Time: 7:30 p.m.
Records: Concord 4-6, 4-2 SPC; A.L. Brown 9-1, 6-0 SPC
Series: Concord leads the “Bell” series 38-36-4; Brown leads 2-1 in playoff meetings
Last meeting: Wonders crushed the Spiders 56-6 in 2008, their most lopsided win in the long series
Last time Concord won: Spiders beat the Wonders 42-20 in 2006
Recent history: Wonders have taken over the series. Starting with 1997, Nick Maddox’s junior season, Brown has won 10 of 12. One of those 10 wins was a forfeit after the Spiders prevailed on the field.
Last week: Concord beat Hickory Ridge 33-20; Wonders clinched the SPC crown with a 35-21 win against NW Cabarrus
Next week: Playoffs for both. Brown is definitely headed to the 3AA ranks again, so there won’t be a matchup with West Rowan, which is sure to return to the 3A bracket.
Game notes: A month ago, this looked like a breeze for the talented Wonders, but heat has returned to the rivalry with Concord’s current four-game winning streak. Three of those wins were gimmes against the bottom of the SPC, but Concord fans have renewed hope. The Spiders did beat Hickory Ridge team last week. That will give them confidence going into Memorial Stadium.
Reviving Concord’s fortunes were first-year coach Glen Padgett and freshman QB B.J. Beecher. After ugly losses to East Rowan and Lexington, the Spiders could have quit. Instead, Padgett moved Beecher up from the jayvees, and good things happened.
Still, it hard to see Concord dealing with Wonder back Travis Riley (30 TDs, 1,617 rushing yards). Brown is also getting weekly contributions from backups ó unsung players such as running back Xavier Stanback and defensive back Quin Gill. ó Mike London