PAC showdown on tap despite Trinity’s upset win

Eastern Randolph and Randleman will play with the championship at stake

There’s still a showdown to determine the Piedmont Athletic Conference football championship this week, but getting there took a strange twist.

Last-place Trinity stunned previously undefeated Randleman 21-19 on Friday night.

Yet the Tigers can still gain a share of the conference crown if they defeat host Eastern Randolph in this Friday night’s regular-season finale.

The teams met with unblemished league records last year, with Eastern Randolph winning 22-21.

Here’s a look at last week’s results:

Trinity 21, Randleman 19: At Randleman, Zorn Williams and Daniel Rogers ran for touchdowns and Noah Bradley threw a touchdown pass to Nazir Staten for the Bulldogs.

The Tigers (8-1 overall, 3-1 PAC) won their first three conference games by at least 20 points, but they trailed 21-12 in this one.

This outcome was more shocking because a week earlier Trinity (3-6, 1-3) lost at home to previously winless Wheatmore.

Trinity went up 7-6 in the first quarter and led the rest of the way.

John Kirkpatrick ran for a touchdown and threw for a touchdown for Randleman. Braydon Gladden had the TD catch and Daylan Atkins ran for a touchdown.

Eastern Randolph 49, Wheatmore 6: At Trinity, Eastern Randolph (9-0, 4-0) was aided by two touchdowns scored by its defense with Zeb Matthews returning an interception to the end zone for one of those.

Lucas Smith, who gained 123 yards on the ground, also caught a touchdown pass. Kobe Walker scored a pair of second-half touchdowns.

Wheatmore (1-8, 1-3) scored on Connor Benton’s pass to Danny Craig.

Southwestern Randolph 42, Providence Grove 26: At Asheboro, Brody Sheppard ran for three touchdowns in the home victory.

Cougars quarterback Noah Stills threw for 138 yards and ran for 113.

Southwestern Randolph (5-4, 2-2) overcame a 13-0 first-quarter deficit and led 35-13 going to the fourth quarter. The Cougars also scored when Damon Mobley returned a blocked punt for a touchdown. Owen Whelan and Julian Mosley each had a touchdown run.

For Providence Grove (2-7, 1-3), Jackson Rhyne caught three of  Jackson Lawver’s four touchdown passes. Andrew Thomas made the other TD reception.

Asheboro 51, Ledford 35: At Thomasville, Logan Loughlin threw three touchdown passes in the Mid-Piedmont Conference road victory.

Connor Brinton scored on a pair of runs as part of his 197-yard, 27-carry effort for the Blue Comets (4-5, 2-2). Quincey Lee and DJ Scott also ran for touchdowns.

Ben Luck, Dallas Brinton and Aiden Robinson made the TD catches, with Brinton racking up 117 receiving yards on five receptions.

Lee intercepted a pass on defense.

Ledford is 3-6, 0-4.