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Taking care of your Loved One Is What We Do BEST!

It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.

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Home Care In Clayton, NC

Home Care Clayton, NC

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Clayton Historic District Clayton, North Carolina in Clayton, NC gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Clayton, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Clayton, NC

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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TESTIMONIALS

“Alice Sharper is a wonderful helper. She always looks out for my health and she does chores around the house without being asked. She has driven me to multiple appointments. She is always is an up mood. Camille Bialik”

Dan B.
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“I've done the dementia virtual training experiment with a previous employer. The experience with Always Best Care was by far a better experience. Truly a heart felt opportunity to walk in the shoes of someone living with dementia. Thank you ????????”

Angel W.
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“"Virtual Dementia Tour" was awesome - an eye opener in helping to understand.”

Mike M.
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“We moved my mother-in-law in with us fifteen months ago. ABC has been providing excellent care since then. Her current caregivers are Felicia, Katherine, Yolanda and Robin. They all have been professional and easy to work with. I've enclosed a picture from Brownie-Making-Day. Thank you to all for a great job.”

Crystal J.
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“Very promising????”

Gygett U.
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“Ive always been a old soul,being with elderly people helps my mental health and warms my heart. Theve given so much of their lives to their families and they should be comfortable for the remainder of their days. I love ABC because I can set my own hours,and that being said,give more time and love to Mrs. Dina without feeling pressure.”

Lisa B.
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“A good company that cares for both employees and clients.”

katherine V.
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“ABC Wake Forest has been a blessing to me and my family! The compassion ans dedication for my mom was the best. Wonderful caregivers and staff!”

Christina D.
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“Wonderful company! Best services.”

Afton H.
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“Wonderful company!”

Artisha B.
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“Great company !!”

Krystal P.
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“Absolutely love this company”

Devra
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“Great company even better staff”

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“This is an amazing company and the staff do an amazing job.”

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“Great company”

Ty W.
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“Always Best Care is the most respectful nicest company I’ve work with I love working with them.”

Nikita R.
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“I love Always Best Care, it’s a great company….”

Brandi P.
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“Great company”

Keith A.
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“Always great”

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“Great people ‼️‼️‼️‼️❤️❤️❤️”

kay W.
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“Wonderful services!”

Jimmy S.
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“This is a lovely company and wonderful services.”

Sandra
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“I love being in the atmosphere of ABC ! They’re so energetic and just all around a great place to be with !”

Sha’Niyah R.
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“Always Best Care Senior Services is an outstanding in-home care agency that truly raises the bar when it comes to senior care. Their team of caregivers are not only skilled and dependable but also genuinely compassionate and committed to the well-being of every individual they serve. If you are looking for a dedicated and trustworthy agency to support aging loved ones, Always Best Care is one I would confidently recommend.”

Alexis F.
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“Great experience, and the best company the staff treat you like human being.”

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What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Clayton, NC?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

 Senior Care Clayton, NC

Types of Elderly Care in Clayton, NC

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming

Respite Care Clayton, NC
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers Clayton, NC
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Clayton Community Park in Clayton, NC with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care Clayton, NC
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local The Capital Grille or visit The House on Barber Mill Historical Landmark Private Residence, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

 In-Home Care Clayton, NC

Benefits of Home Care in Clayton, NC

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Clayton, NC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

 Elderly Care Clayton, NC

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your NC's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
 Senior Care Clayton, NC

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Clayton, NC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.


Respite Care Clayton, NC

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers Clayton, NC

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • Kingswood Reserve Luxury Senior Living
  • Clayton House
  • Purpose Living and Care
  • Gabriel Manor Assisted Living Center
  • The Enclave
  • Bethesda Family Care Home
Home Care Clayton, NC

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

 In-Home Care Clayton, NC

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Clayton, NC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

 Elderly Care Clayton, NC

Latest News in Clayton, NC

Everything From Haynes King And Clayton Powell Lee After Suffering Their First Loss Of The Season vs NC State

Nov 1, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King (10) throws a pass in the fourth quarter against the NC State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images / Zachary Taft-Imagn ImagesGeorgia Tech quarterback Haynes King and Clayton Powell-Lee talked to the media after their loss to NC State. Here is everything they had to say after the loss.Clayton Powell Lee on what made it tough to bring down their running backs on the initial hit... ...

Nov 1, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King (10) throws a pass in the fourth quarter against the NC State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images / Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King and Clayton Powell-Lee talked to the media after their loss to NC State. Here is everything they had to say after the loss.

Clayton Powell Lee on what made it tough to bring down their running backs on the initial hit...

“They have quality backs. I have to give it to them. They're very talented on their side, but at the end of the day, it takes all of us, 11 guys, to bring down the ball carrier. So some plays we didn't do. Some of the plays effort wasn't there, and we just got to you know look at ourselves in the mirror and just know that we got to do more. It takes more than just one person to bring down the guys. So, just taking all 11 of us to stop the run.

On some of the big plays on key downs…

“We just got to execute honestly, like when the D-line's doing their job, us as the back end, we just got to do the same and just help them out. So whether that's the quarterback may have a little extra time, we've got to plaster. We got to, you know, stay on our guys and just like you said, don't let anyone get behind us, and we might have slipped in a couple like you said, a couple key downs, but that's just something we just got to work on, honestly. Like we know we're better than that. We know we shouldn't have given up as many big plays as we should have. So, we just got to look ourselves in the mirror, like I said, and just, you know, take it upon ourselves to really focus up and just do our job. Honestly, that's the biggest thing I can say. Just doing your job, executing the call, executing your job.

Powell-Lee on if the defense saw anything different…..

“We expected a lot of what they did, like the swizzle plays, those trick plays that they may have run. But we expected it, but like I said, we just got to execute and just read and react. Don't wait for anybody else to make the play. Go make a play yourself.”

On if settling for field goals took away the momentum…

“Oh yeah, 100%. You've got to score touchdowns in the red zone. You can't kick field goals. Whether it's converting on third down, whether it's making a throw, making a play, bowing your neck, trying to find a way, it doesn't matter. It’s unexcusable. We have to do a better job of helping the defense out as well. Like they played their ass off, but I mean it just sometimes teams have your number, and that's what happened.

King on if the team was pressing late in the game…

“We can't really press, and I didn't think it was too much pressing. It was just you know, people executing what we're supposed to do, and you know, not looking at the scoreboard, taking one play at a time. When you turn that film on, it doesn't matter what the scoreboard says, how much time's left. When you turn that film on, how are you playing? Are you playing with great effort and energy? Are you executing? Toughness, physical, like stuff like that. That's what you look at in the film. It doesn't matter how many seconds are left, what the score is, you've got to play your heart out.”

King on what he tells the team after the loss and not letting it become two losses…

“I mean, that's definitely important. You know, how do you respond? Response is everything. You know, coach tells us all the time, you know, with the wristbands that we wear. E plus R equals O. You know, the event plus response equals outcome. What is your response? You've got to own your response. You know, are you going to come together and fall apart? I feel like this team is going to come together just because of who we are. You know, we don't play blame blame or anything like that. I expect the seniors, if anybody starts to do that, you're going to shut it down. You're going to shut it down. It doesn't matter. Like, we are a team. We're in this together. Like I said before, in this game, you know, offense has to score touchdowns in the red zone, not field goals. You know, that's four points each time. I don't know how many field goals we had. Three? I mean, you know, that's a big difference right there. That could go to a game-winning drive instead of trying to be a two-possession game, stuff like that. That's the difference in the whole game, you know, and it just comes down to execution and sometimes just bowing your neck, finding a way. Offensively, we didn't. We're a team, and we have to play complementary football and like you said, the response that we have as this team is going to be everything. We've got to come closer and pull together, and like you said, not make one loss in the two.

On trying to defend CJ Bailey…

From playing him last year, he was a very capable quarterback. He can make every throw on the field. We were just trying to, you know, mix up the picture, get some guys in his face. And like I've been saying, it just comes with the execution. That's all you can really say. It's like you got to like D-line got to be tied into the back end and vice versa. It just takes all 11 of us to, you know, to stop a guy like that, honestly. So like just knowing that it's more than just it's more than just us. It's like we got to help out the offense. It's like all complimentary football. Special teams are also included. So, it's like just knowing that when situations like that can happen, just trusting the guy next to you and just keep on playing ball. Honestly, I trust him till we finish this thing. So, it's like just knowing that and just trying to take that to heart, like just trusting the people around you to, you know, do their job, make the plays, cuz like that's what we came here to do, and that's just execution and just playing together.”

On whether Bailey’s ability to extend plays was a big factor…

“I mean, any quarterback that has the ability to do that, it's a big factor because rushes may take a little longer, coverage may be two to three seconds longer, and that's something we've got to be used to, like we know that quarterbacks are able to do those things nowadays. So, it's just predetermined and pre-liked, like already knowing that it's just something we have to already have in our minds. It's just like okay when he gets out the pocket, we've got to stay on our guys longer. Find the nearest guy to you. Don't let anybody get behind you. And that's just really it, honestly, is just playing that down for however many seconds it may be, because you know if you hold on to your guy the D line is gonna end up doing their thing, and that's getting a sack end of the day.”

King on what the focus is with the bye weeks coming up….

“I don't know how many, like if we'll have a day off or not. If we definitely separate, you know, step away, regroup and then when you come back in, it's just get better, find ways to get better. It's the small things. It's execution. It's the details. This week, the quarterbacks coach was just preaching, you know, details and discipline. We got to continue that and stuff like that. But find ways to get better, and it's always the small things. And then through this last stretch of what three games of the regular season, you know, it's going to come down to details and discipline and how are you executing, that's what we've got to find small things to get better.”

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Clayton stuns Cleveland as Comets snap Rams’ six-year conference win streak

One can forgive Clayton High School’s football players and their families and friends if they celebrated a bit harder Friday night than they normally might after a win.The win was, after all, eight years in the making.Clayton’s defense led it to a 20-3 win over rival Cleveland on Friday, the Comets’ first win over the Rams in eight seasons. It was also Cleveland’s first regular-season loss to anyone after 61 consecutive wins, an incredible, six-season run that came to an end on a crisp, clean Halloween n...

One can forgive Clayton High School’s football players and their families and friends if they celebrated a bit harder Friday night than they normally might after a win.

The win was, after all, eight years in the making.

Clayton’s defense led it to a 20-3 win over rival Cleveland on Friday, the Comets’ first win over the Rams in eight seasons. It was also Cleveland’s first regular-season loss to anyone after 61 consecutive wins, an incredible, six-season run that came to an end on a crisp, clean Halloween night — on a night when the football was anything but crisp and clean.

Though, forgive Clayton’s camp if it doesn’t care about the “how” as much as the result.

The win also gives Clayton bragging rights in the new Greater Neuse River 7A conference. The Comets and Rams finished with identical 5-1 conference marks, though Clayton has the tiebreaker. Both teams should be well-seeded when NCHSAA playoff pairings are announced Sunday.

It was a stunning loss for the Rams, who hadn’t really been in any tight games prior to Friday night. Cleveland was averaging 48.2 points per game on offense and had an average winning margin of 32.9 points in nine games, the closest among them a 14-point win over South Garner on Sept. 26.

But with playoffs looming, a road trip to archrival Clayton provided Cleveland the kind of gritty, defensive, emotionally charged football it’s likely to face in the postseason.

Getting defensive from the jump

Clayton scored the lone touchdown of the opening quarter on a 62-yard pass play from Aiden Smalls to Parker Ferguson, getting the Comets on the board first, and putting the Rams in an unfamiliar position: playing from behind.

The Comets had a chance to go ahead by two scores early in the second, after driving to the Cleveland 7-yard line, but missed the field goal on fourth down to turn the ball over.

On the ensuing drive, Cleveland drove quickly into the red zone. The Rams also stalled, but a Brody Barnes field goal put the Rams on the board and closed the gap to 7-3. That was as close as the game would get.

Clayton, though, then went three-and-out and gave the ball back to Cleveland, which again marched deep into Clayton territory, this time getting as far as the Comets’ 3-yard line. On a fourth-and-3, the Rams tried to jam it into the end zone and failed, turning the ball back over to Clayton on downs and effectively ending the opening half.

Clayton opened the second half with a third-quarter touchdown, and added another with an extra point in the fourth to put the game away, even forcing Cleveland to try a new quarterback with about eight minutes to play as the Rams tried to find a spark.

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