ASHEBORO — Providence Grove’s football team is in a groove early in the season.
The Patriots attempt to match a school record for the best start to a season when Asheboro visits Friday night.
For just the second time in school history, Providence Grove holds a 3-0 record. The most-recent result was last week’s 54-0 whipping of visiting Jordan-Matthews.
The only time Providence Grove – a school that opened in 2008 – began a season with four consecutive victories came in 2009.
Combined with winning their last two games of the past season (played in the spring), the Patriots hold a five-game winning streak overall.
In the Jordan-Matthews game, Zander Cheek set the tone by returning the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown.
Cheek also scored on a reception and a rushing play. He gained 138 rushing yards on three carries. Luke Thomas threw two first-half touchdown passes. Caleb Rogers had touchdowns with a reception and a rushing play.
Here’s a look at other area football:
NORTH FORSYTH 30, RANDLEMAN 27: Thursday night at Randleman, the Tigers dropped their third home game to fall to 0-3, equaling the team’s number of losses from the three previous seasons combined.
North Forsyth (1-2) never trailed despite failing to cash in on a conversion play following any of its five touchdowns.
Christian Long threw two touchdown passes and Ervodd Cassady, who scored on a 27-yard run, picked up 107 rushing yards on 20 carries for Randleman. Thomas Dobias scored on a 34-yard pass and Jozey Akines made a 13-yard touchdown grab for the game’s last touchdown prior to a two-point conversion.
Chris Gentry kicked field goals from 20 and 33 yards out. The Tigers were charged with all four of the game’s turnovers.
Randleman was supposed to play Montgomery Central for last week’s game, but that was scrapped because of COVID protocols involving the Montgomery Central team.
EAST DAVIDSON 50, TRINITY 19: The visiting Bulldogs lost a lopsided game for the second week in a row to drop their record to 1-2.
POSTPONED: Last week’s games sending Ledford to Wheatmore along with Walkertown going to Eastern Randolph were called off because of COVID protocols.
This week’s game for Eastern Randolph (2-0) is at Burlington Williams. Some initial schedules had that game listed for a home game in Ramseur, but athletics director Foster Cates said that was adjusted to help balance schedules so it’s a road game.
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Friday’s area schedule
Eastern Randolph at Burlington Williams, 7
Asheboro at Providence Grove, 7:30
West Davidson at Southwestern Randolph, 7:30
Jordan-Matthews at Trinity, 7:30
Wheatmore at Chatham Central, 7:30
