Last fall, Stanly County’s four high school varsity football teams collectively took a step forward as they combined for a 23-23 record during the 2023 season.
Although still sitting at .500 as a county, it marked a significant improvement after totaling records of 14-26 and 12-30 in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
As the 2024 season kicks off this month, one Stanly team will look to repeat as conference champion while three others aim to take the crown in their conference standings.
West Stanly Colts (Rocky River Conference 2A/3A)
2023 Record 5-6, 2-3 RRC
2024 Player To Watch: Senior wide receiver Gavyn Efird
First-year coach Ralph Jackson will be tasked with helping the Colts aim for their first winning season in four years; the former West running back has coaching experience at Anson and North Stanly.
A 3-0 start to the campaign last year quickly spiraled as West lost six of its next eight games and was knocked out of the first round of the NCHSAA 2A state playoffs by Randleman in a 43-0 shutout. Former coach Brett Morton announced in the offseason that he had decided to step down after seven years (32-36 overall record) with the team.
Hoping to return to a period of success that the team enjoyed back in 2018-19, the revamped Colts are set to travel to North Moore on Friday for a road matchup with the Mustangs.
North Stanly Comets (Yadkin Valley Conference 1A/2A)
2023 Record: 8-4, 3-1 YVC
2024 Player To Watch: Senior running back Aden Allsbrook
With 11 winning seasons in a row, the Comets have consistently provided a competitive product over the past decade. Coach Chad Little — now entering his second year with North — didn’t miss a beat last year following the retirement of longtime coach Scott Crisco.
Although they settled with a second-place conference finish in 2023, the Comets’ eight total wins marked the most of any team in the county. North advanced to the second round of the 2A state playoffs, where it faced a dead-end in the form of a 36-7 loss at Brevard.
The Comets will travel to Anson on Aug. 23 for their season opener and follow that up with East Rowan on the road on Aug. 30 and Western Alamance at home on Sept. 6.
South Stanly Rebel Bulls (Yadkin Valley Conference 1A/2A)
2023 Record: 4-7, 1-3 YVC
2024 Player To Watch: Junior linebacker Carter Callicutt
Over in Norwood, the Bulls are searching for development as they hunt for their first winning season in six years and first conference title in over three decades.
Second-year coach Terry Shankle is back after his inaugural campaign with South where the team’s four wins matched the same amount it had won in the previous three seasons. In the 1A playoffs, South suffered a 52-32 loss to Bessemer City, capping off a four-game losing streak.
The Bulls will start their 2024 campaign on Aug. 23 with a familiar local foe as they head to Red Cross to face the Colts; last year’s South/West matchup resulted in a 34-0 road win for the Colts.
Albemarle Bulldogs (Yadkin Valley Conference 1A/2A)
2023 Record: 6-6, 3-1 YVC
2024 Player To Watch: Senior wide receiver Ja’Zyion Geiger
It’s still been a decade since the Bulldogs put together a winning record, but eighth-year head coach Richard Davis saw his team achieve something even more important last fall: a conference championship.
Albemarle started slowly in 2023 but went on to win six of its eight final games, including a 14-7 win at North that delivered the Bulldogs a YVC championship over the Comets. In the postseason, a 49-0 first-round win over South Davidson in the 1A playoffs was followed up by a 41-13 upset home loss to Thomasville.
The Bulldogs will host Asheboro on Aug. 23 and Trinity on Aug. 30 before hitting the road for a Sept. 6 matchup with the Colts.