The Union Academy Cardinals''s recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Thursday after their sixth straight loss. They took a serious blow against Albemarle, falling 38-6. The loss unfortunately continues a disappointing trend for Union Academy in their matchups with Albemarle: they've now lost three in a row.
When it comes to explaining why Union Academy lost, one person who can't be blamed is Ryan A Walker. Despite the final result, he picked up 90 receiving yards and a touchdown. Walker was no stranger to the big play, cutting upfield for a catch that went for 65 yards.
Albemarle's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Malik Watkins led the charge by rushing for 95 yards and a touchdown on only ten carries. Ja?Zyion Geiger also deserves a shout-out for his two touchdowns.
Union Academy's defeat was their sixth straight on the road (dating back to last season), which dropped their overall record down to 1-8. That rough patch could be blamed on the team's offensive performance across that stretch, as they only averaged 11.3 points per game. As for Albemarle, they are on a roll lately: they've won four of their last five contests, which provided a massive bump to their 4-5 record this season.
Union Academy will be playing at home against South Stanly at 7:30 p.m. on October 27th. As for Albemarle, they will head out on the road to face off against North Stanly at 7:30 p.m. on October 27th. North Stanly presents a significant challenge as they come into the match much higher ranked than Albemarle in North Carolina (North Stanly is ranked 118th, while Albemarle is ranked 245th).
