Concord leads Havelock 21-20 at the half

WINSTON-SALEM – Concord leads Havelock 21-20 after the first half of the 3A state championship game at BB&T Field.

Havelock (14-1) was first to strike, easily moving the ball downfield on its first possession.

Pharoh Cooper’s 2-yard quarterback keeper for a touchdown capped the Rams’ 75-yard opening drive.

Both defenses played well early and forced stops.

Down 7-0 after the first quarter, the Spiders (13-2) started gaining momentum.

Quarterback B.J. Beecher, who passed for 189 yards and three touchdowns on 13-of-19 passing, led the way for Concord in the second quarter.

The Spiders’ first touchdown happened after Beecher found Alex Asbury, who made a lateral flick to Zosh Zeilig for the 30-yard score.

After forcing the Rams to punt, Beecher led the Spiders on an 88-yard drive. The 6-foot-6 senior quarterback capped off the drive with a 37-yard pass to sophomore running back Rocky Reid.

Recovering the ball on a Havelock fumble on the ensuing kickoff, the Spiders seemed to have the momentum on their side despite having missed their first extra point attempt.

But Cooper intercepted Beecher after the Spiders had reached the red zone, returning the pick-six 87 yards to get his team within one.

With 4:07 left in the half, Beecher orchestrated a 72-yard drive that concluded in a 21-yard pass from the Shrine Bowl-bound quarterback to Jerry Burk.

A Logan Sedergren 2-point conversion gave the Spiders a 21-14.

Cooper, who ran for 57 yards and pass for 52 more, led the Rams on a 65-yard scoring drive.

Cooper had two runs – for 28 and 26 yards – before finding Harry Caldwell for an 11-yard touchdown.

Concord quarterback wins $40,000 scholarship

Concord High quarterback B.J. Beecher was named the first recipient of the Charlotte Touchdown Club’s Michael A. Kahn Scholarship.

The $40,000 scholarship, named after the owner/CEO of the Charlotte Checkers, celebrates community service as well as academic and athletic accomplishments.

Beecher is a four-year starter at Concord, having taken over at quarterback for the Spiders midway through his freshman year. That season, he led an 0-6 team to six consecutive wins and a trip to the second round of the state playoffs.

Beecher, a 6-foot-7, 200-pound senior, threw for 2,606 yards and 32 touchdowns as a sophomore to lead Concord to a 9-5 season. He followed that up with 2,957 yards and 32 scores for the 10-4 Spiders last year.

He has thrown for 3,786 yards and 48 touchdowns this season, making him only the third player in North Carolina high school football history to amass 10,000 career passing yards. Independence’s Chris Leak (15,593) and Burlington Cummings’ Ernest Tinnen (10,836) are the other two.

Beecher, who also plays basketball and tennis at Concord, maintains a 3.3 grade-point average while also being involved in his school’s Young Life organization. As a junior, he traveled to the Dominican Republic as part of a medical mission team.

Concord (13-2) will play in the 3A state football championship Saturday against Havelock in Winston-Salem.

Spider coach Glen Padgett told the Observer that Beecher will be a game-time decision for Saturday's game after injuring his right thumb - on his throwing hand - in the second quarter of the 3A semifinal against Morganton Freedom.

Cougars win state golf title

From left: Pat Whisenant,Taylor Bunten, Anna Redding, Annie Collom
 and Kate Collom. COURTESY OF BETH COLLUM

Cannon School repeated as private school girls’ golf champions, winning by 26 shots over second-place Durham Academy Oct. 24 at Mid Pines Golf Club in Pinehurst.

The Cougars, under the direction of first-year coach Pat Whisenant, shot a combined low score of 249.

Junior Kate Collom and sophomore Anna Redding led the way, tying for second place with their 18-hole score of 82.

Sophomore Annie Collom shot an 85 while classmate Taylor Bunten posted a 94.

The Colloms sisters and Redding were named to the all-state team.

“It's been a real honor to be a part of this run and these girls, who are great players and people,” Whisenant said. “They lifted each other up when they weren't putting well today and pulled it together for a state championship.”

Cannon was equally as impressive last year, when the Cougars won by 22 shots. The Cougars have beaten 25 of their last 26 opponents in the two-year span. Their only loss on the course was to defending 2A state champion Salisbury last year.

- Jay Edwards

Concord upsets Cox Mill to earn spot in SPC finals

Concord's volleyball team knocked the No. 2 seed in the South Piedmont 3A volleyball tournament to reach Wednesday's finals against top-ranked Hickory Ridge.

After dropping both regular season meetings to the Chargers, the Spiders defeated Cox Mill 3-0 (25-22, 28-26, 25-22) Tuesday in the semifinals.

Hickory Ridge defeated Northwest Cabarrus 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-22) in the other semifinal and will host Concord at 6 p.m. for the tournament title.

Trojans roll to second round

Northwest Cabarrus, the SPC girls' tennis champions, reached the second round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association dual team playoffs after a 5-4 win against Gastonia Ashbrook Tuesday.

Jay M. Robinson, the conference runners-up, dropped its first-round match-up against Hickory 9-0 to wrap up its season.

The Trojans will host Marvin Ridge Oct. 23 in second-round play.

The 3A midwest individual regionals will be held Friday and Saturday at Concord. The top six singles and doubles players from the conference will participate.

Spider, Wonders named to Shrine Bowl roster

Concord quarterback B.J. Beecher as well as A.L. Brown's Kalif Phillips and Keeon Johnson were named to the North Carolina team that will play in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, which will be played Dec. 15 at Wofford College in Spartanburg.

Here's the full roster:

Last Name	First Name	High School
Phillips	Kalif	A. L. Brown
Johnson	Keeon	A. L. Brown
Prince	R.J.	Albemarle
Oliver	Demetrius	Ashbrook
Beecher	B.J.	Concord
Rogers Jr.	Dane	Crest
Patterson	Quinton	Crest
Wiggins	Sean	David W. Butler
Blankenship	Cole	Davie County
Lewis	Garry	Douglas Byrd Senior
Blair	Chris	East Forsyth
Clay	Aaron	Eastern Alamance
Thorb	Tim	Garner Magnet
Roane	Patrick	Gray’s Creek
Coplon	A.J.	Havelock
Cooper	Pharoh	Havelock
Wilson	Daryl	Hendersonville
Francis	Khris	Hillside
Wiggins	Korrin	Hillside
Neal	Lewis	Hunt
Tocho	Jack	Independence
Walker	Brian	Mallard Creek
Matau	Christian	New Bern
Logan	T.J.	Northern Guilford
Mann	Dequaivs	Northern Nash
Wogan	Matt	Porter Ridge
Covington	Devante	Richmond Senior
Crowder	Tyrone	Richmond Senior
Jones	Nazair	Roanoke Rapids
Diggs	Malik	Scotland
Robinson	Artemis	Scotland
McCauley	Eric	Shelby
Smith	Lachasten	South Iredell
Starnes	Jordan	South Stanly
Gilmore	Greg	South View
Mumford	Tristan	Statesville
Parker	Carlis	Statesville
Deleon	Jeff	T. C. Roberson
Suber	Noah	T. C. Roberson
Lewis	Tyquan	Tarboro
Gould	Ryan	West Forsyth
Dueitt	Blake	William A. Hough
Donaldson	Kirk	Zebulon Vance
Braynt	Larenz	Zebulon Vance

Eagles named all-conference

Several First Assembly soccer and volleyball players were named to their respective All-Metrolina Athletic Conference teams. Josh Denton, Michael Djali and Clarence Massalay were named all-conference in soccer, while Kathryn Eudy and Caroline Zwick were honored in volleyball.

Here are the complete All-MAC teams:

Boys' soccer

Caleb Allen – Covenant Day School

Aaron Armstrong – Gaston Christian School

Cameron Church – Covenant Day School

Josh Denton – First Assembly Christian School

Michael Djali – First Assembly Christian School

Zach Dunn – Northside Christian Academy

Yohei Kawabata – Northside Christian Academy

Jonathan Love – Hickory Grove Christian School

Christian MacArthur – SouthLake Christian Academy

Joey Magnani – Gaston Christian School

Clarence Massalay – First Assembly Christian School

Matthew McKnight – Covenant Day School

Justin Melton – Gaston Christian School

Alex Pardue – Hickory Grove Christian School

Dylan Ritch – Hickory Grove Christian School

Mark Steele – Covenant Day School

Michael Stewart – Covenant Day School

Rhem Stubbs – SouthLake Christian Academy

Ty Stubbs – SouthLake Christian Academy

Volleyball

Hannah Billiard – Covenant Day School

Sumerlyn Carruthers – Westminster Catawba Christian School

Megan Embry – Covenant Day School

Kathryn Eudy – First Assembly Christian School

Christina Goforth – Covenant Day School

Hannah Griffin – Hickory Grove Christian School

Meghan Haigler – Metrolina Christian Academy

Katie McGuire – SouthLake Christian Academy

Hunter Moxley – Westminster Catawba Christian School

Shelly Nassar – Covenant Day School

Emily Oliver – Westminster Catawba Christian School

Anna Parson – Hickory Grove Christian School

Chezney Templeton – Hickory Grove Christian School

Caroline Zwick – First Assembly Christian School

Top performers - week 5

B.J. Beecher, Concord

Senior quarterback threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns on 11 of 17 passing to help the Spiders get off to a 5-0 for the first time since 1998.

Brian Jernigan, Cox Mill

Junior linebacker had 18 total tackles and a fumble recovery as the Chargers defeated Mount Pleasant 27-14.

Malik Johnson, Cox Mill

Senior ran for 93 yards and two touchdowns while also catching for 95 yards and two more scores against the Tigers.

Nick Tyson, Hickory Ridge

Senior quarterback passed for three touchdowns as the Ragin' Bulls defeated then-undefeated rival Central Cabarrus 33-26.

Friday's scores

Cannon 13 at Asheville School 14

Trinity Christian 6 at First Assembly 7

Concord 47 at Northwest Cabarrus 0

Jay M. Robinson 21 at A.L. Brown 69

Central Cabarrus 26 at Hickory Ridge 33

Cox Mill 27 at Mount Pleasant 14

This week's games

First Assembly (3-1) at Christ School (4-0)

A.L. Brown (4-1) at Central Cabarrus (4-1)

Concord (5-0) at Jay M. Robinson (2-3)

Hickory Ridge (4-1) at Cox Mill (4-1)

Northwest Cabarrus (1-3) at Mount Pleasant (3-2)

Cannon (1-4) - BYE

Top performers - week 3 and 4

Covering social media during the Democratic National Convention kept me from my normal job last week, so I didn't have time to put up any blog posts. But better late than never, right?

Week 3

Myles Martino, Cannon

Senior ran for 240 yards on 14 attempts, a 17.14 yard per carry average, as the Cougars defeated Walkertown 52-25. He also rushed for two scores.

Jerry Burk, Concord

Junior linebacker had 10 solo tackles to lead the Spider defense in a 21-7 win over Monroe.

Kalif Phillips, A.L. Brown

Senior receiver ran for 252 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Wonders in a 38-21 win against Rocky River. He also had a 96-yard kickoff return for a score.

Week 3 scores

Cannon 52 at Walkertown 25

First Assembly 6 at High Point Christian 27

Monroe 7 at Concord 21

South Rowan 21 at Northwest Cabarrus 26

Rocky River 21 at A.L. Brown 38

Jay M. Robinson 14 at Piedmont 35

Hickory Ridge 48 at Carson 30

Central Cabarrus 49 at Central Academy 0

West Stanly 0 at Mount Pleasant 47

Pinecrest 44 at Cox Mill 27

Week 4

Alex Asbury, Concord

Senior receiver caught for 211 yards and three touchdowns on only four receptions as his Spiders defeated Huss 48-28.

Robert Johns, Mount Pleasant

Sophomore defensive back had a season-high 13 total tackles, including 11 solo hits, to lead the Tiger defense as the team upset the state's top-ranked 1A team Albemarle 26-14.

Cox Mill's running game

Led by seniors Diron Chloe (144 yards) and Abreus Boyd (107 yards), the Chargers ran for 395 yards in a 54-21 win over Piedmont. Malik Johnson rushed for three touchdowns, while quarterback Kelly Hall ran in two more.

Friday's scores

Cannon 14 at Harrells Christian 56

Huss 28 at Concord 48

Northwest Cabarrus 0 at Mooresville 49

Porter Ridge 41 at A.L. Brown 14

Carson 21 at Jay M. Robinson 27

Hickory Ridge 49 at East Rowan 27

Central Cabarrus 54 at West Stanly 0

Mount Pleasant 26 at Albemarle 14

Cox Mill 54 at Piedmont 21

First Assembly (BYE)

This week's games

Cannon (1-3) at Asheville School (0-2)

Trinity Christian (0-3) at First Assembly (2-1)

Concord (4-0) at Northwest Cabarrus (1-2)

Jay M. Robinson (2-2) at A.L. Brown (3-1)

Central Cabarrus (4-0) at Hickory Ridge (3-1)

Cox Mill (3-1) at Mount Pleasant (3-1)