KANNAPOLIS— The simple fact that he was wearing a garnet windbreaker in a sea of 48 green jerseys was enough to attract attention.
Of course, if you’re Nick Maddox, one of the best prep running backs in state history, you’ll probably get noticed anyway.
Maddox, the former A.L. Brown star and current Florida State standout, returned to his old stomping grounds on Friday night to watch the Wonders’ first-round playoff game against Asheville.
Maddox stood on the A.L. Brown sideline for the entire first half, decked out in a Florida State jacket with a towel wrapped around his neck.
“I got a little time off, I just figured I’d come home for Thanksgiving,”Maddox said. “I have to be back (today) at 4 p.m., so I thought for sure I could come down here and watch the game and see how the boys could do.”
The Wonders’ didn’t disappoint, knocking off Asheville 21-14 on a rainy night at Memorial Stadium.
Maddox was able to make the trip back to North Carolina because the Seminoles had a off week. He arrived in Kannapolis at about 1 p.m. on Thursday to spend the holiday with his family.
Maddox also meandered over to A.L. Brown to watch his former team prepare for its opening round game.
Maddox liked what he saw.
“I spent a lot of time with them, got to watch a little bit of practice,”Maddox said. “I was real impressed with the way practice went, they were so schooled and everything was in order. It was really, really professional the way they were doing things.”
Maddox was back with the team again on Friday as the Wonders’ went through their pregame rituals.
He walked around on the field at Memorial Stadium during warm-ups and started to reminisce about the fabulous Fridays he once enjoyed here.
“It’s awesome,”Maddox said. “I see these kids here, young guys out here playing, and even in the pregame it’s intense.
“I wish I could be out here playing.”
The Wonders didn’t end up needing Maddox on Friday night, but he was invaluable against the Cougars back in 1997.
A.L. Brown knocked Asheville out of the playoffs that season with a 21-6 victory, and the Wonders went on to win the 3A state title.
“They were physical — I remember fumbling,”Maddox said. “I had two, three fumbles that game. They never quit. They were physical and played us tough to the end.”
The Cougars did the same thing on Friday but again came up short. And Maddox should get a least a ounce of credit for it.
The Wonders took a 14-7 lead with 38 seconds left in the first quarter on a 49-yard TD run by Maurice Edwards, who gave Maddox credit for his success.
A.L. Brown had ran the same rushing play for Edwards earlier in the game, and Maddox noticed the Asheville cornerback “crack in”, which would leave an open sideline for Edwards.
Setting up from the Cougar 49 with Maddox’s advice fresh on his mind, Edwards took the handoff from quarterback Drew Maher and went the distance.
Maddox strolled down the sideline after the play to find Edwards and shake his hand.
“Good run,” Maddox told Edwards.
Maddox got off the wet field at intermission and joined the radio team of Frank Santore and Dave Fagg as their special halftime guest.
Before leaving the press box, Maddox also managed to play the role of television analyst for the public-access station that broadcasts Wonder games on tape delay.
Everybody wanted to get a piece of Kannapolis’ biggest star.
Said A.L.Brown coach Ron Massey, “Obviously, we’re very proud of Nick. This community’s very proud of him, and I think the kids look up to him. He’s a great role model for our kids, and he’s a great person to have down there to instill a little bit of pride in our kids.”
Maddox’s short stay ends today as he heads back down to Tallahassee. The Seminoles host Georgia Tech in next week’s regular-season finale, and Maddox should be healthier than he has been in recent weeks.
Maddox has been struggling with an ankle sprain for several weeks, and the break for Thanksgiving has helped with the healing.
“This gives me time to get off of it, I’m trying to get back to 100 percent,” Maddox said. “I haven’t been that way for the last couple of weeks. I haven’t been able to make cuts off it like I’d want to.”
Maddox and Greg Jones have essentially split time at tailback the last six games, although Jones has carried the ball 80 times, Maddox 47.
Maddox has caught 12 passes in the last two games for the Seminoles, and he said he doesn’t mind sharing the tailback duties with Jones.
“A guy like Greg Jones, I don’t mind splitting time with,”Maddox said. “I’ve been a little gimpy the last couple of weeks. He’s done a good job since we’ve split time. It’s been a good thing for me, I’ve had a good time doing it.”
The Seminoles, though, have struggled. They have lost their last two games and sit at 6-4 overall and 5-2 in the ACC.
Maddox looks at this Saturday’s game against Georgia Tech as a chance for him and his team to finish off the regular season on a strong note.
“We’re just young and need some time to get things together, time for everybody to get on the same page as any young team would need,”Maddox said. “I wish some of the things that have happened to us this year wouldn’t have happened, but we’ll get it together next year.”
This comes from a player who didn’t get very accustomed to losing while in high school.
Even though he has moved on to a college football mecca, Maddox still looks back to the years he spent at A.L. Brown as being some of his most memorable ones.
Said Maddox, “College is one of the best times in your life, but coming from Kannapolis, I can definitely say being here with teammates and fans, this is one of the best experiences I’ve had.”
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Contact Bret Strelow at 704-797-4258 or bstrelow@salisburypost.com
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