Eastern Randolph Wildcats lose grip in playoff loss

Eastern Randolph’s season comes to a close in the third round of the postseason

RAMSEUR – Eastern Randolph’s first loss marked the end of its football season, falling 27-14 to Corvian Community in the third round of the Class 1A state playoffs Friday night.

An array of turnovers proved critical for the Wildcats (12-1), who were seeded fourth in the West Region.

“We worked so hard, and that’s what makes it emotional,” Eastern Randolph running back Lucas Smith said. “This is the worst feeling you can have.”

The Wildcats were in just their second tussle across the past two months after blowing out four of five Piedmont Athletic Conference opponents and cruising past two foes in the state playoffs.

With giveaways on four consecutive possessions in the first half, this game had a different tone.

“You can’t do that, have turnovers like that in the third round of the playoffs,” Wildcats coach Burton Cates said. “Still proud of their effort.”

Eastern Randolph scored on its first possession, twice converting on fourth downs. That included Cade McCallum’s 38-yard pass to Rayden West, who bobbled the ball as he plunged into the end zone.

That 6-0 lead vanished when freshman Kelvin Stinson returned an interception and went 33 yards for a touchdown.

“After they scored is when we went downhill,” West said. “We couldn’t recover from it.”

Then came three straight Eastern Randolph possessions that ended in fumbles. Two of those were inside the Corvian Community 20-yard line.

“We lost momentum and we just really never got it back,” Smith said. “It was bad.”

The Cardinals led 13-6 at halftime. On the first snap of the second half, Corvian Community’s Noah Best ran 66 yards for a touchdown. AJ Jackson’s second touchdown run followed for the Cardinals.

“They were quick and they were shifty and they were very athletic in some areas,” Cates said.

The Cardinals kept attacking, perhaps the biggest dagger coming on a 30-yard touchdown play on fourth-and-29 for a 27-6 edge.

Smith’s 1-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion made it 27-13 late in the third quarter.

The Wildcats stayed within striking range when the Cardinals missed a field goal with 4:54 remaining. Eastern Randolph reached midfield before giving the ball back on downs at the 2:47 mark.

Smith, in his final high school game, finished with 121 rushing yards on 16 carries.

“I love this team,” West said, pointing out many positives from the season. “It was great and didn’t end so well.”

Fifth-seeded Corvian Community (13-0) takes on top seed and defending state champion Mt. Airy in the regional semifinals.