By Jim Lisk, Editor
Tuesday, October 14, 2008 — Terry Shankle and his Rebel Bulls teammates lived up to their pre-season billing with their 40-0 win over North Stanly Friday night.
Saddled with three losses - two on wet fields to Parkwood and Forest Hills and a robbery at Mt. Pleasant - South has too many skilled athletes and too much size in the line to keep losing.
Friday night’s home game with Monroe is a big one for the Rebel Bulls for several reasons.
Past the obvious of not needing another loss, South needs a win against a top-notch team to validate itself as a legitimate contender for a state title.
While its easy to sit in the press box or grandstands and see the depth of size, skill and quickness, it’s another thing to go out and put all the pieces together for a run through the playoffs.
Last year, turnovers did the Rebel Bulls in at the most inopportune time and the title dream was not realized ... and there was a hint of that bugaboo in Friday night’s lopsided win over out-manned North.
There was a fumble just short of the goal line after a long drive with the game’s first possession. Then, there was an interception in the end zone that was thrown into double coverage of Shankle.
It’s those kind of mistakes that championship teams don’t make and the costly type errors that the Rebel Bulls need to avoid in the weeks ahead.
As Coach Luke Little said after the game, the Rebel Bulls are a third of the way through the season with a another regular season third and a final third through the playoffs to a title run.
Can South make that happen?
Only time will tell, but the depth and balance of the Rebel Bulls on both sides of the ball is hard to argue against.
No doubt, Albemarle will debate that point after its convincing win over Monroe Friday night. With Jamar Corpening and A.J. Little running the ball, the Bulldogs are a physical force and have thrown the ball better this year.
The two Stanly County powers will meet in the season finale at South on Nov. 7 with the winner not only making a statement as the county’s best, but a team in the hunt for playoff glory.
There’s a lot of football to be played before we all go the polls on Nov. 4 to elect a new president, governor and many more ... and before the county’s two best decide who really is “King of the County.”
Contact Jim Lisk at snaponline28@carolina.rr.com.
