A.L. Brown returns to 3A ranks and could be dominant
Published 12:00 pm Wednesday, August 23, 2017
A.L. Brown 2017 football team: front row: Equaris Baldwin 3. Omari White 6, Jordan Medley 8, Devynn O'Neal 9, Martrail Williams 10, zaquan Clyburn 11, Keyon Rice 12, Jaran Young 13, Justin Rodgers 16, Tossaan Ruffin 17, Josiah Cauthen 20, Jaren Lipscomb 21 ROW 2: Coaches and staff ROW 3: James Farewell 2, Jalen Nixon 22, Jaran Cooper 23, Jnaz Jordan 25, Malik Keller 26, Devin Littlejohn 27, Brian Gutierrez 29, Jaquis Jenkins 31, Nick Lyerly 33, Terry Anderson 34, Bryan Noguera 35 ROW 4: Tobias Massey 39, Kedrick Bingley-Jones 41, Ivan Johnson 42, Antonio Kennedy 44, Winston Dule 46, Jacob Boswell 51, BJ Foster 52, Rhaheem Holbrook 54, Jeremy Davis 55, Malachi Lyles 56, Chandler Teal 58 ROW 5: Justin Holsclaw 59, Samuel Lumsden 60, Jamil Shipp 61, Isaac Cranillo 62, justin Lee 64, Keyon Grier 70, Camari Collins 71, Jalen Goode 72, Austin Freeman 74, Bradley Hathcock 75 ROW 6: Delon Wilson 76, Tyrone Graham 77, Ryan O'Kelly 78, Keoj McGee 80, Alex Zimmermann 82, Antonio Knight 83, Najee Williams 88, Alante Johnson 90, CC Huntley 91, Steven Robinson 93, and Darion Milborne-Lott 99. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, for the Salisbury Post
Kannapolis Coaches: Front Row: Barry Merritt, Bryson Massey, Jeff Brandon, Mike Newsome, Barry Lipscomb, Todd Hagler Bacj Row: Chris Duplisea, Travis Billings, Sam Davis, Nick Entas, and Tony Merritt photo by Wayne Hinshaw, for the Salisbury Post
Kann wide receivers: front: Antonio Knight 83, Keon McGee 80, and Keyon Ricer 12. in back is Jalen Nicon 22, Coach Barry Merritt, and Jaran Young 13. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, for the Salisbury Post
Coach Mike Newsome with quarterbacks Jordan Medley 8, Omaria White 6, and Devynn O'Neal 9. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, for the Salisbury Post
Kann kickers: Alex Zimmermann 82, Brian Gutierrez 29, Justin Rodgers 16 and Bryan Nogiuera 35 with Coach Chris Duplisea. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, for the Salisbury Post
Kann defensive backs: front row: Jnaz Jordan 25, Malik Keller 26, Jaquis Jenkins 31, Martrail Williams 10, Keyon Rice 12, Jaren Lipscomb 21, and Josiah Cauthen 20 back row: Antonio Knight 83, zaquan Clyburn 11, Equaris Baldwin 3 James Farewell 2, Omari White 6, Jordan Medley 8, aned Jaran Young 13. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, for the Salisbury Post
By Mike London
mike.london@salisburypost.com
Wonders At A Glance
2016 season (9-4, 4-2 MECKA – T-3rd place)
State 4A playoffs: lost 2nd round to Davie County, 38-19
Head Coach: Mike Newsome (148-41 overall, 7th season at A.L. Brown, 54-24 at Brown)
Returning Starters: 9
2017 season (1-0, won vs. Hopewell, 56-0)
KANNAPOLIS – A.L. Brown is tackling a solid non-conference schedule— 4A opponents Mooresville and Davie County beat the Wonders in 2016, while Marvin Ridge and West Rowan are perennially stout — but the Wonders still might be favored in every regular-season game.
The last four seasons in 4A, the theme in Kannapolis was fighting against tall odds, competing with a 3A-sized population and slingshots against Charlotte giants. The Wonders did that about as well as could be expected for four seasons — 7-5, 6-6, 10-3, 9-4. Among other things, A.L. Brown stunned a powerful Vance team last October.
This season’s return to the 3A ranks brings a different sort of feeling and a raised set of expectations. Championships are realistic goals now, not dreams, and the Wonders, who haven’t had a losing season in 40 years, are ranked among the top dozen in 3A by everyone who puts out a poll.
It will be a surprise if the Wonders don’t win the South Piedmont Conference, a six-team, all-Cabarrus aggregation where the stiffest competition figures to be provided by Robinson and Concord. The best team in Cabarrus that doesn’t wear green appears to be Hickory Ridge, but the Bulls have moved up to 4A and aren’t on the schedule.
A.L. Brown’s opening-night romp against Hopewell by a lopsided margin, didn’t prove a lot, one way or another. The Wonders also crushed Hopewell each of the past three seasons.
But the easy win definitely didn’t diminish expectations. A.L. Brown had a 7-0 lead after less than two minutes — and never stopped scoring. The defensive shutout also was encouraging. The Wonders produced only one goose egg last season (vs. Northwest Cabarrus).
Jordan Medley, the junior quarterback (6-3, 200), keys the Wonders’ offense. With his size, strength and speed, Medley may prove to be the most dangerous runner the Wonders have had at the position since Jamill Lott rolled for 1,065 rushing yards and 13 TDs in 2008. That season, not coincidentally, also marked A.L. Brown’s most recent appearance in a state-title game.
Lott was a 3,000-yard, dual-threat guy during a 13-win season, with 1,939 yards passing. He set the bar high for the train of good or very good QBs that followed — Martel Campbell, Brandon Eppinger, Keenan Medley, Andrew Ramirez, Damon Johnson and Zacc Williamson, who stepped in last season and acquitted himself admirably after Cordarius Butler was hurt opening night.
Medley figures to get plenty of help in the backfield. Junior Nick Lyerly collected varsity experience last year as a member of a running back committee and put the ball in the end zone four times. Junior Jaron Cooper is a big back (6-1, 210) and powered for two TDs against Hopewell on opening night. Junior Jalen Neal is a running/receiving threat.
The Wonders will run a lot more than they throw, and running lanes shouldn’t be a problem. Offensive linemen Jeremy Davis (6-0, 260) and Malachi Lyles (6-0, 270) are seasoned seniors who earned All-MECKA honors a year ago.
Defensively, most of the familiar names are gone. The Wonders move on without D-I Sherard Sutton (Charlotte 49ers), Steven Howie, Elijah Hall and Cinsere Allison, but experienced linemen Najee Williams (6-1, 200) and C.C. Huntley (5-11, 240) are still around as QB-hurriers and run-stuffers. Equarius Baldwin is an experienced DB.
The Wonders have a weapon in kicker Brian Gutierrez. He booted the clutch field goal that beat Vance. For the season, he was successful on four field goals and 49 PATs.
It was a pleasant off-season for the Wonders’ fan base, with former stars Kalif Phillips (Green Bay) and Keeon Johnson (New York Giants) competing for jobs in NFL camps, and with Dantrell Barkley, a large defensive lineman who headed to a Kansas junior college a while back, signing with the University of South Carolina.
A number of powerful programs have moved down from 4A to 3A, including Dudley and Charlotte Catholic, but the Wonders are contenders. They could be playing in late November, and maybe December.
SOME WONDERS TO WATCH:
Jordan Medley – Junior QB (6-3, 200). A varsity basketball standout since his freshman year and a fine jumper in track and field, he’s a marvelous athlete and could be one of the state’s breakout players.
Najee Williams – Senior DE (6-0, 210). Too quick to block, he accounted for 10 sacks last season and earned All-MECKA players.
Jeremy Davis – Senior OL (6-0, 260). Powerful blocker was All-MECKA.
Nick Lyerly – Junior slot (5-8, 175). Combines speed with surprising power and should contribute lots of 100-yard games.
C.C. Huntley – Jenior DT (5-11, 240). Controls line of scrimmage and makes the Wonders tough to run on.
