North Stanly gets one step closer to Stanly Cup

Published 4:57 pm Monday, October 16, 2023

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The North Stanly football team entered Friday’s road game at South Stanly needing a win to continue two different trends.

One trend was an overall win streak versus the Rebel Bulls, which stood at nine games, while the other was a second county win to get within one victory of keeping the Stanly Cup, emblematic of the county chamionship.

North kept both trends active with a 42-12 win over South.

The Comets (6-2, 2-0 YVC) posted another dominant ground game as a team, finishing with 318 yards on 30 carries, averaging more than 10 yards per carry. Senior running back Jay Jackson had another big night with 205 yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns. Aden Allsbrook and Elijah Bryant each added a rushing touchdown as well.

North quarterback Chance Blake was 10-of-15 through the air for 200 yards and two touchdowns, one to Jordan Stewart and the other to Connor Lupole.

Defensively, the Comets forced two turnovers; Isaiah Blalock picked off a pass and Allsbrook added a fumble recovery while also leading the defense with 10 tackles. North also posted four sacks. Sosa Murphy had two and Gavin Helms and Jaxon Johnson each added a sack.

“It was a good high school football game,” North head coach Chad Little said. “I am really happy for (South head coach Terry) Shankle and their program. They are making a lot of progress. It’s good for Stanly County to have good football on Friday.”

Regarding the win, Little said the Comets “played with a lot of emotion in the first half and couldn’t settle in to doing what we have been successful doing all year. We made adjustments at halftime and they paid off.”

The win is North’s 10th in a row versus South (4-4, 1-2) and nearly evens the all-time series between the two schools. The Bulls still lead the all-time series 26-25.

North is now 2-0 in the county standings, a half-game ahead of West (2-1) in the county. South is 1-2 in the county and Albemarle 0-2. The Comets have an active 11-game win streak in county games and face Albemarle Oct. 28.

Before then, the Comets have a big game this Friday at Mount Pleasant (5-3, 2-1).

“We are a tough team and like to play physical,” Little said. “It will be that way every week we play.”

South has two games left this season, taking on Lake Norman Charter on the road Friday night in non-conference play. The Bulls then wrap up the regular season at Union Academy.

About Charles Curcio

Charles Curcio has served as the sports editor of the Stanly News & Press for more than 16 years and has written numerous news and feature storeis as well. He was awarded the NCHSAA Tim Stevens Media Representative of the Year and named CNHI Sports Editor of the Year in 2014. He has also won an award from Boone Newspapers, and has won four North Carolina Press Association awards.

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