The past four seasons have been ones of unparalleled success for the North Stanly football program in the schools 55 years of competition.

From 2013-16, the Comets have a 33-16 overall record, including 18-7 with former coach Ralph Jackson, and current head coach Scott Crisco finishing above the .500 mark for four years in a row, a first in the programs history.

Entering his third year, Crisco is only the fifth North coach in school history to have a coaching mark of .500 or better through the first two years of his tenure.

Through two seasons, Crisco is 15-9 overall, the first time since John Herlocker was 13-7 for the 1983 and 1984 seasons.

North graduated seven players last season, but it has close to 60 players out for football this season and returns a number of starters from last years team that finished third in the YadkinValley Conference.

Crisco said one of the positives from last years 7-5 squad was having a number of young players that started on both sides of the ball.

From the middle of the season on out, we probably had four or five sophomores starting on both sides, Crisco said.

Eight juniors started on the team as well, so the Comets enter 2017 with a great deal of experienced players.

North finished second in the county standings, which Crisco said is a point of motivation for the team due to the last-second loss in 2016 at West Stanly.

OFFENSE

One of the reasons the past four seasons have been successful for the Comets has been the teams offensive outputs.

From 2013 to last year, North has posted the four-highest point totals for a season in the teams history, including last seasons 421 points, second all-time and slightly above 2015s mark of 400, third-best.

North also has the highest active streak in the county in terms of avoiding shutouts. The Comets have not been shut out in a game since losing 41-0 to Albemarle on Oct. 25, 2013.

The Comets will be a team that still wants to run the ball well, but Crisco said much attention in the 7-on-7 scrimmages and the offseason has been to improve the teams aerial assault.

Norths focus on the passing game came in large in the Comets 51-42 playoff loss last season at Swain County. They may play more spread offense this season.

Quarterbacks

With a renewed sense of purpose of throwing the football and taking some of the pressure off the ground game comes a focus on the teams starting quarterback.

This season the job goes to Avery Merritt, a senior who threw for 317 yards last season in just nine games.

Avery is a different person, a different player than he has been the last three years, Crisco said. He has been a team leader and really embraced our offense and taken ownership of it.

Merritts backup is a question mark in the preseason, but Crisco said the job may go to Kolby Lamp.

Running Backs

The backfield loses one 1,000-yard rusher but returns another for his junior season.

Playing in his first season in 2016 without current Ohio State running back Antonio Williams, Cameron Davis benefitted from playing by Albemarle transfer Jacobi Emery, who graduated last season after rushing for 1,399 yards and a team-high 26 touchdowns.

Davis led the team in yardage (1,573 yards) and scored 24 touchdowns and is the focal point this season for the Comets running game.

This offseason, Davis has worked hard in the weight room and is one of the teams leaders in terms of strength, according to Crisco.

Davis attended several offseason camps and is being recruited to play at the next level, running the 40 in 4.62 seconds.

He has added some bulk this offseason, hits the hole well and can hide behind the linemen, Crisco said, adding he also has good hands.

The backup for Davis will likely be by juniors Colby Russell, Carter Terry and Jalen Cole.

Wide Receivers

With the focus on the passing game also comes the need for strong play at wideout.

Kolby Lamp is one of the leaders of the corps, has great hands and is not afraid to go across the middle to catch passes, Crisco said.

North also has L.J. Rush returning this season as he missed much of 2016 due to injury, and he gives the Comets pure breakaway speed, Crisco said.

Wes Reynolds will also see time at wide receiver.

At tight end, Rylei Smith will start, with Taylor Chandler seeing time on the field as well.

Offensive Line

The offense lost center Trey Pope to graduation, but it returns the left side of the line including left tackle Logan Chandler and left guard MikeRager.

Matt Harris returns for North and moves into the center position.

Three linemen are still competing for the two starting spots on the right side of the line, including Garrett Clark, Drew Aldridge and Zack Cooper.

Most of the members of the offensive front five have played together since their freshman seasons and are consistent.

DEFENSE

North allowed more points last season than in 2015, giving up 327 points in 12 games last year compared to 276 two years ago.

In 2016, North also posted two defensive shutouts, marking the fourth straight season the Comets have shut out two different opponents in the same year.

The defense will stay with the 4-3 alignment as the Comets return nine starters on defense.

Defensive Line

The front four for North may be one of the strongest units the Comets have had in a number of seasons, according to Crisco.

C.J. Clark returns for his junior season at defensive tackle, tipping the scales at 305 pounds while standing 6-foot, 5-inches tall.

Josh McCorkle also returns for the Comets in the middle of the line.

The Comets return both defensive ends from last season in Taylor Chandler and Wes Reynolds.

Linebackers

North returns two players into the middle of the teams defense.

Drew Little returns for North and will play in the middle, while Carter Terry moves up from JV and will be on the outside.

A player returning for North at linebacker after not playing last season is Elijah Clark, who moves well for his 250-pound frame.

Defensive Backfield

In contrast to last years preseason, where the Comets had questions in the defensive backfield, North is more stable this season in the unit.

L.J. Rush will start at one cornerback position while the other cornerback slot may be filled by either Cameron Davis or Jalen Cole.

A pair of players with nearly matching first names will start for North at safety. Kolby Lamp will be the free safety for North, while Colby Russell will play at strong safety.

As a unit, the backfield has more varsity playing experience this season as well as more depth.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Comets have several solid returners on special teams.

Both the punting and place kicking game will benefit from highly touted college prospect long snapper Drew Little, who has verbally committed to N.C. State.

Daniel Brabaw took over the place kicking duties last season and was solid, converting 54-of-56 on extra points and 1-of-2 on field goals. The senior returns for North this season.

L.J. Rush, Cameron Davis and Wes Reynolds will return kicks and punts this season, giving North good speed on special teams.

One spot that is a question mark is who will be the teams regular punter. Brabaw may do some punting for North, backed up by Taylor Chandler.

Contact Charles Curcio at charles@stanlynewspress.com or (704)982-2121 ext. 26.

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NORTH STANLY FOOTBALL Comets look for fifth winning season in a row - Stanly News & Press