Defending champ Mount Airy tops Eastern Randolph in regional semifinal

MOUNT AIRY — Eastern Randolph’s football season ended in a familiar fashion.

The Wildcats lost to Mount Airy.

For the second season in a row, Mount Air defeated Eastern Randolph in the Class 1-A West Region semifinals.

Friday night’s 42-21 outcome spelled the end for the third-seeded Wildcats (12-2), who had a 12-game winning streak end. A year ago, the season ended with a home defeat.

Eastern Randolph led 21-14 at halftime before three second-half turnovers were too much to overcome.

Mount Airy tied the game and went ahead in the third quarter. The second of those touchdowns came after taking over at the Eastern Randolph 39-yard line with a fumble recovery.

The Granite Bears were too potent on the ground, racking up 377 rushing yards. Tyler Mason ran for 177 yards and three touchdowns and Taeshon Martin gained 161 yards and scored two touchdowns.

Also for Mount Airy, Ian Gallimore threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Walker Stroup.

Lucas Smith ran for two touchdowns for Eastern Randolph. Teammate Kobe Walker had a 48-yard touchdown run.

Wildcats quarterback Carter Revelle threw for 206 yards, with Nicah Taylor making four catches for 98 yards.

Eastern Randolph, playing in its first road game of the postseason, had shown their offensive potency throughout the playoffs with impressive victories against Cherryville, Hayesville and Thomasville.

Second-seeded Mount Airy (14-0), bidding to repeat as state champion, goes to top-seeded Robbinsville (13-1) for the regional final Friday night.