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Our PreseasOn suPer 7<br />
Team-by-Team Previews<br />
big men On CamPus<br />
and muCh mOre!
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2 FALL 2010 • UNION COUNTY WEEKLY www.unioncountyweekly.com
Football Night iN UNioN:<br />
LET’s dO IT AgAIN!<br />
by C. Jemal Horton ings, we’ve added a section we call<br />
jemal@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com Best of the Best, which highlights<br />
the people we consider to be the<br />
Last year, when we published tops in the county in a number of<br />
the inaugural edition of Football categories.<br />
Night in Union, the response was I’m sure there will be plenty to<br />
overwhelming.<br />
debate in this section.<br />
You, the readers, were<br />
Our staff – which<br />
extremely generous in<br />
includes assistant sports<br />
expressing how much<br />
editors Aaron Garcia<br />
you appreciated our<br />
and Chris Hunt, sports<br />
hard work producing<br />
writer Denny Seitz and<br />
Union County’s most<br />
Wingate intern Mike<br />
comprehensive high<br />
Shaw – tried to go<br />
school football preview.<br />
beyond the field of play<br />
That made it so much<br />
easier to do our best to C. Jemal Horton<br />
to bring you compelling<br />
stories about the teams<br />
improve on last year’s issue. and players that make Union County<br />
This year, we’ve found more high school football special.<br />
intriguing stories on Union County Just like last year, we’ve also<br />
football players and teams, and jammed this 20-page publication<br />
our enormously talented designers with previews on every football team<br />
Michael Kerr and Debbie Archer in the county, with the exception<br />
have made them look better than of Jireh Prep, which allows post-<br />
ever on the pages.<br />
graduate players to take the field.<br />
There even will be more controversy Nonetheless, there’s something<br />
surrounding this year’s issue – for everyone in Football Night in<br />
though I, as Union County Weekly’s Union 2010, and I sincerely hope<br />
sports editor, promise you it’s not you enjoy it.<br />
intentional. That said, in addition Now, let the games – and the<br />
CharWeeklyJUL10:Layout 1 7/29/10 2:08 PM Page 1<br />
to our Preseason Super 7 rank- debating – begin. q<br />
Congratulations to Charlotte Latin<br />
student athletes and coaches for winning<br />
their 6th consecutive Wachovia Cup!<br />
9502 Providence Road Charlotte, NC 28277 704.846.1100 www.charlottelatin.org<br />
Financial assistance is available. Please inquire about the Malone Scholarship for gifted students in 7th 12th grades.<br />
www.unioncountyweekly.com<br />
…where teaching is valued<br />
and learning is celebrated<br />
Go Hawks!<br />
Table<br />
Of Contents<br />
ON THE COVER<br />
Players are (from left) Piedmont’s Stewart Hinson,<br />
Weddington’s Brandon Little, Monroe’s Jamison Crowder,<br />
Parkwood’s Marcus Leak and Marvin Ridge’s K.J. Brent.<br />
FEATURES<br />
<strong>PRESEASON</strong> <strong>SUPER</strong> 7: We unveil our top seven<br />
teams in Union County. ....................page 4<br />
K.J. BRENT, <strong>BIG</strong> MAN ON CAMPUS: Marvin Ridge<br />
wide receiver just scratching surface. ..........page 7<br />
JAMISON CROWDER, <strong>BIG</strong> MAN ON CAMPUS:<br />
Monroe standout’s myriad skills make him county’s most<br />
unique player. ...........................page 9<br />
BEST OF THE BEST: We tip our caps to the county’s<br />
best in various categories. ..............pages 10-11<br />
MARCUS LEAK, <strong>BIG</strong> MAN ON CAMPUS:<br />
Parkwood star strives to be complete. .........page 12<br />
PIEDMONT LINEMEN, <strong>BIG</strong> MEN ON CAMPUS:<br />
Panthers’ big offensive linemen are like brothers. .page 13<br />
JADARRIUS WILLIAMS, <strong>BIG</strong> MAN ON<br />
CAMPUS: Spartan has bright future. . .......page 15<br />
BRANDON LITTLE, <strong>BIG</strong> MAN ON CAMPUS:<br />
Warriors’ running back has mind control. .......Page 17<br />
FAN’S GUIDE<br />
Union County Weekly’s handy week-by-week schedule gives<br />
you a one-stop resource, listing every game involving area<br />
football teams in 2010. ...................page 19<br />
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Football Night in Union<br />
<strong>TEAM</strong> <strong>PREVIEWS</strong><br />
Charlotte Berry .............................18<br />
Central Academy .............................5<br />
Cuthbertson ................................5<br />
Forest Hills .................................6<br />
Marvin Ridge. ...............................6<br />
Monroe. ...................................8<br />
Parkwood .................................12<br />
Piedmont .................................13<br />
Porter Ridge ...............................14<br />
Sun Valley .................................14<br />
Union Academy .............................17<br />
Weddington ...............................16<br />
ABOUT THIS SECTION<br />
Football Night in Union 2010 was produced by our sports,<br />
design and photography staff.<br />
The section was planned and edited by Sports Editor<br />
C. Jemal Horton and Assistant Sports Editor Aaron Garcia.<br />
Michael Kerr and Debbie Archer designed the section.<br />
Horton, Garcia, Chris Hunt, Denny Seitz and Mike Shaw wrote<br />
and edited stories.<br />
Jim Dedmon, Garcia, Hunt, Seitz, Shaw and Robert Ashcraft<br />
provided photos.<br />
CEO Alain Lillie, Cindy Dorman, Cathy Kowalski, Franchesca<br />
Lamkin, Lynn Marshall, Phyllis Rozelle, Melissa Spinelli and<br />
Suzanne Walters sold advertising. Steve Pigg and Julie Austin<br />
built ads.<br />
Victoria Vizard coordinated advertising. Gary Boneno handled<br />
distribution.<br />
Cover photo<br />
Jim Dedmon<br />
Cover design<br />
Debbie Archer<br />
SPECIAL THANKS …<br />
To Monroe High School and coach Johnny Sowell for<br />
allowing us to conduct an extensive photo shoot on the<br />
football field. It made a great setting – and our jobs a whole<br />
lot easier.<br />
Immense gratitude also goes out to James Crowder for<br />
staying in the stadium much longer than expected so we<br />
could complete the photo shoot.<br />
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UNION COUNTY WEEKLY • FALL 2010 3
Football Night in Union<br />
The 2010<br />
UnIon County Weekly Preseason Super 7<br />
For the second season, Union County Weekly presents<br />
its preseason rankings, which were selected by Assistant<br />
Sports Editor Aaron Garcia.<br />
1<br />
Marvin Ridge<br />
How will opponents stop<br />
the Mavericks this season?<br />
They have talent to spare, headlined<br />
by a receiving corps featuring<br />
6-foot-4 K.J. Brent and speedster<br />
J.C. Howze, who should complement each other<br />
well in coach Scott Chadwick’s revised passing<br />
attack. The bruising ground game, paced by Kolly<br />
Ogar, will still be a factor, which really makes gameplanning<br />
against the Mavs a headache.<br />
2 Monroe<br />
Even if the Redhawks<br />
experience a bit of a<br />
drop off from last year, who could<br />
expect them to complete another<br />
undefeated regular season in the<br />
first place? The Redhawks still have the talent to<br />
make another deep run. And with do-it-all Jamison<br />
Crowder on the field, Monroe’s always a play away<br />
from six points.<br />
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Sun Valley<br />
developed a tough reputation<br />
The Spartans seem<br />
young, but they<br />
last year and should be a difficult<br />
matchup as a result. They also<br />
return quarterback Ryan Smith (2,505 yards,<br />
30 touchdowns) and running back JaDarrius<br />
Williams, the reigning conference player of the<br />
year.<br />
4<br />
Porter Ridge<br />
The Pirates lost<br />
some key leaders<br />
to graduation but still have the<br />
pieces to take a big step this<br />
season. After a full year in coach<br />
Blair Hardin’s Option offense, quarterback Lee<br />
McNeil and running back DeMario Alexander<br />
could become household names.<br />
5 Piedmont<br />
young, but they<br />
developed a tough reputation<br />
matchup as a result. They also<br />
to graduation but still have the<br />
season. After a full year in coach<br />
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6<br />
Forest Hills<br />
After losing a number<br />
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graduation, including versatile<br />
quarterback Juanne Blount, coach<br />
John Lowery’s team might take<br />
its lumps early against a tough nonconference<br />
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7 Weddington<br />
After losing a number<br />
Last year, coach Justin<br />
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major improvement, winning<br />
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4 FALL 2010 • UNION COUNTY WEEKLY www.unioncountyweekly.com
Mike Shaw/CWNG photo<br />
Coach Tony Pyland believes his team has<br />
something this season that it’s been lacking over<br />
the past two years: experience.<br />
“Last season, we weren’t sure how good we<br />
could be,” said Pyland. “This season, we are more<br />
experienced and are focusing on consistency.”<br />
Over the past three seasons, the Cougars<br />
only won one game. The lone win came last<br />
year against Gastonia Highland Tech, 35-6.<br />
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Although last season didn’t go according to<br />
plan, Pyland looks at it in a positive light.<br />
“As a program, we grew and matured,” said<br />
Pyland.<br />
OFFENSE<br />
The Cougars are known as a running team,<br />
and this year won’t be any different. Pyland<br />
was outscored 583-45, but Roark’s confident the<br />
team is headed in the right direction.<br />
OFFENSE<br />
Senior Austin Hill returns as the starting<br />
quarterback and will be joined in the backfield<br />
by tailback Josh Lee. Receivers Brian Lattimore<br />
and Emmitt Afam will also have their numbers<br />
called frequently.<br />
Cody Clark will anchor the offensive line.<br />
“Last year, we were a one-back offense,” Roark<br />
said. “We’ll keep a lot of those components, but<br />
because we’ve got some good receivers, we’re<br />
going to spread it out a little more and try to get<br />
the ball to the athletes.”<br />
DEFENSE<br />
The team’s multiple-look defensive front<br />
Football Night in Union<br />
Central aCademy cougars<br />
Central Academy’s team leaders include (front, from left) Billy Wilson, Jeremy Ferguson, Chris Hailey;<br />
and (back row) Trae Funderburk, Will Robinson and Allen Carpenter.<br />
There’s nowhere to go but up for the Cavaliers,<br />
who entered the conference last season as a<br />
first-year school and were dominated by many<br />
of their opponents. This year’s team will benefit<br />
from the experiences of last year, head coach<br />
Mike Roark said.<br />
The Cavs expect to make great strides with<br />
hard work and an offseason in which they<br />
became bigger, faster and stronger. It might take<br />
baby steps to erase last season, when the team<br />
FAST FACTS<br />
head coach: Mike Roark, second<br />
season (1-10)<br />
Returning starters: Offense, 10;<br />
defense, 10<br />
conference: 2A/1A Rocky River<br />
Conference<br />
2009 record: 1-10, 1-7<br />
2010 schedule<br />
Aug. 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weddington<br />
Aug. 27 . . . . . . . . .at Concord Robinson<br />
Sept. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Marvin Ridge<br />
Sept. 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at North Stanly<br />
Sept. 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at West Stanly<br />
Sept. 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Monroe<br />
Oct. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Piedmont<br />
Oct. 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlotte Berry<br />
Oct. 15 . . . . . . . . . . . .at Central Academy<br />
Oct. 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Union Academy<br />
Oct. 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Forest Hills<br />
said his offense will run the football at least<br />
75 percent of the time.<br />
Even though Central Academy focuses on<br />
the run, Pyland said his two biggest threats on<br />
offense are quarterback Jeremy Ferguson and<br />
wide receiver John Quintero, who are both<br />
seniors. Pyland believes the tandem’s play will<br />
determine the potency of his offense. In addition<br />
to Ferguson and Quintero, Pyland called the play<br />
of senior halfback Billy Wilson exceptional.<br />
DEFENSE<br />
The Cougars run a 4-4 defensive scheme<br />
that emphasizes playing hard through the<br />
gaps. Junior Mitchell Blackburn returns after<br />
finishing first on the team in tackles the past<br />
two seasons. With Blackburn moving from<br />
linebacker to the defensive line, the Cougars<br />
will have a huge presence up front.<br />
Junior outside linebackers Josh Sawyer and<br />
Chris Hailey offer the defensive unit something<br />
more than tackles.<br />
“Their aggressiveness and athleticism give us<br />
some freedom defensively,” Pyland said.<br />
Inside linebackers Chris Frazier, a junior, and<br />
Robert Wimbish, a senior, are new to the team,<br />
and Pyland believes their play will keep the<br />
defense solid up the middle.<br />
SPECIAL <strong>TEAM</strong>S<br />
Junior Kyle Kling will handle both field goal<br />
and kickoff duties throughout the season.<br />
Senior Chase Bernard will be the team’s long<br />
snapper. All return duties will go to Hailey and<br />
junior Calvin Livingston.<br />
– Mike Shaw<br />
FAST FACTS<br />
head coach: Tony Pyland, fourth<br />
season (1-32)<br />
Returning starters: 17<br />
conference: Rocky River 1A/2A<br />
2009 Record: 1-10, 0-8<br />
2010 schedule<br />
Aug. 20 . . . . . . . . . .at East Montgomery<br />
Aug. 27 . . . . . . .Gastonia Highland Tech<br />
Sept. 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Monroe<br />
Sept. 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Charlotte Berry<br />
Sept. 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Parkwood<br />
Oct. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at North Stanly<br />
Oct. 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Piedmont<br />
Oct. 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cuthbertson<br />
Oct. 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Forest Hills<br />
Oct. 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .West Stanly<br />
Nov. 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Union Academy<br />
CUtHBertSOn<br />
caVaLIErs<br />
Cuthbertson quarterback Austin Hill and lineman Cody Clark<br />
Denny Seitz/CWNG photo<br />
should be much improved from last season,<br />
even though the team is still dominated by<br />
sophomores. Three 10th-graders – Alex<br />
Norton, Carson Elmore and Connor<br />
Sorensen – will anchor the defense. Another<br />
sophomore, Jeff Swan, will be the top defensive<br />
lineman.<br />
In the secondary, safety Afam and senior<br />
cornerback Jalen Still are expected to be<br />
cornerstones.<br />
“We have some guys who are a year away<br />
from being really good varsity players,” Roark<br />
said. “We don’t have any option but to play<br />
them this year, so they’ll work hard, learn and<br />
improve.”<br />
SPECIAL <strong>TEAM</strong>S<br />
Roark said senior Adam Lutz is the best<br />
kicker/punter in the conference. It was Lutz’s<br />
punt – downed at the 1-yard line midway<br />
through the fourth quarter of last year’s 17-16<br />
win over Central Academy – that was the<br />
game’s pivotal play, Roark said.<br />
“He’s going to hit some field goals for us<br />
this year,” Roark said. “He’s got the range. If we<br />
block for him, he’ll be a weapon for us.”<br />
– Denny Seitz<br />
UNION COUNTY WEEKLY • FALL 2010 5
Aaron Garcia/CWNG photo<br />
Football Night in Union<br />
Forest Hills<br />
Yellow Jackets<br />
Forest Hills will be bolstered by (from left) Andrew Whitley and Jaquelle Parker in 2010.<br />
The big names may have disappeared, but<br />
Yellow Jackets head coach John Lowery says<br />
there’s plenty of talent returning.<br />
Gone are the school-record 5,392 yards and<br />
84 rushing touchdowns posted by quarterback<br />
Juanne Blount over the past four years. Replacing<br />
those numbers will be the biggest question mark<br />
for a team that has perennially been among the<br />
best in the Rocky River 1A/2A conference.<br />
Hopes are high out on Crane Road as the<br />
2010 season opens, and with 18 starters back,<br />
it’s easy to see why. But for 2010 to be the year<br />
the Mavericks become a state title contender,<br />
they’ll have to rely on some new starters to step<br />
into major roles.<br />
Either way, they’ll be dangerous.<br />
OFFENSE<br />
The offense will open up a bit, said coach Scott<br />
FAST FACTS<br />
head coach: Scott Chadwick, third<br />
season (16-9); 13th overall (87-51)<br />
Returning starters: Offense, 10;<br />
defense, 8<br />
conference: Southern Carolina 3A/4A<br />
2009 record: 9-3, 3-2<br />
2010 schedule<br />
Aug. 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Concord<br />
Aug. 27 . . .at Harrisburg Hickory Ridge<br />
Sept. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cuthbertson<br />
Sept. 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . Central Cabarrus<br />
Sept. 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ardrey Kell<br />
Sept. 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . .at North Lincoln<br />
Oct. 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Porter Ridge<br />
Oct. 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Sun Valley<br />
Oct. 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Anson Senior<br />
Oct. 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Parkwood<br />
Nov. 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . at Weddington<br />
OFFENSE<br />
Four of the six returning starters on offense<br />
reside on the line, a unit which paved the<br />
way for Blount to ramble to 2,034 yards and<br />
35 touchdowns in 2009. Name recognition<br />
might be scarce, but talent is not, according to<br />
Lowery.<br />
Deonta Vinson will be the primary ball<br />
carrier and could post good numbers. He had<br />
306 yards on the ground a year ago. C.J. Kiser<br />
could also receive plenty of touches in the backfield,<br />
from either the running back or quarterback<br />
position.<br />
The Yellow Jackets might have trouble<br />
averaging 37 points per game, as they did last<br />
year, but they shouldn’t struggle to put points<br />
on the board. Junior Labryan Chambers,<br />
who missed most of last year after tearing his<br />
anterior cruciate ligament, appears to have won<br />
the starting quarterback job.<br />
DEFENSE<br />
The Yellow Jackets have returning all- conference<br />
players Darius Ellison and Aaron Sigmon anchoring<br />
the front seven. Sigmon, a senior linebacker,<br />
had a team-high 152 tackles in 2009, which was<br />
a single-season school record. Ellison, a senior<br />
defensive tackle, was third on the team with 60<br />
tackles and also notched 6.5 sacks.<br />
Vinson will be a playmaker in an otherwise<br />
inexperienced secondary. But the play of Ellison<br />
and defensive tackles D.J. Watkins, Justin<br />
White and Zac Helms might make the jobs of<br />
the cover guys easier.<br />
SPECIAL <strong>TEAM</strong>S<br />
Replacing kicker Jamie Miller, who graduated<br />
this past spring, will be the toughest chore for<br />
this unit. Miller booted 58 extra points and<br />
three field goals a year ago.<br />
– Denny Seitz<br />
FAST FACTS<br />
head coach: John Lowery,<br />
17th season (82-47)<br />
Returning starters: Offense, 6;<br />
defense, 6<br />
conference: Rocky River 1A/2A<br />
2009 record: 9-4, 7-1<br />
2010 schedule<br />
Aug. 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anson Senior<br />
Aug. 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weddington<br />
Sept. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . at Porter Ridge<br />
Sept. 10 . . . . . . . . . . .at Charlotte Berry<br />
Sept. 17 . . . . . . . . . . .at Union Academy<br />
Sept. 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Piedmont<br />
Oct. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at West Stanly<br />
Oct. 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at North Stanly<br />
Oct. 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Central Academy<br />
Oct. 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . at Cuthbertson<br />
Nov. 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Monroe<br />
Marvin ridge<br />
Chadwick. The Mavericks have a strong group<br />
of receivers, led by South Carolina commit K.J.<br />
Brent and J.C. Howze, who could be one of the<br />
county’s breakout performers this year. Chris<br />
Ogbana, Aaron Peterson, Carter Hill, Carter<br />
Harris and tight end Tanner Hillis should all<br />
contribute as well.<br />
Quarterback Tyler Chadwick returns to<br />
distribute the ball among the playmakers.<br />
“But we’ll still run the ball,” promised<br />
Chadwick.<br />
Kolly Ogar, a 1,000-yard rusher, is joined in<br />
the backfield by David Bryant. Griffin Weidele<br />
is the fullback.<br />
To have a balanced offense, the Mavs will rely<br />
on an experienced line, led by seniors Hunter<br />
Hiers (right tackle), Trent Baker (right guard)<br />
and Garrett Blatnick (left tackle). Jonathon<br />
Chang and Trey Cherry will start at center and<br />
left guard, respectively.<br />
DEFENSE<br />
Ryan Bull (6 foot 3, 280 pounds) and Raheem<br />
McKinney (6-0, 295) combine to make a<br />
formidable front in the 4-3 defense. They’ll be<br />
flanked by Chris Murphy and Phil Eunice at<br />
the ends. Evan Short will be at tackle.<br />
The Mavs replace two starters at linebacker,<br />
and how quickly the new guys catch up could<br />
Mavericks<br />
The Mavericks expect strong leadership from (from left) Griffin Weidele, J.C. Howze, Ryan Bull and<br />
Tyler Chadwick.<br />
determine the defense’s effectiveness. Luckily,<br />
they have the team’s best defender in Weidele<br />
to help ease the transition. The likely choices<br />
are JV standout Matt Townsend and Dylan<br />
Kwaiser.<br />
Cornerbacks Matt Chilton and Griffin<br />
Campbell both return, as do safeties Steve<br />
Smith and Zach Lax. Junior Luke Stennitt<br />
should also have a prominent role.<br />
SPECIAL <strong>TEAM</strong>S<br />
Howze provides a burst in the return game,<br />
and freshman Jacob Henderson may also<br />
get some opportunities. Finding a kicker has<br />
become a huge task.<br />
– Aaron Garcia<br />
6 FALL 2010 • UNION COUNTY WEEKLY www.unioncountyweekly.com<br />
Aaron Garcia/CWNG photo
Jim Dedmon/CWNG photo<br />
by Aaron Garcia<br />
aaron@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com<br />
K.J. Brent looks skyward and uses his fingers<br />
to count all the colleges that have offered him<br />
football scholarships. It’s as if the Marvin Ridge<br />
senior’s trying to remember all the guests at a<br />
good-sized get-together.<br />
North Carolina. East Carolina. Duke.<br />
Wisconsin. Illinois. Stanford. West Virginia.<br />
N.C. State. Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen<br />
visited, but an official offer never came. And, of<br />
course, his eventual choice: South Carolina.<br />
“I don’t think I’m forgetting one,” concluded<br />
Brent.<br />
It would be understandable if he did. After<br />
all, it’s not surprising that a 6-foot-4 receiver<br />
with 4.5-second speed in the 40-yard dash<br />
has gotten so many scholarship offers. Brent’s<br />
play during his junior year added some beef<br />
to his intangibles. He hauled in 47 passes for<br />
754 yards and seven scores while developing<br />
into a trustworthy red-zone target.<br />
But what causes a double-take is the fact<br />
that last season was only his third full year of<br />
After a slow start to his career, Marvin Ridge senior K.J. Brent has<br />
become one of the area’s best wide receivers.<br />
www.unioncountyweekly.com<br />
Big Man on campus Campus<br />
football.<br />
“I never thought I’d be going to college for<br />
football,” Brent said. “I thought I’d be going for<br />
baseball or basketball or something like that. I<br />
only started playing football in eighth grade.”<br />
Until then, football was reserved for his back<br />
yard – nothing structured. He saved that for the<br />
other two sports. But one day, while attending<br />
Weddington Middle School, former Maverick<br />
teammate Vinnie Sunseri approached the<br />
already-6-foot Brent with what has since<br />
become a brilliant idea.<br />
“You should come out (for the football<br />
team),” suggested Sunseri. “You’re tall, and if<br />
you can catch, you can play.”<br />
And that’s what he did. But it took a while<br />
for Sunseri to prove prophetic.<br />
“I wasn’t good,” Brent admitted. “I had, like,<br />
one catch that year.”<br />
That was almost the end, but after some<br />
thought, Brent decided to give it another go as<br />
a freshman. On the first day of practice, then-<br />
Mavericks coach Bruce Hardin snatched Brent<br />
from the JV field and brought him up to varsity,<br />
where he even started his first<br />
game before settling in as a<br />
second-stringer.<br />
“It was only my second<br />
year playing,” said Brent.<br />
“I was kind of freaked out,<br />
but once I got into the flow<br />
of things, it was fun. It was<br />
nerve-racking, but after the<br />
first hit, I was fine.”<br />
When current coach Scott<br />
Chadwick arrived for the<br />
first day of workouts before<br />
Brent’s sophomore season,<br />
“I saw it right away,” said<br />
Chadwick. “From the moment<br />
we started that first summer, it<br />
was obvious he was going to<br />
be a special player.”<br />
Unfortunately for Brent<br />
and the Mavericks, he suffered<br />
an ankle injury during the<br />
year’s first scrimmage and was<br />
lost for the regular season.<br />
But Chadwick explained that<br />
Brent used the offseason to<br />
make up for lost time and<br />
displayed that work ethic<br />
with his statistics last season.<br />
Chadwick said Brent uses<br />
his size as adeptly across<br />
the middle as he does when<br />
going over a cornerback. But<br />
his biggest advantage?<br />
“He’s got great hands,”<br />
said Chadwick. “He catches<br />
everything. He doesn’t drop<br />
balls, but he makes the spec-<br />
tacular catch, too.”<br />
Luckily, his hands are also<br />
good for counting. q<br />
SATURDAY MORNING<br />
Sports Injury Clinic<br />
For High School Athletes<br />
SATURDAY MORNINGS<br />
9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.<br />
August 21 – November 13, 2010<br />
No Appointment Necessary<br />
CMC-Union Emergency Department<br />
600 Hospital Drive / Monroe, NC<br />
At CMC-Union, our goal is to keep you in the game.<br />
That’s why we offer a sports injury clinic on Saturday<br />
mornings for high school athletes. Services at the clinic<br />
are provided by board-certified orthopedic surgeons on<br />
the CMC-Union medical staff and we offer MRI scans<br />
and diagnostic imaging if needed for faster diagnosis<br />
and recovery. Walk-ins are welcome.<br />
For more information about the Saturday Morning<br />
Sports Injury Clinic, call 704-225-2884.<br />
Union<br />
600 Hospital Drive | Monroe, NC 28112 | 704-283-3100 | www.cmc-union.org<br />
UNION COUNTY WEEKLY • FALL 2010 7
Aaron Garcia/CWNG photo<br />
Football Night in Union<br />
MONROE<br />
Monroe’s 2010 nucleus includes (from left) Eric Horne, Chris Thomas, Qwadarius Duboise and<br />
Ricardo White.<br />
You don’t replace a running game that<br />
produced nearly 3,000 yards and 38 touchdowns,<br />
nor do you just plug in another 6-foot-5<br />
tight end/receiver/safety, like Issac Blakeney,<br />
who drew double coverage.<br />
“We’re not going to have that, so we’re going<br />
to have to do some other things as well,” said<br />
Monroe coach Johnny Sowell, whose team<br />
went 12-1 last season and averaged 49 points<br />
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Nevertheless, the Redhawks are using the<br />
mantra “Redhawk pride won’t be denied, let’s<br />
do it again in 2010.”<br />
OFFENSE<br />
Monroe may show a more diverse aerial attack<br />
in 2010, partly out of necessity but also due to<br />
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REDHAWKS<br />
quarterback Jalen Sowell’s development as a<br />
passer. Sowell added velocity to his throws in the<br />
offseason and will have leading receiver Jamison<br />
Crowder to target. Quayshawn Chambers<br />
and Quinton Miller will both see time at tight<br />
end, while Chris Thomas, Rico White and<br />
Union Academy transfer Jerred Hill fill out the<br />
rotation.<br />
Seniors Qwadarius Duboise and Ricardo<br />
White step into the fullback and tailback spots,<br />
respectively, so the run game won’t see much of<br />
a drop off in athleticism. And don’t be surprised<br />
to see Crowder taking handoffs.<br />
The Redhawk transition will be helped by an<br />
experienced, though thin, line. Mason Sledge<br />
will line up at left tackle alongside senior guard<br />
Eric Horne, center C.J. Bolder and right tackle<br />
Gavin Croutch.<br />
DEFENSE<br />
The defense was hit hard by graduation,<br />
so there’ll be a host of new starters, many of<br />
whom will double on offense. Horne, Sledge<br />
and Croutch will anchor Monroe’s multipleformation<br />
defense from the tackle spots, while<br />
Duboise and Wesley Mongo will back the line.<br />
Bolder might take the third linebacker spot.<br />
Jalen Sowell joins Crowder this year at safety,<br />
and they’ll be flanked by cornerbacks LaVonté<br />
Baker and Caleb Walker. White will offer sup-<br />
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FAST FACTS<br />
head coach: Johnny Sowell, sixth<br />
season (35-25)<br />
Returning starters: Offense, 6;<br />
defense, 4<br />
conference: Rocky River 1A/2A<br />
2009 record: 12-1, 8-0<br />
2010 schedule<br />
Aug. 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Porter Ridge<br />
Aug. 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Parkwood<br />
Sept. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Mount Pleasant<br />
Sept. 10 . . . . . . . . . . . .Central Academy<br />
Sept. 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Piedmont<br />
Sept. 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . at Cuthbertson<br />
Oct. 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .North Stanly<br />
Oct. 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Union Academy<br />
Oct. 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .West Stanly<br />
Oct. 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Charlotte Berry<br />
Nov. 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Forest Hills<br />
port at outside linebacker/safety, while Thomas<br />
is a capable defender, too.<br />
SPECIAL <strong>TEAM</strong>S<br />
Crowder is among the state’s elite return<br />
men. Sowell must find a reliable kicker but has<br />
many options.<br />
FOOTBALL NIGHT<br />
– Aaron Garcia<br />
Footbal Night<br />
Pick up extra copies of the<br />
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Charlotte NC 28270<br />
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501 S. Old Statesville Rd<br />
Huntersville NC 28078<br />
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8 FALL 2010 • UNION COUNTY WEEKLY www.unioncountyweekly.com<br />
<strong>OUR</strong> <strong>PRESEASON</strong> <strong>SUPER</strong> 7<br />
<strong>TEAM</strong>-<strong>BY</strong>-<strong>TEAM</strong> <strong>PREVIEWS</strong><br />
<strong>BIG</strong> MEN ON CAMPUS<br />
AND MUCH MORE!
Jim Dedmon/CWNG photo<br />
by Aaron Garcia<br />
aaron@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com<br />
It would be excusable if Monroe’s Jamison<br />
Crowder walked around town with a little<br />
more swagger. But for all his ability, for all the<br />
spectacular catches and hits and jukes he puts<br />
on opponents whenever he gets an opportunity,<br />
for all the game-changing returns he takes deep<br />
into opponents’ territory, Crowder is as low-key<br />
and understated as they come.<br />
“He’s one of those kids, like a couple of these<br />
kids, that don’t do a lot of talking,” said Monroe<br />
coach Johnny Sowell of the Redhawks’ star<br />
return man/receiver/safety.<br />
“(Crowder) just takes it and goes. He’s a<br />
special player.”<br />
Special indeed. Last season, Crowder<br />
surfaced as one of the state’s top return men<br />
after collecting four kicks for scores and constantly<br />
giving his team an advantage in the<br />
field- position battle.<br />
Versatile Monroe senior Jamison Crowder has committed to Duke<br />
University.<br />
www.unioncountyweekly.com<br />
Big Man on campus Campus<br />
In a game against Parkwood, Crowder<br />
racked up 116 punt return yards and another<br />
125 in kickoff returns. In all, he topped 80 punt<br />
return yards five times last season as a junior.<br />
And although teams often avoided him on<br />
kickoffs, he still managed to average 52.5 yards<br />
per return on four tries.<br />
Oh, yeah, he also caught 10 touchdowns,<br />
notched two interceptions and deflected six<br />
passes.<br />
This summer, Crowder decided to accept a<br />
scholarship offer from Duke University. He<br />
turned down North Carolina, N.C. State, East<br />
Carolina, Wake Forest and Illinois to become<br />
a Blue Devil.<br />
Yet another reason to walk around with the<br />
proverbial big head.<br />
But according to those around him, what<br />
keeps Crowder grounded is the same quality<br />
that’s allowed him to emerge as one of<br />
the state’s top playmakers: He enjoys playing<br />
and does so with a hard-nosed approach<br />
to whichever position he’s<br />
competing, whether he’s<br />
playing his myriad positions<br />
on the gridiron or guiding<br />
the Redhawks to the Class<br />
2A state championship in<br />
basketball.<br />
“We call him ‘the Old<br />
Man,’” chuckled Sowell, who<br />
noted that Crowder is constantly<br />
icing down some part<br />
of his battle-weary body after<br />
games and practices.<br />
When asked which<br />
position he enjoys playing the<br />
most, Crowder admits that<br />
returning kicks and punts is<br />
his first love. But then, one of<br />
the area’s foremost offensive<br />
weapons throws a curve.<br />
“I like defensive back<br />
because I feel like, on the<br />
defensive side of the ball, I<br />
have a lot of fun, and I don’t<br />
really have to time everything,”<br />
said the 5-foot-10<br />
Crowder. “I can make plays<br />
for myself then. They throw a<br />
pass and I’m trying to go and<br />
get it and make a tackle.<br />
“I’m not that big, but I like<br />
being physical.”<br />
You see, what keeps<br />
Crowder grounded despite<br />
the gaudy numbers and<br />
the attention from college<br />
recruiters is the fact that he<br />
loves the game and places as<br />
much value in a drive-ending<br />
tackle as he does an 80-yard<br />
scamper for a score.<br />
And perhaps most important,<br />
that keeps him hungry<br />
for more. q<br />
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UNION COUNTY WEEKLY • FALL 2010 9
Aaron Garcia/CWNG photo<br />
UNION COUNTY WEEKLY’S<br />
BEST PASSING OFFENSE<br />
Sun Valley Spartans<br />
Junior quarterback Ryan<br />
Smith (with ball) showed<br />
a mastery of coach Scott<br />
Stein’s aerial attack last season,<br />
throwing 30 touchdowns<br />
with only six interceptions.<br />
Receivers Jody Fuller (left) and<br />
Chris Duffy (right) can break<br />
BEST SPECIAL <strong>TEAM</strong>S<br />
Porter Ridge Pirates<br />
Usually, when a team is turning<br />
a corner, the first glimpse<br />
is given in the special teams,<br />
and that was certainly the case<br />
last year. Matt Wogan (left)<br />
was a revelation at kicker, while<br />
playmakers (from left) Jordan<br />
Oakley, Javante Truesdale and<br />
the game wide open, while<br />
tight end Steven Cole (second<br />
from left) helps assure a<br />
high completion percentage<br />
for Smith. Even running back<br />
JaDarrius Williams is a threat<br />
in this passing attack.<br />
– Chris Hunt Chris Hunt/CWNG photo<br />
BEST RUSHING OFFENSE<br />
Marvin Ridge Mavericks<br />
Last year, Kolly Ogar (second<br />
from right) stepped in for an<br />
injured David Bryant (second<br />
from left) and promptly broke<br />
out for a 1,000-yard season.<br />
This year, the duo should<br />
combine to give Marvin Ridge<br />
a potent one-two punch,<br />
especially with linemen such<br />
as Hunter Hiers (left) and<br />
Trent Baker (right) and an<br />
improved passing game that<br />
will keep defenses honest.<br />
Get your odometers ready.<br />
– Aaron Garcia<br />
DeMario Alexander began to<br />
emerge in the return game.<br />
By the end of the season,<br />
opposing teams expected to<br />
photo<br />
drive at least 80 yards for<br />
a score. It should only get<br />
tougher this year.<br />
Hunt/CWNG<br />
– Aaron Garcia Chris<br />
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS<br />
INVOLVED IN UNION COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL. THAT<br />
FACT PROMPTED THE FOOTBALL NIGHT IN UNION STAFF TO GO<br />
OUT ON A LIMB AND IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE AND THINGS FROM<br />
AREA <strong>TEAM</strong>S THAT WE CONSIDER TO BE THE BEST OF THE<br />
BEST. IT WAS HARD MAKING THESE DECISIONS, BUT WE FEEL<br />
WE’VE COMPILED A HARD-TO-BEAT LIST.<br />
BEST PASSING DEFENSE<br />
Monroe Redhawks<br />
Monroe’s secondary has<br />
developed a reputation for<br />
being fast and instinctive,<br />
and it swarms like bees. Even<br />
with some new starters,<br />
that should still be the case<br />
with (from left) cornerback<br />
LaVonté Baker, safety Jamison<br />
Crowder, safety Jalen Sowell<br />
and cornerback Caleb Walker.<br />
The Redhawks are even bet-<br />
photo<br />
ter with Ricardo White and<br />
Chris Thomas each cycling<br />
through as hybrid linebacker/<br />
safeties.<br />
Garcia/CWNG<br />
– Aaron Garcia Aaron<br />
BEST RUSH DEFENSE<br />
Forest Hills Yellow Jackets<br />
Linebacker Aaron Sigmon<br />
(right) might be the county’s<br />
best defender after he<br />
recorded 152 tackles last<br />
season, 45 of which were for<br />
a loss. Fellow all- conference<br />
honoree Darius Ellison (left)<br />
also provides punch at the<br />
end slot, but these two<br />
simply headline an extremely<br />
strong front seven that will<br />
make some teams rethink<br />
their game plans.<br />
– Aaron Garcia<br />
10 FALL 2010 • UNION COUNTY WEEKLY www.unioncountyweekly.com www.unioncountyweekly.com<br />
UNION COUNTY WEEKLY • FALL 2010 11<br />
Aaron Garcia/CWNG photo<br />
BEST STADIUM<br />
Monroe High School<br />
In many ways, the football<br />
stadium at Monroe High<br />
embodies the same characteristics<br />
that have made the<br />
team that calls it home so<br />
successful in recent years<br />
-- it’s clean, structured and,<br />
with that FieldTurf, it’s fast.<br />
The facility is an impressive<br />
sight even when it’s empty.<br />
But on Friday nights, throngs<br />
of red-clad Redhawk fans give<br />
the stands a life of their own,<br />
providing the team with the<br />
ultimate homefield edge.<br />
– Aaron Garcia Aaron Garcia/CWNG photo
Football Night in Union<br />
The Rebels graduated five starters from last<br />
season but suffered even bigger blows this summer.<br />
Rising seniors Chase Plyler, Matt Sinclair<br />
and Tim Richardson, who each were projected<br />
as two-way starters, will be unable to play this<br />
year because of injuries. Plyler suffered a serious<br />
neck injury in a car accident this summer<br />
and, although he is expected to have a full<br />
recovery, will not be able to play football again.<br />
FAST FACTS<br />
head coach: Nelson Rowell, fourth<br />
season (16-18)<br />
Returning starters: Offense, 4;<br />
defense, 2<br />
conference: Southern Carolina 3A/4A<br />
2009 record: 4-7, 1-4<br />
2010 schedule<br />
Aug. 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Piedmont<br />
Aug. 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Monroe<br />
Sept. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . .at Concord Cox Mill<br />
Sept. 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Mount Airy<br />
Sept. 17 . . . . . .at Northwest Cabarrus<br />
Sept. 24 . . . . . . . . . . . .Central Academy<br />
Oct. 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weddington<br />
Oct. 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . at Porter Ridge<br />
Oct. 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sun Valley<br />
Oct. 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Marvin Ridge<br />
Nov. 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anson Senior<br />
by Denny Seitz<br />
denny@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com<br />
Marcus Leak wants people to think of him<br />
as a do-it-all receiver, one who can use his<br />
blazing speed to run past a defensive back but<br />
also outmuscle an opponent for a ball that’s up<br />
for grabs.<br />
There’s only one problem: He’s so good at<br />
blazing past people that he rarely has to do any<br />
of the muscle work.<br />
“I think I’m just as good at the physical part<br />
as I am the speed part,” said Leak, “but I just<br />
don’t get to show it very often.”<br />
With sub-4.4-second speed in the 40-yard<br />
dash, soft hands, and a reputation as a solid<br />
route-runner, Leak has proven adept at getting<br />
open and then leaving foes in the dust<br />
after he catches a pass. This season, he’s trying<br />
to become the first player in Union County<br />
history to surpass 600 receiving yards in a<br />
season three times. He’s broken the 600-yard<br />
barrier the past two years despite missing four<br />
games a year ago – and two games during his<br />
sophomore season – because of injuries.<br />
His yards per catch and consistency in turning<br />
in home-run plays triggered a late recruiting<br />
frenzy for his services, but the 6-foot-1, 205pound,<br />
three-sport athlete has already committed<br />
to the University of Maryland.<br />
ParkwooD<br />
Parkwood looks to improve on last year’s 4-7record this season. Denny Seitz/CWNG photo<br />
Richardson tore his anterior cruciate ligament<br />
in summer 7-on-7 drills, while Sinclair tore his<br />
ACL last week in practice.<br />
The result? Seven of the team’s 24 players<br />
are projected to be starters on both offense and<br />
defense.<br />
“Our starting 11 are pretty good,” Rebels<br />
coach Nelson Rowell said. “But we need other<br />
“When I visited, I loved everything about the<br />
place,” said Leak, who caught 27 passes for 612<br />
yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore.<br />
He followed that campaign with a<br />
25- reception season last year that produced<br />
621 yards and eight scores. That equates to 23.7<br />
yards per catch over two seasons, with one out<br />
of every three grabs going for a touchdown.<br />
Add to that his game-changing abilities as a<br />
kick and punt returner, and it’s easy to see why<br />
Leak is considered an A-list player, even in a<br />
county that boasts fellow star receivers Jamison<br />
Crowder of Monroe and K.J. Brent from<br />
Marvin Ridge.<br />
“I’ve got a good relationship with those guys,”<br />
said Leak, who was a classmate and teammate<br />
of Crowder’s during elementary school. “Really,<br />
none of us talks trash to the other.”<br />
Parkwood coach Nelson Rowell said his star<br />
athlete might be underrated because he’s so good<br />
at turning short gains into long touchdowns<br />
that he rarely gets a chance to showcase abilities<br />
that will surely be needed when he heads<br />
to college.<br />
“When there’s a jump ball, he’s going to<br />
come down with it,” Rowell said of Leak, who<br />
cleared 6 feet, 4 inches in the high jump and<br />
finished fourth among 3A competitors as a<br />
sophomore.<br />
players to step up.”<br />
OFFENSE<br />
Wide receiver Marcus Leak, who’s already<br />
committed to Maryland, is one of the top<br />
offensive threats in the county. He’ll have a new<br />
quarterback this season: junior Tyrone Black.<br />
“His speed forces<br />
people to lay off him,<br />
but then he still has<br />
the ability to make<br />
people miss after he<br />
catches the ball.”<br />
Rowell said Leak<br />
has strong hands<br />
capable of snatching<br />
“50-50” balls from<br />
defenders but also can<br />
run over people.<br />
“He’s the type of<br />
athlete that doesn’t<br />
come around very<br />
often,” Rowell said.<br />
“He’s the real deal.”<br />
According to<br />
Rowell, Maryland<br />
coaches think Leak<br />
could start as a freshman<br />
and has the ability<br />
to play in the NFL.<br />
At a Shrine Bowl<br />
combine last spring,<br />
Leak stunned onlookers<br />
with a 4.38 40-yard<br />
dash. They asked him<br />
to run again. The second<br />
time, he clocked<br />
in at 4.35.<br />
“He’s not just NFL<br />
good,” Rowell said.<br />
“He’s first-round draft<br />
pick good. It’s hard<br />
to comprehend how<br />
good he is.” q<br />
Rebels<br />
Deonta Hyatt will line up opposite Leak and is<br />
getting looks from Division I college programs<br />
himself.<br />
Protecting Black and opening holes for the<br />
running backs will be a young offensive line,<br />
anchored by 6-foot-1, 315-pound tackle Matt<br />
Brantley.<br />
DEFENSE<br />
The loss of Plyler, Sinclair and Richardson will<br />
hurt, especially since the unit struggled some last<br />
year, giving up 27 points per game. Rowell looks<br />
for running backs Keith Harbison and M.J.<br />
Washington to double as cornerbacks.<br />
SPECIAL <strong>TEAM</strong>S<br />
Leak is one of the most dangerous return men<br />
in the state. Harbison and Washington might<br />
take the brunt of those duties away from Leak,<br />
however.<br />
The kicking duties will fall to Anna Villanella,<br />
a two-time all-conference player for the Rebels’<br />
girls soccer team. Rowell said he extended the<br />
invitation for Villanella to try out after watching<br />
her boom soccer balls the past two seasons.<br />
Villanella has shown consistency from<br />
30 yards, and Rowell said she has the leg strength<br />
to kick from deeper than that.<br />
– Denny Seitz<br />
Big Man on campus Campus<br />
Parkwood senior wide receiver Marcus Leak is hard to ignore because of<br />
his impressive play on Friday nights.<br />
12 FALL 2010 • UNION COUNTY WEEKLY www.unioncountyweekly.com<br />
Jim Dedmon/CWNG photo
PiedMonT<br />
Panthers coach Frank Ambrose is highly<br />
optimistic heading into the 2010 season.<br />
“Last year was only the fifth winning season<br />
in the school’s 50-year history,” he said. “We<br />
made it to the first round of the playoffs. I was<br />
pleased with our success after coming off a 1-10<br />
record my first year at the school.”<br />
Ambrose has a simple philosophy: If the game<br />
is taught properly, wins will follow.<br />
“Prepare your team to the best of their ability.<br />
Trust your coaches to put your kids in the<br />
right spots and to coach their position,” said<br />
Ambrose.<br />
The second part of the philosophy is<br />
conditioning.<br />
“(We want) to be the best-conditioned<br />
team and control the line of scrimmage,” said<br />
Ambrose. “We will be bigger and stronger and<br />
in better shape than any team we play.”<br />
OFFENSE<br />
The Piedmont offense is built around “run<br />
and gun” – but a little more run than gun.<br />
Ambrose said his offense only passes when<br />
there’s a potential for a big gain. Last season,<br />
Piedmont averaged 18 yards per pass play, completing<br />
69 percent.<br />
The Panthers are led by junior quarterback<br />
Ross Rushing, senior offensive tackle Stewart<br />
Hinson and senior wide receiver Cameron<br />
Leviner. Ambrose said that experience will<br />
translate into great leadership.<br />
by Mike Shaw<br />
sports@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com<br />
Football and life are the same to Piedmont<br />
offensive linemen Jacob Brewer, Lucas Fisher<br />
and Stewart Hinson – it’s a journey to prepare<br />
them for the future.<br />
“You get knocked down sometimes, but<br />
you have to get back up and learn from it,”<br />
Brewer said. “If you work hard, good things<br />
will happen.”<br />
And Brewer, Fisher and Hinson definitely<br />
work hard.<br />
What’s Brewing<br />
Brewer spent last season on the sidelines<br />
after suffering a season-ending knee injury.<br />
“Instead of giving up, (Brewer) worked<br />
extremely hard in the weight room in<br />
preparation for this year,” said Fisher.<br />
Brewer also attended camps this summer at<br />
colleges such as Duke, Wake Forest, N.C. State,<br />
East Carolina, Western Carolina, Wofford,<br />
Elon and Appalachian State. He hopes that<br />
helps his recruiting stock rise since he doesn’t<br />
have game footage from last season.<br />
“(Many) colleges have said that I’m very talented,<br />
but (they’d) like to see some of my senior<br />
www.unioncountyweekly.com<br />
game film before making any offers,” said<br />
Brewer. “I expect to be getting offers toward<br />
the middle of the season.”<br />
Brewer said his injury was a positive because he<br />
spent more time in the weight room. He gained<br />
35 pounds and moved from guard to center.<br />
“It’s definitely made me a more dominant<br />
player,” said Brewer.<br />
Fisher’s example<br />
Fisher, who’s committed to Duke, worked<br />
equally hard in the offseason.<br />
“I play hard every play and will work harder<br />
than anyone that I go up against,” said Fisher.<br />
His teammates have noticed.<br />
“(Fisher) flies around the field, and I love<br />
that about him,” said Brewer. “Lucas is a great<br />
athlete and a great guy.”<br />
A guy who clearly cares about the team.<br />
“We have a good bit of underclassmen on<br />
this football team,” Fisher said. “If I set the<br />
example for them, they’ll be successful when<br />
they’re juniors and seniors.”<br />
The Big Stew<br />
At 6 foot 7, 268 pounds, Hinson’s a wall for<br />
the Panthers. He played tight end until the first<br />
game of his junior season.<br />
Panthers<br />
Piedmont has several talented players, including (front row, from left) Wesley Marsh, Ross Rushing;<br />
and (back row) Stewart Hinson, Cameron Leviner and Lucas Fisher. Mike Shaw/CWNG photo<br />
The Panthers also have junior Baron Morris,<br />
who Ambrose described as a quick receiver with<br />
great hands.<br />
DEFENSE<br />
Ambrose describes the defense as relentless.<br />
“You won’t see one of our defenders walking<br />
to the ball,” said Ambrose. “We’ll control the<br />
line of scrimmage and be fundamentally sound<br />
and sure tacklers.”<br />
The defensive line is paced by junior Kyle Eiss<br />
and seniors Justin Crump and Lucas Fisher.<br />
“These three have started every game the past<br />
three years, and they know what type of mentality<br />
we expect on defense,” said Ambrose.<br />
Piedmont senior linemen Lucas Fisher, Jacob Brewer and Stewart Hinson<br />
“The coaches thought it would be best to<br />
switch me to tackle, and that’s definitely where<br />
I (needed) to be,” said Hinson.<br />
A while later, colleges became interested in<br />
Hinson. This summer, on the same day they saw<br />
him compete at a one-day camp, East Carolina<br />
coaches offered him a scholarship. He accepted,<br />
and he plans to use hard work to excel even more.<br />
“I have improved every aspect of my game,”<br />
he said. “I have become quicker, stronger and<br />
overall just a better player. I have learned to be a<br />
better football player and person through all the<br />
good times and bad times in my career. I have<br />
learned that no matter what may happen in life<br />
you have to pick the ball up and keep going.”<br />
Football Night in Union<br />
SPECIAL <strong>TEAM</strong>S<br />
Last season, the Panthers were perfect on<br />
extra-point attempts. But Ambrose hasn’t<br />
decided who’ll kick this year.<br />
The only special teams role that Ambrose has<br />
decided on are the long snappers: Hinson for<br />
field goals and Leviner for punts.<br />
– Mike Shaw<br />
FAST FACTS<br />
head coach: Frank Ambrose, third<br />
season (8-15)<br />
Returning starters: Offense, 9;<br />
defense, 9<br />
conference: Rocky River 1A/2A<br />
2009 Record: 7-5, 6-2<br />
2010 schedule<br />
Aug. 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Parkwood<br />
Aug. 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . at Porter Ridge<br />
Sept. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Concord Robinson<br />
Sept. 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Union Academy<br />
Sept. 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Monroe<br />
Sept. 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Forest Hills<br />
October 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cuthbertson<br />
Oct. 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Central Academy<br />
Oct. 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at West Stanly<br />
Oct. 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at North Stanly<br />
Nov. 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Charlotte Berry<br />
Big Man on campus Campus<br />
Closer than a brother<br />
Brewer, Fisher, and Hinson work together<br />
to ensure that the offense is successful each<br />
snap. And they accomplish their mission by<br />
trusting that each one of them is doing his<br />
best every play.<br />
The three have a deep respect for each other.<br />
It’s evident in the way they talk about their<br />
bond. They inspire each other to work hard.<br />
“I love playing with Lucas and Jacob<br />
because they’re my best friends,” Hinson said.<br />
“They keep me motivated. We’ve been friends<br />
for a long time, and we love playing football<br />
together.” q<br />
UNION COUNTY WEEKLY • FALL 2010 13<br />
Jim Dedmon/CWNG photo
Chris Hunt/CWNG photo<br />
Football Night in Union<br />
Porter ridge<br />
Pirates<br />
Porter Ridge junior quarterback Lee McNeil is expected to be one of the top players in the conference<br />
this season.<br />
In his second season, coach Blair Hardin<br />
turned the once-hapless Pirates into a winning<br />
team. Porter Ridge finished with a 7-5<br />
mark and won a share of the Southern Carolina<br />
3A/4A conference championship with three<br />
victories in five league games. Their two league<br />
losses – to Weddington and Sun Valley – were<br />
by only seven points.<br />
This season, however, the Pirates aren’t looking<br />
to share.<br />
After losing its first two Southern Carolina<br />
3A/4A conference games last season, the young<br />
Spartans rallied down the stretch to force a<br />
four-way tie for the league championship. That<br />
team returns 15 starters this season.<br />
The Spartans hope experience at important<br />
positions will be the key to a stronger start in<br />
conference play and a league title they won’t<br />
have to share with any of their rivals.<br />
FAST FACTS<br />
head coach: Scott Stein, eighth<br />
season (46-39)<br />
Returning starters: Offense, 7;<br />
defense, 8<br />
conference: Southern Carolina 3A/4A<br />
2009 record: 9-4, 3-2<br />
2010 schedule<br />
Aug. 20 . . . . . . . . . . . Gastonia Ashbrook<br />
Sept. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Charlotte Olympic<br />
Sept.10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Charlotte Vance<br />
Sept.17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Asheville<br />
Sept. 24 . . . . . . at Wilmington Hoggard<br />
Oct. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Bessemer City<br />
Oct. 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anson Senior<br />
Oct. 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Marvin Ridge<br />
Oct. 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Parkwood<br />
Oct. 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weddington<br />
Nov. 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . at Porter Ridge<br />
In 2009, the Pirates tinkered with young<br />
players at several key positions. But Porter<br />
Ridge solidified those spots during the season<br />
and returns 13 starters with an eye on winning<br />
the league title outright.<br />
OFFENSE<br />
As a sophomore last fall, quarterback Lee<br />
McNeil beat out two teammates to become<br />
the starter and threw for 1,089 yards. Running<br />
back DeMario Alexander took off after the fifth<br />
game of the season. Both are now conference<br />
player of the year candidates.<br />
“Lee’s our guy,” said Hardin. “We threw him in<br />
the fire last year and won seven games. Our running<br />
backs can run a little bit, and a smart coach would<br />
give fast kids the football, so that’s what I’ll do.”<br />
Javonte Truesdale will share the backfield<br />
with Alexander.<br />
Four starting offensive linemen are back.<br />
DEFENSE<br />
The Pirates lost six starters, including Korey<br />
Smith, P.J. Freeman and Tyler Kirk, on a defense<br />
that held opponents below 20 points per game.<br />
But Porter Ridge is still strong at linebacker,<br />
where seasoned captains John Bryant and Zach<br />
Bevington pack some pop.<br />
Relentless defensive ends Aaron Johnson,<br />
Justin Oldja and Avery Worsham bring speed<br />
on the edge of the 4-3 format. Johnson, a<br />
senior, was one of the area’s top players last season.<br />
Alexander will also play cornerback.<br />
SPECIAL <strong>TEAM</strong>S<br />
Collectively, Porter Ridge could have the best<br />
Sun Valley linebackers (from left) Devin Gillette, Austin Smith and Bobby Viehmeyer<br />
Chris Hunt/CWNG photo<br />
FAST FACTS<br />
head coach: Blair Hardin, third<br />
season (10-13)<br />
Returning starters: Offense, 8;<br />
defense, 5<br />
conference: Southern Carolina 3A/4A<br />
2009 record: 7-5, 3-2<br />
2010 schedule<br />
Aug. 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Monroe<br />
Aug. 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Piedmont<br />
Sept. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Forest Hills<br />
Sept. 10 . . . . . . . . . . .Charlotte Waddell<br />
Sept. 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Hickory Ridge<br />
Sept. 24 . . . . . . . . . at Central Cabarrus<br />
Oct. 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Marvin Ridge<br />
Oct. 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Parkwood<br />
Oct. 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . at Weddington<br />
Oct. 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Anson Senior<br />
Nov. 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sun Valley<br />
special teams unit in the county. As a freshman<br />
last year, Matt Wogan kept the opposition<br />
pinned near the goal line in the punting and<br />
kicking games. Hardin said he’s already a<br />
Division I college prospect.<br />
Return specialists Truesdale, Alexander and<br />
Jordan Oakley can score on any given play.<br />
– Chris Hunt<br />
Sun Valley<br />
sPartans<br />
OFFENSE<br />
Running back JaDarrius Williams may be<br />
small, but he’s lightning in a bottle. After missing<br />
the 2009 season opener, he rushed for 1,533<br />
yards and 13 touchdowns in his sophomore<br />
campaign. To improve on last season’s effort, he’ll<br />
rely on an offensive line with four new starters.<br />
Junior quarterback Ryan Smith is the key<br />
to the Spartans’ explosive aerial attack, which<br />
averaged 27.5 points per game. In 2009, Smith<br />
led Union County with 2,505 yards and threw<br />
30 touchdown passes.<br />
Smith has plenty of targets, including Jody<br />
Fuller, who finished last season with 35 catches<br />
for 428 yards and six touchdowns. Converted<br />
receiver Chris Duffy and tight end Steven<br />
Cole will also see plenty of opportunities after<br />
the graduation of Dustin Cook and Andre<br />
McManus, a tandem that combined for more<br />
than 1,400 yards and 17 touchdowns.<br />
As a freshman in 2009, Duffy ran for more<br />
than 100 yards in the season opener against<br />
Gastonia Ashbrook. Smith will also throw<br />
plenty of swing passes to his elusive tailbacks in<br />
the flat.<br />
“(Smith) understands our offense,” said Sun<br />
Valley coach Scott Stein. “He is a distributor. He<br />
reads the defense and gets the ball to our athletes<br />
in open space.”<br />
DEFENSE<br />
The defense lost leading tackler Jeremy Busby,<br />
but the speedy, undersized unit returns eight<br />
starters, including linebackers David Gillette<br />
and Austin Smith. Former fullback Bobby<br />
Viehmeyer will bring a sense of aggression to<br />
the linebacker spot left behind by Busby.<br />
SPECIAL <strong>TEAM</strong>S<br />
Williams and Fuller make up an explosive<br />
tandem in the kick return game. Williams is<br />
also a highlight reel waiting to happen as a punt<br />
returner.<br />
– Chris Hunt<br />
14 FALL 2010 • UNION COUNTY WEEKLY www.unioncountyweekly.com
Chris Hunt/CWNG photo<br />
by Chris Hunt<br />
chris@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com<br />
If you ask Sun Valley junior running back<br />
JaDarrius Williams, football is all about the<br />
eyes.<br />
If his opponents’ eyes are as wide as an<br />
offensive lineman’s waistline, then Williams<br />
lowers his shoulder and runs them over because<br />
he senses their fear. If his would-be-tacklers’<br />
eyes are full of courage, then Williams knows<br />
to kick in his top-end speed and quickness to<br />
get around the overzealous defenders.<br />
But football isn’t just about opponents’ eyes;<br />
it’s also about his eyes.<br />
Williams’ vision has a knack for slowing the<br />
game down when most players have trouble<br />
keeping up. As he breaks the line of scrimmage<br />
and dances into the secondary, his eyes quickly<br />
read his opponents’ intentions and process the<br />
information faster than a high-end computer.<br />
Without missing a beat, Williams then decides<br />
whether to take on his opponent or opt for<br />
evasive maneuvers.<br />
Williams accomplishes all this in the blink<br />
of an (ahem) eye.<br />
“I watch their eyes as they’re running toward<br />
me,” said Williams. “I can determine from their<br />
eyes if they want to hit me. It’s hard to explain,<br />
but I see stuff happen before it happens. I don’t<br />
watch the guy in front of me because, to me,<br />
he’s already beat. It’s the guy behind him I’m<br />
focused on.”<br />
Williams is just 5 foot 8, 165 pounds, but<br />
that hasn’t kept him from putting up monstrous<br />
statistics. In 2009, he gobbled up 1,533 yards<br />
and 13 touchdowns, earning conference player<br />
of the year honors. Williams’ potential shined<br />
brightest in a victory over rival Weddington,<br />
when he had 294 yards and four touchdowns.<br />
The performance was proof that, despite his<br />
www.unioncountyweekly.com<br />
Big Man on campus Campus<br />
small stature, no one plays with more heart.<br />
“He’s just a great kid,” said Spartans coach<br />
Scott Stein. “He’s undersized, but he’s a gutsy<br />
kid. He fits our offense like a glove, and he runs<br />
through tackles like a man.”<br />
While most running backs would eagerly<br />
take a 1,500-yard season, Williams said it didn’t<br />
meet his expectations. Before the 2009 season,<br />
his goal was to gain 1,600 yards because that’s<br />
how many the previous starter, Darius Kirtz,<br />
collected in 2008.<br />
When Kirtz graduated, few thought<br />
Williams was big enough to fill his shoes. The<br />
determined Williams took the cynicism as a<br />
challenge. Much to Williams’ dismay, he came<br />
up just 67 yards short.<br />
“Darius was a good friend of mine who<br />
helped when I was a freshman,” said Williams.<br />
“People didn’t think I could carry the load (like<br />
Kirtz). I look back on the first game, when I<br />
missed it because of (a) knee (injury) and think<br />
I could have broken (1,600 yards).”<br />
Coming up a bit short only raised Williams’<br />
expectations for the 2010 season; he’s set the goal of<br />
gaining 2,000 yards, getting past the second round<br />
of the state playoffs and scoring 20 touchdowns. To<br />
accomplish that, he’ll need the help of his offensive<br />
linemen, who, like Williams last year, also hear<br />
whispers questioning their abilities.<br />
This season, the Sun Valley offense breaks<br />
in four new starting linemen living in the<br />
shadows of last season’s veteran unit that helped<br />
Williams collect the third-highest rushing total<br />
in Union County. Williams, however, won’t let<br />
his lineman face the challenge alone.<br />
“I’ve heard people say they can’t carry the<br />
load, but that’s not true,” said Williams. “We<br />
are in this together. I got their backs like they<br />
have mine.”<br />
They also have his eyes. q<br />
Sun Valley running back JaDarrius Williams is eyeing a lofty goal this season: 2,000 yards rushing.<br />
We’re<br />
Taking<br />
to the Street!<br />
• Pumpkin Decorating Contest<br />
• Dill Pickle Contest<br />
• Pie Baking Contest<br />
• Food and Craft Vendors<br />
• Demonstrations<br />
Saturday,<br />
October 16, 2010<br />
10:00-6:00<br />
Indian Trail Road ~ Downtown Indian Trail<br />
Free<br />
Rides<br />
For information and/or<br />
to register for any contests<br />
Visit our website:<br />
www.indiantrail.org<br />
704-821-8114<br />
There is still space available<br />
for vendors<br />
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UNION COUNTY WEEKLY • FALL 2010 15
Football Night in Union<br />
Weddington Warriors<br />
It had been a long time since Weddington’s<br />
football program finished a season with a sense of<br />
hope. But last year, the Warriors dropped down to<br />
FAST FACTS<br />
head coach: Justin Hardin, second<br />
season (5-7)<br />
Returning starters: Offense, 7;<br />
defense 6<br />
conference: Southern Carolina 3A/4A<br />
2009 record: 5-7, 2-3<br />
2010 schedule<br />
Aug. 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Cuthbertson<br />
Aug. 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Forest Hills<br />
Sept. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .North Gaston<br />
Sept. 10 . . . . . . at Charlotte Ardrey Kell<br />
Sept. 17 . . . . . . . . . . . .at Gastonia Huss<br />
Oct. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Charlotte Olympic<br />
Oct. 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Parkwood<br />
Oct. 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anson Senior<br />
Oct. 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Porter Ridge<br />
Oct. 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Sun Valley<br />
Nov. 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Marvin Ridge<br />
the Class 3A level and hired the energetic Justin<br />
Hardin, who changed the culture of a program<br />
that didn’t win a game the previous season.<br />
Once a pushover in the powerful Southwestern<br />
4A conference, the Warriors were the surprise<br />
squad of the Southern Carolina 3A/4A, qualifying<br />
for the state playoffs.<br />
Still, Hardin says there’s more work to be done.<br />
Hardin would like to improve on his team’s 5-7<br />
record and fifth-place league finish. The Warriors’<br />
conference title hopes were dashed after they lost<br />
three of their five conference contests, all of which<br />
they led at the half. In 2010, Weddington returns<br />
13 starters and is adopting the credo “ finish,” hoping<br />
to capture that ever-elusive winning season.<br />
OFFENSE<br />
Junior quarterback Drew Podbrebanac has<br />
some big shoes to fill after the graduation of<br />
Duke recruit Anthony Boone, who contributed<br />
2,239 total yards and 23 touchdowns. Hardin likes<br />
Podbrebanac’s football IQ and competitive fire,<br />
which the coach said should thrive in the team’s<br />
ball-control, smash-mouth offense.<br />
But don’t expect the Warriors to rely too much<br />
on the run. Hardin said the Warriors will surprise<br />
opponents with a balanced attack.<br />
Podbrebanac won’t carry the load alone. The<br />
Warriors return four starters on the offensive line<br />
and speedy running back Brandon Little, who<br />
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broke his arm in the fifth game<br />
last season. Little finished<br />
fourth in the 100-yard dash at<br />
the Class 3A state meet.<br />
DEFENSE<br />
Hardin preaches a hardhitting,<br />
nasty defense, and allconference<br />
linebackers Zack<br />
Davis and Hunter Moore fit the<br />
bill. Defensive back Cole Finch<br />
played well last fall, and senior<br />
lineman Brandon Kersnowski,<br />
who’s committed to Wofford,<br />
has enough size and strength to<br />
make up for the graduation of<br />
300-pound Darius Kilgo.<br />
SPECIAL<br />
<strong>TEAM</strong>S<br />
Hardin hopes soccer player<br />
Zak Smith can fill in after the<br />
graduation of all- conference<br />
kicker Casey Lange.<br />
Domnique Ardrey and Little<br />
will return kicks.<br />
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16 FALL 2010 • UNION COUNTY WEEKLY www.unioncountyweekly.com<br />
Chris Hunt/CWNG photo
Mike Shaw/CWNG photo<br />
by C. Jemal Horton<br />
jemal@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com<br />
Brandon Little refuses to consider himself a<br />
perfectionist.<br />
Determined to avoid making a single<br />
mistake during a game or practice? OK, yes, the<br />
Weddington running back will admit to that.<br />
Unsatisfied, even after a 50-yard touchdown<br />
run? Yeah, sure.<br />
But a perfectionist?<br />
“No, sir,” he says defiantly but politely. “That’s<br />
not me.<br />
“I just look at everything as if I’ve got to do<br />
things better than I did the last time. On every<br />
play, I have the mind-set that I made a mistake.<br />
So on the next play, I have to be better.<br />
“I do things right, but there’s always a better<br />
way I can do them.”<br />
It wasn’t always that way for Little, who’s<br />
expected to be one of the Warriors’ main<br />
weapons this fall.<br />
Little has been a good player since taking up<br />
football in fourth grade; at the time, raw talent<br />
allowed him to excel. He usually was quicker,<br />
faster and flat out better than the competition,<br />
so attention to detail wasn’t always required.<br />
But that changed in high school, especially<br />
www.unioncountyweekly.com<br />
when Justin Hardin became the Warriors’ coach<br />
before the 2009 season. Hardin – a former<br />
military-college quarterback (The Citadel) and<br />
a follower of coaching great Bill Belichick –<br />
required his players to be more than physical<br />
specimens. And Little was eagerly buying into<br />
the philosophy.<br />
Unfortunately, he wasn’t on the field much<br />
last season; he broke his arm in the fifth game<br />
and was unable to return. Psychologically, it<br />
was a step back for Little.<br />
“I was sad I couldn’t play,” he said. “When I<br />
was around the team, I was happy. But when<br />
I got home, I was (thinking), ‘You didn’t play<br />
tonight You could have helped your team, even<br />
if it was blocking.’<br />
“I felt like I let my team down by breaking<br />
my arm. Emotionally, I was a mess.”<br />
But Little never forgot the lessons about<br />
mental toughness he learned from his family<br />
and new coach. Eventually, he found the resolve<br />
to get better – in all facets.<br />
At one point last season, he weighed a mere<br />
135 pounds; now he’s up to 165, thanks to<br />
hard work in the weight room and, as he says,<br />
“protein and deer meat.” He also plays football<br />
with a thinking man’s approach. That, coupled<br />
with his ability to run the 100-meter dash in<br />
10.64 seconds, makes him one of<br />
the county’s most dangerous ball<br />
carriers.<br />
“I’m better at reading my holes<br />
and going through them,” Little<br />
said. “Last year, I was fast to the<br />
hole and fast through it. Now, I’m<br />
looking at the holes and deciding<br />
which one I’ve got to take to get<br />
more yards and help my team. I’m<br />
more patient.<br />
“The more coaching I’ve gotten,<br />
the more I’ve grown as a player,”<br />
he added. “During film sessions,<br />
Coach Hardin always says, ‘You<br />
did well, but there’s this one thing<br />
you can correct to do it even better.’<br />
So this year, I’m thinking that way.<br />
I think I have more attention to<br />
detail.”<br />
Hardin’s noticed, especially<br />
during a recent scrimmage at Mint<br />
Hill’s Rocky River High.<br />
“On the first play from scrimmage,<br />
he hit the hole and ran over<br />
a guy,” Hardin said. “That was a big<br />
confidence boost for him, so he<br />
could put that injury behind him.<br />
That was as hard as I’ve seen him<br />
run. You can tell he had a great offseason.<br />
I definitely think he’s more<br />
determined.<br />
“I never want my football players<br />
to be content. As a young athlete, if<br />
you stay hungry, you’ll get better. I<br />
think Brandon has that in him.”<br />
But a perfectionist?<br />
No way, no how. q<br />
Union ACAdemy<br />
Union Academy looks to improve on last year’s 2-8-1 record with help from (front row, from left)<br />
Rasheed Rushing, Marlon Young, Tyree Drakeford; and (back row) Jalan Lockhart, Hunter Finney,<br />
Devin Chambers and Darrin Clark.<br />
Coach Lynn Keziah said the Cardinals have<br />
a thin roster but a lot of heart.<br />
“I want them to play hard,” said Keziah.<br />
“They’ve got to leave it all out there. If you give me<br />
everything you’ve got, I won’t be disappointed.”<br />
The program’s made strides entering its second<br />
season. Keziah doesn’t shy away from saying his<br />
team is bigger and better than last year, and a<br />
new weight room has made that possible.<br />
But the new facility’s had more than a physical<br />
impact.<br />
“Our kids worked out all winter and are<br />
closer together as a group because of it,” said<br />
Keziah.<br />
OFFENSE<br />
Keziah believes fans will see a completely<br />
different offensive unit on the field this season<br />
– a unit that has worked hard since last fall to<br />
improve its record.<br />
“We’ll be more consistent and physical on the<br />
offensive side of the ball this season,” said the<br />
coach.<br />
Keziah said the Cardinals’ offense will run<br />
mostly out of the I formation but will feature<br />
a multitude of looks. Several offensive players<br />
return from last year, including junior wide<br />
receivers Jalan Lockhart and Marlon Young,<br />
and senior quarterback Jackson Hargett.<br />
Keziah has been pleased with the production<br />
of junior tailback Tyree Drakeford, as well<br />
as tight end Hunter Finney and lineman Devin<br />
Chambers. Keziah also noted that sophomore<br />
receivers Phillip Parker and Zach Crump should<br />
each have sizable impacts on the passing game.<br />
DEFENSE<br />
The Cardinals’ defense should benefit from<br />
the experience and strength they’ve gained since<br />
last season, said Keziah.<br />
“You’ll see a more mature team who understands<br />
their role, knows what they’ve got to do<br />
to be successful and is going to work hard to<br />
accomplish that,” he noted.<br />
Once again, much of the Cardinals’ roster will<br />
have roles on both offense and defense but will<br />
be helped by senior safety Jeff Stefano, who is<br />
returning from an injury last season.<br />
Big Man on campus Campus<br />
Weddington running back Brandon Little has explosive speed<br />
and a strong mental approach to match.<br />
Cardinals<br />
SpEcial tEamS<br />
The Cardinals’ special teams will be led by<br />
senior Derrick Hamm, who will handle kicks,<br />
while Drakeford will be the team’s punter.<br />
Drakeford and sophomore Rasheed Rushing<br />
will shoulder return duties.<br />
FAST FACTS<br />
head coach: Lynn Keziah<br />
conference: Rocky River 1A/2A<br />
2009 Record: 2-8-1, 2-6<br />
– Mike Shaw<br />
2010 schedule<br />
Aug.20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lake Norman<br />
Aug. 27 . . . . . . . . . .at East Montgomery<br />
Sept. 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Piedmont<br />
Sept. 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Forest Hills<br />
Sept. 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .North Stanly<br />
Oct. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Charlotte Berry<br />
Oct. 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .West Stanly<br />
Oct. 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Monroe<br />
Oct. 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Cuthbertson<br />
Nov. 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Central Academy<br />
UNION COUNTY WEEKLY • FALL 2010 17<br />
Jim Dedmon/CWNG photo
Football Night in Union<br />
SUMMER COACHING CAMEOS<br />
Mike Shaw/CWNG photo<br />
CHarlotte Berry<br />
Last season, coach Andrew Howard led<br />
once-hapless Berry Academy to a school-record<br />
seven victories and a spot in the Class 2A state<br />
playoffs. But entering Howard’s fourth season<br />
at the helm, he’s raised the stakes.<br />
FAST FACTS<br />
head coach: Andrew Howard, fourth<br />
season (10-24)<br />
Returning starters: Offense, 9;<br />
defense, 9<br />
conference: Rocky River 1A/2A<br />
2009 record: 7-5, 5-3<br />
2010 schedule<br />
Aug. 27 . . . . . . . . .at Charlotte Garinger<br />
Sept. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . Mint Hill Rocky River<br />
Sept. 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Forest Hills<br />
Sept. 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . at Central Academy<br />
Sept. 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .West Stanly<br />
Oct. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Union Academy<br />
Oct. 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Cuthbertson<br />
Oct. 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlotte Harding<br />
Oct. 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .North Stanly<br />
Oct. 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at Monroe<br />
Nov. 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Piedmont<br />
The Cardinals have just 10 seniors on the roster<br />
but return 18 of their 22 starters and plenty<br />
of team speed. If they don’t improve on last year’s<br />
first-round playoff exit or their fourth-place finish<br />
in the Rocky River 1A/2A conference, the<br />
season would be deemed a setback.<br />
To reinforce this point, Berry’s players<br />
agreed on a team motto for the 2010 season<br />
and printed it on workout T-shirts: “7-5, not<br />
good enough.”<br />
Offense<br />
Berry’s Spread formation attack is stacked<br />
with experienced athletes at the skill positions,<br />
led by the explosive Germone Hopper. Howard<br />
will move Hopper all over the field to take<br />
advantage of his playmaking ability. The junior<br />
has collected more than 5,000 all-purpose yards<br />
in his first two seasons and rushed for 1,202<br />
yards and 23 touchdowns in 2009.<br />
Senior quarterback Kenny Patterson is back<br />
for another campaign. Last year, the 6-foot-6 allconference<br />
selection threw for 2,192 yards and<br />
connected on 24 touchdown passes. His favorite<br />
target after Hopper is Quincy Ekechukwu, who<br />
caught 30 passes for 485 yards and five touchdowns.<br />
Returning starter Donovan Clinton will<br />
anchor the offensive line.<br />
Defense<br />
The Cardinals’ base defense is a 4-3 forma-<br />
Chris Hunt/CWNG photo<br />
Union County coaches were in midseason form during summer<br />
workouts, including (from left) Piedmont’s Frank Ambrose,<br />
Weddington’s Justin Hardin.<br />
tion, but Howard hasn’t ruled out installing<br />
a 3-5 this season. All-conference defensive<br />
ends Braxton Hicks (13 sacks) and DaQuazis<br />
Reid (10 sacks) return. Cornerback Terrance<br />
Winchester is also back, along with 6-3, 220pound<br />
middle linebacker Nick Dawson.<br />
Winchester and Dawson were both allconference<br />
selections, picking off six and seven<br />
passes, respectively. Dawson also made 78 stops.<br />
Elijah Williams had 110 tackles to lead the<br />
team.<br />
Cardinals<br />
Berry’s 2010 team leaders include Elijah Williams, Fred Perry, Nick Dawson and Braxton Hicks.<br />
sPeCIAL TeAMs<br />
Hopper made a name for himself as a freshman<br />
on special teams with a brilliant 97-yard<br />
touchdown return against powerhouse Butler in<br />
2008. He scored four more times on special teams<br />
last season and will be counted on for another<br />
dazzling year returning punts and kicks.<br />
– Chris Hunt<br />
18 FALL 2010 • UNION COUNTY WEEKLY www.unioncountyweekly.com<br />
Chris Hunt/CWNG photo
Robert Ashcraft/CWNG photo<br />
A FAn’S GUIDe<br />
2010 WEEK-<strong>BY</strong>-WEEK SCHEDULE<br />
www.unioncountyweekly.com<br />
FRIDAY, AUG. 20<br />
Weddington at Cuthbertson<br />
Piedmont at Parkwood<br />
Porter Ridge at Monroe<br />
Concord at Marvin Ridge<br />
Anson Senior at Forest Hills<br />
Gastonia Ashbrook at Sun Valley<br />
Lake Norman at Union Academy<br />
Central Academy at East Montgomery<br />
Carolina Pride at Charlotte Christian<br />
FRIDAY, AUG. 27<br />
Weddington at Forest Hills<br />
Parkwood at Monroe<br />
Piedmont at Porter Ridge<br />
Cuthbertson at Concord Robinson<br />
Marvin Ridge at Harrisburg Hickory Ridge<br />
Gastonia Highland Tech at Central Academy<br />
Union Academy at East Montgomery<br />
Virginia Disciples at Carolina Pride<br />
FRIDAY, Sept. 3<br />
Cuthbertson at Marvin Ridge<br />
Forest Hills at Porter Ridge<br />
Charlotte Olympic at Sun Valley<br />
Monroe at Mount Pleasant<br />
North Gaston at Weddington<br />
Concord Robinson at Piedmont<br />
Parkwood at Concord Cox Mill<br />
Durham Mount Zion at Carolina Pride<br />
FRIDAY, Sept. 10<br />
Cuthbertson at North Stanly<br />
Central Academy at Monroe<br />
Forest Hills at Charlotte Berry<br />
Union Academy at Piedmont<br />
Charlotte Vance at Sun Valley<br />
Weddington at Charlotte Ardrey Kell<br />
Charlotte Waddell at Porter Ridge<br />
Central Cabarrus at Marvin Ridge<br />
Parkwood at Mount Airy<br />
Carolina Pride at at Great Great Falls (South Carolina)<br />
FRIDAY, Sept. 17<br />
Charlotte Ardrey Kell at Marvin Ridge<br />
Monroe at Piedmont<br />
Forest Hills at Union Academy<br />
Cuthbertson at West Stanly<br />
Charlotte Berry at Central Academy<br />
Weddington at Gastonia Hunter Huss<br />
Porter Ridge at Harrisburg Hickory Ridge<br />
Parkwood at Northwest Cabarrus<br />
Sun Valley at Asheville<br />
Carolina Pride at Central High (Pageland,<br />
South Carolina)<br />
FRIDAY, Sept. 24<br />
Monroe at Cuthbertson<br />
Piedmont at Forest Hills<br />
Central Academy at Parkwood<br />
Marvin Ridge at North Lincoln<br />
Porter Ridge at Central Cabarrus<br />
Sun Valley at Wilmington Hoggard<br />
North Stanly at Union Academy<br />
Prince Avenue Prep at Carolina Pride<br />
FRIDAY, oct. 1<br />
Cuthbertson at Piedmont<br />
Charlotte Olympic at Weddington<br />
Central Academy at North Stanly<br />
Forest Hills at West Stanly<br />
Sun Valley at Bessemer City<br />
Union Academy at Charlotte Berry<br />
AFC Rangers at Carolina Pride<br />
FRIDAY, oct. 8<br />
Porter Ridge at Marvin Ridge<br />
Weddington at Parkwood<br />
Charlotte Berry at Cuthbertson<br />
Central Academy at Piedmont<br />
North Stanly at Monroe<br />
Anson Senior at Sun Valley<br />
West Stanly at Union Academy<br />
SAtURDAY, SAt SA URDAY, oct. 9<br />
Carolina Pride at Camden (South Carolina) Military<br />
FRIDAY, oct. 15<br />
Marvin Ridge at Sun Valley<br />
Parkwood at Porter Ridge<br />
Cuthbertson at Central Academy<br />
Monroe at Union Academy<br />
Anson Senior at Weddington<br />
Forest Hills at North Stanly<br />
Piedmont at West Stanly<br />
Huntersville Lake Norman Charter<br />
at Carolina Pride<br />
FRIDAY, oct. 22<br />
Sun Valley at Parkwood<br />
Porter Ridge at Weddington<br />
Union Academy at Cuthbertson<br />
Central Academy at Forest Hills<br />
Marvin Ridge at Anson Senior<br />
West Stanly at Monroe<br />
Carolina Pride at Concord Cannon<br />
FRIDAY, oct. 29<br />
Weddington at Sun Valley<br />
Parkwood at Marvin Ridge<br />
Forest Hills at Cuthbertson<br />
Charlotte Berry at Monroe<br />
Porter Ridge at Anson Senior<br />
Central Academy at West Stanly<br />
Piedmont at North Stanly<br />
Carolina Pride at Raleigh Titans<br />
FRIDAY, nov. 5<br />
Marvin Ridge at Weddington<br />
Monroe at Forest Hills<br />
Sun Valley at Porter Ridge<br />
Anson Senior at Parkwood<br />
Union Academy at Central Academy<br />
Piedmont at Charlotte Berry<br />
note: carolina pride home games<br />
played at Weddington optimist park<br />
UNION COUNTY WEEKLY • FALL 2010 19
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