Carolina Gridiron: AL Brown

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Thursday, August 25, 2016

Week 2 Top 15 (4A)

Carolina Gridiron ranks the top fifteen teams in each classification weekly during the football regular season. Teams are ranked based on a number of factors including strength of schedule, wins, and quality losses. Interact with us on Twitter (@NCGridiron and @NCGridironNews) and let us know your thoughts using the hashtag #CGTop15.

Tags # 4A # AL Brown # Butler Continue Reading

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

2016 Preseason Top 15 (4A)

Justin Jones 4:35 PM

Tags # 4A # AL Brown # Butler Continue Reading

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Carolina Gridiron Week 9 Top 15 (4A)

Justin Jones 9:03 PM

	Team	Record	LW
1	Scotland	(7-0)	2
2	Wake Forest	(7-0)	3
3	Charlotte Catholic	(6-0)	4
4	East Forsyth	(7-0)	5
5	Pinecrest	(7-0)	6
6	Mallard Creek	(6-2)	1
7	Middle Creek	(8-0)	9
8	Butler	(6-2)	8
9	Richmond	(6-1)	11
10	AL Brown	(7-0)	10
11	Dudley	(6-1)	12
12	Fuquay-Varina	(8-0)	13
13	Hough	(6-1)	15
14	Jack Britt	(7-1)	NR
15	Page	(6-1)	NR

Tags # 4A # AL Brown # Butler Continue Reading

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Carolina Gridiron Week 8 Top 15 (4A)

Justin Jones 8:12 PM

	Team	Record	LW
1	Mallard Creek	(6-1)	1
2	Scotland	(6-0)	2
3	Wake Forest	(6-0)	3
4	Charlotte Catholic	(5-0)	5
5	East Forsyth	(6-0)	6
6	Pinecrest	(6-0)	7
7	South Mecklenburg	(6-0)	9
8	Butler	(5-2)	4
9	Middle Creek	(7-0)	10
10	AL Brown	(6-0)	NR
11	Richmond	(5-1)	11
12	Dudley	(5-1)	12
13	Fuquay-Varina	(7-0)	13
14	North Davidson	(6-0)	14
15	Hough	(5-1)	NR

Tags # 4A # AL Brown # Butler Continue Reading

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Week One Top Games

Brian Barnes 8:32 PM

South Point @ Crest

vs.

South Point
Last Year's Record: 12-1
Points For Per Game (last year): 43.5
Points Against per Game (last year): 17

Crest
Last Year's Record: 10-3
Points Per Game (last year): 39.9
Points Against per Game (last year): 23.9

Last Meeting: 2nd Round 3AA Playoffs: South Point 46, Crest 33.
Series Wins Since 2003: South Point: 9 Crest: 2 (Crest last win 2006)
Series Avg Score Since 2003 South Point 32.1, Crest 25.9

Concord @ AL Brown

vs.

Concord
Last Year's Record: 13-3
Points Per Game (last year): 37.2
Points Against per Game (last year): 22.8

A.L. Brown
Last Year's Record: 10-4
Points Per Game (last year): 41.9
Points Against per Game (last year): 27.6

Last Meeting: Oct. 26, 2012: Concord 21, Brown 14
Series Wins Since 2003: Concord: 4, Brown: 6
Series Avg Score Since 2003: Concord 20, Brown 24.5

Middle Creek @ Garner

vs.

Middle Creek
Last Year's Record: 11-2
Points Per Game (last year): 37.2
Points Against per Game (last year): 24.9

Garner
Last Year's Record: 14-1
Points Per Game (last year): 44.5
Points Against per Game (last year): 14.7

Last Meeting: Sept. 26, 2012: Middle Creek 29, Garner 46
Series Wins Since 2003: Middle Creek: 1 (2009) Garner: 8
Series Avg Score Since 2003: Middle Creek 17, Garner 29.2

Hillside @ New Bern

vs.

Hillside
Last Year's Record: 8-3
Points Per Game (last year): 32.2
Points Against per Game (last year): 19.9

New Bern
Last Year's Record: 15-0 (4A Champions)
Points Per Game (last year): 43
Points Against per Game (last year): 15.2

Last Meeting: Aug. 17, 2012: Hillside 20, New Bern 40
Series Wins Since 2003: Hillside: 1, New Bern: 2
Series Avg Score Since 2003: Hillside 17, New Bern 24.7

(Helmets courtesy of http://nschelmets.x10host.com)

Tags # 2013 # AL Brown # Concord Continue Reading

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Legends Meet for "Rivalry Dinner"

Justin Jones 11:27 PM

CONCORD – Troutman’s Barbecue in south Concord was abuzz on Sunday night as past and present coaches from Concord High School and A.L. Brown High School met and talked about the history behind of the rivalry between the two schools. Concord and A.L. Brown are traditionally two of the strongest programs in North Carolina and have the longest continually played rivalry game in the state. Traditionally, the game is played during the last week of the season. This season, however, due to realignment (the Wonders are 4A, the Spiders 3A) the matchup opens the season in Week 1. The winner of the game keeps the “Victory Bell” for an entire year, painting it in their school’s colors. For many years, this game was known as the “Battle for the Bell” or simply “The Bell Game.”

Former Concord coach E.Z. Smith led off the evening and spoke about why he wanted to put on an event like this. “I’m here because of my love of the Concord-Kannapolis game” Smith mentioned as he introduced the coaches on the panel.

Roy Boyles was the first A.L. Brown coach to speak. “Nothing prepares you for what you see when you come out of the dressing room and see the crowd…there’s nothing quite like this” spoke Boyles as he talked about the relationship between the game, schools, communities, and Cannon Mills.

When Bob Boswell first got the head coaching job at A.L. Brown, he was asked by a Wonders fan at a local sandwich shop if he would rather be 9-1 with the loss being to Concord or 1-9 with the win being over the Spiders, he replied that 9-1 would be his choice. The fan quickly replied, “you ain’t gonna be here long.” Coach Boswell quickly learned about the magnitude of the rivalry game with Concord. “It’s a unique experience…fans would line the stands with towels and blankets when they got off their first shift.”

Hall of Fame coach Bruce Hardin, who took over as the coach at Kannapolis in 1989, was most proud of the sportsmanship between the two teams and fan bases. “I’m most proud that there was never an incident after a game in the eleven years I was there.”

Ron Massey, who said it was “tough following legends like Bob (Boswell) and Bruce (Hardin) at Kannapolis…I’ve coached in lots of games. Nothing compares to the Concord-Kannapolis game.”

The first Concord coach to speak was Sonny Pruette, who had the unique experience of coaching in the game in the 1960s as well as being an administrator in the 1990s during the week leading up to the game. “As time goes by, things change. What doesn’t change is the intensity and sportsmanship…two communities are coming together” Pruette recalled about the rivalry.

Gerald Cook coached the Spiders in two Bell games, winning one and losing the other. He also played in three games against A.L. Brown. One of Cook’s prized possessions, which he shared with the crowd on Sunday night, was the jersey he wore during his junior year, when Concord defeated Brown 20-19.

W.A. Cline took to the microphone next and talked about some of his memories with the games with A.L. Brown. “You have to experience it” to know the intensity and passion that the players play with, Cline commented, recalling his four games in the 1970s.

E.Z. Smith returned to the podium a second time and shared some of his fondest memories of the rivalry, including his first victory in the series, a 7-6 victory in 1981. “It becomes a part of your life” spoke Smith as he reflected on his twenty-nine regular season games as a head coach against the Wonders along with three playoff matchups in 1991, 1997, and 1999. Other coaches nodded in agreement as Smith spoke of how proud he was to watch his son play in multiple games against A.L. Brown. Coaches Boswell, Hardin, and Pruette have all had sons and/or grandsons play in the “Bell Game.”

The two current coaches were the last to speak at the event. Third-year head coach Mike Newsome spoke highly of the program at Brown: “to be the head coach at Kannapolis is a huge honor.” The former Charlotte area coach compared this rivalry game with others. “Butler and Independence at Memorial Stadium had a lot of people…but Concord and Kannapolis blow everything else out of the water…I’m so proud to be a part of the best rivalry around.”

Fourth-year Concord head coach Glen Padgett was a Concord assistant during the 1980s and 1990s. “This is such a special rivalry…I am humbled and honored to be here,” Padgett said as he spoke to the crowd. “Such a special game needs special attention…nothing matches the atmosphere when Concord and Kannapolis play each other.”

Concord and A.L. Brown play Friday night at 7:30 at Kannapolis’ Memorial Stadium. Both teams are young at key positions and the first game of the season is always a game where coaches are learning so much about their team. Fans should get there early to ensure a seat for the game. Follow us on Twitter, @NCGridiron, for updates from the game.

Standing (L-R): Ron Massey, Bruce Hardin, Mike Newsome, Glen Padgett, E.Z. Smith

Seated (L-R): Roy Boyles, Bill Watts, Bob Boswell, Gerald Cook, Sonny Pruette, W.A. Cline

Series Record
1931 Concord 13-0
1932 Kannapolis 12-0
1933 Concord 20-6
1934 Concord 20-7
1935 Concord 13-8
1936 Tie 0-0
1937 Tie 0-0
1938 Kannapolis 18-12
1939 Concord 13-6
1940 Concord 7-0
1941 Kannapolis 19-13
1942 Tie 7-7
1943 Concord 26-7
1944 Concord 25-0
1945 Concord 27-0
1946 Concord 13-0
1947 Concord 35-0
1948 Concord 23-0
1949 Concord 12-7
1950 Tie 0-0
1951 Concord 7-6
1952 Kannapolis 27-13
1953 Kannapolis 32-0
1954 Kannapolis 7-6
1955 Kannapolis 41-0
1956 Kannapolis 20-14
1957 Concord 7-0
1958 Kannapolis 13-0
1959 Kannapolis 7-0
1960 Kannapolis 14-8
1961 Concord 14-6
1962 Concord 6-0
1963 Concord 20-19
1964 Concord 13-12
1965 Concord 12-0
1966 Concord 13-6
1967 Concord 21-11
1968 Concord 21-8
1969 Concord 33-6
1970 Concord 13-11
1971 Kannapolis 10-7
1972 Kannapolis 30-13
1973 Kannapolis 7-3
1974 Concord 14-6
1975 Concord 21-0
1976 Concord 7-3
1977 Concord 18-6
1978 Kannapolis 33-0
1979 Kannapolis 31-6
1980 Kannapolis 41-0
1981 Concord 7-6
1982 Kannapolis 14-10
1983 Concord 27-7
1984 Kannapolis 26-8
1985 Concord 7-6
1986 Concord 14-0
1987 Kannapolis 19-0
1988 Kannapolis 9-7
1989 Kannapolis 16-14
1990 Kannapolis 20-19
1991 Concord 30-20
1992 Kannapolis 27-19
1993 Kannapolis 28-6
1994 Concord 35-14
1995 Kannapolis 5-0
1996 Concord 27-0
1997 Kannapolis 33-14
1998 Kannapolis 28-10
1999 Kannapolis 10-7
2000 Kannapolis 28-0
2001 Kannapolis 1-0(Concord forfeit)
2002 Kannapolis 42-6
2003 Kannapolis 13-12 (OT)
2004 Concord 20-9
2005 Kannapolis 19-14
2006 Concord 42-20
2007 Kannapolis 45-25
2008 Kannapolis 56-6
2009 Concord 13-10
2010 Kannapolis 28-21
2011 Kannapolis 31-26
2012 Concord 21-14

Tags # AL Brown # Battle for the Bell # Bell Game Continue Reading

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Top 10 Games of the Week for Week 13

Justin Jones 9:44 PM

10. West Mecklenburg at Olympic

9. Weddington at Charlotte Catholic

8. Wakefield at Garner

7. A.L. Brown at Hickory Ridge

6. Hickory at Burns

5. A.C. Reynolds at Porter Ridge

4. Freedom at East Henderson

3. Hunt at Cardinal Gibbons

2. Leesville Road at Middle Creek

1. West Rowan at Concord

Tags # AC Reynolds # AL Brown # Burns Continue Reading

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Top 10 Games of the Week for Week 4

Justin Jones 5:33 PM

It’s week 4 of the 2012 high school football season and fans and teams are looking forward to Friday night. We’re changing things up this year and highlighting the top ten games to see each week. If you can’t make it to one of these games this Friday, be sure to go out and support your local team.

Carolina Gridiron Top Ten Games of the Week

10. Kinston at Havelock

2011 2AA runner-up Kinston travels to take on defending 3A champion Havelock in matchup of two teams with high scoring offenses.

9. South Columbus at Hoggard

2A title contender Stallions travel to take on 4A Vikings, which have won its first three games by an average of 33 points.

8. East Forsyth at Reynolds, R.J.

Ranked #1 in the 2012 inaugural FAIR Rankings, East Forsyth (who only gives up five points a game) travels to cross-county Reynolds with each team seeking its first 4-0 record in years.

7. Ashbrook at Charlotte Catholic

After a close loss in the inaugural Patriotic Bowl against Charlotte Country Day, Catholic looks to rebound against Ashbrook, who is coming off a bye week and looking for a third straight win to start the season.

6. Ragsdale at Page

Defending 4AA Page is 0-3 and looking anywhere for a win after coming so close in overtime last week against High Point Central. Ragsdale is 3-0, averaging 29 points a game and looking to avenge last year’s 35-14 loss to the Pirates.

5. Statesville at North Davidson

North Davidson has won its first three games by an average of 27 points and is looking to its defense to stop a Statesville team who can move the ball on the ground with ease.

4. Garner at Middle Creek

After a big win last week, Middle Creek has risen to the #2 spot in the Carolina Gridiron Power Rankings. This week, the Mustangs host Garner, who dazzled Triangle football fans last year with a run all the way to the state 4AA title game.

3. Franklin at Swain County

1A Swain County, a perennial state title contender, looks to improve their record to 4-0 with a win over 3A Franklin, who is looking to rebound from last Friday’s tough loss to T.C. Roberson.

2. Butler at Vance

The Butler Bulldogs are looking to return to their status as the top 4A team in the state. A win over Mallard Creek in week 1 followed up with a 69 point effort in their last game have vaulted Butler to the top of the Carolina Gridiron Power Rankings. Vance is coming off a dominating 35-0 win over Independence and doesn’t mind playing the role of giant killer, having done so on many occasions before. The Cougars look to become the top team in Charlotte, and a win over Butler on Saturday night would certainly put them on the path to make that happen.

1. Porter Ridge at Brown, A.L.

Porter Ridge has obliterated county rivals Monroe, Piedmont, and Forest Hills in the first three weeks of the season, outscoring them 131-26. Now, the Pirates, coming off a trip to the 4A state title game last year, face what could be their toughest test of the year. A.L. Brown is playing dominant football this year, opening the season with a 44-0 victory at Shelby, winning 62-6 over rival South Rowan, and taking down 4A Rocky River 38-21 last week. The Wonders can move the ball on offense, averaging 44 points a week while their defense has only allowed nine points a game. This game is also a homecoming for Porter Ridge coach Blair Hardin, who played at A.L. Brown, winning a state title in 1997.

Tags # AL Brown # Ashbrook # Butler Continue Reading

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Carolina Gridiron Game of the Week - Week 11 Postgame Wrap-up

Justin Jones 8:51 PM

KANNAPOLIS – Fans enjoy watching a good football game with some good weather on Friday nights. Mother Nature had different plans for football fans this week though. It was cold and rainy on Friday night as the longest continuous rivalry kicked off for its 81^st year. Although the Concord Spiders gave it their best in a comeback attempt, it was the A. L. Brown Wonders who won this year’s “Battle of the Bell” in front of a capacity crowd with a score of 31-26.

Concord won the coin flip and chose to defer to the second half, and Brown made them pay with a big run back on the opening kick-off giving the Wonders good field position. A few plays later, Brown’s Damien Washington was in the end zone on a 9 yard end-around to the left side. A fumble on Concord’s ensuing possession gave the Wonders terrific field position and Kalif Phillips scored on a 5 yard run to give Brown a quick 14-0 lead.

The rest of the first quarter showed a Brown team moving the ball at will against a Spider defense that was only giving up 17 points a game so far this year. A 33 yard field goal by Erik Amaya and another touchdown run by Philips, this one from 32 yards out, made the score 24-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Making some adjustments, the Concord offense found their groove in the second quarter led by quarterback B. J. Beecher. Beecher threw two scoring passes in the second quarter, one a 7 yard strike to Alex Asbury and another a 15 yarder to tight end Terrance Knox. With the score 24-14 it looked like the Spiders were about to keep the momentum on their side, but a quick strike by Brown quarterback to Keeon Johnson with under 30 seconds left in the half made the halftime score 31-14 in favor of the Wonders.

The Spiders took the second half kickoff and drove 77 yards with a mix of runs and passes, scoring on a 15 yard pass from Beecher to Bravone Howard. The PAT bounced off the upright, and the score stood at 31-20.

The Concord defense stood strong in the second half, only allowing Brown 60 yards of offense. Getting the ball back on offense after a Xavier Thompson interception, Concord executed a 17 play, 85 yard drive resulting with a 1 yard keeper by B. J. Beecher. The two point conversion attempt was no good, and the score stood at 31-26 with just under six minutes to play.

A successful pooch kick on the resulting kickoff led to a Brown fumble and Concord recovery. But, Concord was unable to take advantage of the extra possession, coming up short on fourth down inside the Wonders’ 40 yard line. Brown was unable to successfully run out the clock, and the Spiders were able to take over for a final attempt to win the rivalry game. Concord couldn’t convert, though, and the Wonders celebrated at midfield as the last pass attempt fell incomplete.

After the game, A. L. Brown head coach Mike Newsome commented on his first “Bell Game”. “It was great to get a win. We set out to win championships and we won one tonight. I’m proud of the guys and their effort tonight. We’re going to have adversity and it’s good to face adversity and get a win.

Concord’s Glen Padgett had the following to say about the game: “It took us a while to adjust to their speed, and we did…I’m so proud of our kids’ effort…they never gave up. To be in a game like this against a great program and have a chance to win, I just like the way our team played. This is the level of intensity we need to bring every Friday in the playoffs.

Check back with Carolina Gridiron for information on the playoffs and the final FAIR rankings of the 2011 season.

Tags # AL Brown # Battle for the Bell # Carolina Gridiron Continue Reading

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Carolina Gridiron Game of the Week - Week 11

Justin Jones 8:12 PM

The final week of the regular season is here and now it’s do or die in many conference races across the entire state. Playoff berths and home playoff games are on the line. Which teams will make it to the big dance and which teams are going to stay home? Be sure to go out and support your local team this Friday night.

Carolina Gridiron Game of the Week

There are so many good games on the schedule this week. Trying to choose one conference championship game to go to is almost too difficult task to do. So we decided to go with a matchup that has historical significance. This week’s Carolina Gridiron has decided that you can’t go wrong with the oldest continuous rivalry in the state and this Friday we’ll be watching the Concord Spiders take on the A.L. Brown Wonders in South Piedmont 3A action.

The Battle for the Bell is in its 81^st year, with Concord holding a slight advantage, 39-37. There have been also been four ties in the series (1936, 1937, 1942, 1950) and one forfeit (2001). This year’s matchup features two teams looking to battle for the South Piedmont conference title, something not unique to this series. Although quite common in this series, there was an eleven year period (1989-1999) where the game between Concord and Brown actually decided the SPC 3A title in the final week of the season.

The Concord Spiders, led by head coach Glen Padgett, come in to this week's game with 8-2 record. The Spiders have had some big non-conference wins against West Charlotte and Monroe this season and have taken down most of their conference foes. They were tripped up last week by Hickory Ridge but are looking to rebound and clinch at least a share of the South Piedmont 3A conference title.

Offensively, the Spiders are led by junior quarterback B. J. Beecher who has thrown for over 2072 yards and 22 touchdowns this year. Beecher will be making his third start in the Battle for the Bell, going 1-1 with a win in his freshman year. One of Beecher’s favorite targets is tight end and UNC recruit Terrance Knox. The Spiders have averaged 37 points on offense while only giving up 17 points a game on defense pitching two shutouts along the way.

A.L. Brown is led by former Butler coach Mike Newsome. Newsome may be new to the Battle for the Bell, but he is no stranger to big games, winning two straight 4AA titles before making the move to become the coach of the Wonders. Brown has dominated their South Piedmont opponents this year, giving up only 24 points total in six games, shutting out four teams.

The Wonder offense is led by two tremendous athletes, Kalif Phillips and Damien Washington. Phillips leads the Brown offense with over 1000 yards rushing and 23 touchdowns. Washington, who is verbally committed to North Carolina, has 14 scores this year and was recently named to the North Carolina Shrine Bowl team. The Brown defense has given up only 11.5 points a game and has been the driving force behind the Wonders’ 9-1 record.

It looks to be a great game Friday night in Kannapolis. Check with the Carolina Gridiron livescoreboard and follow us on Twitter, @NCGridiron and @NCGridironNews for information about the game.

Tags # AL Brown # Battle for the Bell # Bell Game Continue Reading

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Carolina Gridiron Game of the Week for Week 1

Justin Jones 12:02 PM

It's football season again. The sights and sounds of Friday nights are right around the corner and fans everywhere are ready to watch their favorite teams take to the gridiron in victory. Carolina Gridiron is ready to join in the experience as we go throughout our coverage area searching for the best games, food, and stadium atmospheres.

Carolina Gridiron Game of the Week

There are a lot of good games taking place in Week 1, but one stood above the rest in its matchup of historically great teams. The Carolina Gridiron Game of the Week for Week 1 is Shelby at A.L. Brown. Both teams have won multiple championships in their history and ironically, both teams are breaking in new coaches. Shelby promoted long-time assistant Lance Ware to replace Chris Norman as head coach of the Lions. Brown hired Mike Newsome away from Butler to replace Ron Massey as coach of the Wonders.

Stay tuned to Carolina Gridiron for more information on the Game of the Week. Follow our Twitter, @NCGridiron, for updates from the game.

Tags # AL Brown # football # Friday night Continue Reading

Friday, May 6, 2011

Big Time Coaching Changes For Two of NC's Most Successful Programs

Justin Jones 9:16 PM

Sources have commented that the Wonders are close to naming Butler head coach Mike Newsome as their new head coach.

Newsome has coached with the Bulldogs of Butler in Mecklenberg County since the school's opening in 1997 and has been the head coach since 2002, leading Butler to the past 2 4AA state championships.

On another note, Shelby High School has announced the retirement of Chris Norman as head football coach. Coach Norman has been one of the most successful coaches in North Carolina over the last 15 years, going 147-39 and leading the Golden Lions to 5 state championship game appearances, winning the 2A title in 1998 and 2AA titles in 2005 and 2006.

Talk about the coaching moves on the Carolina Gridiron message board.

Tags # 2A # 2AA # 3A Continue Reading

Thursday, August 25, 2016

Week 2 Top 15 (4A)

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

2016 Preseason Top 15 (4A)

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Carolina Gridiron Week 9 Top 15 (4A)

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Carolina Gridiron Week 8 Top 15 (4A)

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Week One Top Games

South Point @ Crest

Concord @ AL Brown

Middle Creek @ Garner

Hillside @ New Bern

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Legends Meet for "Rivalry Dinner"

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Top 10 Games of the Week for Week 13

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Top 10 Games of the Week for Week 4

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Carolina Gridiron Game of the Week - Week 11 Postgame Wrap-up

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Carolina Gridiron Game of the Week - Week 11

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Carolina Gridiron Game of the Week for Week 1

Friday, May 6, 2011

Big Time Coaching Changes For Two of NC's Most Successful Programs

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