S. Stanly rolls over Wildcats

Ledger Photo by SCOTT POWELL Blacksburg quarterback Darrell Walton attempts to avoid a tackle Friday by South Stanly's Cody Melton. Walton gained eight yards for Blacksburg's longest run in a 26-6 loss to South Stanly. Blacksburg football fans could be excused if they had a case of deja vu watching Friday's 26-6 loss to South Stanly.

The game unfolded much like last week's season opening loss to Walhalla.

South Stanly star Terry Shankle caught touchdown passes of 31- and 50-yards from quarterback Detric Allen to help the Red Bulls take a 20-0 halftime lead. The Wildcats trailed by the same margin entering halftime against Walhalla.

Blacksburg players proved once again this year's football team will not give up and plays with effort for four quarters. South Stanly advanced to the Class A finals in North Carolina last season and lost just three starters off a team that is expected to contend for the state title this year.

"I think we might have turned the corner on being a better football team. We played as hard against South Stanly as we have against anybody," Blacksburg head coach Mickey Moss said.

"We played a good football team in South Stanly. Take away a few missed tackles, we may not have won, but it's pretty darn close."

South Stanly took a 13-0 lead in the first quarter when Allen broke several tackles and scored on a 61- yard touchdown run. Allen found Shankle deep for a 31- yard touchdown for the second score.

The Blacksburg offense came to life in the second quarter when wide receiver Chris Hames hauled in a 35 yard pass in front of Shankle, considered one of the top defensive backs in the country.

The drive stalled at the 30- yard line, but Blacksburg gave themselves another scoring opportunity later in the quarter.

The Wildcats moved the ball to the 16-yard line on a couple of completions from Walton to Hames, who caught four passes for 90 yards. Blacksburg was penalized on consecutive plays to end the drive.

Blacksburg scored its only points in the fourth quarter after Brent Bonner recovered a fumble at the 50-yard line. Facing third-and-21, Walton found Hames for a 33-yard gain and then hit wide receiver Rashad Earls for a 25-yard touchdown pass on the next play.

South Stanly held Blacksburg to 115 yards in total offense, including minus 13 yards on the ground.

South Stanly scored its only touchdown in the second half when Shankle scored on a 49-yard pass from Allen for a 26-0 lead with 6:05 left in the third quarter. The Red Bulls scored the touchdown after a roughing the passer penalty cancelled out an apparent defensive stop on third down.

Moss said his players must play smarter football and pay more attention to details in practice, such as learning to wrap up when tackling.

"We have a young ball club. We are still doing a lot of teaching," Moss said. "We aren't going to give up on the season. We are going to continue to work on getting better."