prep football - Randolph Record

23 Aug

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Kai Matthews

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, athlete of the week, prep football, randolph county sports

Asheboro, football Matthews had key plays on offense and defense as the Blue Comets opened the season by defeating visiting Albemarle 24-22. He scored on a rushing play for one of the Blue Comets’ four touchdowns. He also made a late-game interception as Asheboro clung to the lead. The Blue Comets won their season opener for just the second time in a seven-season span. Matthews, a senior, has excelled in track and field as a sprinter for Asheboro as well.

22 Aug

Wheatmore has returning QB, growing confidence

Bob SuttonSportsJohnathan Kelly, Philip Yarbrough, prep football, Riley Strickland, Wheatmore athletics

Wheatmore’s Riley Strickland prepares to throw a pass during a game last year. (Randolph Record file photo) TRINITY – Wheatmore’s football team has something no other Randolph County team has. A returning starting quarterback. “That’s actually pretty cool,” said Wheatmore’s Riley Strickland, who holds that distinction. “I still have two years.” Strickland and the Warriors began the first of those with Friday night’s 33-7 victory at West Davidson. That outcome served as a sign of the development for Wheatmore, which won seven games the past three seasons combined. “My biggest takeaway from Friday night is we’re better than last…

19 Aug

Football Roundup: Asheboro, Providence Grove win openers in debut for coaches

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Calvin Brown, Logan Laughlin, prep football, Providence Grove football, Randleman football, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Wheatmore athletics

Asheboro receiver Elijah Woodle makes a move against Albemarle on Friday night. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Logan Laughlin threw three touchdown passes to Elijah Woodle as Asheboro defeated visiting Albemarle 24-22 in a successful debut for new coach Calvin Brown. The outcome wasn’t secure until Kai Matthews’ interception. Matthews earlier scored a touchdown on a rushing play. Laughlin threw for 225 yards on 16-for-24 passing. TJ Mark also intercepted a pass for Asheboro’s defense. Brown is in his first season with the Blue Comets after coming from Providence Grove. Providence Grove 24, East Davidson 7: At Thomasville, the Patriots…

18 Aug

New eras, altered schedules greet teams for start of football season in Randolph County

Bob SuttonSportsBear Bradley, David Hayes, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, prep football, Providence Grove football, Randleman football, Southwestern Randolph football, Trinity football, Wheatmore athletics

Returning Randleman defenders, here converging on a Southwestern Randolph player last year, include, from left to right, Thomas Dobias, Gregory Price, Bryson Atkins and Tanner Gneiting. (Randolph record file photo) The high school football season starts Friday night. Here are a few items of note involving Randolph County teams: ** Asheboro, Providence Grove and Trinity play under first-year coaches. Asheboro’s Calvin Brown came from Providence Grove to take the coaching role. Asheboro’s non-conference slate has been slightly rearranged, though four of the five non-conference opponents are from within Randolph County. The change from the past couple of years comes…

17 Aug

Brown encouraged as first football season with Asheboro Blue Comets nears

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Logan Laughlin, prep football, Providence Grove athletics, Wes Luther

First-year Asheboro coach Calvin Brown, shown here during a practice earlier this month, is encouraged by improvement from the Blue Comets. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Another phase of Asheboro football takes form with the beginning of the season under first-year coach Calvin Brown. There’s a new set of optimism for the Blue Comets, who’ve won a total of two games the past three seasons. The season begins with Friday night’s home game against Albemarle. “There’s a lot of excitement in Asheboro,” said Brown, who arrived after seven seasons as Providence Grove’s coach. “We’re not going to start winning…

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…

10 Aug

Widespread success reshapes Eastern Randolph’s reputation

Bob SuttonSportsDevonte Brooks, Eastern Randolph athletics, Foster Cates, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, Prep Basketball, prep football

Among the thrills for Eastern Randolph during the past school year came following a road victory against South Stokes in the boys’ basketball state playoffs as coach Johnny Thomas and the team celebrate. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) RAMSEUR – Eastern Randolph had a different kind of school year in 2022-23. For athletics director Foster Cates, the perception of athletics at the school might be changing. That’s because the Wildcats advanced to the Class 1-A state championship game in boys’ basketball. That had never happened before. “It has been such a football and baseball dominant school forever,” Cates said. “I wanted…

25 Jun

No speed traps: Cougars’ Cole burns at rapid clip

Bob SuttonSportsAdam Cole, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, prep football, prep track and field, Southwestern Randolph Cougars

Southwestern Randolph’s Adam Cole runs behind teammate Eli Gravely during a 2022 football game. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Southwestern Randolph product seeks more fast times in football ASHEBORO – Adam Cole figured out pretty early that the best way to make an impression was to do it fast. He sprinted to a special high school career for Southwestern Randolph. It mostly came about through football and baseball, allowing his foot speed to set him apart. By his senior year, he became the face of the football program. “It’s kind of a role I have to take,” he said. “It’s not like…

13 Apr

Former Wheatmore coach takes Trinity football job

Bob SuttonSportsBear Bradley, piedmont athletic conference, prep football, Trinity athletics

TRINITY – Bear Bradley is taking a job as a football head coach at a school in Randolph County. Even though it’s a different stop than in a previous role, he said it feels like a return to a comfort zone. Bradley has become the football coach at Trinity, leaving a similar position at Southern Guilford. “The more I got thinking about it, I think it was one of those things, I already had some of those relationships,” Bradley said. “To be back in Randolph County, and people you’ve known. There’s a family atmosphere and you’re welcomed.” Bradley spent four…

07 Feb

Trinity needs football coach after Morris steps away

Bob SuttonSportsMarlon Morris, piedmont athletic conference, prep football, Trinity athletics

Marlon Morris spent three seasons as Trinity’s head coach. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph record) TRINITY – Trinity is amid a coaching change for its football program. Marlon Morris stepped down from his role as head coach after three seasons. “It was kind of a surprise,” Trinity athletics director Robert Mitchell said. “He decided it was best not to stay as coach.” Trinity was 9-16 in three seasons under Morris. The Bulldogs had back-to-back 4-6 seasons after a 1-4 mark in the pandemic-reconfigured 2021 spring season. “We’re going to give it a few weeks and see how the next month goes,” Mitchell said…