Prep football: Wildcats, Cougars tune up for conference play

Southwestern Randolph’s Brody Sheppard picks up a big chunk of yardage during Friday night’s victory against visiting McMichael. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record)

Eastern Randolph and Southwestern Randolph look like they might be the top football teams in the Four Rivers Conference through the completion of non-conference play.

Both teams are 4-2, sharing that mark with Jordan-Matthews.

Southwestern Randolph will have a week off before an Oct. 10 visit to Eastern Randolph. Meanwhile, the Wildcats open league play Friday night at Northwood.

Even though it’s a new conference beginning this school year, Eastern Randolph has won four straight league championships (formerly in the Piedmont Athletic Conference) and holds a 20-game winning streak in conference play.

This year, Eastern Randolph and Southwestern Randolph had a pair of common opponents in non-league play. Eastern Randolph defeated Randleman and Providence Grove, while the Cougars lost to both of those teams.

Each of Southwestern Randolph’s victories have come by at least 24 points, with the closest of those coming Friday night.

** Southwestern Randolph 50, McMichael 26: At Asheboro, Brody Sheppard ran for 234 yards and three touchdowns as the Cougars notched the home victory.

Devonte Jenkins, Nathan Garner and Thomas Costello also scored on runs for Southwestern Randolph, which overcame a 20-14 halftime deficit. Levi Dalke threw a touchdown pass to Jaxon Campbell.

Kai Tart threw for 303 yards for McMichael (2-3), which held an early 14-0 lead.

** Eastern Randolph 34, West Stanly 6: At Oakboro, the Wildcats secured the road victory, leading 28-0 at halftime.

West Stanly (1-4) had 153 yards of total offense, with 134 of those on the ground from Dominik Danzy. Eastern Randolph intercepted three passes, though no other information was available regarding the Wildcats despite requests to the coaching staff.