The Albemarle football team opened its 2024 season at home on Friday night against another team with an “A” on its helmet, the Asheboro Blue Comets.

Albemarle went down early but fought back and got within a field goal, but the second half was scoreless and the Bulldogs lost 38-14 at home.

Quincy Lee scored the first points on Friday with an 11-yard touchdown run in the opening drive of the game for the Blue Comets (1-0).

Asheboro increased its lead to 14-0 with Lee’s second touchdown run of the game, this time from 12 yards, with 4:28 left in the first quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, Ja’Zyion Geiger scored a 93-yard touchdown down the visitors’ sideline. However, the extra point was useless, so the Bulldogs trailed 14-6 in the first quarter.

Asheboro scored another 31-yard field goal with 7:23 left in the first half to take a 17-6 lead, but the Bulldogs responded later in the second quarter.

The Bulldogs forced a fumble at the Bulldogs’ 44-yard line and recovered it. A few plays later, Kaine McLendon broke free on the right side and ran 51 yards. Five plays later, Vince Gregory scored from three yards out, then quarterback Dre Davis found McLendon with a swing pass for the two-point conversion. With 32.9 seconds left, Albemarle trailed 17-14.

But the Blue Comets answered Albemarle’s scoring drive with a 44-yard touchdown pass from Logan Loughlin to Aiden Robinson with 6.6 seconds left in the first half, giving Asheboro a 24-14 halftime lead.

In the second half, Asheboro scored two more rushing touchdowns by DJ Scott in the third and fourth quarters, holding the Bulldogs off the score en route to the victory.

McLendon rushed for 113 yards on 18 carries and one 18-yard pass, while Gregory had 29 rushing yards and one touchdown. Geiger totaled 109 yards and one touchdown for Albemarle.

On defense, Skyler Potts had 11 tackles, including one for loss, while McLendon and Nyzir Garner each had seven tackles.

Albemarle returns home Friday night to host Trinity (0-1), which lost 34-0 to Starmount at home on Friday.

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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