Stanly Football 2024 Preview: Albemarle – The Stanly News & Press

The Albemarle Bulldogs' football level has always been high due to the team's many successful seasons, from the years under Toby Webb to the Jack Gaster era, where he won three state titles under his leadership and two more under his assistants Baxter Morris and Danny Akins.

Until last season, the Bulldogs had not won a conference title since 2012, but after overcoming an 0-4 start to the season, the Bulldogs won six of the team's final seven games and claimed the conference title with a 14-7 victory over rival North Stanly.

Albemarle's defense improved from 282 to 197 in points allowed last season, while the team will score more points in 2023 (285 compared to 257 in 2023).

Here are five questions for head coach Richard Davis (24-44), who enters his eighth season as head coach of the Bulldogs.

1) The six wins Albemarle earned last season, as well as the team's first playoff win since 2019, showed the progress of your program. You're entering your eighth season, how much higher is the bar this year for yourself, your staff and the program?

Davis: As (Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin) always says, “The standard is the standard.” The goals for this season are the same as every year: win the Stanley Cup, win the conference and compete for the state championships. The most important thing for us this year is to get off to a much better start than last year.

2) Several players important to you graduated last season. How have other players taken on their roles?

Davis: We lost a lot of production and leadership, but we have the conference's Offensive Player of the Year back in Ja'Zyion Geiger. He worked hard this summer and will have even better seasons this year, as will former All-Conference selections Dre' Davis (QB), Vince Gregory (LB), Kaine McLendon (RB) and Willie Browne (DE).

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

Davis: Other players who showed promise during the summer and fall camp include:

Malakhi Harrison (Jr., OL)
Nate Hyland (So, WR/DB)
Shabby Pergee (Sun, ATH),
Braylon Hinson (Fr., OL)
Chris Hernandez (Fr., OL)
Kenny Harper (Fr., ATH)
AJ Butler (Fr., RB/DB)

Malakhi and Shoddy became starters last year, but we expect more production from both of them this season.

4) How has the YVC landscape changed with the addition of Lake Norman Charter to the conference and what do you think Albemarle can accomplish in conference play?

Davis: There is never an easy week in the YVC, but I am confident we have a good chance to compete for another conference title.

5) What would you consider a successful season for the Bulldogs?

Davis: We just have to build on the success of last season and achieve the goals we didn't achieve last year.

About Charles Curcio

Charles Curcio was the sports editor of Stanly News & Press for over 16 years and has also written numerous news and feature stories. He was named the 2014 NCHSAA Tim Stevens Media Representative of the Year and the CNHI Sports Editor of the Year. He has also won an award from Boone Newspapers and four awards from the North Carolina Press Association.

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