Friday, October 19, 2012 —
Albemarle (8-1, 5-0) at N. Moore (0-8, 0-5)
The Albemarle Bulldogs will wrap up their 2012 regular season with back-to-back Yadkin Valley Conference road games, including this week’s game at North Moore just outside of Robbins.
Friday’s game will feature two teams that find themselves on lists on websites like ncpreps.com for different reasons.
The Bulldogs, winners of five in a row, have not been shutout in 76 games on the field, not counting forfeits. It’s a streak that dates back to Oct. 19, 2007 when Mount Pleasant, the only team to beat Albemarle in 2012, won 21-0.
Albemarle still remains in the top ten in three different high school football polls, including NC Preps (fourth), Carolina Preps (fifth) and the Associated Press (seventh). Statistically, the Bulldogs lead the YVC in points scored (388) and points allowed (89), as well as being atop the conference with a 5-0 record.
North Moore’s current struggles were not the worst in the state until just two weeks ago. Smithfield-Selma had held the distinction of having the longest active losing streak in North Carolina at 26 before a 21-16 win over Harnett Central on Oct. 5 broke their streak. The Mustangs are now in the midst of the longest losing streak in the state at 25 games.
A win for Albemarle, coupled with a win by South Stanly at South Davidson Friday night, could potentially set up a showdown for the YVC title in the final week of the season. Either way, both teams will also play for the Stanly Cup next Friday.
Forest Hills (7-2, 5-0) at N. Stanly (1-8, 1-4)
The seventh and final home game of the North Stanly Comets’ 2012 football season comes this Friday night when the Comets host a Forest Hills team that is tied for the lead in the Rocky River Conference standings along with Monroe.
After stopping a five-game losing streak to start the season with a win over Central Academy, North Stanly has lost three in a row including a 40-3 loss last week at home to Piedmont.
Freshman running back Antonio Williams continues to lead Stanly County in rushing with 1,239 rushing yards on 220 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per rushing attempt. After rushing for 301 yards in the Comets win over Central Academy, Williams has been held to two of his lowest totals of the season, including 40 yards against Monroe and 64 yards last week against the Panthers.
Forest Hills’s one-two rushing punch of sophmore running back C.J. Carelock (924 yards, 12 TD) and junior quarterback Jared Lee (791 yards, 15 TD) has been nearly unstoppable this season. The Jackets average just under 268 yards per game as a team and have scored 324 points this season, second only to the Monroe Redhawks’ 326 points.
Defensively, Forest Hills has allowed an even 200 points this season, second in the conference behind Monroe (137).
If the Yellow Jackets win Friday over the Comets, along with a Monroe win over Central Academy, the two teams will play for the RRC championship next week.
S. Stanly (7-2, 4-1) at S. Davidson (1-8, 1-4)
The South Stanly Rebel Bulls find themselves in Week 10 of the regular season again in the hunt for the Yadkin Valley Conference championship, needing a win and a North Rowan loss to West Mont-gomery to have a chance at the conference title outright. Should North Rowan win Friday night, along with Albemarle and South, the Bulls could only force a three-way tie and split the YVC title record-wise with the Bulldogs and the Cavaliers.
South Davidson’s football program has continued their season under interim head coach Kevin Bowers after the tragic death of head coach Mike Crowell. Coach Bowers talked about how his team has come together after Crowell’s passing.
“The boys and the staff have really been focused. Practice has been really good and the boys are playing harder, are more physical and in better shape. The boys have vowed to play hard win, lose or draw, and so far they have not disappointed. I am very proud of the way they have overcome this tragic loss. We all loved Coach Crowell and he is dearly missed.”
The Wildcats feature two sizeable linemen leading the team in knock down blocks in Wyatt Beck (6’2”, 305 lbs.) and Danny Trent (6’, 245 lbs.). Both block for the leaders in the offensive backfield in senior running back Jared Page and junior quarterback Hunter Cardwell.
On defense, South Davidson is lead by Page and senior linebacker Michael Rebello, along with sophomore Ryan Dowdle at outside linebacker. The Wildcat trio are among the top tacklers in the YVC.
Cuthbert. (4-5, 3-2) at West Stanly (0-9, 0-5)
West Stanly High School will be celebrating their homecoming festivities this Friday night as the Colts play host to the Cuthbertson Cavaliers.
Because of the growing enrollment numbers at Cuthbertson, as well as at another Union County school, Piedmont, the Cavaliers will be moving up to 3A next season to play in a conference with Sun Valley, Weddington, Anson County and Marvin Ridge. This season, Cuthbertson played and lost to both Weddington (41-28) and Marvin Ridge (31-13) in early non-conference play.
The Cavaliers are coming off a loss to Monroe last week 41-27. The Redhawks held Cuthbertson to just 62 yards passing including 6-of-18 from talented freshman quarterback Austin Kendall, who had thrown for 354 yards and five touchdowns just two weeks ago against North Stanly.
“We have to continue to work and try to keep building up our JV team,” West Stanly head coach Jared Benentt said, noting that the JV Colts won 13-0 last week against Union Academy. Bennett also added that the coaching staff has to “keep the underclassmen moving forward.”
One upperclassman whose presence and talent have been missing this season may be back before the end of the year. Senior QB/RB/DB B.J. Hill has been working out with the team in no-contact drills and may play again this season.
Before that would happen, though, his presence on the field would have to be “in the best interest for him and the team,” according to Bennett.
