By Randy Capps
The Clayton Comets have reeled off back-to-back 10-win seasons, but heading into his fourth season at the school, head coach Scott Chadwick is looking for more.
“(We) need to take the ‘next step’ as a program,” he said. “Back-to-back 10-win seasons is good, but (we’ve got) nothing to show for it.”
Specifically, no championships — thanks to a two-point loss at the end of each of those regular seasons to their bitter rival, Cleveland.
Instead of lamenting Hail Mary passes and thinking of what might have been, the Comets are aiming for another successful campaign in 2025.
Seven starters are back from an offense that averaged 37 points per night, led by senior quarterback Aiden Smalls. Smalls, who recently changed his commitment to N.C. State, was the Greater Neuse River Conference Player of the Year last season with 1,948 passing yards, 1,006 more on the ground and 36 total touchdowns.
Terris Hobbs (518 yards, five touchdowns) and Noah Smith (635, seven touchdowns) provide experience at running back while tight end River Fiore is a punishing run blocker who’s weighing several Division 1 offers.
All of this complements an offensive line led by Corey Robinson and Ovanny Flores that Chadwick says features “more depth than we have had since I’ve been here.”
Only four starters are back on defense, but senior defensive lineman KeShawn Stancil and junior cornerback Akedran Crumel are among the state’s most sought after recruits in their respective classes.
Stancil is the reigning GNRC Defensive Lineman of the Year with 17 career sacks and 34 tackles for loss. In the secondary, Crumel had four interceptions last season and the talented corner already has more than 30 FBS offers.
“(The) key will be the development of young defensive line and linebackers,” Chadwick said.
As for that “next step?”
“(We) need our stars — Smalls, Stancil, Crumel and Fiore — to play like it,” he said.
As for the path to a conference crown, a season of upheaval elsewhere didn’t really touch the Comets. They’re still in the Greater Neuse River, only it’s 7A instead of 4A, and only Smithfield-Selma is a new foe, joining Cleveland, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, South Garner and Southeast Raleigh.
That potentially season-defining game with Cleveland is still at the end of the road on Halloween night, and the first mile marker on that journey is Aug. 22 at home against Wilson Prep.
