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“Soon after North Stanly opened in 1962, the city kids from Albemarle, including Bill Tucker, Bobby (Robert) Overcash and Bill Hartsell, began referring to the Comets’ football team as Plow Jocks. The team earned a 9-1 record its second year and 8-2 its third season. John Herlocker was a part of that team and graduated in 1966. A few years later, he found himself as a teacher and football coach at his alma mater. In 1976, Athletic Director Lonnie Chandler asked John to handle the design for a school T-shirt. The memory of being called Plow Jocks became his inspiration. With a Sears catalog in hand, he found a push plow and the design began taking shape. The jockstrap was added to the plow’s handle and Plow Jock Power was born. Shirts sold like crazy. Local stores were soon selling out of overalls and boots. Students began wearing the T-shirts and farm attire to embrace the nickname given to them by the neighboring Bulldogs of AHS. Caravanning to the Albemarle games in pickup trucks and Plow Jock attire became a tradition.”

A mask has been added to the new T-shirt design in recognition of COVID-19 and its current impact on the game. The community donated close to $5,000 so each student and staff member could have a shirt.

Plow Jock Week involves students and teachers dressing up in different themes, such as Muddy Truck Day and Plow Jock Days, with plenty of overalls, boots, bandanas, flannel and straw hats.