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South Stanly head football coach Terry Shankle took over for the Bulls late last summer and had less time to build a program than coaches generally get. His hiring was announced late May with just two months to get ready for the season.

Shankle and his staff took the challenge and ended a 12-game losing streak last season, along with stopping a three-game slide versus county rival and last year’s Yadkin Valley Conference champion, Albemarle.

This season, the Bulls look to improve on that mark and challenge to be in the upper echelon of the conference.

1) In your debut season with the Bulls, you helped end a 12-game losing streak leading South to a four-win season (including a win versus conference champion Albemarle), the first time since 2019 the Bulls had won four games. How important were those accomplishments and how does last season set your expectations for this season?

Shankle: Being able to win four games with the turnaround time we had to get ready for the season is a huge accomplishment by itself. But beating one of our county rivals that we haven’t beat in a while has giving us unwavering confidence that we need to change the program.

I expect this season to be even better with our returning all conference players and returners whose roles that will expand.

2) You lost Drew Gaddy and several other important seniors to graduation. Who are the players returning who you expect to step into those roles, as well as the team’s top returning players?

Shankle: Losing our senior class left some big shoes for our players to fill, but we have some guys I believe can do just that.

Carter Callicutt (RB/LB), Ethan Gaddy (TE/LB), Jasiah Holt (WR/DB), I’key Holt (RB), Kaleb Richardson (QB) and Micah Davis (OL/DL) are my returning All Conference players.

I expect Jadyn Woods (WR/DB), Tripp Edwards (TE/DE), Jake Hazlett (WR/DB) and Jaylen Sturdivant (DB) to fill the shoes of the seniors who left.

3) Who are the most promising newcomers to the team this season?

Shankle: Mick Tucker (OL/DL), Ezra Pinion (LB/RB), Kwenton Morton (OL/DL) and Wyatt Crawford (TE/DL) will be our newcomers that will stand out this year.

4) How has the landscape of the YVC changed and how do you feel South can do in conference play? (Sports Editor’s Note: The preceding question has been edited to reflect the correct information that Lake Norman Charter is not a member of the YVC as they are listed on MaxPreps.com)

Shankle: I don’t think it will change much; the top teams of the conference will be in our county. I believe we should finish in the top three in the conference.

5) What would you consider to be a successful season for the Bulls?

Shankle: A successful season would be winning the conference or finishing in the top three and hosting a home playoff game.

South Stanly Schedule
Aug. 23 – at West Stanly #
Aug. 30 – at South Rowan #
Sept. 6 – Lexington
Sept. 13 – S. Davidson
Sept. 20 – @ Wheatmore
Sept. 27 – off
Oct. 4 – Mount Pleasant *
Oct. 11 – at Albemarle *
Oct. 18 – at North Stanly *
Oct. 25 – Lake Norman Charter *
Nov. 1 – Union Academy *

* YVC Games
All games at 7:30 p.m. except # (7 p.m.)
Home games are in bold.