Comets start conference play with win over Union Academy

Two other Stanly teams opened their conference schedules with home losses

Entering its Yadkin Valley Conference schedule on a two-game winning streak, North Stanly kept the ball rolling with a 28-12 home win Thursday over Union Academy.  

The Comets (4-2, 1-0) struggled at first against the Cardinals (1-6, 0-2), entering halftime with a 6-6 tie. But North Stanly took over in the third quarter with 22 points and limited Union Academy to just six more points the rest of the way. 

North quarterback Chance Blake completed 11 of 23 passes for 171 yards while running back Cam Smith continued his impressive season by averaging nearly 8 yards per carry and piling up 186 yards on the ground. 

The Comets face a tough road test when they face Robinson (5-1, 1-0) on Oct. 7. 

Robinson 48, Albemarle 9 

In a battle of Bulldogs, Thursday night’s matchup was close until it wasn’t. Playing on its home field, Albemarle (1-5, 0-1) briefly held a 9-7 lead over Robinson until the road team erupted for 41 unanswered points and a runaway 48-9 win.  

Albemarle will look to snap its three-game skid on Oct. 7 when it hosts winless South Stanly (0-6, 0-1). 

Mount Pleasant 60, South Stanly 0 

After a 60-0 blowout loss in Mount Pleasant (5-2, 2-0), South Stanly (0-6, 0-1) has been shutout in four of their six games this season and outscored 310-23 since their season-opening loss at West Stanly on Aug. 19. 

The Bulls’ next game with Albemarle could give them their best chance at getting in the win column for the rest of the season, but they will need more help from both sides of the ball. South’s offense has averaged only 47.5 passing yards and 88 rushing yards per game, while its defense has surrendered at least 40 points in all six games this year.  

It’s closing in on nearly a full year since the Bulls’ last victory, a 27-18 road win over Union Academy on Oct. 29, 2021. 

West Stanly (Bye) 

Following a bye week, West Stanly (3-3) has a chance to get back on track as their Rocky River Conference schedule begins on Oct. 7 with a home game against the Parkwood (3-4, 0-1). 

The Colts started the season with a 3-0 record but have been outscored 86-33 in a trio of losses since. The Wolf Pack opened its RRC slate of games on Thursday with a 34-19 road loss to undefeated Forest Hills.