The Union Academy Cardinals will face off against the Albemarle Bulldogs at 7:00 p.m. on Friday.
On Friday, Union Academy and Mountain Island Charter were almost perfectly matched up, but Union Academy suffered a 28-27 loss. The defeat continues a trend for the Cardinals in their meetings with the Raptors: they've now lost seven in a row.
The loss doesn't tell the whole story though, as several players had good games. One of the most active was Nico Mendoza, who threw for 200 yards and three TDs. Union Academy's leading receiver Jaequan Timmons was Mendoza's top target yet again, picking up 80 receiving yards and a pair of scores.
Even if they lost, Union Academy's defense still kept up the pressure with 6.5 sacks. Leading the way was Jordan Smith with four. John Souza was another major factor on D, picking up 0.5 sacks and making ten total tackles (2.0 for loss).
Meanwhile, after low-scoring totals in their previous four game, Albemarle brought some dynamite into their most recent contest. They claimed a resounding 41-14 win over Bonnie Cone Leadership Academy. The victory was a breath of fresh air for the Bulldogs as it put an end to their four-game losing streak.
Albemarle found their leader in sophomore Aj Butler, who rushed for 161 yards and two touchdowns on only 14 carries. Butler really tore up the turf during one magnificent 80-yard run. Kenneth Harper made the highlight reel by snagging an interception and taking it all the way to the house.
Albemarle was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 247 rushing yards. They are a perfect 3-0 when they've run for more than 200 yards.
Union Academy now has a losing record of 3-4. As for Albemarle, their win was their first in the conference, bumping their conference record up to 1-3 and their overall record up to 3-4.
Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Union Academy has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 157.3 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Albemarle struggles in that department as they've been averaging 165.9 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Union Academy came up short against Albemarle when the teams last played back in October of 2024, falling 7-0. Can the Cardinals avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
