Eastern Randolph - Randolph Record

17 Nov

Eastern Randolph faces reigning state champion next

Bob SuttonSportsEastern Randolph, football, high school football, randolph county sports, state champion

RAMSEUR — The state playoffs sure become interesting in a hurry for Eastern Randolph. The Wildcats opened play in the Class 1-A West Region with a romp past No. 16 seed Draughn on Friday night. That sends Eastern Randolph (10-0), the No. 1 seed, into a third-round matchup this week with visiting Murphy. Murphy (8-4) is the reigning Class 1-A state champion. “We’ll go to work on it,” Eastern Randolph coach Burton said of the assignment. “We just take one game at a time. Everybody says that, but we really do.” Eastern Randolph, which received a bye in the first…

06 Nov

First-round losses end seasons for three area teams

Randolph RecordSportsEastern Randolph, Providence Grove, Randleman, SWR

Southwestern Randolph quarterback Keaton Reed throws the ball against visiting Polk County during the Class 2-A state playoffs in Asheboro on November 5, 2021. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL ASHEBORO -- The historic season came to an end for Southwestern Randolph with a 29-14 loss to Polk County on Friday night. Across the county, Providence Grove lost to Forest Hills. Randleman fell at traveled Reidsville. The 16th-seeded Cougars (8-3) finished a historic season where they defeated rival Asheboro at Lee J. Stone Stadium for the first time in school history, set the school record for wins, and was the home team…

01 Nov

ER, Providence Grove, SWR to open football playoffs at home

Bob SuttonSportsEastern Randolph, football, Providence Grove, Randleman, Southwestern Randolph, SWR

ASHEBORO — Three football teams from Randolph County will play in home games to begin the state playoffs, though one of them will have to wait an extra week before playing. Undefeated Eastern Randolph (9-0) is the No. 1 seed for the Class 1-A West Region, receiving a bye to the second week of the playoffs. That’s when the Wildcats will be slated for a home game Nov. 12 against the Draughn / Elkin winner. Eighth-seeded Providence Grove (8-2) and 16th-seeded Southwestern Randolph (8-2) will open the Class 2-A states at home Friday night. Providence Grove takes on No. 25…

30 Oct

Prep Football Roundup: Wildcats complete unbeaten regular season with blanking of Randleman

Randolph RecordSportsAHS, Asheboro, Blue Commets, Eastern Randolph, ERHS, Providence Grove, Randleman

Na'heim Lilly runs for a touchdown during Eastern Randolph's road victory at Randleman on Friday night. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL ASHEBORO — Eastern Randolph completed an undefeated regular season by whipping host Randleman 46-0 on Friday night. The Wildcats (9-0 overall, 5-0 Piedmont Athletic Conference) received four touchdowns from Na’heim Lilly and two touchdowns from Elias Alston in securing the outright league title. Lilly’s 34-yard run opened the scoring in the first quarter. He added a 2-yard run in the second quarter. He finished with 174 rushing yards on 20 carries. Alston caught two touchdown passes from Stratton Barwick, the…

29 Oct

Four soccer teams to start states at home

Bob SuttonSportsAHS, Asheboro, Eastern Randolph, Education, schools, soccer, Trinity, UCA, Uwharrie Charter

Uwharrie Charter Academy's Max DeNamur takes a shot on goal against Wheatmore during their conference soccer game last month in Asheboro. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL ASHEBORO — Four boys’ soccer teams from Randolph County schools will open the state playoffs with home games Monday. Asheboro tops the list as a No. 4 seed in the West Region bracket for Class 3-A. The Blue Comets (14-1-3) take on North Lincoln in the first round. Asheboro gained the top spot for seeding out of the Mid-Piedmont Conference after it tied with Ledford in the regular season. Both teams had 8-0-2 records, though…

20 Oct

PREP FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: Cougars’ comeback leads to record night

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro, Eastern Randolph, Education, football, Providence Grove, Randleman, schools, Southwestern Randolph, SWR, Trinity, Wheatmore

Southwestern Randolph’s Eli Gravely makes a catch over Randleman’s Jozey Akines. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL Southwestern Randolph hits seven wins as Cole collects school TD mark RANDLEMAN -- It took a record-breaking performance for Southwestern Randolph to win its latest football game. And that could mean more records for the Cougars this season. Southwestern Randolph overcame host Randleman for a 28-23 victory Friday night. Junior receiver Adam Cole scored two touchdowns to set the single-season school record for touchdowns. The Cougars (7-1, 2-1 Piedmont Athletic Conference) have matched the school record for wins. They’ll try to break that in Friday…

20 Oct

Eastern Randolph makes shift to 1-A classification

Bob SuttonSportsEastern Randolph, Education, schools, sports

Eastern Randolph’s Davonte Brooks runs the ball against Southwestern Randolph during a Piedmont Athletic Conference football game Oct. 1 in Ramseur. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL RAMSEUR – For a school with so much athletic success through the years, it might be strange to view Eastern Randolph as the little guy. But that’s how the Wildcats are listed when it comes to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. Eastern Randolph is a Class 1-A school, reflecting the group with the smallest enrollment. “For 1-A, we’re not bad,” football coach Burton Cates said. In football, the Wildcats are undefeated this season…

04 Oct

Wildcats excel in showdown with Cougars

Randolph RecordSportsEastern Randolph, football, Southwestern Randolph, SWR

RAMSEUR — Eastern Randolph didn’t seem fazed by a big-game environment. So the Wildcats settled in quickly and dispatched visiting Southwestern Randolph, winning 32-14 in Friday night’s showdown. “It’s a rival. It’s an in-county game,” Eastern Randolph coach Burton Cates said afterward. “It’s the first conference game. It’s homecoming.” And it’s another notable performance for the Wildcats (5-0). Na’hiem Lilly scored four touchdowns and Eastern Randolph was in command for most of the game. “We didn’t control the line of scrimmage all night long,” Southwestern Randolph coach Seth Baxter said. “We got knocked on our heels a little bit.” Indeed,…

29 Sep

Wildcats, Cougars to clash to set tone in league play

Bob SuttonSportsEastern Randolph, football, Southwestern Randolph, SWR

ASHEBORO — It’s easy to recognize all that Southwestern Randolph’s football team has done entering the Piedmont Athletic Conference portion of the schedule. And the opponent Friday night is the team with a No. 1 state ranking. So Eastern Randolph has some clout, too. “It’s a big game for the schools,” Eastern Randolph coach Burton Cates said. “It’s a great way to open conference.” Eastern Randolph (4-0) is the top-ranked team in Class 1-A. Southwestern Randolph (5-0) has cracked the Top 25 in Class 2-A. Southwestern Randolph coach Seth Baxter spent eight years coaching at Eastern Randolph before taking the…

01 Sep

Wildcats showcase variety of weapons

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro, Blue Comets, Eastern Randolph, Wildcats

Quarterback’s precision adds to firepower for Eastern Randolph's offense ASHEBORO – Eastern Randolph has so many ways to be productive on the football field. With highly recruited playmakers dotting recent rosters for the Wildcats, now it’s clear that it’d be wise not to overlook Stratton Barwick. The junior quarterback is slinging the ball in the right directions these days. “It’s a joy to see the ball going through the air and the crowd cheers,” Barwick said. That happened numerous times last week when visiting Eastern Randolph thumped Asheboro 49-7 on Friday night. “We just came out and played football,” Barwick…