West Stanly blanks South Stanly in season opener

The new-look Colts offense powered a 34-0 win

The West Stanly football team easily handled a visit to cross-county rival South Stanly, rolling to a 34-0 win in last Friday’s season opener. 

Senior quarterback Jett Thomas completed 13 of 19 passes for 113 yards and a pair of touchdown throws to junior wide receiver Gavyn Efird, who led the Colts (1-0) with 55 receiving yards.  

West Stanly picked up the bulk of its yardage on the ground, getting contributions from four ball-carriers: seniors Caleb Bumgarner, Jacob Starnes and Rene Salazar, and junior Breyden Lambert. 

Bumgarner had 40 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, while Starnes totaled 63 yards and a score on six carries. Salazar added 48 yards and a touchdown run on nine attempts, and Lambert led the Colts with a team-high 14 carries for 137 yards. 

West Stanly will next host Carson (0-1) in a nonconference battle between two of the top YVC teams, while the Bulls (0-1) will be visited by South Rowan (1-0). 

North Stanly 17, Anson 12 

In their first game under new head coach Chad Little, North Stanly scored 17 unanswered points in a 17-12 home win over Anson. 

The Comets (1-0) rallied thanks to a 51-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chance Blake to wideout Jordan Stewart and then a touchdown run from Jay Jackson. North capped off the game with a late field goal to pad its lead. 

North will host East Rowan (0-1) in a nonconference game on Friday. 

Asheboro 24, Albemarle 22 

Albemarle fell just short of a season-opening road win at Asheboro, dropping a 24-22 decision. 

Junior running back Kaine McClendon put his Bulldogs (0-1) on the board midway through the second quarter with a touchdown, but the Blue Comets (1-0) led the game 12-8 at halftime. Albemarle claimed the lead midway through the third quarter when Jaylen Pinkney punched in a 1-yard touchdown run.  

Asheboro, however, responded with a pair of touchdown drives. Bulldogs Ander Artis and Zyion Geiger connected on a 44-yard touchdown pass, but the Blue Comets held on for a two-point win. 

Albemarle will face Trinity (0-1) on the road on Friday.