athletic association honoring the 50th anniversary of Title IX.
-- A.L. Brown (nine penalties) and Cox Mill (10) combined for 146 yards of infractions. -- If you count poor snaps and muffed punt returns, the teams combined to put the ball on the turf 10 times. Quarterback Cam’Ron Kennedy recovered one of A.L. Brown’s fumbles in his own end zone, resulting in a third-quarter safety.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
A.L. Brown plays host to West Cabarrus in a conference game next Friday, while Cox Mill takes a week off before welcoming Lake Norman on Oct. 15.
SCORING SUMMARY:
A.L. Brown 3 0 0 0 -- 3
Cox Mill 0 7 2 7 -- 16
First Quarter
ALB – Ty Woods 25 FG
Second Quarter
CM – Tyrell Coard 16 run (Harry Ledermann kick)
Third Quarter
CM – Safety. A.L. Brown recovers fumble in its own endzone.
Fourth Quarter
CM – Coard 2 run (Ledermann kick)
Summary- Joe Habina Independent Tribune
Game #7
Kannapolis
vs
West Cabarrus
Kannapolis-18 West Cabarrus-19
The emergence of West Cabarrus’ kicking game and the absence of A.L. Brown’s allowed the Wolverines to escape Kannapolis’ Memorial Stadium with a 19-18 victory over the Cream of Cabarrus fifth-ranked Wonders Friday. West Cabarrus’ Josh Elias booted a season- and career-long 40 yard field goal in the third quarter, and his 37-yarder with nine minutes remaining in the game were the deciding points.
I’m just going to tell you something, Josh Elias does a great job kicking for us,” said West Cabarrus coach C.J. McEachin. “Good snaps by our center (Jacob Brown), and getting it down by our holder (Demarrio Chalk) … and we kicked the ball through the uprights. We’re where we are today because of the preparation of getting that done in practice.”
The Wolverines snapped a two-game losing skid, while the Wonders lost their fourth in a row. It was evident the Wonders missed inactive kicker Ty Woods. A.L. Brown failed on two-point conversion tries following all three of its touchdowns, and when the Wonders had the ball at the West Cabarrus 1-yard line in the game’s final seconds, they unsuccessfully ran pass plays on third and fourth downs instead of attempting a field goal.
“It’s tough when you’re out of timeouts, and we needed a timeout to get the right play called,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. “And you still probably had the right play called. We had an opportunity to score. But the kids fought hard to put themselves in position to be down there to win the game.”
RECORDS:
West Cabarrus 3-4 overall, 2-2 Greater Metro 4 Conference; A.L. Brown 3-4, 0-4 GMC
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
Trailing 18-10, West Cabarrus answered an A.L. Brown touchdown by scoring one of its own on its next possession near the end of the third quarter. On first down from the Wonders’ 17-yard line, West Cabarrus quarterback Atreyu Cooper lofted an arching throw into traffic in the left, back corner of the end zone. Sophomore receiver Gerard Evans was the one who leapt the highest among teammate Christian Hopper and two A.L. Brown defenders, turning it into a touchdown with 1:16 left. West Cabarrus earned the deciding points on Elias’ kick just inside the fourth quarter.
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
West Cabarrus:
● The Wolverines defense forced six turnovers: five fumbles and R.J. Caldwell’s interception on the game’s second play from scrimmage.
● Ross Vazquez’s 33-yard touchdown run in the third quarter accounted for more than half of his team-high 61 rushing yards on 10 carries.
● Sophomore defensive back Curtis Fields led West Cabarrus with eight tackles, three of which came on A.L. Brown’s final drive.
● Cooper warmed up in the second half, completing five of eight pass attempts after halftime. He finished with 123 yards and a touchdown on 10-of-25 passing. Atreyu Cooper (11) drops back to pass during Friday night high school football action at A L Brown High School in, Kannapolis, North Carolina, The Wolverines defeated the Wonders 19-18.
A.L. Brown:
Xavier Chambers did a little bit of everything. He had six catches for 58 yards and a touchdown, threw a 14-yard scoring pass to Torren Wright for the game’s first points, played a solid defensive game in the secondary, and handled Woods’ kickoff and punting duties. His best punt was a 46-yarder that was downed at West Cabarrus’ 1-yard line near the end of the first quarter.
Xavier Chambers battles Damario Chalk ((1) for the ball during Friday night high school football action at A L Brown High School in, Kannapolis, North Carolina, The Wolverines defeated the Wonders 19-18.
Senior quarterback Joey Vanover bounced back after sitting out last week’s game by completing 13 of 27 pass attempts for 128 yards and two scores.Wright, a N.C. State commit, had a game-high 11 tackles from his linebacker position and scored a touchdown on a 14-yard reception in the first quarter.
3 OBSERVATIONS:
Late in the second half, A.L. Brown’s Cannon Crew, the students responsible for igniting the school’s symbolic cannon after Wonders’ scores, acknowledged its recognition over the public address system by sounding a blast. The resulting smoke crawled over half the field like it does in a haunted house. It eventually got so thick that game officials temporarily stopped play with just over 30 seconds remaining in the first half as West Cabarrus just crossed midfield. Wonders Wright waved his arms in vain trying to push the smoke downfield. But at 6 foot 3 and 220 pounds, he became A.L. Brown’s biggest fan at that point.
Deiondre Gallimore (2) with an amazing touchdown catch during Friday night high school football action at A L Brown High School in, Kannapolis, North Carolina, The Wolverines defeated the Wonders 19-18.
● Speaking of fans – the traditional kind you find at sporting events – a lot of them didn’t show up Friday. Undoubtedly, the day’s soggy weather kept many away. But with the naked eye, it looked as if the Wonders’ faithful barely outnumbered those from West Cabarrus in the opposite side’s bleachers.
● Jaden Johnson, who led A.L. Brown with 73 rushing yards, lost a fumble on a hard hit in the first half. Doubling as a linebacker, Johnson got his revenge just three plays later when he caused a fumble by a West Cabarrus ball carrier that was recovered by a Wonders teammate.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
Both teams play home conference games on Oct. 15. West Cabarrus hosts Mooresville, while A.L. Brown plays South Iredell.
SCORING SUMMARY
West Cabarrus 0 0 16 3 – 19
A.L. Brown 12 0 6 0 – 18
First Quarter:
ALB – Torren Wright 14 pass from Xavier Chambers (run failed)
ALB – Jaden Johnson 20 pass from Joey Vanover (run failed)
Second Quarter:
No scoring
Third Quarter:
WC – Ross Vazquez 33 run (Josh Elias kick)
WC – Elias 40 field goal
ALB – Chambers 31 pass from Vanover (pass failed)
WC – Gerard Evans 17 pass from Atreyu Cooper (pass failed)
Fourth Quarter:
WC – Elias 37 field goal
Story board by Joe Habina Independent Tribune
I’m just going to tell you something, Josh Elias does a great job kicking for us,” said West Cabarrus coach C.J. McEachin. “Good snaps by our center (Jacob Brown), and getting it down by our holder (Demarrio Chalk) … and we kicked the ball through the uprights. We’re where we are today because of the preparation of getting that done in practice.”
The Wolverines snapped a two-game losing skid, while the Wonders lost their fourth in a row. It was evident the Wonders missed inactive kicker Ty Woods. A.L. Brown failed on two-point conversion tries following all three of its touchdowns, and when the Wonders had the ball at the West Cabarrus 1-yard line in the game’s final seconds, they unsuccessfully ran pass plays on third and fourth downs instead of attempting a field goal.
“It’s tough when you’re out of timeouts, and we needed a timeout to get the right play called,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. “And you still probably had the right play called. We had an opportunity to score. But the kids fought hard to put themselves in position to be down there to win the game.”
RECORDS:
West Cabarrus 3-4 overall, 2-2 Greater Metro 4 Conference; A.L. Brown 3-4, 0-4 GMC
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
Trailing 18-10, West Cabarrus answered an A.L. Brown touchdown by scoring one of its own on its next possession near the end of the third quarter. On first down from the Wonders’ 17-yard line, West Cabarrus quarterback Atreyu Cooper lofted an arching throw into traffic in the left, back corner of the end zone. Sophomore receiver Gerard Evans was the one who leapt the highest among teammate Christian Hopper and two A.L. Brown defenders, turning it into a touchdown with 1:16 left. West Cabarrus earned the deciding points on Elias’ kick just inside the fourth quarter.
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
West Cabarrus:
● The Wolverines defense forced six turnovers: five fumbles and R.J. Caldwell’s interception on the game’s second play from scrimmage.
● Ross Vazquez’s 33-yard touchdown run in the third quarter accounted for more than half of his team-high 61 rushing yards on 10 carries.
● Sophomore defensive back Curtis Fields led West Cabarrus with eight tackles, three of which came on A.L. Brown’s final drive.
● Cooper warmed up in the second half, completing five of eight pass attempts after halftime. He finished with 123 yards and a touchdown on 10-of-25 passing. Atreyu Cooper (11) drops back to pass during Friday night high school football action at A L Brown High School in, Kannapolis, North Carolina, The Wolverines defeated the Wonders 19-18.
A.L. Brown:
Xavier Chambers did a little bit of everything. He had six catches for 58 yards and a touchdown, threw a 14-yard scoring pass to Torren Wright for the game’s first points, played a solid defensive game in the secondary, and handled Woods’ kickoff and punting duties. His best punt was a 46-yarder that was downed at West Cabarrus’ 1-yard line near the end of the first quarter.
Xavier Chambers battles Damario Chalk ((1) for the ball during Friday night high school football action at A L Brown High School in, Kannapolis, North Carolina, The Wolverines defeated the Wonders 19-18.
Senior quarterback Joey Vanover bounced back after sitting out last week’s game by completing 13 of 27 pass attempts for 128 yards and two scores.Wright, a N.C. State commit, had a game-high 11 tackles from his linebacker position and scored a touchdown on a 14-yard reception in the first quarter.
3 OBSERVATIONS:
Late in the second half, A.L. Brown’s Cannon Crew, the students responsible for igniting the school’s symbolic cannon after Wonders’ scores, acknowledged its recognition over the public address system by sounding a blast. The resulting smoke crawled over half the field like it does in a haunted house. It eventually got so thick that game officials temporarily stopped play with just over 30 seconds remaining in the first half as West Cabarrus just crossed midfield. Wonders Wright waved his arms in vain trying to push the smoke downfield. But at 6 foot 3 and 220 pounds, he became A.L. Brown’s biggest fan at that point.
Deiondre Gallimore (2) with an amazing touchdown catch during Friday night high school football action at A L Brown High School in, Kannapolis, North Carolina, The Wolverines defeated the Wonders 19-18.
● Speaking of fans – the traditional kind you find at sporting events – a lot of them didn’t show up Friday. Undoubtedly, the day’s soggy weather kept many away. But with the naked eye, it looked as if the Wonders’ faithful barely outnumbered those from West Cabarrus in the opposite side’s bleachers.
● Jaden Johnson, who led A.L. Brown with 73 rushing yards, lost a fumble on a hard hit in the first half. Doubling as a linebacker, Johnson got his revenge just three plays later when he caused a fumble by a West Cabarrus ball carrier that was recovered by a Wonders teammate.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
Both teams play home conference games on Oct. 15. West Cabarrus hosts Mooresville, while A.L. Brown plays South Iredell.
SCORING SUMMARY
West Cabarrus 0 0 16 3 – 19
A.L. Brown 12 0 6 0 – 18
First Quarter:
ALB – Torren Wright 14 pass from Xavier Chambers (run failed)
ALB – Jaden Johnson 20 pass from Joey Vanover (run failed)
Second Quarter:
No scoring
Third Quarter:
WC – Ross Vazquez 33 run (Josh Elias kick)
WC – Elias 40 field goal
ALB – Chambers 31 pass from Vanover (pass failed)
WC – Gerard Evans 17 pass from Atreyu Cooper (pass failed)
Fourth Quarter:
WC – Elias 37 field goal
Story board by Joe Habina Independent Tribune
Game #8
Kannapolis
vs
South Iredell
Kannapolis-45 South Iredell-21
After dealing with so much adversity and heartache during a four-game losing streak, A.L. Brown was ready to take out its frustrations on someone. And South Iredell became the unfortunate victim Friday. Thanks to big plays on both offense and defense, the Wonders were able to dominate the Vikings early and often, coming away with a 45-21 victory at Kannapolis Memorial stadium to snap their four-game slide in a Greater Metro 4 Conference game.
“This was a much-needed victory,” A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome said in a telephone interview with the Independent Tribune. “Hopefully, a win like this can get us back on track.”
The win moved the Wonders back to the .500 mark at 4-4 overall and gave them their first win in conference play this season (1-4 GMC). South Iredell fell to 2-6 overall and 1-3 in league play.
“It’s been tough for the kids,” Newsome said in describing the team’s mood during the losing streak, which included a pair of one-point losses. “When you’re losing close games, kids can sometimes question themselves and get down on themselves. But this week in practice, we asked the kids. ‘What can you do’ (to help the team)?’” Newsome added. “They all responded very well.”
The Wonders got on the board with their defense, as Xavier Chambers returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown to give A.L. Brown a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. The defensive touchdown was an early kick-start for a team in need of an early jolt, Newsome said. “I think when you go through the adversity that we’ve gone through, to get a play like that, it really relaxed the kids,” Newsome said.
Another interception by the Wonders, this one by Torren Wright, was returned to the Vikings’ 22-yard line, helping to set up an 11-yard TD connection from Joey Vanover to Jaden Johnson and give A.L. Brown a 14-0 lead. In all, it was two touchdowns in a three-and-a-half-minute span that gave the Wonders the early advantage. After the Vikings got on the board with a 2-yard touchdown run, the Wonders struck again quickly on their next possession, with Johnson scoring again, this time on a 60-yard touchdown run on the first play of the drive, putting A.L. Brown up 21-7 after the first quarter.
“I was really happy for Jaden,” Newsome said. “He hadn’t played the way he’s used to playing the past couple of games, and he wanted to redeem himself. And he sure did.”
Early in the second quarter, Derick Brazil caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Vanover to Derick Brazil to extend the Wonders’ lead to 28-7. It was the sophomore’s first career varsity touchdown but not his last on this night. A second Brazil TD reception, this one from 30 yards out, gave A.L. Brown a 35-7 lead in the second quarter, and a 29-yard field goal late in the first half increased the lead to 38-7 at the half. Vanover’s fourth touchdown pass of the night, this one from 24 yards, put the finishing touches on the scoring for the Wonders midway through the third quarter.
The Vikings added a touchdown in the third quarter and another in the fourth quarter to make the margin a little more respectable. But there was no way to hide the domination of the Wonders on this night.
A.L. Brown had a season-high in points, and its second 40-point effort of the season (after defeating Monroe Sun Valley, 41-13, back in August). The Wonders also posted their third win by 20 or more points this season.
“I think the kids know that when we are playing our best, we can compete with anyone,” Newsome said. “Hopefully, we can make a late push to get into the playoffs.”
The Wonders will visit Mooresville next Friday in another GMC contest, while South Iredell will host Lake Norman.
Game Summary: Michael Freer Independent Tribune
“This was a much-needed victory,” A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome said in a telephone interview with the Independent Tribune. “Hopefully, a win like this can get us back on track.”
The win moved the Wonders back to the .500 mark at 4-4 overall and gave them their first win in conference play this season (1-4 GMC). South Iredell fell to 2-6 overall and 1-3 in league play.
“It’s been tough for the kids,” Newsome said in describing the team’s mood during the losing streak, which included a pair of one-point losses. “When you’re losing close games, kids can sometimes question themselves and get down on themselves. But this week in practice, we asked the kids. ‘What can you do’ (to help the team)?’” Newsome added. “They all responded very well.”
The Wonders got on the board with their defense, as Xavier Chambers returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown to give A.L. Brown a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. The defensive touchdown was an early kick-start for a team in need of an early jolt, Newsome said. “I think when you go through the adversity that we’ve gone through, to get a play like that, it really relaxed the kids,” Newsome said.
Another interception by the Wonders, this one by Torren Wright, was returned to the Vikings’ 22-yard line, helping to set up an 11-yard TD connection from Joey Vanover to Jaden Johnson and give A.L. Brown a 14-0 lead. In all, it was two touchdowns in a three-and-a-half-minute span that gave the Wonders the early advantage. After the Vikings got on the board with a 2-yard touchdown run, the Wonders struck again quickly on their next possession, with Johnson scoring again, this time on a 60-yard touchdown run on the first play of the drive, putting A.L. Brown up 21-7 after the first quarter.
“I was really happy for Jaden,” Newsome said. “He hadn’t played the way he’s used to playing the past couple of games, and he wanted to redeem himself. And he sure did.”
Early in the second quarter, Derick Brazil caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Vanover to Derick Brazil to extend the Wonders’ lead to 28-7. It was the sophomore’s first career varsity touchdown but not his last on this night. A second Brazil TD reception, this one from 30 yards out, gave A.L. Brown a 35-7 lead in the second quarter, and a 29-yard field goal late in the first half increased the lead to 38-7 at the half. Vanover’s fourth touchdown pass of the night, this one from 24 yards, put the finishing touches on the scoring for the Wonders midway through the third quarter.
The Vikings added a touchdown in the third quarter and another in the fourth quarter to make the margin a little more respectable. But there was no way to hide the domination of the Wonders on this night.
A.L. Brown had a season-high in points, and its second 40-point effort of the season (after defeating Monroe Sun Valley, 41-13, back in August). The Wonders also posted their third win by 20 or more points this season.
“I think the kids know that when we are playing our best, we can compete with anyone,” Newsome said. “Hopefully, we can make a late push to get into the playoffs.”
The Wonders will visit Mooresville next Friday in another GMC contest, while South Iredell will host Lake Norman.
Game Summary: Michael Freer Independent Tribune
Game #9
Kannapolis
vs
Mooresville
Kannapolis-6 Mooresville-14
Just when it seems the A.L. Brown football team couldn’t suffer any more heartache on the field, Friday night provided yet another chance for the Wonders to feel the sting of misfortune. Despite dominating the second half of their Greater Metro 4 Conference matchup with host Mooresville, the Wonders let opportunity after opportunity go by, the result being yet another one-score defeat, 14-6, to the Blue Devils.
For A.L. Brown, the loss, its fifth in the last six games, dropped the Wonders under .500 at 4-5 (1-5 in conference play). Three of A.L. Brown’s five losses this season have come by one score. Mooresville went over the .500 mark with the win, improving to 5-4 overall and 3-1 in conference play. Two touchdown passes by Sebastian Brown, one in each of the first two quarters, helped the Blue Devils take a 14-0 lead into halftime. From there, A.L. Brown was the story of the game, in more ways than one. On four different drives in the second half, the Wonders had the ball inside Mooresville territory, and on three of them they left without putting any points on the scoreboard. In the third quarter, A.L. Brown’s first drive stalled at the Blue Devils’ 35-yard line. Even after getting an interception on defense and returning it past midfield, the Wonders still couldn’t capitalize and had the drive stopped at the 25-yard line.
The moment that was the biggest blow to any hopes of a Wonders comeback occurred early in the fourth quarter. A.L. Brown’s defense intercepted the Mooresville quarterback a second time in the second half and returned the ball to the Mooresville 23-yard line. But, after a 10-yard pass completion and a 12-yard run put the ball at the Blue Devils’ 2-yard line, the Wonders could not punch in the touchdown and again turned the ball over on downs. A.L. Brown finally got on the board with just over two minutes to play, when Jaden Johnson ran it in from 2 yards out to make it a 14-6 game. A Xavier Chambers 14-yard pass to Johnson set up the Wonders’ only score of the game. When the Blue Devils recovered the Wonders’ onside kick attempt, they were able to run out the clock and hand the the Kannapolis squad yet another frustrating defeat. A.L. Brown closes its regular season next Friday at home against rival Concord in the “Battle for the Bell.”
Game Summary: Michael Freer Independent Tribune
For A.L. Brown, the loss, its fifth in the last six games, dropped the Wonders under .500 at 4-5 (1-5 in conference play). Three of A.L. Brown’s five losses this season have come by one score. Mooresville went over the .500 mark with the win, improving to 5-4 overall and 3-1 in conference play. Two touchdown passes by Sebastian Brown, one in each of the first two quarters, helped the Blue Devils take a 14-0 lead into halftime. From there, A.L. Brown was the story of the game, in more ways than one. On four different drives in the second half, the Wonders had the ball inside Mooresville territory, and on three of them they left without putting any points on the scoreboard. In the third quarter, A.L. Brown’s first drive stalled at the Blue Devils’ 35-yard line. Even after getting an interception on defense and returning it past midfield, the Wonders still couldn’t capitalize and had the drive stopped at the 25-yard line.
The moment that was the biggest blow to any hopes of a Wonders comeback occurred early in the fourth quarter. A.L. Brown’s defense intercepted the Mooresville quarterback a second time in the second half and returned the ball to the Mooresville 23-yard line. But, after a 10-yard pass completion and a 12-yard run put the ball at the Blue Devils’ 2-yard line, the Wonders could not punch in the touchdown and again turned the ball over on downs. A.L. Brown finally got on the board with just over two minutes to play, when Jaden Johnson ran it in from 2 yards out to make it a 14-6 game. A Xavier Chambers 14-yard pass to Johnson set up the Wonders’ only score of the game. When the Blue Devils recovered the Wonders’ onside kick attempt, they were able to run out the clock and hand the the Kannapolis squad yet another frustrating defeat. A.L. Brown closes its regular season next Friday at home against rival Concord in the “Battle for the Bell.”
Game Summary: Michael Freer Independent Tribune
Game #10
Kannapolis
vs
Concord
Kannapolis-47 Concord-0
What promised to be Concord’s best shot in years of taking back the coveted Victory Bell from A.L. Brown turned into the most lopsided shutout in the vaunted series’ history. Playing at their Memorial Stadium home, the Wonders dominated the Cream of Cabarrus third-ranked Spiders for a 47-0 non-conference victory Friday night, their seventh consecutive win in the series. When Concord captured the South Piedmont 3A Conference championship in its final conference game of the season last week, it secured a first-round home game in the state playoffs next week. A.L. Brown, however, will be following the state athletic association’s announcement of 4A playoff berths today to see if their .500 record is good enough to earn the Wonders a wild card bid.
“I think you had a Wonders team that was really talented that had a lot of setbacks in the season and kind of made a pact among themselves all week long to come out and play the way they were capable of,” said A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. “It’s nice to see when a plan comes together. It’s a very talented group that underachieved a little bit, and that’s on me. But I’m really glad to see them get an opportunity to go out in the Bell Game like this with a huge win.”
A.L. Brown’s 47-point differential was the second largest margin of victory in the rivalry’s 92-game history. The Wonders, which extended their program-record consecutive Bell Game victories streak to seven, leads the all-time series 45-43-4.Sophomore two-way player Xavier Chambers scored first-half touchdowns on a 33-yard pass reception and an 80-yard defensive fumble recovery, and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. A.L. Brown’s defense limited Concord to 137 yards rushing and one pass completion for 6 yards, which came on the Spiders’ last possession of the game. That was after the Wonders scored their final points midway through the fourth quarter, forcing a running clock for the rest of the game.
“We definitely didn’t perform up to our level,” said Concord coach Marty Paxton. “Too many turnovers (two). And (A.L. Brown) came ready to play, and it looked like we didn’t.”
RECORDS:
Concord 6-3 overall, 6-0 South Piedmont 3A; A.L. Brown 5-5, 1-5 Greater Metro 4A.
THE PLAY OF THE GAME:
Early in the second quarter, Concord had made its deepest penetration into A.L. Brown territory by establishing a first-and-10 at the Wonders’ 15-yard line. Concord wingback Xavier Sanders gained a few yards to the left but was stopped abruptly by a couple of A.L. Brown tacklers. One of them poked the ball loose, and it squirted straight into the hands of Chambers, who was flanking the action to the right of his linemen. The defensive back got such a big jump and reached the end zone so effortlessly that it looked like the Spiders were desperately hoping the play would be called back for some reason. Instead of the Spiders continuing to pursue their best scoring opportunity of the game, the Wonders doubled their lead to 14-0.
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS:
Concord:
● Alexander Petroff (42) makes the tackle on Kash Smith (7).
Todd Maulden/Special to the Independent Tribune● Freshman linebacker Alex Petroff and senior linemen Jameson Hackett each had seven tackles.
● Sophomore Keyon Phillips blocked two extra point attempts.
● Kevels Phillips (23) finds a rare hole.
● Senior Keveus Phillips had a team-high 52 yards on 10 carries.
A.L Brown:
● In addition to his two scores, Chambers set up another A.L. Brown touchdown in the second quarter when he returned a punt 32 yards to the Concord 5-yard line.
● Jaden Johnson, who rushed for a team-high 74 yards, benefitted from Chambers’ long punt return. On the ensuing play by, he scored on a 5-yard run – the first of his two touchdowns.
● Starting his first game at quarterback, junior Ashnah Lowery completed 8 of 17 pass attempts for 130 yards and two scores. He also rushed for 36 yards on seven carries.
● Senior middle linebacker Brock Morgan had a team-high 12 tackles
3 OBSERVATIONS:
● A.L. Brown’s Trent Thompson and Concord’s Joey Reali were honored at midfield before the game as their teams’ senior player with the “highest academic standing,” presented by The Great American Rivalry Series and the Marine Corp. Thompson, a starter in the defensive backfield, is his school’s National Honor Society president. Reali is a starter on the offensive line and serves as class president.
● Don Hines, a member of the Memorial Stadium chain gang for 40 years, was recognized with a public address announcement during the game. Since it’s unlikely the Wonders will host a state playoff game, Friday’s game is likely Hines’ last as he is retiring at the end of the season. A 1967 A.L. Brown graduate, the Hines has worked more than 450 varsity and JV games. I WONDER how many first downs that translates into.
● No one had a more vindicating moment than A.L. Brown receiver Derick Brazil. One play after dropping a wide-open pass in the end zone, Lowery targeted Brazil again just inside the left pylon for an 18-yard touchdown reception between two Concord defenders.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
State playoff berths will be announced Saturday. Concord is in, but A.L. Brown will need some help.
SCORING SUMMARY:
Concord 0 0 0 0 – 0
A.L. Brown 7 14 13 13 -- 47
First Quarter:
ALB – Xavier Chambers 33 pass from Ashnah Lowery (Michael Gutierrez kick)
Second Quarter:
ALB – Chambers 80 fumble return (Gutierrez kick)
ALB – Jaden Johnson 5 run (Gutierrez kick)
Third Quarter:
ALB – Derick Brazil 18 pass from Lowery (kick blocked)
ALB – Kash Smith 4 run (Gutierrez kick)
Fourth Quarter:
ALB – Jaden Johnson 19 run (kick blocked)
ALB – Mekhi Moses 2 run (Gutierrez kick)
Game Summary: Joe Habina Independent Tribune