football

Eastern Randolph faces reigning state champion next

Eastern Randolph faces reigning state champion next

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…
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Football Playoffs: Looking for history

Football Playoffs: Looking for history

Providence Grove coach Calvin Brown throws up 1 finger for the extra point after a touchdown against visiting Jordon-Mathews in a non-league game in Climax on September 3, 2021. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL Providence Grove, Southwestern Randolph seek playoff breakthroughs 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…
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ER, Providence Grove, SWR to open football playoffs at home

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

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…
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Prep Football Roundup: Patriots edge Cougars for key PAC win with late drive

Prep Football Roundup: Patriots edge Cougars for key PAC win with late drive

Providence Grove's Caleb Rogers runs the ball against visiting Southwestern Randolph during a 40-34 victory in a PAC game at Climax on October 22, 2021. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL CLIMAX – Providence Grove struck the final and most decisive blows to pull out a 40-34 victory against visiting Southwestern Randolph in a key Piedmont Athletic Conference football clash Friday night. The Patriots used a 96-yard drive after recovering a fourth-quarter fumble for the go-ahead points. “We were resilient and kept on fighting and found a way,” Providence Grove coach Calvin Brown said. The outcome means that Providence Grove (7-2, 3-1…
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Patriots primed for crucial busy slate

Patriots primed for crucial busy slate

Providence Grove's Zane Cheek scores a touchdown in the first quarter against Trinity in a 49-14 victory Monday night in Cilmax. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL   Providence Grove treads through hectic week of games CLIMAX – A schedule packed with critical games is coming fast for Providence Grove’s football team. The importance of each of those continues to be magnified for the Patriots, who’ll play for the third time in eight days Friday night when Southwestern Randolph visits. “I told our guys that as long as I’ve done it, I’ve never done anything like this,” coach Calvin Brown said Monday…
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PREP FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: Cougars’ comeback leads to record night

PREP FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: Cougars’ comeback leads to record night

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…
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Cougars’ comeback leads to record night

Cougars’ comeback leads to record night

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 victories. The Cougars (7-1, 2-1 Piedmont Athletic Conference) have matched the school record for wins. They’ll try to break that in Friday night’s showdown at Providence Grove. It took plenty to defeat Randleman, which built a 10-0 lead. The Tigers (3-5, 1-2) have been on a conference championship…
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Prep Football Roundup: Cougars cruise back to win column

Prep Football Roundup: Cougars cruise back to win column

ASHEBORO – Keaton Reed threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as Southwestern Randolph got back on track by defeating visiting Wheatmore 55-12 in Monday night’s make-up game in Piedmont Athletic Conference football. Adam Cole scored three touchdowns – one on a run and two on receptions – for the Cougars (5-1, 1-1 PAC), who were coming off their lone loss in a setback to unbeaten Eastern Randolph. Easton Clapp ran for a touchdown and returned an interception for a touchdown. Lane Dalke scored on a touchdown run. Reed rushed for 117 yards and threw for 150 yards. Cole…
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Wildcats excel in showdown with Cougars

Wildcats excel in showdown with Cougars

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,…
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Wildcats, Cougars to clash to set tone in league play

Wildcats, Cougars to clash to set tone in league play

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…
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