Asheboro’s Markell Graham is pursued by Southwestern Randolph’s Danny Jackson and Caleb Shelton, far right, during Friday night’s game. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
ASHEBORO – Southwestern Randolph scored on the first snap of the game and went on to drub visiting Asheboro 40-2 on Friday night.
Adam Cole took a short pass from Easton Clapp and burst 64 yards for a touchdown for the first points.
“It was open,” Southwestern Randolph coach Seth Baxter said. “I think our wide receivers did a tremendous job of blocking on that play.”
Southwestern Randolph (4-1) heads into Piedmont Athletic Conference play on a two-game winning streak. This puts the Cougars in a good mindset.
“We came in and did what we needed to do up front,” Baxter said of controlling the line of scrimmage.
Cole ended up with two rushing touchdowns to go with the scoring pass play. Clapp threw for two touchdowns and ran for another on his way to 196 passing yards and 126 rushing yards. Marcus Robertson caught a touchdown pass.
Asheboro (1-4) avoided a shutout by tackling a Southwestern Randolph ball carrier in the end zone in the fourth quarter. That accounted for the final points of the game, though it came a couple of plays after the Blue Comets had a possession halted inside the Southwestern Randolph 10-yard line.
“We’re going to have to go back to the drawing board,” Asheboro coach Blake Brewer. “We’re going to have to build some toughness.”
Michael Brady rushed for 97 yards for Asheboro.
Until last year, Southwestern Randolph had never defeated Asheboro in consecutive football meetings. Now, the Cougars have won three straight in the series.
Asheboro leads the all-time series 26-4.
The Blue Comets open Mid-Piedmont Conference play next Friday at home against undefeated Oak Grove (5-0), which is coming off an open week.
“We’re going to have to find an identity and do it quick,” Brewer said.
Eastern Randolph 42, West Stanly 0: At Oakboro, the visiting Wildcats tuned up for Piedmont Athletic Conference play by winning their fifth consecutive game.
Among the scoring plays for Eastern Randolph (5-1) were two touchdown runs for Davonte Brooks and one touchdown apiece for D.J. Thomas, Ervodd Cassady and Angel Hernandez. Stratton Barwick threw a touchdown pass to Jake Fesmire.
West Stanly (3-3) has lost three straight games, though the first two defeats came by a combined 15 points.
