Burton Cates - Randolph Record

11 Apr

Eastern Randolph coach Burton Cates to be enshrined in hometown

Bob SuttonSportsBurton Cates, Eastern Randolph athletics, Graham, Hall of Fame, prep football

Another honor is coming for Eastern Randolph football coach Burton Cates. (Randolph Record file photo) GRAHAM – Eastern Randolph’s Burton Cates, the winningest active high school football coach in North Carolina, is receiving hometown recognition. He’ll be inducted into the Graham Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday night. “Being from Graham all my life, it’s very special recognition,” Cates said. “What I’ve accomplished isn’t about me by any stretch. It’s about the people around me.” Cates, 71, has more than 360 career coaching victories. Eastern Randolph won the Class 3-AA title in 2006. Even when Cates left the Wildcats for…

03 Nov

Eastern Randolph Wildcats look for deep playoff run

Bob SuttonSportsBurton Cates, class 1-A, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, prep football, state playoffs

Eastern Randolph coach Burton Cates has watched his team move into a good spot going into the postseason. (Randolph Record file photo) RAMSEUR – Eastern Randolph doesn’t have a bye to begin the state playoffs this year. But the Wildcats have lots of other factors going for them in the Class 1-A West Region. Eastern Randolph (9-1) is the No. 3 seed with Friday night’s home game against No. 30 seed Cherryville (2-8). A year ago, the Wildcats reached the fourth round after holding a first-round bye for the second season in a row as the No. 1 seed in…

15 Aug

Norwood eyes big impact in final season for Eastern Randolph Wildcats

Bob SuttonSportsBurton Cates, Eastern Randolph athletics, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Jani Norwood, North Carolina Tar Heels, prep football

Eastern Randolph’s Jani Norwood is set for his senior season. (Bob Sutton/Randolph Record) North Carolina football commit excels as Eastern Randolph lineman RAMSEUR – Jani Norwood’s goal is to take care of business on the football field for Eastern Randolph in the coming months. The focus became clear after he made a college commitment in the spring. The offensive lineman chose North Carolina for his college destination. “I wanted to do it before the start of my senior season,” Norwood said. “UNC felt like the most home to me.” Eastern Randolph, the two-time defending Piedmont Athletic Conference champion, opens the…

15 Dec

Piedmont Athletic Conference all-conference teams for fall sports

Randolph RecordSportsBurton Cates, Caroline Wright, Coley Shiflet, Davonte Brooks, Easton Clapp, Madelyn Smith, PAC, piedmont athletic conference, Riley Queen

Riley Queen, right, of Wheatmore was voted the top offensive player in the PAC for boys’ soccer this year. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record). Here’s a list of the Piedmont Athletic Conference’s major award winners and all-conference selections for fall sports: Boys’ cross country Runner of the Year: Robert Burton (Wheatmore) Coach of the Year: Jonathan Ruiz (Providence Grove) Team: Robert Burton (Providence Grove), Colin Duvall (Providence Gove), Riley Gaines (Providence Grove), Jackson Garland (Providence Grove), Aiden Shelton (Providence Grove, Kaden Shoptaw (Providence Grove), Kelton Shoptaw (Providence Grove), Caleb Ward (Providence Grove), Chris White (UCA), Kevin Allred (Randleman), Jose Castillo (Trinity),…

19 Nov

Wildcats score late to keep alive season

Randolph RecordSportsBurton Cates, Eastern Randolph, Eastern Randolph athletics, Ervodd Cassady, nchsaa

RAMSEUR – Ervodd Cassady scored on a 26-yard run with 6:27 remaining as Eastern Randolph’s football team overcame visiting Robbinsville for a 29-26 victory in a third-round game of the Class 1-A state playoffs Friday night. The Wildcats, who are the top seed in the West Region, made two defensive stops inside their own 20-yard line in the final two minutes to hold on. Linebacker A’donye Herbert made a couple of key tackles. “Just make a play so we can keep moving in,” Herbert said. “It felt great, just one more step to moving in.” Eastern Randolph (11-1) will meet…

22 Sep

Eastern Randolph QB cuts weight, but still wants to feast on victories

Bob SuttonSportsBurton Cates, Eastern Randolph, football, piedmont athletic conference, prep football, prep sports, Stratton Barwick

Quarterback Stratton Barwick of Eastern Randolph bulls his way for a touchdown against Walkertown earlier this season. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) RAMSEUR – The thought of the quarterback for Eastern Randolph’s wildly successful football team being the big man on campus wasn’t a grand idea for veteran coach Burton Cates. He put Stratton Barwick on a diet. Now a bit swifter, Barwick hopes to put the Wildcats on the fast track again this year. Listed at 6-foot-1, Barwick is down to about 235 pounds after playing the 2021 season at 250. “He has gotten a step quicker,” Cates said. This weight…

03 Sep

Prep football: Randleman, E. Randolph, Providence Grove rack up wins

Randolph RecordSportsBurton Cates, Chase Whitaker, Christian Long, Dominic Payne, Ervodd Cassady, prep football

Eastern Randolph’s Ervodd Cassady runs into the end zone against Walkertown on Friday night. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) RANDLEMAN – Quarterback Christian Long ran for two touchdowns and threw for another as the Tigers cruised in a 47-7 victory against visiting Montgomery Central on Friday night. Amarion Moton scored on touchdown runs of 3 and 1 yards for Randleman (2-1). Long connected with Tyshaun Goldston, who racked up 135 yards on five catches, for a 66-yard touchdown play. Long’s touchdown runs came from 4 and 22 yards out. Micah Thurston also scored on a 13-yard touchdown run. Eastern Randolph 35, Walkertown…

17 Aug

Eastern Randolph Wildcats load up for more football success

Bob SuttonSportsBurton Cates, Eastern Randolph athletics, piedmont athletic conference, prep football, Stratton Barwick

Stratton Barwick will be at the controls of the offense again for Eastern Randolph. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Eastern Randolph wants to build on last year’s dominance RAMSEUR – Remaining the best football team in Randolph County is only part of the quest for Eastern Randolph. The Wildcats would like to build on that. With a foundation along the offensive line and enough talent swirling around at other positions, they could be on their way. Third-year starter Stratton Barwick is at quarterback and four offensive linemen are back from a year ago. Eastern Randolph finished with a 10-1 record last season,…