Friday Night Lights: Playoffs begin

Photo courtesy of Chris Lentz Photos

South Stanly at Murphy

Murphy  |  Friday, Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m.

The Rebel Bulls (5-6, 4-3 in Yadkin Valley) ended their regular season with a 49-0 loss to North Stanly, but still earned a spot in the NCHSAA playoffs. After a hat draw between three teams to determine seeding in the Smoky Mountain Conference, defending state champion Murphy (9-2, 5-1) earned a No. 6 seed and will host 11th-seeded South Stanly.

 

Albemarle at Pamlico County

Bayboro  |  Friday, Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m.

The Bulldogs (4-7, 3-4 Yadkin Valley) lost 30-6 at home to West Montgomery last Friday, but will travel as the 1A-A No. 12 seed to fifth-seeded Pamlico County this week in the first round of the NCHSAA playoffs. The Hurricanes (7-4, 4-2 Coastal Plains) are coming off a 42-10 win at Northside-Pinetown last week and have won five of their last seven.

 

North Stanly

Bye Week  |  No. 3 seed in Class 1A-AA

The Comets (10-1, 7-0 Yadkin Valley) closed their regular season with a 49-0 blanking of cross-county rival South Stanly, earning a bye in the first round of the NCHSAA playoffs. North Stanly finished the season outscoring its opponents 474-117, an average score of 43.1 to 10.6. The Comets have won seven straight, with their only loss coming Sept. 15 against Northwest Cabarrus.

 

West Stanly

Final Record: 3-8 (1-4 Rocky River)

The Colts ended the season on a three-game losing streak, falling 61-7 at home to Mount Pleasant. West Stanly is the lone Stanly County school not to receive an NCHSAA postseason berth despite beating two of the county’s three Yadkin Valley Conference schools (wins over Albemarle and South Stanly; loss to North Stanly) earlier in the season.