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Thomasville 31 Albemarle 22

Congrats to T-Ville. Sorry Buddy I didn't make it over, I departed close too the end of the second quarter.

I hate we lost one of our best players. That's when lack of depth really takes a toll.

As far as the offense goes, I saw some good things and some bad things in 2 quarters.

Too be honest T-Ville was just as bad as Albemarle. I'm not sure why they didn't keep feeding Emery the ball...he was getting 4 yards a touch... Our QB can't throw the ball up for grabs unless it's a Hail Mary on the final play of the game... On a positive note, our guys did play hard and that's what matters. They still need too work on getting up too the line; Gaster would have called a timeout and cured them out if he'd ever see them walk up to the line. Also, we need to be more "Aggressive" on the offensive line. The DW won't work if you can't consistently move guys around on blocks.

We are still a work in progress. I won't make the game next week, but I can tell you right now, it's going to be hideous... The main thing is to come away healthy and prepare for West Stanly.
Sway, I remember when you guys had quarterbacks like Jordan Morgan and Cameron Glover. They could really make defenses pay.
 
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I don't see the Bulldogs defeating the Spiders. Albemarle's offense will struggle for points against Concord's defense. For Albemarle to win, the Spiders will have to turn the ball over many times.

I'd love for the Bulldogs to win, but I don't see it happening. I expect a score like 27-7. Sorry.
 
Injuries are unfortunately a part of the game. I hope the best for this kid.

Albemarle will need to put some pressure on the Concord QB. The Concord QB is a dual threat that if allowed time, will burn most defenses.
 
QB won't be much of a factor if we control the ball ;). I wouldn't throw the ball 1x this week lol. We have 2 240lb backs and our 3rd RB is pretty good once he learns the offense. Snap the ball at the last second every down and see if they can stop your running game. We had 20 first downs vs tville and again that would be my goal.
 
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QB won't be much of a factor if we control the ball ;). I wouldn't throw the ball 1x this week lol. We have 2 240lb backs and our 3rd RB is pretty good once he learns the offense. Snap the ball at the last second every down and see if they can stop your running game. We had 20 first downs vs tville and again that would be my goal.

That's a huge IF. Controlling the ball against the Concord D will not be easy to do. Having more time run off the clock will help out as long as the Bulldogs can avoid the 3 and out series.
 
@bulldog nation2014 I spoke to a parent last night who has a child who plays. They are very supportive and that's exactly what these players need. I let them know that Albemarle still has a "Faithful" fan base, we're just not used to losing, so it is a difficult adjustment on our part. Also these kids are not used to seeing large crowds when Tory and T.A. played, so they don't know what it's like to have that type of support in the stands; I really wish that would change, but I don't see that happening. Also, these kids don't know what it feels like to win....and not against a team like South Davidson. Every "real" competition that they faced the last two years, they have been defeated badly. This year, I hope this will change.

But, I wish my dogs the best of luck Friday and I will say a prayer that they all come out unscathed.
 
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Going to be brutally honest here. And I agree with the winning culture that has been built at AHS and it's not just football but basketball as well. I was sitting there in the second half as our boys were making plays and I heard more chirping about our coaching staff than getting excited and loud supporting our boys. There were enough fans there to get loud and a lot of people were sitting on their hands. I understand the second quarter was terrible. But that 4th quarter we drove down the field and scored bringing it to 25-22 and our D needed a stop and it was pretty quiet. Anybody who has played sports knows that the crowd can be a huge difference. Our kids fought hard to get back in that game and have themselves a chance to win. We needed to get loud and support these kids.

I watch these threads and you would think our boys got killed vs tville and that was not the case. They had a unfortunate injury before the game to a KEY player them another one at the beginning of the game to another KEY player which definitely shifted the momentum and in turn got us the 2nd quarter we had. Coaches did a fantastic job adjusting at half and we came out and played a good second half. Boys in positions they have never been in, running 4 or 5 of the same plays the whole half of the 60 or so we have in our playbook. All odds stacked against these kids and coaches by the late start not mention the lovely open enrollment period in which other schools "received" ;) a couple of our good athletes one being who would have been probably our starting QB, I mean to me with the short period they have had then the adversity the kids faced in the game and they STILL had a chance to win in the 4th quarter. Through 3 quarters we outscored them 22-12 with missing a huge KEY player on both sides of the ball.

To me we have a lot to be excited about. We have a talented young squad, and from the eye test a great coaching staff. We know we have growing pains but we are a lot closer than I think we give credit for. I know I have said this before we as a community need to get excited for these kids and school and rally around them.

Fact is we have good coaches who are going to be here and build this program the right way, we have a good principal who is working hard to get the school in the right direction who by the way has the support of the teachers, a AD who is doing a fantastic job and a program who just had two teams in basketball playing at regionals as well as a state title winner at track (oh by the way our girls track team would have been there competing as well but they lost a main girl who wasn't able to get cleared in time). Sorry but it seems to me that if this board would get the redistricting done AHS would be on the right path back to being great again.

Closing up get out and support these kids and get loud for them. I am sticking with my pick with the upset 28-24 Albemarle this week because I am believing in these kids and coaches. I will be up at concord supporting these kids and cheering them on regardless.
 
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@bulldog nation2014, I can remember the town shutting "Down" for an Albemarle football game. You knew where everyone was come Friday night. You are right, we don't get loud enough like we used too. Albemarle fans for some odd reason are up on their "High Horse" today. I saw this change in crowd back in 2010, at the most of the playoff games, it was a group of girls in the stands that got the crowd into it.....not the cheerleaders (Matter of fact, they were looking like deer in headlights) lol.
 
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From my experience I have seen great crowds in the 50's and early 2000's. Nothing in between or since. Guess what was missing fri night? No band. A band always helps. And the crowds are about a fourth of what they used to be. But you also need leadership in the crowd. Some one to get the crowd started. Back then the team got us into it. Now the crowd needs to get the team into it. In other words we fed off each other. The first thing we have to do is get the people back in the stands. Not sure how to go about this but maybe the booster club might have some ideas. But until football Friday night becomes the main attraction in town it will remain as it is. As for me I will continue to go as I have for the last almost 65 years and cheer for the bulldogs. That is all I can do.
 
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I think what took the "Wind" out of the crowd, is back in 2012. Albemarle was down by 1 or 2pts against Murphy with 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter. The crowd got loud and Murphy nails us with a 40yd read option on the weak side of the defense....that was the last time I saw an Albemarle crowd get loud....
 
One thing I noticed that we really don't have and started to get in bball but did not see it in football is a student section.
 
@bulldog nation2014 we used to have a student section in Football back in the 90's and we had a hell of a band also! Those were the days... I have to agree with some of the posters like @Trench Warrior, Albemarle may have seen it's hay day's long gone...but we are still a team to be reckoned with in 1A.
 
I think here in Albemarle the large crowds on Friday nights are gone the way of the old mom and pop grocery stores.When I was growing up there wasn't a whole lot to do on Friday nights during football season. If there was a home game on Friday night it was a given that you were going to the game.I can even remember as a kid playing pick up football on the playgrounds and vacant lots and pretending to be the players on the Bulldog's varsity. When is the last time you saw kids playing football on a school yard or playground? Now they would rather play their football games on their videos. I'll continue to support them because I remember how it felt when I played. Go Dogs!
 
I think what took the "Wind" out of the crowd, is back in 2012. Albemarle was down by 1 or 2pts against Murphy with 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter. The crowd got loud and Murphy nails us with a 40yd read option on the weak side of the defense....that was the last time I saw an Albemarle crowd get loud....

That was the last game for Coach Akins too. Seth Smith tried to change what was right about that program, and he was gone after the 2013 season. Coach Talbert comes in, a good guy but may not be a great coach, and has to forfeit all but one victory.

Some of my friends in Stanly believe that Coach Smith poisoned the well. I don't know if that is the case or not, but since his arrival the Bulldogs haven't been quite the same.

If Albemarle competed for a state championship things might get loud again.
 
I personally think he is doing the best he can with what talent he has. The Albemarle people are always pissed off if their not winning. lol
 
I personally think he is doing the best he can with what talent he has. The Albemarle people are always pissed off if their not winning. lol

I'm referring to "Seth Smith", not "Scott Smith". Scott IS DOING a good job. Seth, on the other hand, is a "WAS", as in "WAS HC of Albemarle".

You got the two Coach Smiths mixed up there Buddy! Easy to do. And trust me, if you went back into time and would be honest, I'm sure you had your problems with Seth Smith. Hindsight is always 20/20.
 
OK then now were on the same page EF. Yea Seth Smith was a big flop and set our program back big time. Sorry I misunderstood.
 
OK then now were on the same page EF. Yea Seth Smith was a big flop and set our program back big time. Sorry I misunderstood.

No problem Buddy. Your current coach Smith is a hard worker and a solid coach. He reminds me more of Akins/Morris than any other HC you've recently had. He's not a Gaster, but no one is a Gaster.

Your last two HC didn't set the world on fire, for sure.
 
We were just so lucky to have had a Webb and a Gaster as our head coaches. Who can measure up to these guys.
 
Is Toby still alive? He's got to be something like 90 to 95 now. I had the pleasure of playing golf down in Wilmington with him about 20-25 years ago. He coached that golf ball after every stroke. He's about as intense as a competitor as it comes.
 
He sure is. Lived at an assisted living place here in town until a couple years ago. Then moved down east somewhere to be near his daughter. Is ninety something. They never made a more competitive coach than Toby Webb. When he played golf here at Badin many years ago when he hit a bad shot he would wrap his golf club around a tree. lol
Gosh I miss the single wing. Toby ran it to perfection. We were outweight per man in almost every game, but it didn't matter. We still won. A thing of beauty. Wish more teams run it today. Coach Smith's DW is closest thing I have seen to the single wing.
 
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I've talked to past players who never thought of Smith(Seth) as a head coach. They never listened too him...hell he was my social studies teacher and I slept through his class and passed with an B...but I was a pretty smart guy, so I didn't need to listen too him lol.

I don't think Seth poisoned the well, we just had a group of kids come thru who didn't want to listen! period. Remember there was a big blowup at the middle school dealing with a players attitude towards his teammates and coaches. Well that coached disciplined him and Thor's hammer rained down on him, whichever caused him to leave!......That's your ground zero fellas!
 
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