A.L. Brown looking good heading into second round

By Bill Kiser

Kannapolis Citizen

A.L. Brown’s coaching staff isn’t worrying so much about how many yards the Wonders gain, or how many yards they give up to opponents during the playoffs.

No, the only statistic they’re worrying about is the final score — and whether Brown is on the winning side of it.

“Stats and everything like that don’t really mean a lot this time of the year,” Wonders defensive coordinator Noah Lyon said. “The biggest thing right now is surviving and advancing. The biggest thing is getting to the next round.”

That will certainly be the case Friday night, when A.L. Brown hosts South Piedmont Conference rival Marvin Ridge in the second round of the 3AA state playoffs.

Game time is 7:30 p.m. at Kannapolis Memorial Stadium.

The Wonders (10-2), seeded fourth in the 3AA West bracket, needed another big game from quarterback Jamill Lott in beating 13th-seeded Lake Norman 

42-27 in their playoff opener on Nov. 15.

Lott threw for career highs of 207 yards and four touchdowns — two going to wide receiver T.J. Johnson — and ran for a team-best 71 yards for Brown, which had to deal with a Wildcats defense geared towards stopping the run.

“We knew they would do that going in,” Wonders offensive line coach Todd Hagler said. “We were going to have to throw it a little bit, and Jamill and our receivers both played well.

“We were able to protect Jamill just enough, but as many people as they brought sometimes, it was Jamill finding the open space in their blitz.”

Johnson caught three passes for a season-best 126 yards, including TD receptions of 42 and 62 yards. Lott also had TD passes of 30 yards to Colby Reid and 15 yards to Zach Massey, and Travis Riley had scoring runs of 9 and 1 yards.

While Brown did commit two turnovers — including Lott’s fourth interception, and his first in the last five games — it was Lake Norman’s miscues that set up two Wonders scores. A 

65-yard interception return by Xavier Watson led to Riley’s first TD run, and a blocked punt in the third quarter set up Riley’s second score.

“When we got the ball down in the red zone, we were able to convert into points every time,” Hagler said. “That was huge for us.”

Brown learned a lot about keeping turnovers to a minimum in its last game against the 12th-seeded Mavericks (7-5), who advanced to the second round with a 14-6 upset win over No. 5 seed Forestview last week.

While the Wonders held Marvin Ridge to just seven first downs and 104 yards total offense in their Sept. 26 meeting, they also committed five turnovers. That allowed the Mavericks to stay in contention in a game that Brown eventually won in overtime 23-20.

“To their credit, they’ve got a very good football team,” Hagler said. “Hopefully, we’ll play a lot better than we did the first time.”

However, Marvin Ridge has made some adjustments to its offense since its last appearance at Memorial Stadium, moving senior Diego Lawrence from wideout to tailback.

Lawrence accounted for most of the Mavericks offense in their first-round playoff win _ the first in the program’s two-year history. He ran for 111 yards on 16 carries, and caught five passes for 84 more yards.

“Their offense has changed,” Lyon said. “Early in the year, they used him only half of the time in the backfield. Now he predominately in the backfield, and they’re creating new ways to get the ball to him. … They are a much improved team offensively than when we played them the first time.

“They know what we did, and we know what they did. So we’re going to put some wrinkles in that hopefully keeps them off balance, and they’ll probably put in some things to try and keep us off balance.”

Northwest ends season with loss to Catholic

By Bill Kiser

Kannapolis Citizen

After all that Northwest Cabarrus went through during the season — injuries and lineup changes — just making it into the state playoffs was a moral victory.

So even though the Trojans’ run through the 3AA playoffs ended after just one game, first-year head coach Rich Williams believes that the trials and tribulations of the last three months will give his returning players something to build on.

“It didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but we were able to get into the playoffs,” Williams said after Northwest’s 43-13 playoff loss to Charlotte Catholic.

“We played with a lot of heart and a lot of emotion, and I’m proud of the kids because they didn’t give up.”

Northwest (5-7), which finished seventh in the North Piedmont Conference standings, earned up the 16th and final seed in the 3AA West bracket.

However, that also earned the Trojans one of the toughest first-round matchups in the playoffs — against No. 1 seed Catholic (10-2), which won the 3AA state title in 2005 after taking the 2AA title the previous season.

The Cougars — who had won eight straight games to close out the regular season — showed why they are considered a state title contender year-in and year-out, racing out to a 21-0 lead in the first half despite turning the ball over three times.

However, the turnover bug bit Northwest in the second half — three turnovers, all of which set up Catholic touchdowns.

“They’re a good football team, and we knew that going in,” Williams said. “We hung with them in the first half, but we had a few mistakes in the second half and we never could recover from that.”

Northwest Cabarrus’ defense also had problems dealing with the Cougars’ running game, which piled up 418 yards. Joe Felts ran for a game-high 168 yards, and Jadarius Bruce added 149 yards.

Catholic’s final turnover of the first half, a fumbled punt, set up the Trojans’ first touchdown, a 4-yard run by Calvin Nelson with 2:20 remaining to pull Northwest within 21-7.

Yet the Trojans didn’t put together a scoring drive until late in the fourth quarter, when Dolando Clowney capped a 

16-play, 80-yard drive with his 1-yard TD plunge on the game’s final play.

Fred House ran for 82 yards for Northwest, and Arrick Hincher — one of two quarterbacks the Trojans used — threw for 54 yards on 5-of-7 completions. Starter Jonathon Wallace struggled to 37 passing yards on 5-of-17 completions, with two interceptions.

With the 2008 season over, Williams is already looking ahead to 2009.

Northwest will lose 20 seniors, but will return at least 10 starters, as well as all-NPC quarterback Jeremy Cannon, who sat out this season after suffering a knee injury the week before the season began.

“Making the playoffs was an accomplishment, and it was an accomplishment for us to fight through all the adversity we had this year,” Williams said.

“We’ll see how we’ll do. We’ve got a lot of work to do this winter, and we’ll get started in a couple of weeks. Hopefully, we’ll be better next year.”

Cabarrus Arts Galleries Art Walk set for Friday night

 

What promises to be the biggest Art Walk of the year is set for Friday, 6-9 p.m., in downtown Concord. Read more

Concord tree lighting and Mooresville parade coming up

Concord’s 11th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will be on Friday from 6-8 p.m.

The location is Market Street and Cabarrus Avenue, across from the downtown parking deck.

Market Street will begin closing at approximately 1 p.m. from the intersections of Cabarrus and Market streets and Barbrick and Market streets.

Limited access will be available until 5 p.m. on Market Street.

After 5 p.m. Market Street will be closed to all through traffic.

Entertainment this year will feature the Choral Academy under the direction of Gary Shive; Cox Mill Elementary Chorus under the direction of Eric Bond; and acoustic guitar by Gary Gilmore.

Santa Claus will be on hand for the children to make a request for gifts. Children’s crafts, face painting and balloons will be available and free.

The Tree Lighting will take place at 6:30 p.m. with fireworks at 7:30.

 

Mooresville      parade Nov. 25

The 64th annual Mooresville Christmas parade will be Nov. 25, starting at 3:45 p.m. 

The route will state at the intersection of Statesville Avenue and Main Street, travel down Main Street and end just past Wilson Avenue at the old Burlington Mills plant.

Grand marshals of the 146-unit parade are members of the Mooresville Senior High cross country team in honors of their third state championship.

Participating bands will be Mooresville Senior High School Pride ’N Motion Band, South Iredell High School Marching Vikings Band, Brandy’s High School Trojan Band, Lake Norman High School Marching Wildcat Band and Pine Lake Prep School band. the Mooresville High Naval Junior ROTC will be the honorary color guard.

Wilson Farms joins American Angus Association

Wilson Farms, Kannapolis, North Carolina, is a new member of the American Angus Association, reports Bryce Schumann, chief executive officer of the national breed registry organization in Saint Joseph, Mo.

The American Angus Association, with more than 36,000 active adult and junior members, is the largest beef cattle registry association in the world. Its computerized records include detailed information on nearly 16 million registered Angus.

The association records ancestral information and keeps production records on individual animals for its members. These permanent records help members select and mate the best animals in their herds to produce high quality, efficient breeding cattle which are then recorded with the American Angus Association.  

Most of these registered Angus are used by the U.S. farmers and ranchers who raise high quality beef for U.S. consumption.

Be a Santa to a Senior this year

 

The popular campaign that in 2007 delivered more than 233 gifts to local needy seniors is being planned again this holiday season. Read more

Rowan resident is Girl Scouts Young Woman of Distinction

KANNAPOLIS — Duke University student Abigail “Abbey” Bucher was honored Nov. 13 at the sixth annual Cabarrus and Rowan County Friends of Girl Scouting and Young Woman of Distinction Award Luncheon. 

Bucher was recognized for earning her Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting, which requires a multi-year commitment to community service and development. After volunteering with the Special Olympics, Bucher wanted her Gold Award project to help severely handicapped children. She made laminated name tags for each special needs student in Salisbury-Rowan Schools to provide quick access to basic emergency contact and medical information.  

She worked with parents and teachers to get permission and information and assembled volunteers to make the tags. The best part for her was visiting the children. Some of them liked having a name tag so people would know them by name even if they could not communicate verbally.  

Sally Daley, CEO said, “We are so proud of Abbey for all she has accomplished so far in her life. She is an example to all of us of what we can accomplish through hard work and dedication.”   

Bucher was selected from a pool of Gold Award recipients who had earned their awards within the past 10 years and have gone on to make a direct and powerful impact on their communities. 

Bucher is a 2007 graduate of West Rowan High School, and is working toward her undergraduate degree from Duke University in environmental sciences and policy.  

Bucher regards her Girl Scout experience highly, reflecting on the benefits and lessons learned over the years. It was, she shared, what has helped her become the person she is today, teaching her the values, leadership skills, respect for others, compassion and friendship needed to succeed. 

Girl Scouts, Hornets’ Nest Council serves more than 20,000 girl and adult members in Anson, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Rowan, Stanly, Union and York, S.C., counties. Girl Scouting builds courage, confidence and character,  making the world a better place. Visit the Web site at www.hngirlscouts.org.

Kannapolis school board honors staff and students at Shady Brook

 

The Kannapolis board of education recently recognized students and staff from  Shady Brook Elementary School. Read more

Church briefs

Praize Riot

CONCORD — Eddie Brown Jr. and The Music And Arts Seminar will host a 2008 Musical Praize Riot on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. 

Special guest appearances will be made by Johnson C. Smith University Gospel Choir, Charlotte; Association of Ebonite Gospel Choir, Winthrop College, Rock Hill,  S.C.; New Vision Community Choir, Kannapolis; Divinity,  High Point; Radically Anointed Mimes, Gethsemane Baptist Church, Charlotte; Visions of Zion Praise Dancers, Winthrop College; Inner Expression Dance Team, Charlotte; Shiloh Baptist Church Mass Choir and the Shiloh Baptist Praise Team, Concord. 

The service will be held at New Birth Christian Fellowship, 47 Gold St., Concord. Bishop Christopher Harris is host pastor. 

For more information call 704-713-2155.

Thanksgiving meal

Memorial Baptist Church is hosting its 16th annual Thanksgiving Meal Ministry Nov. 27.This meal has been provided at no charge to those who are lonely or less fortunate in hopes of showing them the love of Christ.

More than 200 volunteers from three churches are involved.

Volunteers from Parkwood Baptist and Franklin Heights Baptist, will preparing vegetables. Members of Memorial Baptist will cook meats, dressing and gravy.

If you know of someone who will spend the day alone or a family that is in need,    call Memorial Baptist at 704-932-4206 to deliver that meal.

To contribute, send donations to Memorial Baptist Church, 1785 Dale Earnhardt Blvd., Kannapolis, NC 28083.

Cabarrus County blood drives

American Red Cross, Cabarrus County Blood Drives coming up this month:

• 1-5:30 p.m. Thursday,  Heritage at Town Center, 6300 Roberta Road, Harrisburg.

• 2-6 p.m. Friday, Kannapolis YMCA, 101 YMCA Drive, Kannapolis.

• 12:30-5 p.m. Sunday,  Bethlehem United Methodist Church, Bethlehem Church Road, Gold Hill.

• 2:30-7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24, Jackson Park United Methodist Church, 715 Mable Ave., Kannapolis.

For a complete listing, please visit www.cabarrus county.redcross.org or call 704-720-7425.

Next Page »