CONCORD, N.C. – After struggling for most of three-and-a-half quarters, A.L. Brown quarterback Zac Williamson admitted his confidence was shaken when his team needed him the most in its non-conference high school football game at Jay M. Robinson Thursday.

That changed in the game’s final minutes.

Williamson engineered an 86-yard drive and put the winning points on the scoreboard with 23 seconds remaining on an 18-yard toss to Lewis Harris as the Cream of Cabarrus top-ranked Wonders stunned the No. 2 Bulldogs, 17-14.

It was Kannapolis’ second nail-biting victory in as many weeks. The Wonders (6-1) sealed a victory over Vance last week with a field goal and an interception in the final moments.

Williamson accounted for all but four yards of the 86 yards on the game-winning possession. Starting the drive with two minutes, 56 seconds, he completed passes of 27 and 21 yards to Shymere Scott and Brandon Dry, respectively, and added runs of 15 and 7 yards.

“That last drive, it was like a miracle,” said Williamson, a senior. “I didn’t think I was going to be able to do all that. I just give thanks to God for giving me the ability to do stuff like that.

“Me and my team went out there as a team and got the job done. Lewis made a great catch. He told me to throw it up and he would make a play.”

Williamson launched a high-arching throw toward Harris in tight coverage in the back, left corner of the end zone. Harris leaped and came down with the ball but two game officials paused and appeared to look for help from each other before signaling a touchdown.

A.L. Brown’s score completed an emotional fourth quarter, in which Jay M. Robinson took a 14-10 lead with 8:53 remaining. Javonte Misenheimer hauled in a 12-yard catch from quarterback Josh Dale on a play that was similar to Kannapolis’ game-winning touchdown.

The Bulldogs (5-2) were close to scoring their first victory over the Wonders. Robinson has never beaten Brown since Robinson opened in 2001.

WHAT IT MEANS

Including two state playoff wins, A.L. Brown is 12-0 versus Jay M. Robinson. Most have been lopsided victories, but the Bulldogs have lost the last two games by a total of 10 points.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Lewis Harris’ 18-yard touchdown reception from Zac Williamson with 23 seconds left in the game gave Brown the winning points.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Zac Williamson, A.L. Brown

Williamson completed 7-of-17 passes for 135 yards. But he accounted for 82 yards running and passing on the Wonders’ 86-yard game-winning drive in the fourth quarter.

NOTEWORTHY

Jay M. Robinson quarterback Josh Dale completed 16-of-26 passes for 86 yards. The Kannapolis defense held him to 19 passing yards in the first half, even though he connected on nine of his 16 attempts. He gave Robinson a 7-0 first-quarter lead on a 53-yard scramble.

WHAT’S UP NEXT?

Both teams return to conference play on Oct. 14. A.L. Brown travels to MECKA 4A rival Hough, while Robinson visits Cox Mill in a South Piedmont 3A matchup.

GAME SUMMARY

A.L. Brown      0          7          3          7   --    17

Robinson         7          0          0          7  --     14

JMR-Josh Dale 53 run (Daniel Rivera kick)

ALB-Tyrek Cagle 4 run (Brian Gutierrez kick)

ALB-Gutierrez 25 FG

JMR-Javonte Misenheimer 12 pass from Dale (Rivera kick)

ALB-Lewis Harris 18 pass from Zac Williamson (Gutierrez kick)