In games Friday night, the South Stanly and West Stanly football teams lost on the road.

2A Playoffs

Randleman 43, West Stanly 0

In the first meeting between the two schools, the Colts were shut out for the first time this season and the first time since last year’s loss in the last game of the regular season to Monroe.

West Stanly (5-6) improved its win total by two games this season, including the school’s first postseason appearance since 2021 and the team’s fifth playoff appearance in seven seasons for head coach Brett Morton.

“(Friday’s result) was not the ending we were looking for,” Morton said. “I want to thank the seniors for four years of hard work. This season was full of ups and downs, and we did some great things along the way.”

Morton, in his seven seasons as the Colts’ head coach, is 31-35 overall.

1A Playoffs

Bessemer City 52, South Stanly 32

The 2023 season for South Stanly has been one of improvement in many areas.

South had not won four games in the regular season since 2019 and had missed the playoffs last season. The Bulls had also not scored 30 or more points in a playoff game since a 35-0 win versus South Davidson in 2011.

The Bulls led twice in the first half, but eventually fell on the road to the Bessemer City Yellow Jackets 52-32.

Carter Callicutt put South (4-7) out in front with 4:08 left in the second quarter with a 1-yard TD run.

After Bessemer City (6-5) tied the game two minutes later, Kylan Dockery put South back ahead with a 75-yard kickoff return for a score.

The host Jackets scored twice in the last minute of the half to lead at halftime 18-12.

South kept the game within one possession in the third when Drew Gaddy hauled in a four-yard TD pass, which pulled the Bulls within four points, 24-20, with 4:55 left in the period.

Bessemer City pulled ahead 38-20 before Gaddy added a short TD run with 9:07 left in the fourth.

Jasiah Holt added a touchdown run for South in the final five minutes of the game.

This season, South ended a 12-game losing streak and improved from no wins in 2022 to four. The Bulls also scored more points (171) than last season (33) and allowed fewer points on defense (293 from 441).