Getting the offenses going could be the main mission for Randolph County football teams as the season begins this week.
The scheduled openers come Friday night.
The 2020 season was wiped out in its traditional manner because of the pandemic. Teams played that season during the spring semester of 2021, so the offseason was shortened.
Area teams will hope that was enough to figure out how to crank up the offenses.
RANDLEMAN
Randleman was an exception to the sluggish offenses for area teams. The Tigers had nine players score at least one touchdown a year ago.
Randleman is 32-3 across the past three seasons.
The Tigers went 7-1 in the spring in the first season under coach Shane Timmons, who had been an assistant on the staff. However, the season ended with shortcomings on offense in a 35-9 setback to St. Pauls in the first round of the Class 2-AA state playoffs.
Still, Randleman eclipsed the 35-point mark in five of its games.
Yet the Tigers will have to find production to replace Harrison Moffitt, who racked up 15 touchdowns (all on rushing plays). He also passed for six touchdowns as a senior, ending up as the PAC-7 Offensive Player of the Year. On defense, he was third on the team with 10 tackles for loss.
Randleman has been undefeated in the past three regular seasons.
ASHEBORO
Asheboro was winless in the 2021 spring edition, scoreless in four of those seven losses and reaching a double-digit point total only once.
The Blue Comets, in their spring finale, dropped an April 9 decision by 43-7 at home to Randleman. So for Asheboro, Friday night’s game will mark back-to-back games against the same opponent – albeit several months apart.
EASTERN RANDOLPH
Eastern Randolph made it to the state playoffs in the spring in Class 2-A – though it has dropped down in the new alignment – and finished with a 5-2 record.
Both losses (17-0 to Randleman and 41-0 to Northeastern) came via shutouts.
Yet the Wildcats reached or exceeded the 30-point mark in four of their games.
Providence Grove kicker Tucker Batten boots an extra point after a touchdown against West Davidson in a scrimmage Aug. 13. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL
PROVIDENCE GROVE
Providence Grove was 4-3 in the spring, scoring more than 40 points in each of its victories.
The Patriots won four of their last five, the exception a 14-7 loss at High Point Andrews in a game with their lowest point total of the season.
SOUTHWESTERN RANDOLPH
Southwestern Randolph posted nine points per game in its three spring losses.
Of Southwestern Randolph’s last eight defeats dating to the 2019 season, only one of those teams (a loss to Asheboro in a 2019 game) is on this year’s docket.
WHEATMORE
Wheatmore went 2-3 in the spring, though it didn’t record a double-figure point total in any of its defeats.
TRINITY
Trinity scored only 27 points total across five games in the spring season, winning 19-12 against Jordan-Matthews. That’s the team’s lone victory since 2019.
The Bulldogs were shut out in three games last season.
In Trinity’s past 23 games, its two triumphs came against Jordan-Matthews.
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Friday’s football openers
Asheboro at Randleman
Southwestern Randolph at Jordan-Matthews
Eastern Alamance at Eastern Randolph
Providence Grove at East Davidson
Chatham Central at Trinity
Wheatmore at West Davidson
* Game times listed at 7:30 p.m.
