Randleman’s Micah Thurston, here carrying the ball against Union Pines, has scored three touchdowns this season. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
It’s conference time for football teams from Randolph County and there are numerous similarities to recent seasons.
Eastern Randolph goes for its third consecutive PAC championship.
The Wildcats’ biggest challenge might come from Randleman. Those teams conveniently meet in the regular-season finale Oct. 27 at Randleman.
There’s plenty to sort through prior to that potential showdown.
Just like last year, the Wildcats are riding a four-game winning streak with a 4-1 mark entering league play.
Randleman was last year’s PAC runner-up, while Providence Grove held that spot in 2021.
Here are some other items of note:
** Southwestern Randolph might be in the most interesting position. Like a season ago, the Cougars went 4-1 in non-conference games.
Last year’s 6-4 overall mark wasn’t enough to put Southwestern Randolph into the state playoffs, largely because of the strength of schedule.
Southwestern Randolph’s non-conference opponents were a combined 6-47 last year.
So far this season, the Cougars have played teams that have combined for an 11-16 record. While that’s not great, it’s already an upgrade when it comes to how the team’s power rating shapes up.
** Trinity and Wheatmore have been the bottom two teams (flipping in those spots each of the last two seasons) in the PAC. Breaking out of those positions won’t be easy, but both teams might be lined up for a better chance to move up than last year.
Offense has been an issue for the Bulldogs and Warriors in PAC games. Wheatmore has averaged less than 12 points per game in conference action in each of the past two years and Trinity hasn’t been much better in those two seasons combined.
** Asheboro is 1-4, but there might not be an easy path to reach the two-win mark for the first time since 2019.
Three of the other five teams in the Mid-Piedmont Conference posted winning marks in non-league play. North Davidson checks in with a 1-4 mark entering conference games.
The Blue Comets open league play at defending champion Oak Grove.
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Prep football – Week 7
Friday night’s games
Southwestern Randolph at Eastern Randolph
Trinity at Providence Grove
Randleman at Wheatmore
Asheboro at Oak Grove
