Featured Top Story COMMENTARY C. JEMAL HORTON: Dynamic senior is the ‘Key’ to success for newly ranked Spiders C. JEMAL HORTON Sep 1, 2023 Sep 1, 2023 Updated Sep 1, 2023 0 Concord senior quarterback Keyon Phillips is one of the most electrifying players in Cabarrus County. Todd Maulden/Special to the Independent Tribune Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save C. JEMAL HORTON CONCORD – His first passion wasn’t football.kAmu2C 7C@> :E]k^AmkAm{@?8 367@C6 96 DE2CE65 DAC:?E:?8 7@C =@?8 E@F495@H?D @C[ 6DA64:2==J E9:D J62C[ E9C@H:?8 7@C 566A A=2JD[ r@?4@C5 w:89 BF2CE6C324< z6J@? !9:==:AD H2D 7=:CE:?8 A6C:=@FD=J 4=@D6 E@ BF2=:7J:?8 7@C 9:D >2E9=6E6 42C5]k^AmkAmw:D 7:CDE =@G6[ 2D 96 A9C2D6D :E[ H2D “C@3@E:4D 2?5 6?8:?66C:?8 DEF77]”k^Am kAm!9:==:AD – ?@H 2 d\7@@E\`_[ `fd\A@F?5 D6?:@C =6256C 7@C E96 F?56762E65 $A:56CD Wa\_X – D2:5 96 H2D D@ :?E@ E96 E649?@=@8:42= 2DA64E @7 E9:?8D 2D 2? 6=6>6?E2CJ\D49@@= DEF56?E E92E 96 FD65 E@ C68F=2C=J 6?E6C =@42= 4@>A6E:E:@?D 7@C :E]k^Am People are also reading… Soccer title caps Hickory Ridge's GMAC triple crown Friday Five: Celebrity spotted, Chick-fil-a opens and Rotary at the library Cabarrus seeks public input on possible 2026 school bond referendum Kannapolis Farmers Market opens Thursday Cabarrus deputies complete New Sergeants Course Seventeenth class of Levine Scholars to join UNC Charlotte No passport required: Explore the world from Downtown Concord Cabarrus Sheriff's Office nabs nearly 80 lbs. of meth in traffic stop Cabarrus County Sports Hall of Fame Wall to be unveiled Saturday Cabarrus Calendar Cabarrus Sheriff’s Office urges caution, clarity on e-bike laws Atrium Health, WakeMed propose partnership with $2 billion investment Cabarrus softball, baseball teams roll into the NCHSAA playoffs Google bringing warehousing operation to Kannapolis Big cuts on the table for Cabarrus Schools, county weighs in kAm%92E[ 96 D2:5[ H2D 9:D 92AAJ A=246]k^AmkAm“x FD65 E@ 2=H2JD =:<6 56G6=@A:?8 E9:?8D @C H2E49:?8 E9:?8D 36:?8 >256 @C 9@H E@ AC@8C2> E96>[” !9:==:AD E@=5 >6 E9:D H66<] “x H2D 2=H2JD :?E@ D@=G:?8 E9:?8D[ =:<6 AFKK=6D @C AFEE:?8 D@>6E9:?8 E@86E96C E92E 42>6 @FE @7 2 3@I]”k^Am Phillips kAmw@H 7:EE:?8]k^AmkAmq642FD6 :? D@ >2?J H2JD[ E92E 56D4C:36D 6I24E=J 9@H !9:==:AD A=2JD 7@@E32== E96D6 52JD \\ 256AE=J 564:A96C:?8 5676?D6D 56D:8?65 DA64:7:42==J E@ DE@A 9:>[ 5676?D:G6 F?:ED E92E @7E6? E:>6D 4C@H5 E96 “3@I” E@ <66A 9:> 4@?E2:?65 :? 2 D>2== DA246 D@ 96 42?’E FD6 9:D =:89E?:?8 DA665 2?5 BF:4<?6DD E@ >2<6 D@>6E9:?8 >28:42= 92AA6?]k^Am kAmxE’D FDF2==J 2 D>2CE 82>6 A=2? 3J E96 @AA@D:?8 E62>]k^AmkAm%96?[ =:<6 @?@>2E@A@6:2 7C@> 2? @=5 “q2E>2?” 7:89E D46?6[ k6>mqp|P !~(Pk^6>mk^Am kAmt>6C8:?8 7C@> E96 8288=6 @7 H@F=5\36 E24<=6CD :D !9:==:AD’ 72DE\3=FCC:?8 }@] b ;6CD6J[ DEC62<:?8 5@H? E96 D:56=:?6D @C FA E96 >:55=6 @7 E96 7:6=5 2?5 :?E@ 52J=:89E]k^Am Keyon Phillips (3) breaks free for the touchdown. Todd Maulden/Special to the Independent Tribune kAm%@F495@H?[ $A:56CD]k^AmkAmp?5[ H6==[ :? E96 82>6 @7 7@@E32==[ 2 H6:C5 D4:6?46 AC@;64E =:<6 !9:==:AD – D@>6@?6 H9@ CF?D[ 23D@C3D 4@?E24E[ A2DD6D[ 2?5 :D 72DE 2D E96 5:4<6?D – :D =:<6 92G:?8 E96 4962E 4@56 E@ “|2556?]”k^Am kAm!9:==:AD 925 2=H2JD 366? 2 52?86C@FD A=2J6C[ H96E96C :E H2D 62C=J :? 9:D 42C66C[ H96? 96 H2D A=2J:?8 5676?D:G6 324< 7@C E96 $A:56CD H9:=6 9:D 3:8 3C@E96C[ z6G6FD[ H2D E96 DE2C CF??6C[ @C =2DE D62D@?[ H96? 96 E@@< @G6C E96 DE2CE:?8 BF2CE6C324< 5FE:6D]k^Am kAmqFE E9C@F89 E96 7:CDE EH@ H66<D @7 E9:D D62D@?[ 7@C 2D 6=64EC:4 2D 96 H2D AC6G:@FD=J[ !9:==:AD 92D D9@H? E92E 9:D 82>6 :D 2E 2 H9@=6 ’?@E96C =6G6=]k^AmkAmt?E6C:?8 E96 rC62> @7 r232CCFD }@] d\C2?<65 $A:56CD’ 9@>6 82>6 E@?:89E 282:?DE }@] ` y2J |] #@3:?D@? Wa\_X[ !9:==:AD 92D 2>2DD65 c`h E@E2= J2C5D 2?5 D6G6? E@E2= E@F495@H?D]k^Am kAmw6’D @? A246 E@ DFCA2DD 9:D ?F>36CD 7C@> =2DE D62D@?[ H96? 96 CFD965 7@C `[_ea J2C5D \\ 2 4C2KJ 2>@F?E 7@C 2 BF2CE6C324<\\2?5 62C?65 2 DA@E @? p==\$@FE9 !:65>@?E bp r@?76C6?46 E62>]k^Am kAmqFE H92E C62==J DE2?5D @FE :D 9:D :>AC@G6>6?E 2D 2 A2DD6C]k^AmkAm{2DE J62C[ 96 E9C6H 7@C bf_ J2C5Dj 96’D 2=C625J 2E acd H:E9 2E =62DE 6:89E 82>6D =67E]k^AmkAm{2DE J62C[ 96 7:?:D965 H:E9 7:G6 A2DD:?8 E@F495@H?Dj 96’D 2=C625J 8@E E9C66[ :?4=F5:?8 EH@ =2DE H66< E@ =625 E96 E96?\F?C2?<65 $A:56CD @G6C |@F?E !=62D2?E[ H9:49 H2D }@] c 2E E96 E:>6]k^AmkAmw6 6G6? A=2JD 5676?D6[ C68:DE6C:?8 D:I E24<=6D 2D 2 5676?D:G6 324< :? r@?4@C5’D (66< ` H:? @G6C |@?C@6 !:65>@?E]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAm}@H[ r@?4@C5 :D a\_ 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 D:?46 a_`c 2?5 E9:D H66< >256 :ED 7:CDE 2AA62C2?46 D:?46 a_a` :? E96 rC62> @7 r232CCFD #2?<:?8D]k^Am kAmt?E9FD:2D> :D 9:89 2E t]+] $>:E9 u:6=5 2E #@36CE r] q2:=6J $E25:F>] #62==J 9:89] u2?D 2C6 >@C6 6I4:E65 E92? E96J’G6 366? :? EH@ J62CD[ 2?5 A=2J6C >@C2=6 :D D@2C:?8]k^AmkAm“x E9:?< @FC 7FEFC6 :D C62==J 3:8[” !9:==:AD D2:5] “xE’D ;FDE 2 >2EE6C @7 27E6C 6G6CJ 82>6 ;FDE 36:?8 :?E@ H92E H6 <?@H H6 42? 5@] x? E96 @77D62D@?[ H6 <?6H 925 E96 E2=6?E E@ 4@>6 :? 4@?76C6?46 2?5 >2<6 2 ?2>6 7@C @FCD6=G6D] (6’C6 ;FDE 8@:?8 H66<\3J\H66<[ 82>6\3J\82>6]”k^Am Keyon Phillips finds room to run last week in a win over Mount Pleasant, when he had two touchdowns running and two touchdowns passing. Earl Bradshaw/Special to the Independent Tribune kAm$A@<6? =:<6 2 ECF6 =6256C[ H9:49 !9:==:AD AC:56D 9:>D6=7 @? 36:?8[ 2=E9@F89 9:D >@G6D H96? 96 92D E96 7@@E32== :? 9:D 92?5D 42? D@>6E:>6D @G6CD925@H E92E]k^Am kAm“x E9:?< >J DEC6?8E9 :D >J =6256CD9:A[” !9:==:AD D2:5] “yFDE >J 23:=:EJ E@ 86E >J E62>>2E6D E@ 3FJ :? 2?5 36=:6G6 H92E H6 42? 244@>A=:D9] x 766= =:<6 :7 E96 E62> 92D 2 8@@5 =6256C[ E96J 42? 8@ 2?JH96C6 E96J H2?E E@ 36]k^AmkAm“x =:<6 E96 724E E92E >J E62>>2E6D 92G6 4@?7:56?46 :? >6] x ;FDE C62==J 6?;@J :E] tG6? H96? E9:?8D 2C6?’E 8@:?8 D@ H6==[ :E’D 2=H2JD 2 =62C?:?8 6IA6C:6?46 2?5 x =:<6 36:?8 E92E =6256C H:E9 :E]”k^Am kAm}@E E92E !9:==:AD 5@6D?’E C62=:K6 96’D 2 DA64:2= 2E9=6E6]k^AmkAmw6 <?@HD 96 92D D@>6E9:?8 6IEC2[ D@>6E9:?8 E92E 2==@HD 9:> E@ @7E6? >2<6 D@>6E9:?8 @FE @7 ?@E9:?8]k^Am kAm“x 92G6 2 =@E @7 4@?7:56?46 :? >J 2E9=6E:4 23:=:EJ[” 96 D2:5] “tG6? H96? E62>D H2E49 7:=>[ :7 E96 A=2J’D ?@E 8@:?8 E96 C:89E H2J @C 3C62<D 5@H?[ x 766= =:<6 x 42? 86E FD D@>6E9:?8 A@D:E:G6 @C >2<6 2 3:8 A=2J @FE @7 E92E]”k^AmkAmqFE @G6C E96 A2DE J62C[ 72?D 92G6 8C@H? 244FDE@>65 E@ !9:==:AD >2<:?8 9:D 3:8 A=2JD FD:?8 9:D 766E] p?5 96 42? DE:== 5@ E92E[ 2D 9:D 7@FC CFD9:?8 E@F495@H?D E9:D D62D@? AC@G6]k^Am kAmqFE :? E96 @77D62D@?[ 6G6? E9@F89 E96 $A:56CD 6>A=@J 2 CF?\32D65 @776?D6[ !9:==:AD <?6H 96 ?66565 E@ :>AC@G6 9:D D<:==D 2D 2 A2DD6C] w6 ?66565 E@ 364@>6 >@C6 4@>A=6E6[ 6G6? >@C6 @7 2 E9C62E] u@C E96 36EE6C>6?E @7 E96 E62> 2?5 7@C 9:>D6=7 2D 2 4@==686 AC@DA64E]k^Am kAm|:DD:@? 244@>A=:D965]k^AmkAmqFE 96 8:G6D >F49 @7 E96 4C65:E E@ 9:D G:==286[ DE2CE:?8 H:E9 9:D E62>>2E6D]k^AmkAm“~?6 @7 >J H:56 C646:G6CD[ qC2=6? rC@H56C[ @G6C E96 DF>>6C[ 6G6? H:E9 FD 92G:?8 ;@3D[ H6 7@F?5 E96 E:>6 E@ ;FDE 8@ E@ E96 7:6=5 2?5 H@C< @? @FCD6=G6D[” !9:==:AD D2:5] “(@C<:?8 H:E9 qC2=6? 2?5 D@A9@>@C6 py s2G:D[ 86EE:?8 >6492?:4D 2?5 E:>:?8 5@H?[ :E 96=A65 >6 56G6=@A 2D 2 BF2CE6C324<[ 2D x CF?[ ;FDE E@ 96=A <66A E96 @776?D6 @A6? 2?5 <66A E96 @E96C E62>D ECF6 E@ H92E H6 42? 5@]”k^Am After throwing five TD passes in all of 2022, Keyon Phillips already has three in two games this year. Todd Maulden/Special to the Independent Tribune kAmp?5 E96? !9:==:AD 962A65 AC2:D6 @? D64@?5\J62C r@?4@C5 4@249 s2CC6? $96A96C5 2?5 9:D A2C6?ED[ p<6G6FD 2?5 z6J2?2 !9:==:AD]k^Am kAm“r@249 $96A96C5[ 96 H@C<65 H:E9 >6 E9C@F89 E96 =:EE=6 E9:?8D[” !9:==:AD D2:5] “tG6? 27E6C =2DE J62C[ H:E9 9:> 36:?8 2 7:CDE\J62C 9625 4@249 W2E r@?4@C5X 2?5 >6 36:?8 2 7:CDE\J62C "q[ 96 5:5?’E 8:G6 FA @? >6 2?5 <6AE H@C<:?8 H:E9 >6]k^AmkAm“p?5 >J A2C6?ED[ E96J’G6 2=H2JD 7@F?5 E96 E:>6 E@ 86E >6 E@ A=246D D@ x 4@F=5 H@C< @? >JD6=7] x’> 8C2E67F= 7@C E92E]”k^Am kAm!9:==:AD D2:5 9:D A2C6?ED 2C6 A2CE @7 E96 C62D@? 96 5@6D?’E ECJ E@ >@56= 9:D 82>6 27E6C 2?J 4@==686 @C AC@ DE2?5@FED]k^AmkAm}@ ?665 E@ H2DE6 E:>6 ECJ:?8 E@ 36 E96 ?6IE {2>2C y24<D@?[ !2EC:4< |29@>6D @C y@6 qFCC@H]k^Am kAmq6:?8 z6J@? !9:==:AD H:== DF77:46]k^AmkAm“x H2D 2=H2JD E@=5 2D 2 <:5 3J >J A2C6?ED E@ ;FDE 36 >JD6=7[” !9:==:AD D2:5] “xE’D C62==J ;FDE 23@FE 8@:?8 @FE E96C6 6G6CJ ?:89E 2?5 >2<:?8 2 ?2>6 7@C >JD6=7]”k^Am kAmw6 :D 5@:?8 E92E[ 6G6? E9@F89 96’D 2 D6=7\56D4C:365 “=2E6\3=@@>6C” 3642FD6 96 5:5?’E DE2CE A=2J:?8 7@@E32== F?E:= D6G6?E9 8C256[ J62CD 27E6C >@G:?8 7C@> 9:D ?2E:G6 v2DE@?:2]k^AmkAmq67@C6 E92E[ E96C6 H6C6 E@@ >2?J C@3@E:4D EC@A9:6D E@ AFCDF6[ E@@ >F49 E649?@=@8J E@ 56G6=@A]k^AmkAm“x’> DE:== :?E@ E92E[ 3FE ECJ:?8 E@ 32=2?46 7@@E32== 2?5 D49@@= 42? 36 2 =:EE=6 5:77:4F=E 2E E:>6D[” !9:==:AD D2:5] “x C62==J 766= E92E 2E E96 D<:== x 2> ?@H[ 2D x AC@8C6DD[ x 42? 36 2==\DE2E6 2E :E[ :7 x’> 36:?8 9@?6DE]”k^Am kAmp?5[ H6==[ 9@H >2?J >2E9=6E6D \\ 2D :>AC6DD:G6 2D E96J 2C6 \\ 42? E@A E92Enk^Am 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Friday Five: Celebrity spotted, Chick-fil-a opens and Rotary at the library Mark Plemmons' Friday Five includes: Rotary Day at the Afton Ridge Library; the new Chick-fil-A on Copperfield is open; Super Bowl Champion J… Cabarrus seeks public input on possible 2026 school bond referendum Cabarrus County officials are asking residents — including members of the business community — to weigh in on a potential 2026 General Obligat… Kannapolis Farmers Market opens Thursday The Kannapolis Farmers Market will open for the 2026 season this Thursday, May 7. The market will be held every Thursday, 4-7 p.m. at the corn… Cabarrus deputies complete New Sergeants Course The Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office recognized the following officers who successfully completed the weeklong in-house New Sergeants Course."… Seventeenth class of Levine Scholars to join UNC Charlotte "We are pleased to welcome the newest class of Levine Scholars to Niner Nation," said Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Watch Now: Related Video Video shows advocates thwarting ICE arrest in Columbia County Israel strikes Beirut and southern Lebanon despite truce Israel strikes Beirut and southern Lebanon despite truce US Taking Steps To Curb Antidepressant Prescribing, RFK Jr Says US Taking Steps To Curb Antidepressant Prescribing, RFK Jr Says US: Trump waiting to see if Iran will agree to 'satisfactory' deal to end war. US: Trump waiting to see if Iran will agree to 'satisfactory' deal to end war.
Friday Five: Celebrity spotted, Chick-fil-a opens and Rotary at the library Mark Plemmons' Friday Five includes: Rotary Day at the Afton Ridge Library; the new Chick-fil-A on Copperfield is open; Super Bowl Champion J…
Cabarrus seeks public input on possible 2026 school bond referendum Cabarrus County officials are asking residents — including members of the business community — to weigh in on a potential 2026 General Obligat…
Kannapolis Farmers Market opens Thursday The Kannapolis Farmers Market will open for the 2026 season this Thursday, May 7. The market will be held every Thursday, 4-7 p.m. at the corn…
Cabarrus deputies complete New Sergeants Course The Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office recognized the following officers who successfully completed the weeklong in-house New Sergeants Course."…
Seventeenth class of Levine Scholars to join UNC Charlotte "We are pleased to welcome the newest class of Levine Scholars to Niner Nation," said Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber.