Union Academy is 0-6 against North Stanly since November of 2015 but things could change on Friday. The Cardinals will venture away from home to challenge the Comets at 7:00 p.m. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty point totals in their previous games.
As a matter of fact, Union Academy put up the most points they have all season on Friday. They put the hurt on Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy with a sharp 45-19 victory.
Nico Mendoza
| 10/24/25 vs Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy | 242 |
| 10/10/25 @ Mountain Island Charter | 200 |
| 10/04/25 @ Bonnie Cone Leadership Academy | 197 |
| 10/17/25 vs Albemarle | 160 |
| 08/22/25 @ South Rowan | 154 |
Union Academy got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Nico Mendoza out in front who threw for 242 yards and three touchdowns, and also punched in one rushing score. Those 242 passing yards gave Mendoza a new career-high. 94 of Mendoza's passing yards were hauled in by Jaequan Timmons, who also brought in a receiving touchdown.
Union Academy was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 220 rushing yards. They are a perfect 3-0 when they've run for more than 200 yards.
Union Academy didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Lloyd Barnes and Clayton Edwards. Edwards also made four total tackles, which is notable because Union Academy is 4-2 when he posts at least three total tackles, but 0-3 otherwise. Another thorn in Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy's side was John Souza, who forced one fumble and made 11 total tackles (2.0 for loss).
Meanwhile, North Stanly humbled Bonnie Cone Leadership Academy with a 55-6 victory. That 49 point margin sets a new team best for the Comets this season.
North Stanly's win came from a few key players Union Academy will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Brady Lowder, who threw for 165 yards and five TDs on only 12 passes, and also rushed for 30 yards. Another player making a difference was Zay Dockery, who rushed for 135 yards and one score on only six carries.
One reason for the win was North Stanly's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for three sacks. In fact, those sacks all came courtesy of defensive juggernaut Jaden Little.
The victory made it two in a row for North Stanly and bumps their season record up to 8-1. Those wins came thanks in part to their defensive effort, having only surrendered a grand total of 29 points in those games. As for Union Academy, their record is now 4-5.
Friday's contest might be decided on the ground. Union Academy has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 160.6 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like North Stanly struggles in that department as they've been averaging 231 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Union Academy ended up a good deal behind North Stanly in their previous meeting back in October of 2024, losing 21-7. Can the Cardinals avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
