Sports - Randolph Record

21 Nov

Prep Notes: Coaches have various results in debuts

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Autumn Gentry, Gracyn Hall, nchsaa, Randleman athletics, Trinity athletics, Wes Berrier

Maddie Small of Southwestern Randolph goes up for a shot against Asheboro during last week’s season opener. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Southwestern Randolph ruined the coaching debut for Asheboro’s Mike Headen in girls’ basketball last week. The host Cougars defeated Asheboro 52-49 in Friday night’s non-conference game. Headen was promoted from assistant coach to head coach during the summer upon the retirement of Don Corry. Also in girls’ basketball, a couple of area players who’ve already eclipsed 1,000 career points got off to good starts. They are seniors Gracyn Hall and Autumn Gentry. Hall of Randleman racked up 16 points in…

21 Nov

Three in-state teams make FCS playoffs

Randolph RecordSportscollege football, Davidson football, Elon football, FCS, Football Championship Subdivision, Gardner-Webb football

Three college football teams from North Carolina are in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. Big South Conference champion Gardner-Webb and Davidson, which received the Pioneer Football League’s automatic bid, join at-large selection Elon. All three teams begin with road games Saturday in the 24-team field. Gardner-Webb (6-5), which lost a non-league encounter with Elon in September at Elon’s Rhodes Stadium, goes to Eastern Kentucky (7-4). This will be the first FCS playoff game for the Runnin’ Bulldogs. Gardner-Webb secured the bid by defeating visiting North Carolina A&T 37-18 in a winner-take-all game Saturday in the regular-season finale. No. 5 seed…

19 Nov

Wildcats score late to keep alive season

Randolph RecordSportsBurton Cates, Eastern Randolph, Eastern Randolph athletics, Ervodd Cassady, nchsaa

RAMSEUR – Ervodd Cassady scored on a 26-yard run with 6:27 remaining as Eastern Randolph’s football team overcame visiting Robbinsville for a 29-26 victory in a third-round game of the Class 1-A state playoffs Friday night. The Wildcats, who are the top seed in the West Region, made two defensive stops inside their own 20-yard line in the final two minutes to hold on. Linebacker A’donye Herbert made a couple of key tackles. “Just make a play so we can keep moving in,” Herbert said. “It felt great, just one more step to moving in.” Eastern Randolph (11-1) will meet…

18 Nov

Southwestern Randolph grad Shiflet named top rookie in conference for volleyball

Randolph RecordSports

GREENSBORO – Southwestern Randolph graduate Payton Shiflet was named Rookie of the Year for USA South Conference volleyball. Shiflet is a freshman outside hitter for Greensboro College. Shiflet became the eighth Greensboro volleyball player to receive USA South Rookie of the Year recognition, though the first since 2012. Shiflet led all rookies and was second in the conference overall with 3.88 kills and 4.3 points per set through the regular season. She averaged 4.0 kills per set and 4.4 kills per set against USA South competition. Also, Shiflet was selected for the all-conference first team. Greensboro finished with a 20-13…

16 Nov

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Zander Cheek

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, football, nchsaa, prep sports, Providence Grove, Zander Cheek

Providence Grove | football Cheek, a senior, scored four postseason touchdowns in two games for the Patriots. Providence Grove’s season ended with an 8-4 record with Thursday night’s loss at Reidsville, where Cheek scored a touchdown. Cheek scored three touchdowns in the previous week when Providence Grove won a football game in the state playoffs for the first time by winning at McMichael. Cheek led the Patriots with 38.5 receiving yards per game to go with a team-leading four touchdown catches. He scored 13 touchdowns this season, behind only his twin brother Zane Cheek, who had 20.

14 Nov

Blue Comets fall short of state final in soccer loss to Hickory

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Class 3-A, nchsaa, prep soccer

Asheboro’s Brandon Santos, right, is consoled by Hickory goalkeeper Conner Mejia on Monday night. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Asheboro’s finest season in boys’ soccer didn’t end so splendidly. The Blue Comets gave a strong effort but fell short of reaching the state championship game, dropping a 2-1 decision to visiting Hickory in the Class 3-A West Region final Monday night. “It just wasn’t our day,” Asheboro coach Nick Arroyo said. Asheboro (23-2-2) scored first on Daniel Gutierrez Resendez’s goal. Hickory posted the tying and go-ahead goals late in the first half. “We had two simple mistakes that just cost…

11 Nov

Prep Football: Wildcats move on; Patriots fade at Reidsville

Randolph RecordSportsChase Whitaker, Eastern Randolph athletics, Ervodd Cassady, prep football, Zander Cheek

RAMSEUR – Eastern Randolph began what it hopes is a long journey in the state playoffs with a 28-12 victory against visiting Mountain Heritage on Thursday night. The Wildcats (10-1), which received a first-round bye in Class 1-A, received two touchdowns apiece from Ervodd Cassady and Lucas Smith. Cassady ran for 205 yards. Next for the Wildcats, who are the top seed in the West Region, is a home game next Friday night against eighth-seeded Robbinsville (9-3), which topped No. 24 seed Cherokee 39-12 in the second round for its second win of the season against that foe. Mountain Heritage…

09 Nov

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Anakin Leister

Randolph RecordSportsAnakin Leister, athlete of the week, boy's soccer, prep soccer, Wheatmore, Wheatmore soccer

Wheatmore, boys’ soccer Leister, a senior, was one of the most productive players for Wheatmore, which had an undefeated regular season. Leister racked up a team-high 19 assists this season. He was third on the Wheatmore team in goals with 16. Leister had two goals and an assist last week when the Warriors opened the Class 2-A state playoffs with a 5-2 victory against visiting Monroe. The Warriors (19-1-4) reached the second round before their season ended with a loss to Patton.

07 Nov

Hirschman wins again in North-South Shootout

Randolph RecordSportsCaraway speedway, Matt Hirschman, North-South Shootout, Stock car racing

Matt Hirschman, right, celebrates another victory in the North-South Shootout. (Courtesy photo) SOPHIA – Matt Hirschman added to his championship haul in the North-South Shootout. Hirschman, a driver from Pennsylvania, became an eight-time winner of the 20-year event with Saturday’s victory at Caraway Speedway. Burt Myers of Winston-Salem placed second, while fast qualifier Patrick Emerling, a New Yorker, was third. Emerling’s qualifying team was 15.919 seconds, edging Hirschman, Kyle Scisco, Caleb Heady and Brian Loftin. Jimmy Blewett briefly led the 125-lap feature, while Myers held the front spot for 43 laps. Following a caution that ended the race for Jeremy…

07 Nov

Snotherly places eighth in cross country state meet

Randolph RecordSportsBrecken Snotherly, prep cross country

Brecken Snotherly, shown during the track and field season, had a strong outing in the state cross country meet. (Randolph Record file photo) KERNERSVILLE – Brecken Snotherly of Eastern Randolph placed eighth in the Class 1-A state cross country meet Saturday at Ivy Redmon Complex. Snotherly, a senior, posted a time of 21 minutes, 21.66 seconds. In Class 2-A girls, Providence Grove had a team entry, placing 11th. The Patriots were paced by a trio of juniors. Jensen Auman was (22:38.40) was 40th, Mia Browder (22:56.70) was 44th and Carolina DuVall (23:05.64) was 51st. On the boys’ side, Zach Hazelwood…