Carolina Gridiron: Spiders

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Sunday, November 10, 2024

Campbell Upset Bid Foiled by Last Second Field Goal

BUIES CREEK – Brandon Peskin's 36-yard field goal with one second remaining lifted No. 13 Richmond over Campbell 27-24 Saturday afternoon at Barker-Lane Stadium, spoiling the Camels' latest upset bid.

Richmond (8-2, 6-0 CAA) trailed for much of the contest before mounting a decisive late-game drive, covering 45 yards in 11 plays to set up Peskin's game-winner. The victory came despite Campbell's impressive 273-yard rushing performance, a season-best for the Camels (3-7, 1-5 CAA).

The drama peaked in the final two minutes. After Campbell's Brandon Guzman intercepted Richmond quarterback Camden Coleman with 3:46 remaining, the Camels advanced to the Spider 35-yard line but failed to convert on fourth down. Coleman, who finished with 252 passing yards and two touchdowns, then engineered the winning drive by completing four of five passes and rushing for 27 yards to position Peskin for the decisive kick.

Campbell controlled the early stages, taking a 7-0 lead when Mike Chandler II capped a 91-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Richmond responded early in the second quarter as Coleman connected with Nick DeGennaro on a 40-yard touchdown pass to level the score.

The momentum shifted immediately back to Campbell when Randall King returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, marking the Camels' first kickoff return score since 2018. Connor Lytton's 40-yard field goal as time expired in the first half gave Campbell a 17-7 advantage.

Richmond rallied in the third quarter. Zach Palmer-Smith's 1-yard touchdown run cut the deficit to 17-14, and Peskin's first field goal of the day, from 36 yards, tied the game at 17 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Camels reclaimed the lead when Chandler II, who rushed for a season-high 121 yards, found Sincere Brown for a 14-yard touchdown pass. Brown's catch was his 11th touchdown reception of the season, establishing a new Campbell single-season record.

Richmond answered with a methodical 12-play, 76-yard drive, culminating in Coleman's 9-yard touchdown pass to Ja'Vion Griffin that tied the game at 24 with 4:45 remaining.

Landon Ellis led Richmond's receiving corps with seven catches for 101 yards, while Campbell's ground attack featured strong contributions from JJ Cowan, who added 82 yards on 12 carries.

Photo Credit: Bennett Scarborough

Defensively, Richmond's Matthew Traynor led all players with 12 tackles, including two for loss, and intercepted a pass. Campbell's Cornelius Davis recorded nine tackles, and Jalen Brooks registered eight stops with the game's only sack.

The victory keeps Richmond unbeaten in CAA play. Campbell will finish its 2024 season with a road game at Delaware next Saturday before hosting Towson on November 23.

Sunday, November 26, 2023

North Carolina Central Fall to Richmond in FCS First Round

Justin Jones 10:26 AM

RICHMOND, VA – In a high-scoring first-round FCS playoff showdown, the Richmond Spiders emerged victorious against the North Carolina Central Eagles with a final score of 49-27. The game, filled with explosive plays and offensive fireworks ultimately tilted in favor of Richmond and spoiled the Eagles’ first-ever playoff appearance since moving up to Division 1 in 2011.

The Eagles found themselves trailing early in the first quarter after a 35-yard touchdown pass from Richmond's Kyle Wickersham to Nick DeGennaro, putting them at a 7-0 disadvantage. However, North Carolina Central responded with a gritty 1-yard touchdown run by Davius Richard, bringing the score to 7-6. The Eagles then seized the lead with an electrifying 91-yard touchdown connection between Richard and Devin Smith, ending the first quarter with a 13-7 lead.

Despite Richmond narrowing the gap in the second quarter, with Richard's 18-yard touchdown run making it 20-14, North Carolina Central showcased their offensive capabilities. Richard demonstrated versatility, leading the team with both passing and rushing contributions.

In the third quarter, Richmond took control, scoring three unanswered touchdowns. Savon Smith's 14-yard rushing touchdown and an impressive 65-yard punt return shifted the momentum in Richmond's favor. The Spiders extended their lead further with a 71-yard touchdown pass from Wickersham to Jerry Garcia Jr., entering the final quarter with a 35-20 advantage.

North Carolina Central fought hard in the fourth quarter, with Richard orchestrating a 75-yard drive that culminated in his 2-yard touchdown run, narrowing the score to 35-27. However, Richmond responded with three additional touchdowns, securing the 49-27 win.

Offensively, North Carolina Central's Richard showcased his skills, passing for 262 yards and a touchdown while leading the team in rushing with 51 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Devin Smith was a standout receiver, amassing 202 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Jayden Flaker led the Eagles with 11 total tackles, demonstrating resilience despite Richmond's offensive onslaught. Despite the loss, North Carolina Central's defense showed glimpses of strength, with Quantez Mansfield making key plays, including 1.5 tackles for loss.

Although the Eagles fell short in this matchup, their tenacity and offensive firepower were evident. As they regroup for upcoming games, North Carolina Central aims to build on the positives from this contest and make strides in the remainder of the season.

Tags # 2023 # Eagles # FCS Continue Reading

Saturday, October 28, 2023

Richmond Dominates Second Half to Secure CAA Victory over Campbell

Justin Jones 10:54 PM

RICHMOND – In a highly competitive Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) showdown, the Richmond Spiders displayed their dominance in the second half, forcing three turnovers and outscoring the visiting Campbell Camels 34-6 after the halftime break. This remarkable performance led Richmond to a convincing 44-13 victory at Robins Stadium.

Richmond (6-3, 5-1 CAA) extended its winning streak to four games, while Campbell (4-4, 3-3 CAA) struggled to find offensive momentum, recording its lowest scoring output of the season.

The game was evenly poised with Richmond leading 16-13 and just 2 minutes and 45 seconds left in the third quarter. However, the tide turned dramatically with a series of three consecutive turnovers by Campbell, including a game-changing 42-yard interception return for a touchdown by Wayne Galloway. This marked the beginning of a dominant 28-0 fourth quarter for Richmond.

Quarterbacks Camden Coleman and Kyle Wickersham, in tandem, completed 18-of-26 passes for 265 yards. Wickersham connected on two touchdown passes, while Savon Smith rushed for a pair of scores, accumulating 51 yards on eight carries. Jerry Garcia, Jr. played a pivotal role with two catches for 46 yards and a touchdown.

Campbell Defensive Lineman Ethan Quarshie
Photo Credit: Campbell Athletics

On the defensive side, Tristan Wheeler led the Richmond defense with 12 tackles, which included a sack and 1.5 stops for loss. He also contributed by forcing and recovering a fumble. Marlem Louis added significant pressure with two forced fumbles, 2.0 sacks, and five total tackles.

For the Camels, Hajj-Malik Williams completed 20-of-32 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown but had a season-high two interceptions. Williams also contributed on the ground with 47 rushing yards. VJ Wilkins made five receptions for 55 yards, and Lamagea McDowell rushed for 35 yards on 12 carries.

Monchovia Gaffney led Campbell with eight tackles, while Tre Moore and George Wilson recorded sacks.

With three of their final four regular season games on the road in 2023, Campbell will head to North Carolina on November 4 for their last non-conference matchup. They will then return home for a November 11 game against top-10 ranked Delaware before concluding the regular season at North Carolina A&T.

Tags # #NCCFB # CAA # Camels Continue Reading

Monday, August 20, 2012

Concord's Beecher Player of the Week

Justin Jones 9:18 PM

Quarterback B.J. Beecher of Concord has been named the Carolina Gridiron Player of the Week for Week 1. The senior signal caller led the Spiders to a 62-35 win over West Charlotte last Friday.

Along the way, Beecher passed for an amazing 454 yards and seven touchdowns, five in the first half alone. Completing 20 of 24 passes with no interceptions, Beecher found six different receivers for scores.

Schools interested in Beecher include Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Duke, N.C. State, and Tennessee.

The Spiders take on East Rowan this Friday night.

Tags # B.J. Beecher # Carolina Gridiron # Concord Continue Reading

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Carolina Gridiron Game of the Week for Week 14

Justin Jones 10:52 PM

Making it to the third round of the playoffs is special for any team. Teams that have made it this far consider the third round as the make or break round on the way to a state championship. Although the pod system has caused much debate because of the uneven matchups it can present in the early rounds, by round three the best teams are still remaining and beginning to face off. Be sure to go out and support your team or catch the big local game this Friday night.

Carolina Gridiron Game of the Week

3A football has been extremely exciting to watch this year across the state. Programs that compete in the 3A level have both the combination of larger teams with more athletes while still keeping that hometown football team feel. The teams in this week's matchup are no different. This week's game of the week features the three-time defending 3A champion West Rowan Falcons taking on the Concord Spiders in the Midwest 3A sectional championship.

Scott Young's West Rowan Falcons (11-2) are no stranger to late playoff runs. Along with their three recent titles, they were one of the winningest programs in North Carolina over the last ten year. They have made the playoffs in each of those seasons, going multiple rounds in most of them. The Falcons are led by offense by running back Dinkin Miller, whose explosive speed and quick moves on the field have allowed the Falcons to once again dominate the North Piedmont 3A conference. Defensively, Logan Stoodley leads a defense that has only given up 15.4 points a game. West Rowan defeated Mount Pleasant 31-12 in the first round of the playoffs and fought back to defeat Statesville last week. A last second score gave the Falcons a 32-27 victory.

The Concord Spiders, led by coach Glenn Padgett, are 10-3 and in the third round for the second year in a row. Concord is led on offense by quarterback B.J. Beecher and running back Denzel Philips. Catching a lot of Beecher's passes is UNC-bound tight end Terrance Knox. Offensively, the Spiders score 35.2 points a game while only giving up 17 a game on defense. The Spiders finished second in the South Piedmont 3A conference and earned the #3 seed in the Midwest. Concord defeated county rival 30-6 in the first round and Rockingham County 35-8 last week.

It looks to be a great game Friday night in Mt. Ulla.

Tags # Carolina Gridiron # Concord # Falcons 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