Concord-A.L. Brown ‘Bell Game’ to kick off football season on TV
The 85th high school football meeting between rivals Concord and A.L. Brown will make history Thursday night.
It’ll be the first time in N.C. history that a regular-season game has been televised live. The game will be seen on Time Warner Cable channel 323 beginning with a pregame show at 7. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m.
Time Warner Cable began televising live N.C. High School Athletic Association championship games in 2006. It received approval from the NHSAA board this year to do live telecasts of regular-season games, provided they were shown on non-traditional nights. Since most high school teams play on Friday, Time Warner Cable has scheduled a weekly series of Thursday night games this year.
Only one Mecklenburg County game will be featured among the 12-game package: Vance at Hough on Nov. 5.
On Thursday night, Concord and A.L. Brown again will play for the Victory Bell. Concord has won the past three games and holds a 43-38-4 series edge.
“I think it’s a great part of history, to play the first regular-season game live on TV in North Carolina history,” Brown senior cornerback Kaseim Black said. “It adds some fire to it so we can play our best game and hopefully get the bell back.”
“Everybody wants to see themselves on TV,” Concord senior lineman Mike Baker said. “We’re not going to let it distract us. We’ve played in two state championships (in 2012 and 2013) and have seen ourselves on the big screen TV. The coaches always tell us not to get distracted and to keep our heads on straight.”
Soccer
The eighth Soccer For A Cure tournament will be Thursday and Saturday and feature several of the area’s top boys’ teams. The tournament will benefit cancer research. Admission is $7 per car at Ramblewood Park and $5 at the high school sites Saturday.
Several teams are ranked in the N.C. coaches statewide poll: Charlotte Catholic (No. 5, 4A); Garinger (No. 10, 4A); South Mecklenburg (No. 16 4A); Charlotte Country Day (No. 2, 3A private); Weddington (No. 3, 3A); Marvin Ridge (No. 11, 3A).
Thursday’s schedule at Ramblewood Soccer Complex. Games at 6 p.m., unless noted: West Meck vs. Sun Valley; East Meck vs. Forbush; Central Davidson vs. Cuthberson; Charlotte Catholic vs. Robinson; Marvin Ridge vs. Mallard Creek; Olympic vs. Butler; Weddington vs. Myers Park; Providence vs. Forest Hills; Ardrey Kell vs. Country Day; Central Academy vs. Independence; South Meck vs. Statesville, 8 p.m.
Saturday at Charlotte Catholic: Garinger vs. Ardrey Kell, 2; Parkwood vs. Butler, 4; Concord vs. Olympic, 6
Saturday at Olympic: Weddington vs. Mallard Creek, 2; Independence vs. East Lincoln, 4; Concord vs. Olympic, 6
Saturday at South Meck: Central Academy vs. Providence, 4; Porter Ridge vs. South Meck, 6
Saturday at Marvin Ridge: Sun Valley vs. Covenant Day, 2; West Meck vs. Forest Hills, 4; Country Day vs. Marvin Ridge, 6
Volleyball
Fifteen teams will participate Friday and Saturday in the Best of North Carolina at Charlotte Country Day and Providence Day. Pool-play games will begin at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Country Day. Playoffs will begin at noon Saturday at Country Day and Providence Day. The final will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at Country Day. Admission is $5 per day.
Participating teams: Charlotte Catholic, Charlotte Christian, Charlotte Country Day, Covenant Day, Hendersonville, Hoggard, Hough, Lee County, Marvin Ridge, North Iredell, North Raleigh Christian, Providence Day, South Iredell, Weddington, West Henderson
Baseball
Providence’s Josh Hiatt was named N.C. 4A coaches association player of the year. Hiatt, a pitcher, led the Panthers to the state title. Max Wotell was 3A player of the year after leading Marvin Ridge to the state title. Wotell also is a pitcher.
Several area players made the all-state team: Hunter Jackson, C, Cherryville; Alston Mosteller, P, Cherryville; Randall Long, P, Cherryville; Chris Cox, P/3B, East Lincoln; Caleb Baucom, P/1B, Piedmont; Cameron Brantley, OF, Ardrey Kell; Aaron Pilkington, 3B/P, Ardrey Kell; Kobe Phillips, SS/P, Butler; Drew Ober, 3B, Hough; CJ White, OF, Robinson; Josh Ladowski, OF, Lake Norman; Tommy Bullock, SS/P, Mooresville; Andrew Moritz, OF, Providence; Jake Holtzapple, 3B, Providence; Dean Looney, OF, Butler; Tate Pennington, P, Butler; Justin Williams, INF, Independence; Zach Little, SS, Lake Norman; Anthony Fucci, 2B, Mooresville; Austin Leonard, P, Providence; Andrew Fishel, C, Providence.
Briefly
Carolina International, a K-12 charter school in Cabarrus County, kicked off its first season with a soccer match Tuesday at South Rowan. The school will play its home opener at 5 p.m. Thursday against West Stanly. Volleyball will play at home Thursday against Concord First Assembly. Volleyball plays at the New Life Baptist Church in Concord.
Correspondent Joe Habina contributed
Longtime basketball coach Price
to be inducted into NCHSAA Hall
Former South Mecklenburg and Providence Day boys’ basketball coach Dave Price will be inducted into the N.C. High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in October.
Price died in March at his home. He was 85.
He started teaching at South Meck in 1959 and became varsity basketball coach in 1964. The Sabres won four state championships and Price won two more at Providence Day.
During a 32-year career, Price was 535-285.
At South Meck, Price coached future North Carolina and NBA stars Bobby Jones and Walter Davis, and he became the first N.C. 4A coach to win three straight state championships, beginning in 1970. Price also coached Lew Massey and Todd Crowley, who helped Charlotte’s 49ers reached the 1977 NCAA Final Four.
From 1970 to ’72, South Meck was 52-1.
This story was originally published August 19, 2015 at 6:18 PM with the headline "Concord-A.L. Brown ‘Bell Game’ to kick off football season on TV."