By Mike London
mlondon@salisburypost.com
KANNAPOLIS ó A.L. Brown hasn’t experienced a losing season since 1977, and there’s zero chance this will be the year Wonder-haters have been waiting for.
There’s a better chance it will be the season Wonder fans have been waiting for since the school last won it all in 1997. A class that arrived on campus as touted freshmen has matured into a group of special seniors. If healthy, the Wonders can make a deep playoff run.
However, if and healthy are still the two biggest words in high school sports.
The team’s most-feared defender, junior linebacker Terrance Johnson, is working his way back from spring ACL surgery. He isn’t expected to take the field until midseason and may miss key SPC struggles with Anson and Sun Valley.
On top of that, medical clearance for lightning-legged running back Artrele Louis, who returned two kickoffs for TDs against Mooresville and rushed three times for 242 yards against Piedmont, has been an issue in the preseason.
Louis suffered an injury he has described as a pinched nerve in his spine in the 2007 regular-season finale and missed the playoffs.
The Wonders expected to have Louis back at full throttle for his senior year, but he didn’t dress for a series of practices and the first scrimmage. It’s a murky legal/medical situation head coach Ron Massey said he wasn’t at liberty to comment on.
If Louis isn’t cleared to play, the Wonders will still have capable running backs.
If he does play, the offense jets to another level. Louis, who has rare speed, was nominated for the prestigious All-American Bowl. He rushed 128 times for 943 yards and scored 18 TDs as a junior even though he sat down very early in five blowouts.
Senior Jonathan Williams (457 rushing yards, six TDs) is a solid option, while Antwoine Jordan, the horse for an 8-2 jayvee team, moves up and is eager for carries. Travis Riley, a big, promising soph, is good enough to play varsity.
The quarterback will be senior Jamill Lott, a starting DB for two seasons and a superior athlete who has taken only a handful of snaps since he piloted the jayvees his freshman year.
Lott, who missed the first seven games of 2007 with a broken collarbone, has the legs and the head for the position and is developing the arm.
“Jamill’s got varsity game experience, we have confidence in his athletic ability and he’s working hard on his throwing mechanics,” Massey said. “Maybe we won’t throw it as much as when we had Jonathan Efird, but we’ve still got to throw it efficiently. Right now, we know we can run, and if the passing game comes around we can have a big-play offense.”
Athletic sophomore Quin Gill and Tyler Gilmore, who moved to Kannapolis from Texas, are backup QBs and figure into the rotation at wideout. John Tuttle, last year’s jayvee quarterback, isn’t playing this year. He’s concentrating on baseball.
Veterans T.J. Johnson and Colby Reid lead the receivers. Johnson had 21 catches for 475 yards and six TDs. He produced a monster playoff effort against St. Stephens in which he made four receptions for 134 yards and two scores.
“T.J. really came on for us at the end,” Massey said.
Dennis Lopez, starting DB Xavier Watson and punter Vance Chapman provide depth.
Senior tight ends Zach Massey (five TDs) and Jacob Newman (two TDs) are fine blockers and receivers, and Massey is also a dependable long snapper. Spencer Falls, Stephon Jenkins and Ryan Hartsell are next in line at tight end.
The offensive line is a strength. Coaches describe the group as “very athletic.”
O-line coach Todd Hagler knows he can count on veterans Chris Shaw (255 pounds), Markus Deel (250) and Cameron Gulledge (245). The Wonders also welcome massive Darius Norris (310) back from an injury.
Tavis Bailey (240), Tyrone Langley (250) and Matt Griffin (290) also are part of the O-line competition.
Special teams can be a huge plus, especially if Louis is available. Johnson, a fearless returner, and Lott are threats to turn any punt or kickoff into six points.
Chapman or linebacker Andrew Leslie will handle punting chores. Placekicker Morgan McDaniel, who nailed three field goals and 57 PATs, could decide a few close games.
“Morgan keeps getting stronger and is another weapon for us,” Massey said.
Brown expected to have seven returning defensive starters, but Terrance Johnson’s absence makes the unit far less imposing.
The interior linemen are untested, but assistant coach Shon Galloway is confident Aaron Davidson and nose Justin Carson (210) will prove more than adequate. Davidson missed all last season with an injury, but he brings an agile 275 pounds to the table.
Sophomore Dominique Phifer figures to play quite a bit. Billy Collins and Julio Conejo add depth.
Returning starter Dwayne Stroud (220) could be a sack machine at defensive end, with athletic Dana Moss (180) manning the other side. Zach Massey can help out at times, and sophomore Mark Goodjohn has a bright future.
Physical Chris Moore, who is over last year’s shoulder issues, has to lead the linebackers until Johnson returns. Coaches are counting on tough LBs to step forward from a group that includes Leslie, Josh Moss, Desmond Gray, Keenan Williamson and Landon Morgan.
The secondary isn’t a concern, not with studs Watson and Billy Simiton returning and Lott available for spot duty. Mike Robinson, Josh Black, Jonathan Donatien, Quason Murray and Derrell Roberts are competing for jobs.
Simiton, strong and fast at 6-2, 190, has started two years and is a solid college prospect.
The Wonders have the best group of skill players they’ve put on the field since Aundrae Allison and Chris Carter were running routes, and it could be a memorable autumn for a storied program whose worst showing since 1996 is 9-4.
“We really do have a lot of athletic ability,” Ron Massey said. “Now we’ve got to figure out how to use it.”
Look for the Wonders to figure it out, and look for the new, wireless scoreboard at Memorial Stadium to get a workout.