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One of the old axioms of football states turnovers will kill you. Often, the shifts in momentum and field position which come with turnovers do it, but defensive touchdowns also can happen.

In Friday night’s home game for the South Stanly Rebel Bulls, turnovers in the fourth quarter helped the visiting Lexington Yellow Jackets pull away late for a 35-14 win.

South Stanly (1-1) had not played a game since the Week 1 home win versus West Stanly. The Bulls were scheduled to play at South Rowan, but storms forced the game’s cancellation when it could not be rescheduled.

The Yellow Jackets (2-1) took the opening drive of the game and got into the red zone, but QB Jaylen Henderson’s pass was intercepted by Jasiah Holt in the end zone.

After a scoreless first quarter, the defense for South Stanly caused another turnover when Mason Wilson stepped in front of a Henderson pass at the South 43-yard line on the first play of the second.

The Rebel Bulls then drove 57 yards in 12 plays, capped off by a nine-yard TD pass from South QB Kaleb Richardson to Holt, who reached over a defender in the end zone to make the catch. The two-point conversion failed, leaving South up 6-0 in the second quarter.

Lexington fumbled the ensuing kickoff, but South’s drive ended on downs at the Lexington 33-yard line.

The Yellow Jackets tied the game up seven plays later when Henderson found senior wideout Rahzel Ewart on a fly pattern. Ewart evaded two South defenders en route to a 62-yard touchdown, which gave the visitors a 7-6 lead at halftime.

South took the lead back early in the second half on the team’s sixth play from scrimmage. Richardson pump faked then let the ball fly down the sideline towards Gaddy, who made an over-the-shoulder grab and juked one defender on the way to an 85-yard touchdown reception. Holt then made a diving catch in the end zone for the two-point conversion on a pass from Mason Wilson to lead 14-7.

The Bulls’ defense forced another interception in the third quarter, but South had a pass picked off several plays later.

On the final play of the third, Richardson had the ball knocked loose by the Lexington defense; the Jackets recovered the ball at midfield.

Turnover played a key role in the fourth. A forced fumble at the Bulls’ 27-yard line set up a 27-yard touchdown run by Lexington’s Qwazir Craven, tying the game 14-14.

Later, another South fumble led to a short field and another Craven touchdown run, putting the Yellow Jackets up 21-14.

South had the ball in the final minute of the game and threw the ball deep down field. Richardson’s pass was tipped in the air in a 50-50 ball between the receiver and the defender, Henderson. The Jackets senior picked the ball off and took it 60 yards for a touchdown and a 28-14 win.

Jayden Woods had four receptions for 49 yards for the Bulls, while Ethan Gaddy had three catches for 105 yards.

South Stanly will host South Davidson (0-3) Friday night. The Wildcats have lost three games by a total of 11 points, including a 7-6 home loss Friday to North Stokes.