prep football - 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…

04 Mar

Trinity alum Sheffield takes football job at Wheatmore

Bob SuttonSportsJacob Sheffield, Philip Yarbrough, piedmont athletic conference, prep football, Trinity athletics, Wheatmore athletics

Jacob Sheffield (Courtesy photo) TRINITY – Jacob Sheffield is the new football coach at Wheatmore, but his ties to the school extend more than a decade. Most recently, Sheffield has been an assistant coach at rival Trinity, his alma mater. He said he has “fallen on both sides of the tracks” when it comes to the neighboring schools. He takes the vacancy left when Philip Yarbrough resigned after seven seasons as Wheatmore’s football coach. The Warriors were 2-8 last year. Sheffield, who’ll turn 37 in May, said it appears a foundation has been established at Wheatmore. When he met with…

01 Feb

Yarbrough leaves Wheatmore football post

Bob SuttonSportsPhilip Yarbrough, piedmont athletic conference, prep football, Wheatmore athletics, Wheatmore Warriors

Wheatmore coach Philip Yarbrough, left, talks with quarterback Ben Walker during a 2021 game. (Randolph Record file photo) TRINITY – Philip Yarbrough called it a move that he agonized about before resigning as Wheatmore’s football coach after seven seasons and 13 total years as a coach at the school. But family matters and professional pursuits led him to the conclusion to step down. “It’s bittersweet,” he said. “Going to take a step back and catch my breath. There’s a lot going on that I thought it was best for the program. … This is, by far, the hardest decision I’ve…

01 Jan

Plenty of special sports moments to savor in 2023

Bob SuttonSports2023, Brandon Varner, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Johnny Thomas, Prep baseball, Prep Basketball, prep football, Prep volleyball, prep wrestling, Randleman Tigers, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

It was another special season for Southwestern Randolph’s volleyball team and coach Darby Kennedy. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record) Here’s a look at some of the top sports-related story topics in Randolph County in 2023: ** The gym at Trinity High School was named in honor of longtime boys’ basketball coach Tim Kelly. ** Uwharrie Charter Academy’s wrestling team won the Class 1-A dual team state championship by defeating Avery County in Greensboro. ** Eastern Randolph’s Brecken Snotherly set a school record for points in a girls’ basketball game by posting 51 against Trinity. Snotherly had a stellar senior season before going…

23 Dec

Norwood begins journey with Tar Heels

Bob SuttonSportscollege football, college recruiting, Eastern Randolph athletics, Eastern Randolph football, Jani Norwood, North Carolina Tar Heels, prep football

Jani Norwood (Courtesy photo) RAMSEUR – Jani Norwood of Eastern Randolph officially became a member of the signing class for the North Carolina football team this week. The senior lineman was a four-year starter on the offensive line. This year, he was named the Piedmont Athletic Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year for his work on the defensive front for the Wildcats, who won their third consecutive conference championship. Twenty of North Carolina’s 27 signees, including Norwood, are listed as early enrollees and another comes as a junior college transfer. That explains why Norwood isn’t a member of Eastern Randolph’s…

22 Dec

Here are Piedmont Athletic Conference all-conference teams for fall sports

Randolph RecordSportsall-conference, Coley Shiflet, Fernando Hernandez, Jani Norwood, Madelyn Smith, piedmont athletic conference, prep cross country, prep football, Prep golf, prep soccer, Prep tennis, Prep volleyball, Tyshaun Goldston, Zach Hazelwood

Southwestern Randolph’s Fernando Hernandez, left, and Randleman’s Chris Ayala were two of the top boys’ soccer players in the PAC. (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: Zach Hazelwood (Wheatmore) Coach of the Year: Dennis Lewis (Providence Grove) Team: Robbie Clark (Providence Grove), Colin Duvall (Providence Grove), Alden Shelton (Providence Grove), Kelton Shoptaw (Providence Grove), Caleb Ward (Providence Grove), Jedidah Dake (Randleman), Freddie Mercado (Randleman), Austin Luck (Uwharrie Charter Academy), Zeriah Thompson (Uwharrie Charter Academy), Chris White (Uwharrie Charter Academy),…

14 Dec

Randleman linebacker looks to shine in N.C. East-West All-Star Game

Bob SuttonSportsEastern Randolph football, Jani Norwood, North Carolina East-West All-Star Game, prep football, Randleman athletics, Thomas Dobias

Randleman linebacker Thomas Dobias tackles Providence Grove quarterback James Ellis. (Randolph Record) RANDLEMAN – Randleman senior Thomas Dobias is excited for the chance to put a finishing touch on his high school football career. He hopes that helps lead to other opportunities on the gridiron. Dobias, a linebacker, will play in the North Carolina East-West All-Star Game on Sunday afternoon in Greensboro. “I definitely want to play college football,” Dobias said. “I think this is going to help me.” New for the 2023-24 school year, the North Carolina Coaches Association has moved the game from the mid-July spot to…

08 Dec

Check on Asheboro’s Mid-Piedmont Conference fall all-conference selections

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Class 3-A, Diego Bustamante, Kelly Smith, Mid-Piedmont Conference, prep cross country, prep football, Prep golf, prep soccer, Prep tennis, Prep volleyball

Carlos Gonzalez was one of the Asheboro players helping the Blue Comets to the Mid-Piedmont Conference title. (Randolph Record file photo) Here’s a list of the Mid-Piedmont Conference’s major award winners plus Asheboro’s all-conference selections for fall sports: Boys’ cross country Runner of the Year: Hunter Creech (Oak Grove) Coach of the Year: Trey Cook (Central Davidson) Girls’ cross country Runner of the Year: Jillian Parks (Central Davidson) Coach of the Year: Daniel Parker (North Davidson) Football Co-Offensive Players of the Year: Connor Creech (Oak Grove), Alex Sanford (Ledford) Defensive Player of the Year: Bradley Byrd (Oak Grove) Lineman of…

25 Nov

Defending champ Mount Airy tops Eastern Randolph in regional semifinal

Randolph RecordSports1A Football, 1A playoffs, class 1-A, Eastern Randolph, Eastern Randolph football, football, Mount Airy, Mt. Airy, prep football, Robbinsville, state playoffs, Tarboro

MOUNT AIRY — Eastern Randolph’s football season ended in a familiar fashion. The Wildcats lost to Mount Airy. For the second season in a row, Mount Air defeated Eastern Randolph in the Class 1-A West Region semifinals. Friday night’s 42-21 outcome spelled the end for the third-seeded Wildcats (12-2), who had a 12-game winning streak end. A year ago, the season ended with a home defeat. Eastern Randolph led 21-14 at halftime before three second-half turnovers were too much to overcome. Mount Airy tied the game and went ahead in the third quarter. The second of those touchdowns came after…

22 Nov

Eastern Randolph heads for playoff rematch after bruising Thomasville to advance

Randolph RecordSportsCarter Revelle, class 1-A, Eastern Randolph, Lucas Smith, Nicah Taylor, prep football, state playoffs

Eastern Randolph’s Ladaryan Spinks makes a stop on a Thomasville ball carrier during Friday night’s game in the Class 1-A state playoffs. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) RAMSEUR – Running back Lucas Smith ran for two touchdowns and Eastern Randolph’s football team cranked out another victory in the Class 1-A state playoffs. The Wildcats defeated visiting Thomasville 40-19 in the third round Friday night. Third-seeded Eastern Randolph (12-1) displayed balanced offense by compiling 246 passing yards to go with 225 yards on the ground. This means a rematch with defending state champion Mount Airy (13-0), the No. 2 seed, in the West…