IT Concord Football

Wednesday, August 19, 2015
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2015
PRESEASON CREAM OF CABARRUS RANKINGS

The Independent Tribune reveals its top seven teams
entering the 2015 season...................................PAGE 3
TWENTY TO TREASURE
We compile the first of our individual player rankings
for the season. These are the players we see as the
best in Cabarrus for now anyway............. PAGES 4-5
CODY REECE: BIG MAN ON CAMPUS
Mount Pleasants star running back had a nontraditional coach when he began playing the game: his
mother................................................................PAGE 6
DAMON JOHNSON: BIG MAN ON CAMPUS
The Wonders senior quarterback spent years preparing for his one shining moment. Its here..........PAGE 10
KEENAN BLACK: BIG MAN ON CAMPUS
As senior, the Spiders signal-caller has become a
cool, calm, collected leader for his team.........PAGE 16
2-MINUTE DRILL
We put clutch performers Mike Baker (Concord),
Jonathan Earl (Cox Mill), Sandon McCoy (A.L. Brown)
and Greg Waslo (Hickory Ridge) on the spot with rapidfire questions........................................... PAGES 20-21
BIG MAN ON CAMPUS: WILL PUTNAM
At 6 foot 5, 270 pounds the Hickory Ridges SEC
recruit really is a big man on campus, and hes ready to
get better......................................................... PAGE 24
BIG MAN ON CAMPUS: CLAYTON HORN
The Mount Pleasant defensive is the strong, silent type,
but his play is really making some noise.............PAGE 30
FROM CABARRUS TO COLLEGE

The Independent Tribune publishes its list of area
players who have gone on to play in college and
beyond. ........................................................PAGE 38
www.independenttribune.com
TEAM PREVIEWS
A.L. Brown.................................................................8
Central Cabarrus....................................................12
Concord...................................................................14
Cox Mill....................................................................18
Hickory Ridge......................................................... 22
Jay M. Robinson..................................................... 26
Mount Pleasant...................................................... 28
Northwest Cabarrus.............................................. 32
Cannon................................................................... 34
cfa Academy........................................................... 36
ABOUT THIS SECTION

The Independent Tribune Sports Department would
like to extend its immense gratitude to the Hickorybased Consolidated Editing Center, especially John
Josey, Kyl e Phipps and Joseph Huntley, for its hard
work on Cabarrus Game Night 2015.
Sports editor C. Jemal Horton and sports writer
David Exum wrote and edited stories, while James Nix
handled the photography. The ITs Advertising Department also did a tremendous job making this project
come to fruition.
SPECIAL THANKS
The Independent Tribune Sports Department would
like to say thank you to A.L. Brown High School for
allowing us to conduct our photo shoot for Cabarrus
Game Night in Memorial Stadium.
We are especially grateful to Wonders coach Mike
Newsome for staying late in the evening on a Sunday
and making sure everything ran smoothly.
ince becoming the Independent Tribunes sports editor

late last year, I have covered just one game involving a
Cabarrus County football team.
That December night, I went with Mount Pleasant to Shelby
and saw the Tigers lose, 31-17, in the Class 2A state semifinals.
It wasnt the best night for area football fans, but
I walked out of the stadium that night inspired.
Fans from several different Cabarrus schools
had been following the Tigers on social media,
radio and in person and cheering for them
against Shelby.
C. Jemal That meant something to me.
It showed a true love of football in this area
Horton and
an overall Cabarrus pride thats continued
to shine.
That night, I simply couldnt wait for the 2016 football season
to come around.
Now its here, and the IT is planning to give area fans in-depth
coverage of their teams, along with the fans and schools themselves, that make our squads so special.
We begin that coverage with Cabarrus Game Night 2015.
Our intent was to make Cabarrus Game Night the most informative and entertaining preseason football guide around. We
have packed it with player profiles, which we call Big Men on
Campus, and other features we hope you enjoy.
Throughout the season, look for the IT to be the leader in
keeping you abreast of all sorts of information about your
favorite teams via social media, online and the physical
newspaper.
Joining me in providing that coverage to you is sports writer,
David Exum, who came to the IT in May.
Also look for coverage from reliable freelancer Zach Morton
and a newcomer to our freelance team, Erin Weeks, whos
moving from the Triangle area.
As always, you may contact me directly if you have any questions, concerns or story ideas. The best way to reach me is on
my cell: 980-253-2239. But I also can be contacted at jhorton@
independenttribune.com or on Twiter @cjemalhorton.
Go Teams Go! HARTSELL

Huddle Up
8 Area
Locations!
Inspired for several

Cabarrus game nights
INSIDE
FEATURES
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
At
Pizza Hut
For Special Deals

After The Game!
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
The 2015 Preseason Cream of Cabarrus

1. A.L. BROWN
The expectations are
always astronomical in Ktown, and were going to go
ahead and
start off
the season
by adding
one more
element to
that mile-high stack: being
the Independent Tribunes
No. 1-ranked team.
Coach Mike Newsomes
squad has a Russell Wilsonlike leader in senior quarterback Damon Johnson,
a pair of sculpted senior
running backs in Sandon
McCoy and Jayln Cagle,
and a middle linebacker
(senior Cameron Rodgers)
whos a Luke Kuechly disciple and as tough as they
come. Plus, the guys in the
trenches are big and nasty
in a good way.
Will the Wonders find
their way in the unforgiving
MECKA 4A? Well, thats why
they play the games, right?
But to start the season, we
see A.L. Brown a cut above
the Cabarrus pack.
2. HICKORY RIDGE
But like many Spider fans,

were anxious to see what the
The Ragin Bulls are the
team has in store for us after
real deal. They have a coach,
losing monster running back
Marty Paxton, who simply
Rocky Reid and a talented
knows how
offensive line that was just as
to get to
important.
follow him
Thats some serious prowith pasduction to make up for any
sion, and
team.
that should
Several players will have
go a long way this season as
to make sure the Spiders
Hickory Ridge tries to regain
remain strong, and the good
the South Piedmont 3A title
news for Concord fans is the
that Concord has held for
cupboard isnt bare. Quarthe past two seasons.
terback Keenan Black has an
Senior lineman Will Putimpressive cadre of receivnam, all 6 foot 5 and 270
ers, led by Carter Mozingo
pounds of him, is big and
and Hamsah Nasirildeen,
strong enough to rip the troand the defense has the
phy out of anybodys hands
parts to wreak havoc.
all by himself, but the South
We know youll stay tuned.
Carolina recruit will need
some help for the Ragin
4. MOUNT PLEASANT
Bulls to reclaim the crown
this year.
The folks affiliated with
The thing is, theres plenty Tiger sports teams are so
of help around Putnam, so
nice that you could call the
a championship is possible.
place Mount
Very possible.
Pleasantville.
3. CONCORD
Until you
see
these
We get it: Concord fans
fellas
on
dont expect to be ranked
the
football
behind another South field.
The Tigers will be their
Piedmont
hard-nosed
selves, and
team, espetheyll
be
favored
to win the
cially in the
Rocky
River
2A
Conference
preseason.
again and make another run

deep into the postseason.
The team has three players
whose names youll hear and
read a lot this year: sensational running back Cody
Reece, or Mr. 3,000, as
we at the IT call him; linebacker Clayton Horn, who
just seems like a UFC guy in
waiting; and lineman Zach
Mayo, a big, strong college
recruit who seems like he
lifts Volkswagen Beetles for
workouts.
But theres more to the
Tigers, and that will be seen
as the season wears on.
Jonathan Earl), toughness

(defensive end Tommy
Dawkins) and leadership
(linebacker Cory Cline).
Its a good recipe for success, but the Chargers just
have to make sure they
can handle the heat in the
intense kitchen that is the
South Piedmont.
6. CENTRAL CABARRUS
The Vikings werent able to

have the success they anticipated last year because of an
outbreak of
injuries to
some of the
teams most
5. COX MILL
important
players, but
Its real at the Mill.
coach DonThe Chargers are looking
nie
Kiefer
believes
his club is
to improve on last years
ready
to
rebound.
third-place
If the Vikings follow the
finish in the
example
set by their powerSPC, and
lifting
coach,
theyll be just
coach Craig
fine.
Stewart has
In fact, Central Cabarplenty of
rus
preseason camp didnt
pieces to
seem
to focus on last years
do it.
respectable
6-6 finish. Led
While Cox Mill must help
by
senior
quarterback
Tyler
first-year starting quarterEnglish,
there
has
been
back Nico Cleaves get acclimated and stay comfortable energy, excitement and relationship-building centered
with the high-octane-style
on making the next step.
offense, the Chargers have
This could be a new
speed (slotback Devin
(healthy)
day in Viking Land.
Cobb), athleticism (receiver
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CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
TWENTY TO TREASURE
The Independent Tribunes preseason ranking of the top players in the county
1. WILL PUTNAM
First of all, the Hickory
Ridge lineman is huge
(6 feet, 6 inches and
270 pounds), and he
was the countys most
coveted college
recruit during this
past offseason. The
interesting part
is that the University of South Carolina
commit hasnt come
close to playing his best
football yet, so Bulls
opponents had best
beware this season.
Reece
Black
Johnson
McCoy
Horn
Earl
Mayo
2. CODY REECE
4. DAMON JOHNSON
They call this Mount Pleasant superstar Reece the

Beast, and for good reason. He was one of the leading rushers in the state last year, which earned him the
Independent Tribunes 2014 Offensive Player of the Year
award. More honors are sure to follow.
With apologies to the late, great Stuart Scott, Johnson is

as cool as the other side of the pillow. The A.L. Brown
senior quarterback is a savvy leader who knows just the
right times to set up his talented teammates or turn on
his individual athleticism to make things happen for the
Wonders.
3. KEENAN BLACK
How about this for a combination: speed, athleticism
and a rocket arm. Thats what this Concord High senior
signal-caller brings to the table, and college scouts
believe he has a tremendous upside. It will be fun to see
how Black leads the black and gold this year.
GOOD LUCK TEAMS!
ODK
O
G UC
L
5. SANDON McCOY
Better bring your big-boy pads if youre a player considering taking on this A.L. Brown senior running back one-onone. With impressive grades and a strong work ethic, its
See TWENTY, Page 5
ALLISON
HIRING NOW
www.WAYNEBROTHERS.com | 704.956.2223
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
Rudisell
Scott
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
Cobb
Twenty
From Page 4
no wonder West Point is happy to have McCoy

coming to play next year.
6. CLAYTON HORN
Baker
Dawkins
Steinbacher
Its easy to spot Scott during Concord games.

Hes the 6-2, 290-pound guy throwing people
Waslo
Rodgers
Mozingo
Caldwell
Wyatt
around with ease. Whether hes on the defensive or offensive line, opposing teams have to
find Scott. And avoid him as much as possible.
back and strong safety, Cagle will be a key factor

for the Wonders this season.
teams leading returning receiver and one of the
16. GREG WASLO
11. DEVIN COBB
things, plus his cool last name, Mozingo will be a
Wheres Waslo? Well, hes been everywhere at

Hickory Ridge, holding starting positions for
the football and baseball teams. On the gridiron
this year, Waslo will be a leader for the Bulls,
as colleges such as Coastal Carolina, Western
Carolina and Charleston Southern keep track
of him.
player to watch.
17. CAMERON RODGERS
Colleges will become more interested this year.
The A.L. Brown senior linebacker has a nose for

the football and a motor that will not quit. He
is the leader of A.L. Browns stout defense and,
as the son of former Wonders assistant coach
Scott Rodgers, this player relishes that role.
20. BEN WYATT
18. CARTER MOZINGO
and linebacker, but several major colleges want
Versatility is this Spiders game, as he is both the
him as a long snapper. Enough said.
At 5-8, 165, Cobb isnt a very big player. He just

makes big plays. The Cox Mill senior slotback is
outright explosive, and the Chargers are smart
enough to get him the ball in a variety of ways.
Mount Pleasants senior linebacker, last years

Independent Tribune Defensive Player of the
12. MIKE BAKER
Year, is ripped up and rugged, and possesses an
Although hes a nice guy off the field, we like
impressive combination of speed and power.
to call this Concord senior defensive lineman
7. JONATHAN EARL
Bad Intentions Baker. This Spider is big and
This versatile senior receiver has great hands
strong, and he plays with a nastiness that
and size (6-3, 180 pounds) to go with his athhas the ability to disrupt an entire offensive
leticism. When the Chargers throw it high, Earl scheme.
can go up and get it, which will make Cox Mill
13. TOMMY DAWKINS
even more of a factor in the South Piedmont
The Cox Mill defensive linemans nickname
Conference race.
could be Atomic Dawkins because his chis8. ZACH MAYO
eled 6-4 frame definitely appears capable of
The Mount Pleasant senior lineman is a twosuper powers. Get this: Hes in even better
way terror for opponents who dare venture into shape this year, which is why James Madison,
the interior, which is why several colleges are
UMass and N.C. Central are interested.
interested in acquiring the 6-3, 275-pounders
14. ETHAN STEINBACHER
services.
While Jay M. Robinson struggled last season,
9. JAYLEN RUDISELL
this Bulldog big man got things done and was
If speed is what you need, then this Hickory
dominant enough on the line to earn an AllRidge standout running back has a license to
South Piedmont nod. At 6-2 and 245 pounds,
thrill. Watch for the Bulls to try to get Rudisell Steinbacher can hold his own against anybody
the Roadrunner the ball in the open field. If he in the county.
does, Beep, beep zoom!
15. JAYLN CAGLE
10. DEZ SCOTT
Cagle
This senior is a rarity at A.L. Brown. And thats

saying something. Cagle is the first Wonder in
decades to be a two-way starter. As a running
- 6pm
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IL
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top safeties and return men. Considering those
19. ANTHONY CALDWELL

The Northwest Cabarrus senior safety is adept
at wreaking havoc on the quarterback, shadowing receivers or making open-field tackles.
Yes, Wyatt is a long snapper, and hell be one of

the main players first-year Cannon coach Brad
Hoover relies on this season. Wyatt is a fullback
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
Big Man on Campus
COACHING CODY
By C. JEMAL HORTON
jhorton@independenttribune.com
MOUNT PLEASANT It does not

matter whether the Mount Pleasant Tigers are at home or on the road. The routine is the same every time.
When the Mount Pleasant football
players trot onto the field for pre-game
warm-ups, Tigers running back sensation Cody Reece looks into the stands,
right in front of the 50-yard-line, and
tries to locate one particular blue
shirt.
Sometimes it takes a minute because,
hey, there usually are a lot of blue shirts
on the Mount Pleasant side of the stadium, but things just arent quite right until Reece sees the one he is looking for.
He has found peace now. He has found
the best security blanket a teenage boy
could have.
He has found his mother.
There, in the throng of Mount Pleasant supporters, stands Candace Reece, screaming nervously alongside
her much calmer husband, Max. Thats
when the communication begins, and
it goes on for the next few hours, when
Reece likely has finished with another
200-plus yards rushing.
He blows a kiss to me before every
game every game, Candace said,
flashing her broad smile thats become
popular around town.
Its just that connection, she said.
ODK
O
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L
Tigers star Reece got

a gridiron education
from mom, dad
We make sure he sees where Im

standing and that he knows I am there.
I sit in the same place at every stadium,
so he knows where to look for me.
Its not that unusual for a player to
know where his mother is sitting during
a game. But the reality is this: Not every
boys mother can tell him whens hes
facing a 3-4 defense, a Cover 2 or a dime
package.
Codys mom can.
Candace, you see, isnt your ordinary
team-mom type making goodies for
the team although she is well known
for the tasty homemade donuts she
provides all the Mount Pleasant players and coaches. But Candace also is a
football coach, and a good one at that.
James Nix \ jnix@independenttribune.com
And shes been there every step of the
way to help Cody become one of the Mount Pleasant running back Cody Reece with parents Candace and Max.
most productive running backs in the
state.
Shes coached me from when I was
6 up until now, Cody said. She still
gives me that, Hey, you need to do this,
you need to do that. She can see what I
cant see sometimes because shes in the
stands watching everything. Ill look up
in the stands and ask questions.

Were tight, and we have those communication skills with each other, sort of
like sign language. Shes pretty much my
person up top who tells me whats up.
HARTSELL
See REECE, Page 7
ALLISON
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Reece
From Page 6
Coach Mom
Candace began coaching Cody on the
Mount Pleasant Lions Club Wolfpack
teams she coached with Max at her side.
Candace didnt hold a figurehead position; she coached. She would get down
and dirty with players, yell at them
about missed assignments or laziness,
and coach them up to make just the
right plays at the right time.
One year, she was named the leagues
coach of the year and earned a trip to
Bank of America Stadium to be recognized at a Carolina Panthers game.
Candace, a former softball player at
Mount Pleasant, has been involved in
sports her whole life. When she was in
middle school, she decided she wanted
to be a football trainer, and she began
helping the team in whatever capacity
she could.
I had some excellent coaches, Candace said. I didnt just give out water
and hand stuff to people. I wanted to
learn. I had guy friends that would tell
me different things about the game,
and I learned things that way.
She also got a football education of
sorts from Max, when they were high
school sweethearts and he was a nose
guard at traditional power A.L. Brown.
Max told her about some of the other
nuances of the game, and she was
hooked for life.
Max and Candace went on to have five
sons, and the couple began coaching
their two oldest, Cody and Dylan, when
they were 6 and 5, respectively. Max,
though, didnt want to get involved at
first. For one thing, he had a hectic work
schedule trying to provide for his family.
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
Secondly, he didnt want it to appear that

he was playing favorites coaching his
boys.
I didnt want to play daddy ball, Max
said. Being from Kannapolis, you didnt
see a lot of daddy ball youre either fast
or you aint. I wanted Cody to earn it.
But (Candace) talked me into it. I went
out there and watched him, and thats
where he fit in. Hes run the ball since he
was 6, and hes done well at it.
believes his linemen will be outstanding again, which should help the Tigers
in their quest for another Rocky River 2A
Conference title, and perhaps a little bit
more. But does the fact that he doesnt
have any offers motivate him?
Oh, yeah, 100 percent, Reece said.
Im going to be honest with you: I go
to bed every night, and I pray that I get
an offer. I worry about it a little bit. I had
a great season, but just because I had a
great season doesnt mean I deserve an
Born to run
offer yet. Ive got to put the work in. So
Cody hasnt just done well. Hes been when senior year comes, and Ive got to
spectacular.
put in that work again, Ill show them
As a junior last season, while leading I mean it. Im for real. Ill take that step,
the Tigers to the 2A state semifinals, Cody and Ive got a lot of people behind me.
rushed for 3,141 yards and 37 touchdowns, totals that put him among the Always by your side
nations leaders.
One things for sure: Candace will be
Listed at 5 foot 9 and 185 pounds, Re- there. She has to be.
ece stymied defenses with his speed and
We have a hand signal that we give
field vision. He had mind-blowing num- each other, Candace said. Its not just me
bers against all levels of competition, be Max sees things, too, and were sitting
it Class 4A, 3A or 2A teams. On Nov. 21, there talking the whole time during the
2014, he set a school record by gaining game. I just make sure I try to tell Cody
384 yards and adding five touchdowns things. If I cant get his attention and
in a victory over North Rowan. In many somethings happening that I really need
cases, players with such statistics would to tell him, Ill shoot him a text message
be inundated with college scholarships. and hope and pray that he looks at that
Cody has received interest from a number of schools, including East Carolina,
Appalachian State, Elon, Coastal Carolina and East Tennessee State. But the
official scholarship offers have yet to
follow.
Ive been getting calls and e-mails,
and Ive been going on visits, Reece said.
But I think (college recruiters) are going
to base things off what I do this season.
Thats fine. Put the pressure on me. I like
that. I like stepping up to the plate.
Reece is not dismayed by the lack of
scholarship offers. He has confidence in
himself, and hes raved about how much
his offensive line has done for him. He
Huddle Up
At
Pizza Hut
For Special Deals

After The Game!
message on his phone at halftime.

While Max is the quieter of the Reece
parents in the stands, it doesnt mean
hes any less excited for his son. He and
Cody have their own way of communicating, although its usually after the
game. Going back to those no-daddyball days, he believes Cody has earned
his way. That means something to the
former Wonder whose blue-collar work
ethic has helped him make a good living
for his family.
Codys worked hard on his own, Max
said. Hes got the want-to. Hes learned
a lot on own that I couldnt teach him,
and Im very proud of him for that. When
you walk out on that field and youre 175
pounds and you take a lick from a defensive end and get back up, thats a lot
of heart. It feels good to watch him have
success, and I look forward to him having
a whole lot more. He deserves it.
As for Candace, shell continue to be
seen and heard at all the Mount Pleasant games, right up the 50-yard line, regardless of the stadium. She and Cody
will blow their kisses, and both their
minds will be at ease.
Then, and only then, Cody will be ready
to run.
GOOD LUCK TEAMS!
Go Teams Go!
8 Area
Locations!
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
A.L. Brown Wonders

KANNAPOLIS Things are much different at A.L. Brown these days.
Dont worry, Wonder fans, all signs are
the team will be good and ready to improve on last seasons 7-6 overall record.
Its just that there will be fewer Wonders
for you to love.
The 2015 Wonders will have only
about 44 players on the varsity roster.
We only have about 100 (combined
varsity and JV players), A.L. Brown
coach Mike Newsome said, and weve
been having around 120 or 130. Well
have a lot of kids that will play on both
sides of the ball.
Its only 44 players, but its a strong 44.
At several positions, the Wonders have
players who would rank among the top
two or three in the county, starting with
the teams leader, senior quarterback
Damon Johnson, and including players such as Army recruit Sandon McCoy
and linebacker Cameron Rodgers.
So starting with the Battle for the Bell
game at home and entering play in the
uber-competitive MECKA 4A Conference, the Wonders should be ready.
Weve got 44 kids, but the good thing
is theyre 44 tough kids, and they give all
their effort, Newsome said. Theyll get
the job done.
OFFENSE
WONDERS FAST FACTS

COACH: Mike Newsome, fifth season
(37-17); 13th overall (129-35)
RETURNING STARTERS: Offense 6,
defense 3
CONFERENCE: MECKA 4A
2014 RECORD: 7-6, 4-3
2014 POINTS SCORED PER GAME:
37.2
2014 POINTS ALLOWED PER
GAME: 26.2
2015 SCHEDULE
Aug. 20 ..................................CONCORD
Aug. 28 ..........................at South Rowan
Sept. 4 ...............at Northwest Cabarrus
Sept. 11 ...........................MOORESVILLE
Sept. 25 ...............at North Mecklenburg
Oct. 2 .........................................at Vance
Oct. 9 .........................JAY M. ROBINSON
Oct. 16 ........................................HOUGH
Oct. 23 ..........................at Mallard Creek
Oct. 30 ......................WEST CHARLOTTE
Nov. 6 ....................................HOPEWELL
JAMES NIX/JNIX@INDEPENDENTTRIBUNE.COM
The Wonders look to improve on last years fourth-place finish in the MECKA 4A ConferThe versatile Johnson is the key. Last ence.
year, Johnson passed for 1,498 yards
with 19 touchdowns and 10 intercep- ing rusher the past two seasons. ComThe rest of the receiving unit is young
tions.
ing off an injury-plagued 2013 season, but shares comparable traits. DomiThree offensive line starters are back McCoy ran for 1,247 yards last year.
to make sure Johnsons uniform stays as Newsome said McCoy should be even
clean as possible.
better in 2015.
Cerebral senior Cameron Peters, at 6
Hes healthy and strong and faster
ODK
foot 2, 270 pounds, primarily plays tack- than hes ever been, Newsome said.
O
G UC
le, but he also has the ability to move to
Fellow senior Jayln Cagle is a slotback/
L
guard and center. Newsome said the running back/receiver who will be startother offensive linemen will have to be ing for the third year. He had 623 yards
equally versatile, with the group includ- and a team-high nine touchdowns on
ing returning starter Juan Morgan (6-3, the ground last season.
270) and Alex Hubbell, who is 6-3, 200
The Wonders have a chance to be simand plays the hybrid tackle/tight end/ ilarly dominant in the air, with Johnsons
H-back role.
arm and a physically gifted receiving
The Wonder running backs might corps. Senior Casey Ritchie is a returnmake for the best backfield duo in the ing starter, who Newsome calls a great
area. McCoy has been the teams lead- athlete who can do anything.
nique Washington (6-1, 180) didnt see a

lot of action last year, but he had impressive spring workouts. And then theres
junior Brandon Dry, who Newsome said
would have played plenty last season, if
not for an eye injury that caused him to
miss several games. But Newsome said
the 6-2, 175-pound Dry has the ability
See WONDERS, Page 9
ALLISON
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
Wonders
From Page 8
to be a game-changer.
WONDER IN THE SPOTLIGHT
DEFENSE
Senior linebacker Cameron Rodgers
is the heart of the Wonder defense, both
literally and physically. After previously
being an outside linebacker/defensive
end, Rodger becomes the starting middle linebacker, and it appears to be the
perfect fit.
I just like getting after the football,
Rodgers said. Ill do anything to help
my team win.
Another starter, 6-3 junior Sherrod
Sutton, is back at outside linebacker and
expected to have another strong year.
And then theres junior Steven Howie,
who returns after sitting out last season.
Newsome has high praise for the 6-1,
210-pound Howie, who the coach said
reminds him of Auburn star linebacker
Kris Frost, a Dick Butkus Award nominee who played for Newsome at Butler
High.
There is no reason to overlook the first
line of defense: the line.
Junior Kaleb Hall is back as a starter
for the second consecutive season.
Meanwhile, senior Dantrell Barkley has
enormous potential and had coaches
raving at times during the preseason.
At 6-4, 280 pounds, Barkley looks the
part of a big-time player, and with several newcomers around him on the line,
hell have a chance to show his value.
The secondary also has shown promise, as senior captain Kaseim Black,
who excelled in 7-on-7 workouts, holds
down one cornerback spot across from
JV call-up Shymere Scott.
JAYLN CAGLE
It has been years since A.L. Brown had a full-time two-way starter,
but Jayln Cagle will hold that distinction for the Wonders this season.
At 5 foot 11, 190 pounds, hes a hard-charging running back and a
wood-laying safety.
No wonder his dad, Eric, has given him the nickname Little Beast
Mode.
My dad said every time you step on the field, just go to Beast
Mode, Cagle said. Thats what I plan to do this year. It means a lot to
me to play both ways here, and Im going to play hard every play.
Junior safety Cinsere Allison is expect- sible for punting.

for Cagle, Black and Scott to be deep
ed to be a leader in the defensive backBecause of the thinner roster, several most of the time.
field, while Cagle will start at the other Wonders will handle returns, but look
C. Jemal Horton
safety spot.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Senior kicker Nate Williams has shown
coaches a great deal of growth, on and
off the field.
He has improved tremendously,
Newsome said. He was a typical kicker
didnt like being in the weight room
lifting weights all the time. But this year,
he kind of saw the necessity to get that
done. Hes come back, and hes much
stronger. Hes much better at kicking
the ball.
Junior Kevon Jacobs will be respon-
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10
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
Big Man on Campus
Waiting to Excel
Part of the reason Johnson doesnt wilt

under pressure is because he knows hes
worked hard to put himself in position
to be successful. He is known as one of
the Wonders most dedicated workers.
Hes the player who pushes teammates
to go harder during sprints and practice
drills.
If youre prepared, Johnson said,
theres no reason to worry about outside
forces.
I work hard at everything I do, Johnson said. I might mess up, but you can
best believe the next time I get in that
position, Im going to do my best, and
Im going to try to beat anybody whos
in front of me. Once you start something, you have a mission. And if I dont
complete that mission, I dont feel comfortable with it.
By C. JEMAL HORTON
KANNAPOLIS The A.L. Brown football faithful know it as The Hill.

The Hill is a sacred slope in Memorial
Stadium where children play their own
games of football while the Wonders
high school squad is doing its thing
before packed houses down on the big
field.
It is on The Hill that many a gridiron
dream has been born. And years ago,
between playful yet hard-fought games
with other kids, 9-year-old Damon
Johnson would often stop and look
down on the manicured turf and imagine the possibilities.
I always thought, Man, I hope I get
to play for them, Johnson said. To be
honest, I wasnt sure Id ever be able to
play at Kannapolis. I didnt know if Id be
good enough. I just knew that I wanted
it.
Nearly a decade later, Johnson isnt
just a Wonder; hes the Wonders unquestioned leader, arguably the most
recognizable player on the roster.
The senior has carved out a place for
himself by becoming a multi-talented
quarterback with the physical gifts to
impress even the most critical of football eyes and the mental capacity to see
plays two to three steps before his opponents.
Hes an exceptional young man,
Wonders coach Mike Newsome said.
Ive coached numerous kids that have
had that high athletic ability, and a lot
of those guys are playing in the NFL.
Damon, without a doubt, may be one
of the most talented kids that Ive ever
coached.
Were going to go as far as Damon
Johnson will take us.
Now that Johnson has earned his
Green and White stripes, he is relishing this moment. Johnson wants to be
the teams center of attention, although
not in a selfish way. He simply enjoys
Johnson achieves
childhood dream of
becoming a Wonder
All-around athlete
JAMES NIX
Johnson isnt just well known in KanA.L. Browns Damon Johnson is coming off a junior year in which he was named all-confer- napolis for his football exploits. Durence in three sports.
ing his junior year, he became the first
shouldering the responsibility of know- center of attention, Johnson said. She A.L. Brown athlete in several years to be
ing that if he does what he is supposed told me just (recently) that she feels named all-conference in three sports.
to do, the Wonders will succeed and im- everybodys just looking at me and she
On the basketball court, Johnson was
prove on last seasons 7-6 record.
just doesnt feel comfortable with ev- one of the Wonders top players. And
Johnson has been that way since he erybody staring at me on the field. Its a with his speed, quickness and leaping
was in grammar school playing for a mom thing, I think.
ability he can dunk with ease despite
Boys & Girls Club squad called what
When Im out there, I feel like theres being around 6 feet tall he was one of
else? the Wonders.
nobody else on the field but Coach and
Talk about early potential for pres- my teammates. I have no pressure.
See JOHNSON, Page 11
sure?
Johnsons father, Tarus, had been a
successful running back for A.L. Brown
in the early 1990s. On that Boys & Girls
Club team, Johnson, too, played running back. He even wore his dads old
jersey number. It didnt negatively affect
the young player at all.
I didnt feel any pressure I liked it,
Johnson said. I wanted to be in that position.
But the desire to be in the spotlight is
not a trait Johnson inherited from his
mother, Shannon Sechler, a former A.L.
Brown softball player.
My mom doesnt like me being the
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Johnson
From Page 10
the most effective players in the

MECKA 4A.
On the baseball diamond last
spring, Johnson batted .397 for the
Wonders.
And on the football field, he
threw for nearly 1,500 yards with 19
touchdowns last season.
Athletically, he brings the world
to any team, Newsome said.
He can do anything that he
puts his mind to. He can do anything with any type of ball in his
hand that any athlete would want
to do with it, and he does it very
special.
I think that if he tried to do gymnastics or play tennis or play volleyball, hed be the best at any of those
sports, too. Hes just an exceptional
athlete.
Johnson has generated college
recruiting interest from coaches
in each sport, but he says he has a
special place in his heart for football.
I wouldnt necessarily mind being a two-sport athlete, but I do
love football, Johnson said. For
college football, Id like to go somewhere local, near my family. But its
exciting to have more opportunities.
I just want to show (recruiters)
what I have my senior year. Maybe
that will bust open a gate for me
or something. Ill do whatever it
takes.
So Johnson is prepared for the
glare of the spotlight to become
even brighter this year. He is well
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
aware that A.L. Brown fans wont be

happy with another 7-6 campaign
from the team this season. Maybe
fans wont come down on him specifically, but he knows criticism will
be directed at coaches or the entire
team.
Still, he does not shy away. He
steps out even farther.
He knows the pressure of being the starting quarterback at A.L.
Brown is a ton, Newsome said. He
accepts that pressure. But then, I
probably put more pressure on him
than anybody. Hes got pressure on
him at practice, hes got pressure
on him in walk-throughs, hes got
pressure on him in the classroom.
Hes got pressure on him in every
aspect of the game. Then, hopefully, we come to Friday night, and
that becomes easy and things slow
down for him.
When that happens, that special
talent can come out of him.
Every once in a while, if the Wonders have a comfortable lead and
Johnson has a moment to himself
on the sidelines, hell take a glance
up at The Hill and realize, although
it is a short distance, he has come
so far since playing those pickup
games.
It is a reminder that, if you dream
hard and work even harder, anything is possible.
Once I hit about seventh grade,
I knew that my job was to get that
position as a starting quarterback
at A.L. Brown High School, Johnson said. I finally got it, and it feels
so good. To me, to wear this Green
and White, its the most amazing
thing in the world. Its the best thing
to ever happen to me in school, and
Im going to enjoy it.
HIRING NOW
HARTSELL
11
JAMES NIX
Kannapolis Damon Johnson (22) dunks the ball against West Rowan.
12
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
Central Cabarrus Vikings

Vikings Fast Facts
COACH: Donnie Kiefer, fourth year
(25-12); 30th overall (213-139-4)
RETURNING STARTERS: Offense
6, defense 7
CONFERENCE: South Piedmont
3A
2014 RECORD: 6-6, 3-5
2014 POINTS SCORED PER
GAME: 27.4
GAME: 25.6
2015 SCHEDULE
Aug. 21 ...................at Mount Pleasant
Aug. 28 ..................at Jay M. Robinson
Sept. 4 .................LAWNDALE BURNS
Sept. 11 ..................................CARSON
Sept. 25 ....................HICKORY RIDGE
Oct. 2 .................................at Concord
Oct. 9 ............................WEST ROWAN
Oct. 16 ........................at South Rowan
Oct. 23 ................................at Cox Mill
Oct. 30 ..........................at East Rowan
Nov. 6 .........NORTHWEST CABARRUS
Central Cabarrus coach Donnie Kiefer enters his 30th season as a head coach.
CONCORD This fall, Donnie Kiefer utive year, following 2013s 11-2 showing.
begins his 30th season as a high school Then, speedy senior tailback Jayni Monfootball head coach.
ley was lost for the year with a broken
Although hes in just his fourth sea- foot. A short time later, the teams most
son leading Central Cabarrus, his alma productive player, Riley McGee, broke a
mater, he quickly developed a reputa- leg. More injuries followed, and the Vition for being a tireless worker with a kings wound up 6-6 and finished sixth in
supreme knowledge of the game.
the South Piedmont 3A Conference.
And after three decades and 213 vicThats why the preseason was all about
tories, its clear Kiefer knows whats im- health and being in good shape for the
portant to a football team. Thats why rigorous stages of the 2015 campaign.
he makes his mission for the 2015 ViTheres a fine line between being
kings clear, and it doesnt include talk of physical and not getting people beat up
league titles and state championships. early, said Kiefer, who is a competitive
Weve just got to stay healthy, Kiefer power lifter. We were being somewhat
said.
cautious but still very physical in pracThere might not have been a team tice just within reason.
more subdued by injury last season.
Going into the 2014 season, Kiefer felt
the Vikings had a squad that could post OFFENSE
double-digit wins for the second consecTyler English, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound
over full-time duties. Central Cabarrus

coaches believe English has improved
Marty Price/Special to the Independent Tribune
tremendously, especially with his overall mechanics and reading of defenses.
senior quarterback, returns to lead
Cam Kepley, who was the JV starter
the Viking offense after seeing occa- last year, will be in the backup quartersional action last year. Kiefer believes back role.
the game experience English obtained
last year will benefit him as he takes
See VIKINGS, Page 9
HARTSELL
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
Vikings
13
DEFENSE
From Page 12
Several players received repetitions at

running back during preseason drills,
and Kiefer said at least five will get carries throughout the year. That quintet
includes
5-10, 175-pound junior Demarcus
Alexander, who moved up from JV after injuries struck last year; sophomore
Jahari Young; senior Mahari Thompson;
Trey Robinson; and Taylor Acosta.
At slotback, expect senior Terron
Gregory to be a factor for the Vikings.
Kiefer said the wide receiving corps
will be a strong suit for Central Cabarrus
because of sheer depth and the quality
game experience those players gained a
year ago. Many of the top pass catchers
are seniors with good size.
Seniors Joseph Dorton and Graham
Whittle lead the receivers, and both
stand 6-2 and have good hands. When
Kepley isnt at quarterback, hell also be
a receiver, and he, too, is 6-2. Taylor English, the quarterbacks twin brother, will
be another receiver, along with Grant
Garcia and underclassman Donovan
McNeely.
The receivers should help us a lot,
Kiefer said. Theyre good blockers, and
all of them have good hands. Theres not
a lot of drop-off when you go from the
starters to the second- or third-string
guys.
The Vikings have three tight ends considered to be young but more than reliable: Clay Bigham, Dylan Johnson and
Brendan McGee.
The Viking offensive line, however, has
the least experience. Senior Josh Cole is
one of the few linemen who saw game
action last year, and hell play all three
positions.
The down linemen will be the Vikings

strongest unit because of combined
game experience. Many of the players will be in their third seasons starting. Among the group to be in the mix
are Boris Tope-Tiandem, Javonte Love,
Cameron Rozier, Khalil Spratt, Brad
Richardson and Dylan Johnson.
We always want to have some builtin depth, and those guys give it to us,
Kiefer said.
The linebackers have a proven leader
in Maurice Holloway, although the senior is moving from defensive end.
Hes a leader who knows everybodys
position on the field, which should help
us a lot, Kiefer said of Holloway. Hes
just physical and smart,
Bigham will get time at linebacker,
along with Patrick Pratt and Elijah Harris.
At the outside linebacker/safety position, seniors Joseph Alvarez and Makhi
Jones will see action, along with precocious sophomore Josh Faulkner.
The cornerbacks are expected to be
senior Nagee Patterson, junior Josh Colclough and Justin Underwood.
JASON E. MICZEK/Special to the Independent Tribune
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kepley may prove to be indispensible for the Vikings, as he will, at the
very least, handle punting duties. He
also could be the main kicker, although
some Central Cabarrus soccer players
were involved in preseason workouts
and showed promise.
The explosive Underwood also will
handle punt returns, while Alexander
and Terron Gregory will both be kick returners.
VIKING IN THE SPOTLIGHT

TYLER ENGLISH
Tyler English takes control of the Central Cabarrus offense this season, if not the
team, and Vikings coach Donnie Kiefer believes the team will be in good hands.
Kiefer raves about how much growth the senior quarterback made during the
offseason after going through some growing pains learning the rigorous way of life in
the South Piedmont 3A.
At 6 foot, 175 pounds, English is athletic enough to play football and basketball at
Central Cabarrus, but Kiefer believes he has the potential to make a deeper impact
on the gridiron this year.
Hes been throwing the ball really well, Kiefer said. He should help us tremendously this year.
C. Jemal Horton
IL
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Concord Spiders
CONCORD It seems weird to imSPIDERS FAST FACTS
ply that a team thats gone unbeaten in
conference play the past two seasons
COACH: Glen Padgett, seventh seamight have something to prove.
son (65-21); 18th overall (138-82)
That, however, is a way of life for the
Concord Spiders.
3, defense 5
Concord hasnt lost a South Piedmont
3A Conference game since falling to
3A
Hickory Ridge in an overtime thriller
2014 RECORD: 12-1, 8-0
in October 2012. Since that defeat, the
Spiders have posted a record of 32-3
GAME: 35.9
against all opponents with two league
titles.
GAME: 16.7
Yet here the Spiders are, with scores of
people wondering how the team will do
2015 SCHEDULE
in 2015.
Aug. 20 ...........................at A.L. Brown
The main reason for such questions is
Aug. 28 ...........................ALBEMARLE
the loss of one of the greatest running
Sept. 4 ..........................at East Rowan
backs ever to grace a Cabarrus County
Sept. 11 .....................at Hickory Ridge
football field: Rocky Reid, who matricuSept. 18 ......................SOUTH ROWAN
lated to Wake Forest University.
James Nix/jnix@independenttribune.com
Oct. 2 ...............CENTRAL CABARRUS
Any team would miss 7,700 career
The Concord Spiders are attempting to win their third consecutive South Piedmont crown.
Oct.
9
..................................at
Cox
Mill
rushing yards from one player, and the
Oct. 16 ...................................CARSON
tradition-rich Spiders, wholl have inOct. 23 .........................at West Rowan
experienced runners and an all new ofOct. 30 .......NORTHWEST CABARRUS
fensive line, are no exception.
Nov. 6 .....................JAY M. ROBINSON
Thats a lot of yards to make up,
Spiders coach Glen Padgett said. Well
have to find different ways, but our kids
Were going to kind of combine the
are going to keep playing hard and do things that we did the last two years
the best we can.
with some of the things we did the two
years previous, Padgett said. Were going to be in a multitude of formations.
OFFENSE
What we try to do is make the defense
This season, instead of having one guess. How many people are in the box
player who must touch the ball sev- is going to determine what we do. We
eral times a game, the Spiders will have
more variety.
See SPIDERS, Page 15
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Spiders
From Page 14
like to try to create situations where we can

take advantage of the defense. And especially
when youve got such an inexperienced offense, thats important.
While the Spiders lost one of the biggest offensive stars in school history, they return a
special weapon in senior quarterback Keenan Black, who will have to use his array of talents to help the team have another successful
year.
There are plenty of reasons to believe he is
capable.
Last season, Black threw for 1,530 yards and
13 touchdowns. Although he gained just 43
yards on the ground, Black also has the ability
to run effectively, and the Spiders might have
to count on that this year.
At press time, Padgett wasnt ready to reveal
who would become the teams primary ball
carrier, saying only that there were four players in the mix. It should be noted, however,
that as a junior last season, Haywood Forte
was the Spiders second-leading rusher with
518 yards and three touchdowns.
The success of the Spider running game,
though, could be dependent upon how soon
a green offensive line matures.
Everybody on the offensive line is new, so
thats a big question mark for us, Padgett
said. Losing a 3,000-yard rusher and losing
the five guys that blocked for him for two
years is tough. Were replacing them with
very inexperienced guys, but theyre working
hard. Theyre going to get better.
Because last years offensive line was so
strong, Grant Weisel didnt see much action,
but the senior guard could be in the mix for
much more time this year. Another lineman
to watch is senior Andrew Sverko, although
he played defense a year ago. Padgett said
Sverko has quickly grown into a good leader.
Blacks receiving unit appears to be in good
ODK
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CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
15
hands, literally. Back is senior Carter Mozingo, who led the team with 501 yards last
season. Another trusted option is tight end
Drew Yoos, the second-leading pass catcher
with 248 yards.
Look for junior receiver Hamsah Nasirildeen to really take off, and we do mean take
off. Nasirildeen (217 yards) is a 6-foot-5 highflyer who already has a basketball scholarship
offer from Division I Hampton University, but
hes also attracted recruiting interest because
of his football abilities.
DEFENSE
This is an area of strength for Concord.
The Spiders have some impressive reinforcements up front, where linemen Dez
Scott (6-3, 320) and Mike Baker (6-2, 275) are
rugged defenders with noses for the football.
Both were all-conference choices.
At linebacker, junior P.J. Hall and senior
Amier Young are returning starters who can
make things happen in a hurry.
The secondary has veteran leadership. Seniors Cam Blackwelder and Davionne Eddie
will be manning the cornerback spots and set
the tone for the unit. Meanwhile, Mozingo
and Nasirildeen will pull double duty as important safeties, just as they have in the past.
James Nix/ jnix@independenttribune.com
SPECIAL TEAMS
Senior Marissa James returns to be in play
for the lead kicking position, although sophomore Landon Trott is more than capable and
certainly will have his opportunities.
Padgett has seen signs of growth in James.
She got some big-time game experience
last year, Padgett said, and we think that
will definitely help her this year.
As far as the return game goes, two familiar
faces will be back for the Spiders: Mozingo
and Eddie.
SPIDER IN THE SPOTLIGHT

CARTER MOZINGO
Mozingo has been an invaluable peformer for the Spiders in the past,
and Concord coach Glen Padgett isnt shy about making it known that
hell need the senior step up this season.
He does a lot of things for us, Padgett said, and we definitely expect
him to be one of our leaders.
The 5-foot-10, 185-pounder has sure hands, as he was the Spiders
leading receiver last season with more than 500 yards, en route to earning all-conference honors. He also is athletic enough to fill in at safety
and, with a 4.5 clocking in the 40-yard dash, he also can help on returns.
C. Jemal Horton
ALLISON
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CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
Big Man on Campus
Keeping it Cool
By C. JEMAL HORTON
CONCORD Pre-game used to be a

nightmare for Keenan Black a terrifying mental exercise of contemplating
anything that could go wrong.
Black, then a sophomore, had been
thrust into Concord High Schools
starting quarterback role after senior
Graham Pruette was lost to injury in
the second game of the season. Black
had expected to be an understudy but
instead became a leading man with a
talented cast that had state title aspirations.
He struggled to find a happy place
before games that season, even as he
found ways to make plays that helped
the Spiders roll all the way to the 3A
championship game, where they fell to
Havelock by only a touchdown.
I was never really comfortable my
sophomore year, Black recalled.
At the beginning of every game, I had
some type of nerves. About midway
through the first quarter, I would finally
say, All right, lets just play. But it was
tough.
It is an image that doesnt seem to
jibe with the laid-back, fun-loving senior signal-caller who leads the Spiders
these days.
But the fact that Black now can laugh
about those times cutting his quarterback teeth is a testament to his maturity
over the past two years.
I just want to play and have fun, and
thats the way I approach the game,
Black said. Im a funny guy, so on game
day, I like to get everybody going. In the
locker room, I like to joke around and
play. I try not worry about the game itself just be a high school kid and have
fun. You only get to do this one time.
Black has actually studied effective
quarterback leadership. He has pulled
pages from known locker room captains, such as former Florida State star
Jameis Wilson (the on-the-field version)
and Seattle Seahawks superstar Russell
Wilson, and employed their tactics with
his Concord teammates.
It is a practice thats been beneficial,
both for Black and the Spiders.
In Blacks two seasons as the teams
starting quarterback, Concord has
won a pair of conference titles, posting
perfect league records each time, and
reached that 2013 state championship
game.
While operating an offense that was
geared heavily toward getting the ball
in the hands of star running back Rocky
Reid, Black has passed for 3,061 yards
and 33 touchdowns.
As Blacks time under center has increased throughout the years, so have
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Concord quarterback
has grown into a relaxed,
fun-loving field general
his confidence, responsibilities and

performances.
Hes an excellent field general,
Spiders coach Glen Padgett said of
Black. He has a great understanding of
what were trying to do on offense. We
put a lot of the pre-snap decisions in his
hands. We do a lot of multiple plays at
the line, which means weve got different
options of what we can do previous to
the snap and after the snap, depending
on what the defense does. Keenan does
an excellent job of that. He understands
the game, he understands defenses.
Hes mobile and athletic, and hes got a
good arm and hes a good leader.
See BLACK, Page 17 Concords Keenan Black
JAMES NIX
GOOD LUCK TEAMS!
See JOHNSON, Page 11
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
Black
From Page 16
Any time you build an offense,

those are important facets for your
quarterback.
Football first
Those attributes have helped Black
become an attractive college recruit. He
has received interest from schools such
as Appalachian State, N.C. Central and
Western Carolina, although many other programs will be keeping an eye on
Black early this season.
Im not worried about it, Black said,
when asked about the recruiting attention. I just want to play college football, and I believe things will work out
the way theyre supposed to.
It wasnt all that long ago that Black
was unsure whether he wanted to go to
college as a recruit for the gridiron or
the hardwood.
Black grew up playing basketball, and
he had tremendous success early on.
He played on championship-winning
AAU teams, and he usually was one of
the top players. But as he got older, his
passion for football evolved. He was really good at that, too so good that he
started to receive letters of interest from
colleges when he was in ninth grade. He
still played basketball for the Spiders,
but suddenly, thoughts of football dominated his consciousness. He especially
loved being the quarterback.
As the quarterback, the ball is in your
hands every play, Black said. You have
to control the game and be a leader, and
I love that.
Black said one of the things that makes
him such an effective quarterback is his
versatility.
ODK
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JAMES NIX
Concords Keenan Black is entering his third season as the Spiders starting quarterback.
I can run the option, and I can sit in

the pocket and throw it deep, Black
said. When I was smaller, I watched a
lot of Michael Vick. He just was such a
dual threat. He could throw it, he could
run it, he could do it all. Being versatile
helps you and your team, and thats
what I want to do for mine.
ALLISON
As good as Black has been this season,

he anticipates being even better during
this, his senior year. He has put in the
work to get there.
Shortly after he finished last season,
when he led the Spiders to a 12-1 overall
record, Black knew he was a good player. But only days into the offseason, he
17
felt that wasnt good enough. He began

working with a quarterback trainer, former NFL player Anthony Wright, who
tutors quarterbacks in the area.
Black said he has seen the benefits
of working with Wright, the former
University of South Carolina star who
played with five NFL teams before retiring in 2009. Wright has helped sharpen
Blacks mechanics and even his mental
approach to the position.
Hes taken my skills to another level,
Black said.
Thanks to physical maturity and
more time in the weight room, Black
also is bigger and stronger. At the end
of last season, Black said, he weighed
165 pounds. Now, he carries a solid 175
pounds on his 6-foot-2 frame. Typically,
he works out with Wright in the mornings and hits the weights in the evening
between other football workouts with
teammates.
This summer, Black also attended several college camps, including Wake Forest, East Carolina, Appalachian State,
N.C. Central and Wingate. He said he
learned vital lessons during each visit
things he plans on using this season
as he tries to lead Concord to a third
consecutive league crown.
Black is fully aware that wont be an
easy task. But he is ready. This time,
there wont be any pre-game terrors.
The young man leading the Spiders
now is relaxed, confident and determined to enjoy the ride of his senior
year.
Im smarter and better because of
my experience of my sophomore year,
Black said. I know what I can do and
what to do on certain downs. I dont
look at it as being a lot of pressure on
me or anything like that.
This year, were going to play and
have fun.
HARTSELL
18
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
Cox Mill Chargers

CONCORD Craig Stewart leaned
back in a chair in his office and smiled
as he talked about his football team.
It was not the smile of contentment,
as if hes already accomplished his goal
with the Cox Mill Chargers; it was more
the look and sound of a man who believes his program is showing signs of
being on the right course, staying in line
with the vision he had for the team when
he took over nearly three years ago.
Stewart, who had landed his first head
coaching job after decades in the business, simply wanted the Chargers to
play fast and relentlessly. In 2013, they
had a 4-7 record, and last season Cox
Mill made went above .500 with a 7-6
record and a third-place finish in the
South Piedmont 3A Conference.
Now, Stewart believes his program is
ready for another monumental step.
We want to continue to build, Stewart said. Last year was good, but we
lost two games by five points (to Mount
Pleasant by 2 points and East Rowan by
3). Those were games we thought could
have gone our way. We try to get our
kids to understand that the little things
are what can help you pull out those
close wins. I think our kids are seeing
the overall big picture.
That picture? Speed is what you need.
Stewart has put an emphasis practicing and playing as fast as possible, on
both sides of the ball. On offense last season, the Chargers lined up and got plays
going in their Spread offense within six
seconds of when officials set the ball.
CHARGERS FAST FACTS

COACH: Craig Stewart, third
season (11-13)
7, defense 5
3A
2014 RECORD: 7-6, 5-3
GAME: 41.8
GAME: 37.8
2015 SCHEDULE
Oct. 28 .........NORTH MECKLENBURG
Sept. 4 ...................at Mount Pleasant
Sept. 11 ..........................EAST ROWAN
Sept. 18 .....................HICKORY RIDGE
Sept. 25 ..........at Northwest Cabarrus
Oct. 2 .........................at South Rowan
Oct. 9 .................................CONCORD
Oct. 16 ...................at Jay M. Robinson
Oct. 23 .............CENTRAL CABARRUS
Oct. 30 .........................at West Rowan
Nov. 6 ....................................CARSON
We go as fast as we can, Stewart said.

Theyve got to think a lot quicker, react
a lot quicker. Last year, a couple times,
kids came up to us and said, Coach, the
games actually going kind of slow.
Thats what we want. We want to go
so fast in practice that when game time
comes, everything slows down and they
See CHARGERS, Page 19
HIRING NOW
James Nix/jnix@independenttribune.com
Cox Mill quarterback Nico Cleaves (right) rolls out during a drill.
GOOD LUCK TEAMS!
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
Chargers
From Page 18
see things a little bit better. The kids

have worked hard (in the preseason),
and I think thats going to help us be
even better this year.
OFFENSE
The leading contender to be at the
helm of the fast-paced attack is junior
Nico Cleaves, who played some quarterback last season but spent a lot of time
at receiver on the JV team. Stewart said
Cleaves worked hard in the offseason,
and going through the many reads of the
offense has become more instinctive.
The good part is Cleaves has some serious weaponry at his disposal, starting
with speed demon Devin Cobb at slotback. Stewart said Malachi Wheeler also
will see time in the slot, and 6-foot-3,
sure-handed Jonathan Earl is dangerous
at wide receiver. Earl is so athletic that if
plays dont initially go as planned, be it a
high pass or a missed assignment, he can
still make something productive happen.
The anchors of the of the Chargers
line will be senior tackles Andrew Marshall, a (6-0, 240) and Quian Redfern
(6-4, 220). In addition, junior Andrew
Pangrazio, a guard who played a lot last
year, is expected to be an important
piece. Because the Chargers do a great
deal of subbing along the line, several
younger players will be in the mix.
trenches are Jamil Bailey, Tavaree Lattimore and Tyree Green.

At linebacker, senior Cory Cline returns and is expected to have an impact
leading a group that will be a little inexperienced. On the inside, Cline will
be joined by Mitchell Robinson, who is
returning to the team this season after
tearing his ACL on the first day of contact last year. Stewart said Robinson has
looked good in practice, but the team
is focusing on making sure he is completely healthy.
On the outside, junior Jessie Malit also
is make after being injured last year,
and senior Dayvuone Pharr moves back
from the defensive line.
Stewart said he expects junior cornerback P.J. Mogianesi to play well along
side senior Justin Ford. Cobb will see
some time at the corner, and Earl will
play free safety. Shaal Joseph, who is up
from the JV squad, also has the ability to
add reinforcement.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The kicking game should be an area

of strength for the Chargers, as John
Brosnahan returns for his sophomore
season. Last year, Bosnahan stepped up
to knock down a late field goal to give
Cox Mill a first-round playoff win over
North Forsyth.
Hell be a threat for us this year,
Stewart said. If we get (the ball) down
inside the 30, I think weve got a chance
to drive one through.
Brosnahan also will handle punting
duties.
DEFENSE
Cobb and Earl will be the chief return
Up front, the Chargers have a power- guys, along with Malachi Wheeler.
house in 6-3, 235-pound senior Tommy
Were going to put the ball in their
Dawkins, who has received recruiting hands as much as we can, Stewart said.
interest from several colleges. Other
players who look to be in the mix in the
C. Jemal Horton
CHARGER IN THE SPOTLIGHT

DEVIN COBB
The first thing people notice about Devin Cobb is his small stature. Listed at 5
foot 8 and 165 pounds, its hard to image Cobb could have such a huge impact on
the field.
At times, he seems larger than life.
The senior slotback uses blazing speed to level the playing field. He was clocked
at 4.45 seconds, laser time, in the 40-yard dash at the Nike Regional Opening.
I wasnt blessed with size and height, so I just work hard, Cobb said. I have to
be faster and stronger and just do what I can.
Said Chargers coach Craig Stewart: He brings that burst of speed that a lot of
people arent ready for. Nobody catches him from behind.

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CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
2-MINUTE DRILL
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
We take some of the countys top

players and see how they perform
with quick-hitting questions about
their lives on and off the field
MIKE BAKER
Mike Baker is a self-described Mamas Boy, but he is one of the toughest football players in Cabarrus County. As a junior last year, he earned all-conference
honors for the Concord Spiders, and he doesnt plan on slowing down.
Whats your mindset entering the season?
Just being successful. At Concord, were always going for that state championship, but its just one step at a time. You cant take an elevator to success.
What are your career goals?
I want a football scholarship. I want that free education. Of course, Id love to go
to the NFL, but I eventually want to go into law enforcement and become CPD or
something like that.
Is anybody recruiting you?
Right now, its N.C. Central and Catawba.
Why do you wear No. 7 as a defensive end?
I had No. 51 my freshman and sophomore years. Watching (former South Carolina star) Jadeveon Clowney do his thing, it just kind of inspired me to wear No. 7
and try to rock it like he did.
Whos your role model?
My mom (Crystal). Ive always looked up to her as a single parent raising me, my
brother (Tyrone) and my sister (Alyssa). Shes a strong woman.
C. Jemal Horton
GREG WASLO
The senior quarterback stepped into the starting role as a sophomore after
another player got injured. Since then, Waslo hasnt let go of the position.
He has led a strong Hickory Ridge program, and now hes being recruited by
schools such as Wofford, Elon, Coastal Carolina, Charleston Southern, VMI and
The Citadel.
Whats been the best moment of your football career?
Winning my first playoff game last year against Ledford, 26-7.
Whos the best player in Cabarrus County who is not on your team?
Mount Pleasant High School senior running back Cody Reece.
Which team will win the national championship this year?
West Virginia. Thats my favorite team, and Ill say that every year.
Who will win the Heisman Trophy?
(Ohio States) Braxton Miller. Hes definitely due.
Who or what will you miss the most when your high school career is over?
Coach (Marty) Paxton because hes taught me the most that my teammates
havent taught me, and hes a good dude. Hes been great in the weight room and
is really great at what he does.
David Exum
ODK
O
G UC
L
ALLISON
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
JONATHAN EARL
Earl is eagerly counting down the days until his final
season of Cox Mill football begins. The 6-foot-3, 180pound, two-sport athlete (Earl is also a power forward
on the basketball team) is receiving football recruiting
interest from the Charlotte 49ers and Western Carolina.
SANDON MCCOY
The A.L. Brown senior ball carrier has accepted an
appointment to West Point, an accomplishment he
knows will get his life started in the right direction. After
transferring from Carson High after his freshman season,
he now ranks among the Wonders top 10 career rushing
leaders.
How did you pick your jersey number?
I played with 30 my whole life, and when I transferred
here, I got to the locker room and asked coach (Mike
Newsome) if I could wear No. 30. He said, I dont have a
30. Ive got a 31. So I took 31.
Whats its been like at A.L. Brown?
Its been great, especially the academic and athletic
programs. Coach Newsome gets players into college, and
thats what he did for me.
You have a 3.7 GPA. Why are good grades important to
you?
I say to myself, If I dont make good grades, I cant go to
college.
Who are your role models?
I look up to my grandfather, Darnell Cunningham. I respect him a lot for taking on such a huge role in my life.
Hes a special person.
Whos the best player in Cabarrus County who is not on

your team?
My cousin, Haywood Forte. Hes a running back at
Concord High School.
Howd you get your jersey number?
My sophomore season I wanted No. 4, but it was already taken, so I just doubled up on the number and
got the No. 8. It doesnt mean anything specifically.
Whats been the toughest moment of your football career?
Losing in the playoffs against Asheville last season
was definitely my toughest moment.
Whats been the best moment of your football career?
My most memorable game was against Carson
last season. I caught four touchdown passes (for 208
yards).
Who will win the Heisman?
Alabama quarterback Jake Coker.
Ten years from now, Jonathan Earl will be
I hope to still be playing football.
C. Jemal Horton
Go Teams Go!
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GOOD LUCK TEAMS!
21
22
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
Hickory Ridge Ragin Bulls

HARRISBURG Costly fumbles kept
the Hickory Ridge Ragin Bulls from advancing further in the Class 3AA state
tournament in 2014.
After losing just two games in the
regular season, to Concord and West
Rowan high schools, the Ragin Bulls
defeated Ledford in the first round but
fell to Statesville, 39-30, in the second.
Heading into his eight season as Hickory Ridges head coach, Marty Paxton
strongly believes that his squad can
learn from past mistakes and put together another double-digit winning
season after going 10-3 in 2014.
If the Ragin Bulls can put together
another 10 wins or more, it will be the
first time in school history the team has
done it two years consecutively.
Senior tackle Will Putnam, who has
verbally committed to play at the University of South Carolina, definitely will
have a target on his back this season.
Opponents are sure to test the Southeastern Conference-bound big man.
OFFENSE
Quarterback Greg Waslo has improved on his decision-making by leaps
and bounds, and Paxton said the quarterback looked good in 7-on-7 scrimmages during the preseason. Waslo has
improved his ability to pass the ball,
and Paxton considers him a threat with
the deep ball. Paxton added that Waslo
worked relentlessly over the off season
to improve as a passer. Waslos main
goal is to improve on his touchdownto-interception ratio from a season ago.
Junior Jamin Glenn, senior Jourdan
Salluom, senior Tyler LaRousa and Phillip Pilkington are the teams corps of
outside receivers. Slot receivers will be
seniors Kevin Wooten, Petey Reaves,
Stephen Graham and Brock Angel.
The Ragin Bulls rely heavily on running the ball. Paxton said his team will
use running plays at least 75 percent of
the time this year. Waslo is a running
quarterback who had more than 800
yards on the ground last season. Junior
Trevor Shue will also be in the backfield.
Shue is even more dangerous because
hes also a threat to throw the ball.
BULLS FAST FACTS

COACH: Marty Paxton, eighth season
(49-48)
defense 4
CONFERENCE: South Piedmont 3A
2014 RECORD: 10-3, 6-2 SPC
36.2
GAME: 23.9
2015 SCHEDULE
Aug. 21 ................................at Piedmont
Aug. 28 ................... MOUNT PLEASANT
Sept. 4 ......................JAY M. ROBINSON
Sept. 11 ................................. CONCORD
Sept. 18 ..............................at COX MILL
Sept. 25 .......... at CENTRAL CABARRUS
Oct. 2 ................................EAST ROWAN
Oct. 16 .............. at Northwest Cabarrus
Oct. 23 .............................. South Rowan
Oct. 30 . ........................ at Jesse Carson
Nov. 6 . ................................ West Rowan
this season. Paxton added that Louba

has improved dramatically the past two
years.
JAMES NIX \ JNIX@INDEPENDENTTRIBUNE.COM
Hes a monster, hes big, Paxton said
Hickory Ridge coach Marty Paxton (right) has been the only coach in the schools history.
about Louba.
Senior Jaylen Rudisell will again use extremely hard over the summer. On the
Another player up from junior varsity
his size and strength to move the chains. defensive side of the ball, Paxton said is junior Dawson Haywood. Senior deRudisell has also improved his maturity 6-foot-2 senior defensive tack C.J. Aja- fensive end Marcus Baker will add extra
and is a tough running back. The Ragin kaiye, junior defensive end Jack Wallace
Bulls also will have a strong 1-2 bunch, and junior Dan Louba will be mainstays
See BULLS, Page 23
as senior Remington Peters will join
forces with Rudisell.
Putnam will be relied on greatly up
front, as will senior Mason Mullen.
ODK
Other line spots remain undecided, alO
G UC
though senior Patrick Ells is vying for
L
playing time. He has some serious company fighting for that right in Cameron
Monks, Clayton Goldman, J.B. Jones
and Michael Cooper. Jones didnt see
much playing time after being promoted to the varsity squad a year ago, but
he is expected to see plenty of action
this season.
Paxton said all of the aforementioned
players are rock solid and worked
ALLISON
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
Bulls
From Page 22
depth. Senior Maxton Furr has moved

from linebacker to the defensive line,
and Paxton considers that a positive for
the team.
DEFENSE
Three-year starter Darius Burley has
looked phenomenal in practice this season, especially on individual drill stations and 7-on-7 competitions. Burley
also does a good job on man coverage.
Considered a sparkplug on defense, senior safety Jared Mincey is another returning starter from 2014.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Waslo will return as the teams punter.
Newcomer Gavin Minor and returning
player Taylor Waterman are vying for
the kicker position. Paxton is also scouting additional kickers from the schools
soccer team.
Wooten and Reaves will share the return duties. Wooten will likely be the
main player returning punts and kickoffs. Angel is also expected to rotate at
the position.
David Exum
BULL IN THE SPOTLIGHT

JAYLEN RUDISELL
JAMES NIX/JNIX@INDEPENDENTTRIBUNE.COM
Hickory Ridge coach Marty Paxton expects senior running back/middle linebacker Jaylen Rudisell to have a breakout season. Last
year, Rudisell rushed for more than 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Rudisell is a specimen at 6 foot 1, 215 pounds, and hes worked hard in the weight room over the summer and gained additional
speed.
Jaylen is a thick, really, really tough runner, Paxton said.
Hickory Ridges Greg Waslo during practice.

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24
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
Big Man on Campus
A Walk to Remember
By DAVID EXUM
dexum@independenttribune.com
HARRISBURG Will Putnam doesnt

like spiders especially the black and
gold Spiders at Concord High School.
About to embark on his final season as a
starting offensive tackle at Hickory Ridge
High School, Putnam would like nothing
more than to the defeat his nemesis.
It has been three years since the Ragin Bulls defeated Concord High. The
last time was in a thrilling 24-21 overtime victory in 2012.
The 6-foot-5, 270-pound Putnam
has his sights set on only two things
this season: beating Concord High and
bringing home a South Piedmont 3A
Conference championship to beloved
head coach Marty Paxton.
Concord is the biggest game for us,
said Putnam, who has signed with Steve
Spurriers Gamecocks at the University
of South Carolina. Everybody (at Hickory Ridge) hates the Spiders.
After going 7-0 to win the conference
championship his freshman season, Putnams sophomore year was nightmarish
and still sticks in his craw to this day.
Clearly the sophomore jinx had stumbled upon him. The Ragin Bulls were
competitive, but luck just didnt fall
their way. Putnam remembers it as being a rough season. So rough that the
team seemed disconnected and lacked
senior leadership.
You didnt want to go to practice, you
didnt want to get better, Putnam said. I
just wasnt there mentally. I wasnt men-
tally focused. A lot of us younger players

were looking up to the seniors for help, but
it was like they just threw in the towel.
The Ragin Bulls dropped their first two
games in non-conference play and just
couldnt recover. Wins came sporadically, and Hickory Ridge finished a dismal
3-5 in conference play, 4-8 overall.
Looking back at that season, Putnam
considers it a turning point in his high
school football career.
Hickory Ridge returned to its winning
ways in 2014 by finishing 10-3 and 6-2
good enough to earn the sixth seed
in the 3AA state playoffs. The Ragin Bull
defeated Ledford easily in first-round
action but fell in the second round to
Statesville.
Heading into his senior season at Hickory Ridge, the two-sport athlete (Putnam
also plays center on the basketball team),
the big man gives credit to not only Paxton
for pushing him harder but to teammates
Carter Edwards, Jared Mincey, Darius Burley, Kevin Wooten and Mason Mullen.
These guys have worked their tails
off in the weight room to get better,
Putnam said.
The aforementioned players have been
with Putnam since his days of playing
football at Hickory Ridge Middle School.
These are guys who I grew up with
and they were decent players, but now
theyve just flipped the switch and have
just impressed me, Putnam said.
True grit
Since the programs inception in 2007,
HIRING NOW
Putnam has had a

memorable career in his
time at Hickory Ridge
the same year the high school opened,

Paxton is hard-pressed to remember
another player whos had more impact
than Putnam.
After committing to South Carolina
last month, Paxton said he was dumbfounded by the incredible publicity Putnam has brought to not only the football
team but to the entire high school.
The publicity that he has given us, to
be honest with you, right now is beyond
anything we had before, Paxton said.
Paxton referenced the Internet search
engine Google to illustrate the impact of
Putnams decision to play for the Southeastern Conference school.
In the grand scheme of things, he has
helped put us on the map, along with
the other guys that have been before
him, Paxton said. But now I would
say its at more of a national-type level
JAMES NIX/jnix@independenttribune.com
Will Putnam of Hickory Ridge will play for

See PUTNAM, Page 25 the University of South Carolina next fall.
GOOD LUCK TEAMS!
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
Putnam
The Paxton effect
From Page 24
because if youve been recruited by the

SEC, its a big deal, and its believed by
many to be the toughest conference in
college football today.
Paxton stressed that Putnam is no
overnight sensation. Since coming in
as a freshman, Putnam has committed
himself to playing Hickory Ridges uptempo style of football.
From the time Putnam played his first
down at the varsity level to being on the
cusp of starting his senior season, Paxton has seen a tremendous transformation in his offensive tackle.
I preach to our guys all the time that
in order to play at the next level, youve
got to have something that other people
dont have, Paxton said. Will has that
competitive nature and grit about him.
He does a lot of the right things because
he does not want to lose.
While there are many talented players
around, Paxton doesnt believe theres
anyone else in the same class as Putnam.
Theres not a guy with his size or his
power or his explosiveness in Cabarrus
County, Paxton said.
Because his parents divorced, Putnam and his younger siblings, Walt and
Weston, were raised by their mother,
Christie. Walt, a sophomore, also plays
football for Hickory Ridges JV team.
During the three years Putnam has
been playing for Paxton, the pair has developed a father-son relationship. Even
though there are times they might not
be in complete agreement, Putnam considers Paxton his most trustworthy confidant and supporter, next to his mom.
Its definitely a love-hate relationship,
Putnam said with a laugh. Hes the hardest one on my case. Hes been pushing
me, and his attitude toward me has kind
of changed. Hes been a mentor figure to
me. I really dont have a father figure in
my house, and hes really filled that role.
If I have a problem, I go talk to him.
While Ragin Bulls quarterback Greg
Waslo is clearly the vocal leader on the
team, Paxton said Putnam leads by example. Putnams leadership style really kicked
in after his sophomore season when Paxton asked him to take on the role of being
the lineman on the team who keeps tabs
on players at his position.
Its not that I dont like being a vocal
leader its just not who I am, Putnam
said. Greg is excellent at being a vo- whole entire team coming together and
cal leader. I just do the right thing, and thats what makes me smile the most.
people follow behind me. Thats just the
Mothers day
kind of leader that I am.
Besides giving credit to Paxton and
Friday Night Lights
Hickory Ridge basketball coach Robert
Of all the experiences Putnam had Machado, Putnams other significant
during his time at Hickory Ridge High supporter has always been his mother.
School, he said nothing comes close
Since Putnam was a little boy, his
to the excitement of playing before the mother has always been there for him
hometown crowd on Friday night.
and his two younger brothers. Putnam
Before the start of each home game, does have a relationship with his fathe team assembles behind a gigantic, ther Shane, but his dad lives more than
inflated blue bull. Similar to what col- two hours away in the North Carolina
lege and pro teams do, the players run mountains.
underneath the bulls legs onto the field
The Hickory Ridge standout referred
in a show of team unity.
to his mothers commitment to him as
You run out and youve got people boo- the Putnam Program.
ing you on this side of the field, but on the
He explained that if he needs a certain
other half, youve got 3,000 to 4,000 people piece of equipment or a powder to build
just cheering you on, Putnam said. Thats muscle, Christie doesnt hesitate to help
one of the best feelings. When Im on de- him get it. Putnam also said that his mothfense and I get a sack and the announcer er hasnt missed one of his games since his
will say my name, thats also a fun thing. was a little kid playing youth football.
Putnam also said that one of the many
Shes so supportive, and shes always
things he loves about football is when he there for me, he said. But weve aland the rest of the team execute perfectly ways been close because its just been
and the Bulls running back either gains her and my younger brothers. My mom
big yardage or scampers in for six points. loves what Ive accomplished, and I
Its a team game. Its not just one play- know shed love me even if I didnt get
er getting a sack, Putnam said. Its the the scholarship (to South Carolina).
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Jay M. Robinson Bulldogs

CONCORD In his second season at
the helm of the Jay M. Robinson Bulldogs, coach Joe Glass is confident that
he can turn the program around and finally get back in the win column.
We are a totally different team from
last year, Glass said. Our kids are talented enough to compete with anybody
from the neck down. Its from the neck
up where weve struggled. With losing
comes that losing mentality. But instead
of waiting for bad things to happen, our
kids are now making good things happen.
Returning to the South Piedmont 3A
Conference after spending a rough two
years in the powerful MECKA 4A Conference, the Bulldogs should fare better
and possibly snap their 11-game losing
skid.
The Bulldogs last victory was against
West Charlotte in its last game of the
2013 season. The deck is definitely
stacked against Jay M. Robinson, considering the team has compiled a record of 1-21 in its past two seasons, but
Glass says his players have a new attitude heading into their season opener
at home against the Northwest Cabarrus Trojans on Friday.
A big difference in this seasons team
is Glass will have only one player playing both sides of the ball, while last season he had several Bulldogs who pulled
double duty, and it cost the team dearly.
In a game early in the 2014 season, in
95-degree heat, five of his players suffered from heat exhaustion.
Glass also said the size of his teams
roster has increased and his Bulldogs
are bigger and stronger than a year ago.
Several players from the junior varsity
team have been promoted this season
after coming off a winning 2014 campaign.
OFFENSE
Junior quarterback Josh Dale will
make his debut at the varsity level season. Glass said Dale has grown 3 inches
from last year and is now nearly 6 foot
1. Dale has a great throwing arm and
passes for accuracy.
We expect big things out of him,
BULLDOGS FAST FACTS

COACH: Joe Glass, second season
(1-21)
defense 8
2014 RECORD: 0-11, 0-7
7.6
GAME: 41.1
2015 SCHEDULE
Aug. 21 .......... NORTHWEST CABARRUS
Aug. 28 ............... CENTRAL CABARRUS
Sept. 4 ......................... at Hickory Ridge
Sept. 11 ............................WEST ROWAN
Sept. 18 .................... at Mount Pleasant
Sept. 25 ........................ at Jesse Carson
Oct. 9 ................................ at A.L. Brown
Oct. 16 .................................... COX MILL
Oct. 23 ..............................EAST ROWAN
Oct. 30 . ........................ SOUTH ROWAN
Nov. 6 . ..................................at Concord
is very explosive. Rutherford is also

speedy and sees holes in defenses well.
Blake Furr and Mark Perkins will also
carry the ball for the Bulldogs.
JAMES NIX \ JNIX@INDEPENDENTTRIBUNE.COM
The Jay M. Robinson Bulldogs are looking for the first win under second-year coach Joe
Glass.
Glass said.
dangerous on offense.
The Bulldogs are also extremely deep
Senior running back Josh Rutherford
at the wide receiver position. Junior Javonte Misenheimer retuns to action at
the position after missing last season
because of a torn anterior cruciate ligaODK
ment.
O
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Senior Daniel Spencer, a standout
L
on the schools successful basketball
team, is expected to use his height advantage (6 foot 2) and leaping ability
to make plenty of receptions and score
touchdowns. Michael Young is also another talented receiver and has amazing speed. Junior Baarkiar Anderson,
sophomore Que Reid, J.C. Culp and
Trevor Byron are additional receivers
who Glass believes can make his team
DEFENSE
Glass said this seasons offensive and
defensive lines have depth, unlike a
See BULLDOGS, Page 27
ALLISON
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
Bulldogs
From Page 26
year ago, when many of his starters

played both ways.
Senior Ethan Steinbacher will be the
teams only player expected to play on
both sides of the ball. Other offensive
linemen include Danny Kiser, Chris Davis and Desmond Mason.
Jayln Miller is also a promising lineman. The right tackle is Brandon Steele.
Culp and Jesse Kluttz will play the cornerback positions. Sophomore Dawson
Williams and Young will be at safety.
ETHAN STEINBACHER
Senior left tackle and defensive end Ethan Steinbacher was named to the all-South
Piedmont 3A Conference team last year.
Hes an unbelievable kid and is working hard in the weight room, said Jay M. Robinson coach Joe Glass. He is one of the kids that we cant do without on the field. He got
a vote by every kid to be the team captain.
Steinbacher, one of the top 10 students in his class, also comes from a bloodline of
offensive linemen. Steinbachers father, Steve, and uncle, Rick, were linemen for the
North Carolina Tar Heels.
27
Glass says Williams has tremendous

speed.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Senior Joseph Bruner will handle the
kicking duties. He is also being recruited by Georgia Southern. Bruner will be
both kicker and punter for the Bulldogs.
Glass said Bruner gives the team an
added advantage.
Glass said a number of players can be
used as returners, including Anderson,
Reid and Young. Glass expects to rotate
the trio because each player excels at
returning both kicks and punts.
David Exum
GOOD LUCK TEAMS!
BULLDOG IN THE SPOTLIGHT
28
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
Mount Pleasant Tigers

MOUNT PLEASANT Mount Pleasant Tigers coach Mike Johns sees no
reason his squad wont be able to win
its second consecutive Rocky River 2A
Conference championship and contend for a state championship like it did
a year ago.
Although the Tigers lost their first two
games of the 2014 season, they peeled
off 12 consecutive victories, including
three straight playoff games. Mount
Pleasant made it all the way to the 2A
state semifinals game but lost a heartbreaker to Shelby, 31-17. With returning starters such as seniors Cody Reese,
Clayton Horn and Mason Sweet, Johns
believes his Tigers have the necessary
depth and experience to be just as successful as it was in 2014.
TIGERS FAST FACTS

COACH: Michael Johns, 16th
season (86-98)
3, defense 4
CONFERENCE: Rocky River 2A
Conference
2014 RECORD: 12-3, 5-0
GAME: 32.8
GAME: 18.1
2015 SCHEDULE
Aug. 21 .............CENTRAL CABARRUS
Aug. 28 .....................at Hickory Ridge
Sept. 4 .................................COX MILL
Sept. 11 .......................at South Iredell
Sept. 18 .................JAY M. ROBINSON
Oct. 2 ..............at Northwest Cabarrus
Oct. 9 ...........................FOREST HILLS
Oct. 16 .................................at Monroe
Oct. 23 ...........at CENTRAL ACADEMY
Oct. 30 .............................PARKWOOD
Nov. 6 ...........................at West Stanly
OFFENSE
As the Tigers try to fill the void left
by former quarterback Austin Parker,
now at Duke University, senior Stewart
Laws and junior Jacob Irby fought for
the starting spot during the preseason.
Johns said both players improved tremendously in the offseason and he is
pleased with their progress.
The Tigers are loaded with talented receivers who Johns says have stepped up
their games. Sweet, Jacorey Alston and
Justice Isenhour are wideouts, while
Horn and Jalen Miller will see action as
slot receivers. Adam Johns and Grant
McDonald are also talented receivers.
Mount Pleasant head coach Mike Johns (right) expects his team to win its second straight
conference title and contend for a state championship.
The Tigers rely heavily on running

the ball, and Johns expects Reece, who
rushed for more than 3,000 yards last
season, to be just as dominant. However, the Tigers coach isnt sure if his No.
1 ball carrier can put up the same numbers as he did.
People are going to be gunning for
HIRING NOW
him, Mike Johns said. Getting that

kind of yardage again isnt going to be
easy.
Reece is also the leading returning
rusher in the state. Johns added that Reece has put some weight on his 5-foot-9
frame and maintained his speed. Codys
brother, senior Dylan Reece, and senior
Karsten Granja will share the duties at

fullback. Horn will also run the ball, as
will Adam Johns.
Offensive linemen Zach Mayo, Jackson Skey and Caleb Spears will again
be essential in providing all-important
See TIGERS, Page 29
HARTSELL
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
Tigers
From Page 28
run blocking for Cody Reece. Colton

Brown and Dustin Barnhardt are vying
for starting guard positions. Brynden
Helms will also be used as a guard.
Although Nathan Barrier will miss a
week or two because of an injury, Johns
expects him to return to the O-line. Ray
Little, Bailey Cruise and Cole Earnhardt
are all vying for time at tight end.
DEFENSE
By running a 4-3 defense, Mike Johns
believes the Tigers do an excellent job
blocking. Tyler Gill, Jalen Miller and
Seth Smiley are battling for playing time
at the defensive end position. Triston
Langston and Paul Sherril are tackles.
All of the offensive line will also be used
sparingly as defensive lineman.
Horn again will be the starting linebacker. The senior is bigger and stron-
29
ger, thanks to offseason conditioning

and weight lifting. Jon Fernald and
Hayden Radford are outside linebackers. Dylan Reece and Earnhardt can also
substitute at linebacker.
Adam Johns and McDonald will be
starting cornerbacks, and Sweet and
Isenhour will be the teams returning
safeties. Other secondary players include brothers Lawson and Grayson
Honeycutt.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Clayton Earnhardt will be the Tigers
primary punter and kicker. Mike Johns
says Earnhardt has improved during the
offseason. Earnhardt will also be used
sparingly as a receiver and at the safety
position.
Adam Johns will be the teams go-to
for returning the ball. He was the teams
leading kick returner in 2014 and had
more than 500 yards returning the ball.
David Exum
TIGER IN THE SPOTLIGHT

ZACH MAYO
photos by James Nix/ jnix@independenttribune.com
Punching holes through opponents defenses is what senior offensive lineman Zach
Mayo does best.
Not only is Mayo big and burly at 6 foot 3, 280 pounds, he is extremely bright, both on
the gridiron and in the classroom. Mayo is also a perfectionist at creating running lanes
for star halfback Cody Reece, the teams leading rusher.
Zach has been a pleasure to coach, a fine leader and a fine gentleman, said longtime
Mount Pleasant coach Mike Johns.
Mount Pleasants Cody Reece is a key cog to the Tigers rushing attack.
ODK
O
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L
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30
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
Big Man on Campus
Sound the Horn
Mount Pleasant standout

makes it known hes
looking for a state title
moved me to middle linebacker, it just
clicked, Horn said.
Horn secured the starting position his
sophomore year, and his game has continued to improve.
(Sophomore) season our offense
wasnt very good, Horn said. Our defense was on the field all the time, and
I got a ton of experience. That sophomore season really helped prepare me
for my junior season and how to deal
with adversity out of the field. Ive got
that experience, and now Ive got the
experience of going deep into the playoffs.
By DAVID EXUM
dexum@independenttribune.com
MOUNT PLEASANT All Clayton

Horn wants is another chance.
The senior middle linebacker at
Mount Pleasant High School isnt forgetting his team came within one game
of making it to the 2A state championship last year.
After finishing the regular season
undefeated in conference play and
9-2 overall in 2014, the Tigers roared
through the first three rounds. The
fourth-seeded Tigers moved on to
square off against third-seeded Shelby
in the 2A West finals.
Leading up to the big game, Tiger
Country was buzzing with anticipation
to take on Shelby. Win and theyre in.
Mount Pleasant trailed 17-7 at the
half, cut the deficit to seven in the third
quarter and tied the game at 17 early in
the fourth quarter.
But within the span of a few plays,
the Tigers championship hopes were
crushed after giving up a touchdown
and another score on an interception
that sealed their fate for good.
State championship, nothing less,
said Horn, while sitting inside the Tigers field house recently. We were just
one game away last year. Well get back
there this year. We want that ring.
Horn realizes that reaching the state
championship game isnt going to be
easy, but the 6-foot-1, 225-pound twoway player strongly believes that the Tigers are up for the task.
I think its going to take a lot of hard
work and dedication because we dont
really have the athletes or the speed and
the size of some of the other schools we
face, Horn said. But what we have is a
better mindset. We want it more.
Need for speed

Mount Pleasant head coach Mike
Johns said Horn has come a long way
since his freshman season and is definitely Division I college material. Even
More than a coach
JAMES NIX
Mount Pleasant senior Clayton is a standout linebacker and running back for the Tigers.
though Horn doesnt have the height

some programs are looking for, he is explosive and speedy.
His speed has increased. I thought
he had decent speed as a freshman,
but his game speed has just accelerated
tremendously over the last three years,
Johns said, who is in his 17th season as
head coach. Hes always been big and
strong and physical for his age, but I
would say the biggest change is his
quickness and speed.
Using Horn as a two-way player, said
Johns, is paramount for the Tigers to
be successful this season. When Mount
Pleasant is on offense, Horn routinely
substitutes for senior running back
Cody Reece. He is also a powerful presence in goal-line situations on offense
and will be used this season as a slot
receiver. Horn spent extensive time
improving his pass defense skills, and
Johns commended Horns aggressiveness and ability to read opponents running schemes.
Hes an awesome kid and an awesome young man. Hes just a solid player, Johns said.
As a freshman, Horn started on JV
but later was promoted to varsity. Horn
spent time at safety his first year but
didnt enjoy the position and found a
home at middle linebacker.
I like to make contact, and when they
In Horns time at Mount Pleasant,

he and Johns have become more than
player and coach; theyve become good
friends.
Horn considers the 49-year-old Johns
a superb role model who cares much
more about winning football games. Instead, Horn said Johns is trying to instill
in his players lessons and memories
that will last a lifetime.
He means a lot to me and is such a
great guy, said Horn, who is being recruited by Lenoir-Rhyne University,
Furman University, Wofford College,
The Citadel and East Carolina University.
See HORN, Page 31
HARTSELL
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
Horn
From Page 30
We all try not to get down on ourselves when we make mistakes, but
when we do Coach Johns is always
there to lift our spirits.
Friends for life
Before they started playing football
at Mount Pleasant Middle School,
Horn and Reece werent the best of
friends like they are today. When the
pair played youth football, Horn said,
they despised each other because they
were on opposing teams.
Ive faced him since I was 5 years
old, Horn said. (In youth football)
he was on the Wolfpack and I was on
the Tar Heels, and I hated him and he
hated me.
All the way up to middle school we
just had this hatred for one another,
but once we got to middle school we
became close friends.
Horn likes nothing better than to
practice his position at middle linebacker and go up against Reece on the
other side of the ball.
Horn refers to Reece as The Beast
because last season Reece gained
3,100 yards and averaged 40 carries
per game. Reece also had 37 touchdowns.
Reece has totally proven himself,
Horn said. Im glad hes on my team
and I get to practice against him every day because he makes me a better
player.
Unlike other years, Horn said this
seasons team is definitely close.
Im friends with all the guys on the
team, Horn said. Were a very closeknit team. A lot of the teams Ive been
on in the past here had been separate
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CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
31
and there were cliques, but right now

there are no cliques. Were all good
friends and we love each other.
Another longtime friendship Horn
has is with 6-foot-3, 280-pound lineman Zach Mayo. Horn also compared
Mayo against Hickory Ridge Highs
Will Putnam, who has committed to
play for the University of South Carolina next fall.
Zach isnt as big as Will Putnam, but
Zach is mean, Horn said. Hes scary.
Im telling you, if he gets his hands on
you, youre done. I promise you.
Horn is also enthusiastically waiting
to see senior safety/wideout Justice Isenhour play this season.
I dont feel like he got enough recognition last year, but he is a heck of an
athlete and a heck of a player, Horn
said. Hes crazy. Hes a psycho and
he likes to hit people. Hes going to be
taking peoples head off this year.
Father knows best

Horn said that without the support
of his parents, Lori and Don, his success on the football field wouldnt have
been possible.
At the tender age of 5, Horn recalls
his father telling him that he couldnt
rely on talent alone and that to get
better, hed have to work for it.
My dad told me, Youre good right
now, but natural ability is only going
to take you so far. Once you get to a
certain level, hard work is going to
take you to where you want to go,
Horn said.
Horn also praised his parents work
ethic.
I think I have a good work ethic
because both of my parents are hard
workers, Horn said. My parents have
been tremendous and have always
JAMES NIX
pushed me to be the best I can be.
Clayton Horn was named the Independent Tribunes Defensive Player of the Year for 2014.
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32
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
Northwest Cabarrus Trojans
Northwest Cabarrus returns 15 starters, including eight on offense. Three players were in a spirited battle to determine who would be the teams starting quarterback.
CONCORD A large contingent of

returning starters could be the perfect
elixir the Northwest Cabarrus Trojans
need to start winning football games
again.
We had a really tough year only winning one ball game (in 2014), Trojans
coach Rich Williams said. We were
playing a lot of young guys and knew it
was going to be tough.
The aforementioned victory for the
Trojans last season was against the Jay
M. Robinson Bulldogs, who finished
with an 0-11 record.
Another critical area the Trojans desperately need to improve is putting
points on the scoreboard. The Trojans
went scoreless in three consecutive
games last season and were blanked in
their final game against crosstown rival
Central Cabarrus.
OFFENSE
In the preseason, three players were
fighting it out to earn the teams starting
position at quarterback.
All of our kids have worked really
hard on improving their game during
See TROJANS, Page 33
Trojans FAST FACTS

COACH: Rich Williams, eighth
season (70-84)
RETURNING STARTERS:Offense
8, defense 7
2014 RECORD: 1-10, 0-8
GAME: 7.5
GAME: 34.5
2015 SCHEDULE
Aug. 21 ..................at Jay M. Robinson
Sept. 4 .............................A.L. BROWN
Sept. 11 ......................at South Rowan
Sept. 18 ........................at West Rowan
Sept. 25 ...............................COX MILL
Oct. 2 ...................MOUNT PLEASANT
Oct. 9 .............................EAST ROWAN
Oct. 16 .......................HICKORY RIDGE
Oct. 23 .................................at Carson
Oct. 30 ...............................at Concord
Nov. 6 ..................at Central Cabarrus
GOOD LUCK TEAMS!
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
Trojans
From Page 32
this past spring and over the

summer, Williams said. With
all the guys we had playing last
year, we believe they are going
to play better this year. Hopefully, well have a better year
this year. Weve had a good
(preseason camp).
Heading into his eighth season as the Trojans head coach,
Williams expects his team to
improve greatly, thanks to the
installation of new schemes on
both sides of the football. Now
that his young players have a
season of experience under
their belts, Williams remains
hopeful that his team can snap
its current winless skid in its
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
season opener against Jay M.

Robinson.
Before the Trojans even attempt to throw the football,
Williams said his team must
establish a running game to set
up pass plays. The group vying
for the quarterback position in
camp were sophomore Chris
Monteleone and juniors Damian Bertino, Kalan Chapman
and A.J. Stedford.
In the end, Monteleone was
named the starter for the Trojans.
Chapman also is a talented
receiver. Other players expected to see time at the receiver
position include seniors Anthony Caldwell, Nathan Clark
and junior Hunter Foreman.
Several players can move the
chains, including Clark, Ber-
tino and seniors Johntae Mosley, Cameron Threadgill, Devyn

Perkins and Omar Kiser. The
Trojans offensive line of juniors
Jeff Linker, Brandon Keller,
senior Connor James and junior Matt Rash are all returning starters. Junior Tim Furr is
a newcomer to the teams Oline and should see plenty of
downs.
DEFENSE
Weve got to stop the run
because were in a conference
that runs the ball much more
than it passes, Williams said.
Stopping teams from gaining
yardage will be an all-important factor if the Trojans expect
to have any kind of success this
season. Both Clark and Mosley
are two-year starters at the cornerback position. At free safety,

the Trojans have Chapman as
its main defender. Caldwell can
also play the safety position.
If we can stop the run, well
be successful, and weve got
the guys that can do it, Williams said. Theyve just got to
execute properly at all times.
Northwest Cabarrus will rely
on some of its starting offensive lineman to make plays on
the defensive line alongside senior returnee Ariel Alvarez.
Besides Clark and Mosley at
the corners, Northwest will rely
heavily on Stedford and Foreman to be important substitutes expected to come in and
have an impact.
Defensive end Charles Littrell
will return for his junior season,
while senior Nathaniel Buckley

will likely be the other end.
Linebackers will be Threadgill
and senior Darian Goolsby.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Williams said his team has a
long way to go with its kicking
game. As the preseason wore
on, Williams still had not decided who would be the Trojans
starting kicker, but Perkins will
be the primary punter.
Perkins, Stedford, Clark, Mosley are the teams fastest players
and will all be sharing the return duties.
David Exum
TROJAN IN THE SPOTLIGHT

ANTHONY CALDWELL
Senior Anthony Caldwell will be playing on both sides of the ball for
Northwest Cabarrus, spending time at safety and wide receiver.
Trojans coach Rich Williams said Caldwell uses his 6-foot-2 frame as an
advantage at intercepting passes and catching the ball on offense. Williams
also expects Caldwell to be a catalyst in helping the Trojans rebound from
their disappointing 1-10 season.
Caldwell was selected as an all-conference player in the South Piedmont
3A after the 2014 season.
HIRING NOW
HARTSELL
33
34
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
Cannon Cougars
CONCORD Chemistry is key for
first-year Cannon School coach Brad
Hoover.
Considering the former Carolina Panther fullback has just 34 players on the
roster, he must make sure each player is
contributing to the best of his abilities.
Im trying to find out who fits where,
Hoover said. Im really concerned
about how we come together as a team.
Getting all of our guys on the same page
is a feat within itself. With this being my
first year here, Im trying to implement
things that our guys arent used to hearing, but football is football.
With 10 returning seniors, including
long snapper Ben Wyatt, Hoover remains ever confident that his squad can
put together a tradition of winning. Its
just going to take some time.
I think weve got good chemistry, but
you just dont know until you get into
live action, Hoover said. Even some of
our better players are underclassmen. I
think weve got some possibilities. It just
depends on where we go from here.
In a recent practice against Metrolina Academy, freshman Patrick Carlson
intercepted a pass for a touchdown.
Hoover considered the accomplishment a turning point for the team.
I told the guys, If you believe in what
were teaching you and do it, this is
what happens. I think their confidence
is coming.
OFFENSE
COUGAR IN THE SPOTLIGHT
COUGARS FAST FACTS
BRAD HOOVER
COACH: Brad Hoover, first season;

third season overall (9-15)
10, defense 10
CONFERENCE: NCISAA Freelance
Conference
2014 RECORD: 5-6
GAME: 14.5
GAME: 28.0
2015 SCHEDULE
Aug. 21...... at North Raleigh Christian
Aug. 28......................... cfa ACADEMY
Sept. 4............. at Forsyth County Day
Sept. 11..................... PINE LAKE PREP
Sept. 18......................................... TBA
Sept. 25...... .NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN
Oct. 2............................................ TBA
Oct. 9........ at Hickory Grove Christian
Oct. 16............... ASHEVILLE SCHOOL
Oct. 23......... HIGH POINT CHRISTIAN
Oct. 30.......... at Mount Island Charter
and Gabe Ortiz will be slot receivers,

and all three have impressed Hoover.
Hoover also considers Carlson possibly
the teams most athletic player.
Wyatt will see plenty of action at both
running back and fullback. Yang, another Southlake Christian transfer, is also
expected to carry the ball. Hoover noted
that junior Jordan Johnson is promising
as another one of the teams top rushers. Sophomore Nick Whitley will be the
starting center, and the guards will be
senior Will Chaiken and junior Zac Venos. Senior Zach King will play primarily at tackle. Hoover also expects to use
senior Rob Lewis and junior Kevin King
at every offensive lineman position.
Sophomores Mason McLaughlin a

transfer from Southlake Christian Academy and left-handed Chris Nelson
are vied for the starting quarterback
position in camp. Hoover said both did
well.
Were looking for decision abilities,
accuracy and the ability to handle the
huddle, Hoover said.
The teams receivers will be made up of
seniors Cam Sutton, David Riley and ju- DEFENSE
nior Dalton Phillips. Juniors Cole BatchThe Cougars will be a 4-3 defense.
elor, Bryce Estes and senior Sam Oddo Hoover is hoping his front seven will
will be tight ends. Carlson, Connor Yang be tough. Ends will be King and sopho-
If you ever went to a Carolina Panthers game

from 2000 to 2009, you heard the sound:
Hooooove!
Its the sound fans made whenever fullback
Brad Hoover made a big play for the Panthers.
Now, though, Hoovers a high school football
coach. He had one-year stops at Union Academy and Marvin Ridge before taking over at
Cannon in the spring, and the 38-year-old is
thrilled.
Weve been working hard all summer to just
try to get to a point where were ready to go,
Hoover said. And now that its here, its reality,
and Im very excited about starting my first season at Cannon. I think were all kind of anxious
and excited and a little nervous to get going.
If things go as well as the new coach hopes,
there might be a Hooooove or two on the
horizon.
more Drew Balsbough. Chaiken, junior

Dylan Grupinski, senior Jack Krichilsky
and an array of other players will make
up the defensive line. Linebackers will
be Wyatt, Estes, Oddo and Riley.
The defensive backfield will be Sutton
and Yang as safeties, and cornerbacks
will be Will Exson, Phillips and Carlson.
I think our secondary is pretty decent, Hoover said. Do I think were
there? We still have a long way to go
because Im bringing in a different phi-
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losophy defensively and offensively.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Senior James Sirois will be the kicker.
Carlson will be the teams starting punter.
Sutton, Carlson, Phillips, Ortiz and Riley are the five players Hoover will rely
on for punt and kickoff returns this season.
David Exum
ALLISON
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
A Fans Guide | 2015 Week-By-Week Schedule

AUG. 20
Pine Lake Prep at Cannon School
OCT. 16
Concord at A.L. Brown
SEPT. 18
AUG. 21
Hickory Ridge at Cox Mill

Jay M. Robinson at Mount Pleasant
South Rowan at Concord
Northwest Cabarrus at West Rowan
High Point Christian Academy at cfa
Academy
Hickory Ridge at Northwest Cabarrus

Cox Mill at Jay M. Robinson
Hough at A.L. Brown
Carson at Concord
Mount Pleasant at Monroe
Central Cabarrus at South Rowan
Asheville School at Cannon School
Victory Christian Center at cfa Academy
Central Cabarrus at Mount Pleasant

Northwest Cabarrus at Jay M. Robinson
Hickory Ridge at Piedmont
Carolina Wildcats at cfa Academy
Cannon School at North Raleigh Christian Academy
AUG. 28
Mount Pleasant at Hickory Ridge
Central Cabarrus at Jay M. Robinson
cfa Academy at Cannon School
Albemarle at Concord
North Mecklenburg at Cox Mill
A.L. Brown at South Rowan
SEPT. 4
Cox Mill at Mount Pleasant
A.L. Brown at Northwest Cabarrus
Jay M. Robinson at Hickory Ridge
Concord at East Rowan
Cannon School at Forsyth Country Day
cfa Academy at Northside Christian
Academy
Lawndale Burns at Central Cabarrus
SEPT. 11
Concord at Hickory Ridge
Mooresville at A.L. Brown
East Rowan at Cox Mill
Central Cabarrus at Carson
Northwest Cabarrus at South Rowan
West Rowan at Jay M. Robinson
Mount Pleasant at South Iredell
North Raleigh Christian Academy at cfa
Academy
SEPT. 25
Hickory Ridge at Central Cabarrus
Cox Mill at Northwest Cabarrus
South Rowan at Concord
Northside Christian Academy at Cannon School
A.L. Brown at North Mecklenburg
Jay M. Robinson at Carson
cfa Academy at Hickory Grove Christian
OCT. 2
Central Cabarrus at Concord
Mount Pleasant at Northwest Cabarrus
A.L. Brown at Vance
Hickory Ridge at East Rowan
Cox Mill at South Rowan
cfa Academy at Village Christian
Academy
Grace Christian at Cannon School
OCT. 9
Jay M. Robinson at A.L. Brown
Concord at Cox Mill
Mount Pleasant at Forest Hills
Central Cabarrus at West Rowan
Northwest Cabarrus at East Rowan
Cannon School at Hickory Grove
Christian
cfa Academy at Forsyth Country Day
HARTSELL
Central Cabarrus at Cox Mill

East Rowan at Jay M. Robinson
A.L. Brown at Mallard Creek
Concord at West Rowan
Mount Pleasant at Central Academy
Northwest Cabarrus at Carson
Cannon School at High Point Christian
Academy
Hickory Ridge at South Rowan
Asheville School at cfa Academy
OCT. 30
Northwest Cabarrus at Concord
West Charlotte at A.L. Brown
Parkwood at Mount Pleasant
East Rowan at Central Cabarrus
South Rowan at Jay M. Robinson
Cox Mill at West Rowan
Hickory Ridge at Carson
Cannon School at Mount Island
Charter
NOV. 6
Jay M. Robinson at Concord
Northwest Cabarrus at Central Cabarrus
Hopewell at A.L. Brown
Carson at Cox Mill
West Rowan at Hickory Ridge
Mount Pleasant at West Stanly
HIRING NOW
OCT. 23
35
36
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
cfa Academy Eagles

CONCORD His prayers have been
answered.
For the past two seasons, cfa Academy
football coach Craig Kean has been desperately searching for a pass-first quarterback. Hes finally found one is junior
transfer student Harper Woods. Kean expects the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Woods to
air it out this season for the Eagles.
Hes good and he can really throw it,
Kean said about the transfer from Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, S.C.
Hes just come out of nowhere and has
really fit in well with the rest of the kids.
During his time at Northwestern, Woods
played under highly touted quarterback
Mason Rudolph, who is now playing for
the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Woods
played in five games for Northwestern last
season.
Kean is impressed with Woods leadership abilities.
He comes to us from a much bigger
school, and hes trying to bring up our
team to his expectations, which is good,
Kean said.
Last years cfa quarterback, junior Josh
Orean, will move to receiver and also play
outside linebacker and defensive back.
Kean said he can count on Orean to be the
teams backup quarterback.
The good thing about Josh is that he
already knows the offense, Kean said. If
(Woods) was to get hurt, he could easily
play quarterback. Hes also more of a running quarterback.
With just a 28-man roster, the Eagles
play what Kean calls Ironman Football.
All 26 players play both sides of the ball.
Im very excited about this season,
Kean said. All you really need is 18 players. The rest of the guys are just filling jerseys.
OFFENSE
Woods should put up some impressive numbers in the Eagles Spread
offense. Receivers will be sophomore
Dwayne Crawford (transfer from Cox
Mill), Willie Lloyd, juniors Julius Felder,
Bryan Jacobs and Matt Cornell, and
freshman Nicholas Treco. The Eagles
offensive line includes junior Zach Hall,
EAGLE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

HARPER WOODS
EAGLES FAST FACTS
COACH: Craig Kean, fourth season

(5-15)
7, defense 9
CONFERENCE: NCISAA Queen City
Conference
2014 RECORD: 3-7
GAME: 16.2
GAME: 40.0
2015 SCHEDULE
Aug. 22............ CAROLINA WILDCATS

(Pickens, S.C.)
Aug. 28 ..................at Cannon School
Sept. 4 ........NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN
Sept. 11 ........N. RALEIGH CHRISTIAN
Sept. 18 .....HIGHT POINT CHRISTIAN
Sept. 25.................... at Hickory Grove
Oct. 2 ....................at Village Christian
Oct. 9 .............at Forsyth Country Day
Oct. 16 ...............VICTORY CHRISTIAN
Oct. 23 ...............ASHEVILLE SCHOOL
Cameron Snedegren, sophomore Jonathan Montague, senior Nick Spencer,

junior Jacoby Mcneil and junior Nathan
Mcguirt.
Lloyd, Aaron Blackwelder, Crawford,
Orean and Jacobs will be primarily used
as running backs.
DEFENSE
The defensive line will be made up
of Halls, Snedegren, Blackwelder and
Spencer. Orean is highly effective as an
outside linebacker, where Lloyd is also
expected to see some time.
We call Lloyd, Old Man Willie because he walks like an old man, but he
can hit, Kean said.
Kean also relies heavily on the expertise of defensive line coach Renaldo
Wynn, who played defensive end for
several NFL teams.
Felder will be the strong safety, while
Lloyd will also play safety at times. Treco
is another safety. Eagles cornerbacks are
Crawford and Jacobs.
Woods
In his first season at cfa Academy, Eagles coaches believe junior transfer quarterback Harper Woods could put up some tremendous numbers.
The 6-foot-3, 190 pound signal-caller, who arrives in Concord from
traditionally strong Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, S.C., has the
ability to throw the much-needed long ball for Eagles coach Craig Kean,
who is looking for the team to improve on last years three wins.
Woods can also scramble in the pocket and has the ability to run the
ball for lengthy yardage.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Woods will be the teams kicker and

punter.
Its great to have a guy that can stick
the ball deep or put it into the end
zone and make the other team drive 80
yards, Kean said.
Crawford, Felder, and Jacobs are expected to share duties returning kicks
and punts.
Its really nice that we dont have to
put a lineman out there because weve
got some many guys that can run the
ball, Kean said. You want to kick it
short? Go ahead. Weve got guys that
can take it to the house.
David Exum
GOOD LUCK TEAMS!
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
37
he Independent Tribune gathered some of the areas top players at A.L. Brown High School this summer. Pictured are (from left)
Damon Johnson, Sandon McCoy, Will Putnam, Jonathan Earl, Keenan Black, Clayton Horn, Mike Baker, Cody Reece and Greg
Waslo.
Go Teams Go!
8 Area
Locations!
Huddle Up
At
Pizza Hut
For Special Deals

After The Game!
TONYS GARAGE
DOMESTIC & IMPORT
General Auto Repairs

|
704-938-2635
38
CABARRUS GAME NIGHT
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
CABARRUS COUNTYS COLLEGE AND NFL FOOTBALL PLAYERS

NAME
COLLEGE
NOBLE AJAKAIYE
ERIK AMAYA
CHRIS BEATY
DANNY BOOK
BLAKE BREWER
ALLEN KING-CALVERT
ADAM CASEY
MICHAEL CHURCH
CODY COTHREN
ISAIAH COX
JAREL CRAWFORD
JASON EURY
DAIYAAN FULLER
CAMERON GARLAND
DENZAL GILMORE
KALEEL HOLLIS
JARED HUNEYCUTT
ANDY HUNT
CHASE HUNTER
KEEON JOHNSON
IAN KEESEE
HASAAN KLUGH
NICK LEVERETT
J.P. LOTT
DANTE LOWE
KEENAN MEDLEY
RILEY MCGEE
SCHOOL
YEAR GRADUATED
Hickory Ridge
A.L. Brown
Northwest Cabarrus
Hickory Ridge
Cannon
cfa Academy
Mount Pleasant
A.L. Brown
Hickory Ridge
Mount Pleasant
Hickory Ridge
Hickory Ridge
Central Cabarrus
Cannon
Concord
A.L. Brown
Central Cabarrus
Mount Pleasant
Central Cabarrus
A.L. Brown
A.L. Brown
Central Cabarrus
Concord
A.L. Brown
Cannon
A.L. Brown
Central Cabarrus
2011
2013
2013
2011
2013
2013
2012
2012
2011
2015
2015
2012
2015
2015
2015
2012
2015
2013
2013
2013
2015
2014
2015
2013
2015
2013
2015
COLLEGE TEAM
Villanova
Johnson C. Smith
Campbell
Charlotte 49ers
Charlotte 49ers
Johnson C. Smith
Brevard
Coastal Carolina
Wingate
UNC Pembroke
Charlotte 49ers
Charlotte 49ers
Lackawanna (Pa.) College
Guilford
Winston-Salem State
UNC Pembroke
East Carolina
Catawba
Guilford
Virginia
Catawba
Charlotte 49ers
N.C. Central
Johnson C. Smith
Shaw University
N.C. A&T
Charlotte 49ers
NAME
SCHOOL
YEAR GRADUATED
COLLEGE TEAM
JAYNI MONLEY
Central Cabarrus
2015
Methodist University
NATE MULLEN
Hickory Ridge
2015
Charlotte 49ers
ANTHONY MULLIS
Central Cabarrus
2014
Elizabeth City State
AUSTIN PARKER
Mount Pleasant
2015
Duke
BRANDON PARKER
A.L. Brown
2013
N.C. A&T
DAVEON PERRY
A.L. Brown
Winston-Salem State
KALIF PHILLIPS
A.L. Brown
2013
Charlotte 49ers
STEVEN PORTER
Mount Pleasant
2013
Catawba
THOMAS PRICE
Cannon
2014
Grove City (Pa.) College
DRAE PURVIS
Central Cabarrus
2015
N.C. A&T
KENNY PURVIS
Central Cabarrus
2014
Lackawanna (Pa.) College
TYLER RAWSON
Mount Pleasant
Wingate
JUSTIN REDFERN
Cannon
2012
University of Rochester
ROCKY REID
Concord
2015
Wake Forest
EJ RHINEHARDT
Northwest Cabarrus
2012
Charlotte 49ers
WESTON SMITH
Northwest Cabarrus
2012
Charlotte 49ers
KALEB SPRY
A.L. Brown
2014
Western Carolina
PARKER SWARINGEN
Concord
2013
Western Carolina
JOSH STEWART
Central Cabarrus
2015
Charlotte 49ers
TYLER THOMAS
Concord
2015
UNC Pembroke
LOGAN WAGNER
Northwest Cabarrus
2015
UNC Pembroke
CHRIS WEBB
Concord
2015
Concord (West Virginia)
EJ WHITE
Mount Pleasant
2015
Methodist University
JASON WILLIX
Cannon
2012
Stetson
NFL
LANCE LEWIS
Concord
2007
New Orleans Saints
BRADLEY PINION
Northwest Cabarrus
2012
San Francisco 49ers
NOTE: To add a player to this list, please send e-mail to jhorton@independenttribune.com
Cannon School Welcomes
Coach Brad Hoover
Ben Wyatt 16
Go Cougars!
Linebacker/Long Snapper
Brad Hoover
Former Carolina
Panther and
Super Bowl Fullback
Will Chaiken 16
Offensive/Defensive
Lineman
Est. 1969
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE
UP YOUR GAME AND SAVE
TAKE $10 OFF
YOUR TOTAL PURCHASE

OF $50 OR MORE
DicksSportingGoods.com
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INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE

IT Concord Football

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Wednesday, August 19, 2015

CABARRUS GAME NIGHT

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2015

PRESEASON CREAM OF CABARRUS RANKINGS

FROM CABARRUS TO COLLEGE

ABOUT THIS SECTION

ince becoming the Independent Tribunes sports editor

Go Teams Go! HARTSELL

Inspired for several

For Special Deals

CABARRUS GAME NIGHT

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2015

The 2015 Preseason Cream of Cabarrus

But like many Spider fans,

again and make another run

Jonathan Earl), toughness

The Vikings werent able to

Business & Personal Income Tax Returns

TONYS GARAGE Quality Accounting Good Luck

& Tax Service, Inc.

CABARRUS GAME NIGHT

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2015

They call this Mount Pleasant superstar Reece the

With apologies to the late, great Stuart Scott, Johnson is

GOOD LUCK TEAMS!

See TWENTY, Page 5

CABARRUS GAME NIGHT

no wonder West Point is happy to have McCoy

Its easy to spot Scott during Concord games.

back and strong safety, Cagle will be a key factor

teams leading returning receiver and one of the

16. GREG WASLO

11. DEVIN COBB

things, plus his cool last name, Mozingo will be a

Wheres Waslo? Well, hes been everywhere at

17. CAMERON RODGERS

Colleges will become more interested this year.

The A.L. Brown senior linebacker has a nose for

20. BEN WYATT

18. CARTER MOZINGO

and linebacker, but several major colleges want

Versatility is this Spiders game, as he is both the

him as a long snapper. Enough said.

At 5-8, 165, Cobb isnt a very big player. He just

Mount Pleasants senior linebacker, last years

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2015

This senior is a rarity at A.L. Brown. And thats

outh Suite 119

top safeties and return men. Considering those

19. ANTHONY CALDWELL

Yes, Wyatt is a long snapper, and hell be one of

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2015

CABARRUS GAME NIGHT

Big Man on Campus

MOUNT PLEASANT It does not

Tigers star Reece got

We make sure he sees where Im

Shes coached me from when I was

6 up until now, Cody said. She still

gives me that, Hey, you need to do this,

you need to do that. She can see what I

cant see sometimes because shes in the

stands watching everything. Ill look up

in the stands and ask questions.

like sign language. Shes pretty much my

person up top who tells me whats up.

See REECE, Page 7