ASHEBORO — A chef from New York has come to Asheboro to open a restaurant, hoping to put diners in a resort frame of mind.
The Bun Hut NC will open within a month at 132 Sunset Ave., offering food and cocktails. It will specialize in Caribbean-Asian dishes.
“When you walk in, we want you to feel like you’re on a Caribbean vacation,” said business owner Kermit Raymond Mackey.
The new restaurant’s location will be in the former location of Hamilton’s Steakhouse, which has moved to 328 Sunset Ave.
Mackey is referred to as “Chef Ray” and he’ll be doing much of the cooking.
Mackey said he hopes to have the restaurant open by late November or early December. He initially expects to have five employees.
“It depends on business,” he said.
There will be a traditional Caribbean menu with an Asian twist. The restaurant, which has an upstairs and downstairs, can seat up to 140 diners.
“We recently closed a location in New York,” Mackey said. “We were fortunate to find this beautiful location. … It’s a good difference for me. I was looking for peace and quiet.”
He said his Manhattan location was open for about 1 ½ years, beginning in the pandemic. He said there were challenges with COVID and civil unrest.
Mackey, who turns 38 later this month, said he has been in the restaurant/food service industry for 21 years. He entered culinary school at age 16 in the Bahamas.
Mackey is also opening a restaurant with a similar theme in Newark, N.J., at a branch of Rutgers University. He said that venue will have a set-up geared more toward quick service.
Mackey said he came to this region of the country because one of his cousins had been a chef at Duke University in Durham and he has a brother in the Triangle.
The Southwestern Randolph Cougars hold the state championship banner after their win against Camden County Bruins in the 2A State Championship volleyball match at Valvano Arena at Historic Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, NC on November 6th, 2021. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL
RALEIGH — The Cougars of Southwestern Randolph are once again state champions in volleyball.
Southwestern Randolph Cougars head coach Darby Kennedy talks to her team during a timeout against Camden County Bruins during the 2A State Championship volleyball match at Valvano Arena at Historic Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, NC on November 6th, 2021. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL
The Cougars faced a Camden County Bruins team that was undefeated and had only lost one set all season. The Cougars started quickly at Reynolds Coliseum on the campus of NC State Saturday with a first set win. The Bruins came back to tie the match at one set apiece. After dropping the second set, SWR took the next two sets to seal the championship.
“It’s huge for our girls, coaches, the whole school and community,” said SWR athletic director Chris Chapman in an interview with North State Journal in Raleigh. “They really came out and supported our team this year and I couldn’t be happier.”
Southwestern Randolph Cougars (2) Coley Shiflet dives for the dig against Camden County Bruins during the 2A State Championship volleyball match PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL
The win marks the third state championship in volleyball for the Cougars. They won back-to-back championships in 1991 and 1992.
Southwestern Randolph Cougars Molly Strider and Camden County Bruins Kenison Parker received the Sportsmanship award with Commissioner Que Tucker after the 2A State Championship volleyball match in Raleigh, NC on November 6th, 2021. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Coley Shiflet won the MVP award and Molly Strider won the sportsmanship award.
“When we won that first set, I feel like our team got a little bit too cocky,” said Shiflet in a post-game interview. “Then we realized in the second set that we are actually going to have to play.”
Southwestern Randolph Cougars Coley Shiflet won the MVP award stands with Randolph County Superintendent Stephen Gainey after the 2A State Championship volleyball match. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL
On winning the MVP award, Shiflet said she wasn’t expecting it. “Usually the people that get awards are the hitters and not the defensive players,” said Shiflet. Shiflet was visible throughout the match and made several dives to keep the ball in the air for the Cougars.
After advancing to the championship game over number one seeded East Surry in the western regional, the Cougars faced the east’s number one seed in undefeated Camden County. “We talked about how that undefeated thing can be good and bad.,” said head coach Darby Kennedy after the match. “We’ve lost to some big teams and we know how to win against big teams.”
Kennedy said winning the first set was critical. “We know how to battle back from a loss and we know how to battle back from one set down but, do they?”
Camden did bounce back after losing only their second set of the season. Kennedy echoed her MVP’s comment on the Cougars second set performance. “I think that confidence was way up there … you’ve got an undefeated team and you just beat them pretty good.” said Kennedy. “We talked about it. In that third set we got recomposed.”
After taking the third set easily, the Cougars jumped out to a lead in the fourth set but errors allowed the Bruins to close the gap as the Cougars played towards championship point. “We played full of emotion today so there was a roller coaster of highs and lows.,” said Kennedy. “In that fourth set, the leadership from the seniors, they really stepped up.”
Students from SWR cheer on the Cougars during the 2A State Championship volleyball match at Historic Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, NC on November 6th, 2021. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Kennedy said the win is big for the entire Randolph County community. “All of us have been chasing state titles for awhile. Wheatmore made it here not too long ago, Asheboro made it here,” said Kennedy. “These coaches, I’ve looked up to. They really supported me … I really feel supported by our entire community. Everybody is here and it’s a blessing.”
The Cougars navigated a Piedmont Athletic Conference with an undefeated regular season and Kennedy credited that gauntlet, including a loss to Uwharrie Charter in the conference tournment, with her team’s resilience in the state tournament. “I would love to see if there is a tougher 2A conference in our state,” said Kennedy. “I give credit to [conference opponents] because we wouldn’t be here if they didn’t push us.”
It has become clear that after years of progress, the COVID-19 pandemic has aided in the opioid crisis spiraling out of control once again. Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a recordhigh of 93,331 drug overdose deaths. The vast majority of those deaths were related to opioids. Given the immense human suffering that swept through the country due to opioid overdoses, it is imperative to act quickly to prevent this crisis from gripping more Americans in addiction.
First and foremost, we need to help create off-ramps from addiction, and that starts with making certain treatment drugs available to as many individuals as possible. A key tool used by first responders and law enforcement officers to help someone who is in the midst of an overdose is the drug Naloxone. Earlier this year, Pfizer announced that a manufacturing issue caused the company to halt production of Naloxone and they couldn’t restart production until 2022. The University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health estimated that the shortage of this treatment could result in about 1 million fewer doses, potentially leading to 18,000 more overdose deaths. The seriousness of this situation necessitates action. I sent a letter to Pfizer’s Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla asking him to work with Congress to identify solutions to expedite the restart of Naloxone production.
There are also legislative solutions to quickly provide treatment to those who need it. The Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act is a bipartisan bill that would remove the outdated regulation restricting access to buprenorphine, one of the most widely-used medications to treat opioid addiction.
I co-sponsored the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act. This bipartisan bill will expand the State Opioid Response Grant Program to include the battle against all substance abuse and extend the program until 2027. This program is particularly important in our state. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services used $35 million from this program to fight the opioid crisis in 2020. Late last month, after a legislative push by me and my colleagues, this bill passed the House. I hope to see it become law very soon.
There are several other potential solutions that I’m working on in Congress and I intend to make sure that these bipartisan solutions receive a vote. Back in August, I sponsored a bill that would permanently classify the deadly drug Fentanyl as a Schedule I substance. This bipartisan bill would give federal and state authorities more options to fight the spread of this lethal drug.
Another avenue to tackle this crisis is to target bad actors who attempt to “pharmacy shop” and stock up and deal in controlled substances. The Opioid Prescription Verification Act would create statewide reporting systems that help pharmacists identify and report criminals who perpetuate addiction and ruin lives.
Substance abuse has affected thousands of people, damaged families, and devastated communities across the country. The cost of the opioid crisis can be measured in lost dreams, lost potential, and in the tragic loss of human life. So I will continue to do everything I can to support initiatives that help the heroes in our community fight substance abuse every day.
This week, the president took a trip to Virginia to try to help salvage the gubernatorial prospects of fellow Washington-lifer Terry McAuliffe. President Joe Biden used the appearance to liken the GOP gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin to Jan. 6 rioters, to lie about Republicans supporting “book bans” and to attempt to goad former President Donald Trump into coming to Virginia.
Biden wants to talk about one person these days, and that person isn’t Biden. Then again, what does he possibly have to brag about? Shutting down COVID? More Americans have died from the disease during his presidency than his predecessors, even with the emergence of vaccines. “I will not shut down the country,” Biden promised during his campaign. “I will shut down the virus.”
Now, of course coronavirus isn’t really the president’s fault. But since Biden had no compunction blaming Trump personally for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of citizens, no one can fault voters for using the same standard of culpability now.
Is Biden going to brag about overseeing what promises to be the weakest economic recovery since the last time he was put in charge of such things? Rather than looking for ways to create more opportunities for American workers, the president has been clamoring to put millions of them on the dole.
Is the president going to talk about the border? Is he once again going to explain how high inflation is actually a positive development for most consumers? Is he going to brag about his foreign policy? When was the last time an American president abandoned hundreds of U.S. citizens to a terror regime? After 13 service members were murdered by terrorists in Kabul, due in part to his administration’s stark incompetence, we proceeded to accidentally kill seven children in retaliation. The terrorists disappeared only slightly faster than the media coverage.
No, Biden is going to talk about Trump.
It’s worth mentioning, as well, that while Democrats were in a constant state of feigned dismay over the lack of decorum during the Trump years — Biden often promised to “restore decency” to the White House — they are just as guilty of corroding our public discourse.
On Youngkin, for example, Biden said, “Extremism can come in many forms. It can come in the rage of a mob driven to assault the Capitol. It can come in a smile and a fleece vest.” It isn’t surprising to hear unhinged pundits conflating the Jan. 6 rioters with Republicans who have never uttered a word of support for the attack on the Capitol, but coming from the president of the United States, a president whose campaign was grounded on the promise of mending a frayed nation and normalizing political behavior, it’s particularly ugly.
This kind of rhetoric, though, is nothing new for Biden. In 2012, before Trump had allegedly coarsened our politics, the then-vice president told a crowd of African Americans that the milquetoast Republican and presumptive nominee Mitt Romney, a man who had never embraced any form of racism, much less allied himself with segregationists, was going to “put you all back in chains” because he was in favor of some mild deregulation and economic reforms.
Well, Youngkin is apparently similarly disposed. His principal issue has been parents and their lack of control over school curricula. If you’re looking for an election conspiracy theorist in the Virginia gubernatorial race, though, you need not look any further than McAuliffe, who doesn’t seem to believe a Republican has won a presidential contest since 1988.
But, as the New York Times pointed out, even McAuliffe barely, if ever, mentions the former president in his ads or speeches. Biden’s appearance might fly in deep-blue northern Virginia, and it may or may not work in bringing Trump to the state, but it’s unlikely to save his presidency.
The more Americans get to know Biden, the less they like him. And the less they like him, the more he’s compelled to talk about Trump.
David Harsanyi is a senior writer at National Review and author of “Eurotrash: Why America Must Reject the Failed Ideas of a Dying Continent.”
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.
Southwestern Randolph coach Seth Baxter looks to the field after his team game up a 75-yard drive for a touchdown in the second half against Polk County during the Class 2-A state playoffs on November 5, 2021. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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 for the first time in the state playoffs.
Providence Grove’s Luke Thomas makes a pass against Forest Hills during the Class 2-A state playoffs in Climax on November 5, 2021. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Eighth-seeded Providence Grove (8-3) is 0-10 all-time in football playoff games.
The Patriots were undefeated against Class 2-A competition this season. Their losses came to teams (Eastern Randolph and Ledford) with a combined 16-3 record. The Patriots have reached the eight-win mark in each of the past two full seasons (not counting the abbreviated 2020 season that was shifted to this past spring). The Patriots lost 27-26 in overtime to Forest Hills.
Randleman (4-7) made the field as the No. 29 seed in the Class 2-A West Region, earning the Tigers a chance at fourth-seeded Reidsville (10-0). The Rams have made 27 appearances in state championship games and have won state titles the past three seasons. The chance to play another game was a reward for the Tigers, who picked up some momentum in the middle of the season after beginning with an 0-3 start. The Tigers fell in Reidsville by 49-7.
The lone remaining local football team is No. 1 seed Eastern Randolph (9-0) in the Class 1-A West Region. The Wildcats had a bye and will face 16th-seeded Draughn (6-5) next week in Ramseur.
President Ronald Reagan wisely said, “We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much.”
Today, our national debt is an unfathomable $29 trillion, and President Reagan’s warning has never been truer.
It’s no secret that President Joe Biden and Washington Democrats are addicted to spending your hard-earned money. Their so-called “Reconciliation Plan” is a prime example. This massive entitlement and climate change bill, a radical proposal written by Bernie Sanders, will transform our society into something we don’t recognize and will cripple our economy.
Washington Democrats have been working to finalize their bill behind closed doors — hiding details of the massive plan from you, the American people. Yet this is not the first time they have tried this trick. In 2010, then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi infamously said Democrats had to pass Obamacare into law for you to find out what was in it. Fast forward to 2021, and here we go again.
While their plan has changed throughout the last month, one thing is clear: it is a massive expansion of government control over your life from the cradle to the grave.
To pay for it, their proposals have included $2.1 trillion in new tax hikes. The plan would punish families by raising taxes on 75% of the middle class. It raises the business-tax rate to among the highest in the developed world, well above communist China’s. We all know these businesses will be forced to pass those costs along to you and it means less job opportunities. In fact, this tax increase will force lower and middle-income taxpayers to shoulder 66.3% of the huge corporate tax increases. It also raises taxes on 1.4 million small businesses which employ 12.5 million American workers. While they have discussed numerous tax gimmicks to target billionaires, in reality their plan would give tax breaks to the wealthy, providing families earning $800,000 with $118,000 in tax credits.
While their elite friends get tax breaks, Democrats plan to further punish you by raising the costs to fill your car or heat your home. Home energy bills are already expected to increase by 54% this winter! A new natural gas tax included in their bill would increase your heating bills by an additional $242 per year. Another new tax on energy producers could cost up to 90,000 Americans their jobs.
As if all of this wasn’t enough, President Biden’s proposal will use taxpayer dollars to fund abortions. It would grant amnesty to more than 8 million illegal immigrants. $80 billion is spent to hire 85,000 new IRS agents to monitor your bank account if you spend just $28 a day.
What’s worse — President Biden has tied this massive entitlement bill to infrastructure legislation. There is massive bipartisan support for investing in our roads, bridges, ports and broadband. Yet just 10% of their $1.5 trillion ‘infrastructure’ bill is devoted to infrastructure, while the rest is devoted to propping up radical Green New Deal climate provisions.
Rest assured, I oppose both bills because they are the wrong solutions and the wrong time. Just last week we learned that economic growth in the last quarter slowed to a dismal 2% — the worst since our economy began to reopen after the pandemic. Gas prices in North Carolina jumped 14 cents per gallon, tied for the largest spike in the nation.
Supply chain issues and inflation are clearly taking a toll on families and our economy. I cannot support trillions in new spending and taxes that will only make Biden’s economic, energy and inflation crises worse.
We need to get government out of the way, get Americans back to work, encourage energy production here in the U.S., and cut government spending and taxes. While many in Washington argue how much to tax you and how large to grow government, I will always stand up for you and your family.
ASHEBORO – Two members of Southwestern Randolph’s football team will go from the state playoffs to the pros this weekend.
That’s because senior receiver Bryson Reid of the Cougars was selected as a recipient of a Carolina Panthers Community Captain Award.
As part of the program that honors players who excel in the classroom and the community, Reid has been invited by the Panthers for Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
“My teammates were so excited for me,” Reid said.
He selected Cougars quarterback Keaton Reed to be his guest for the NFL game-day experience.
Reid is part of the Beta Club at school and he’s involved in youth mission programs with First Baptist Church of Asheboro. Because Reid is a recipient of the award, the Panthers will make a $500 donation to the Southwestern Randolph athletics department.
“His character is what separates him,” football coach Seth Baxter said. “A great leader, and one of those kids you want representing your school.”
Baxter said Reid also made an impact on youngsters when he has been a counselor for youth camps at the school.
Reid, 17, said this will be the first time he attends a Panthers game.
Before that, he’ll be suiting up at least one more time for the Cougars. He’s also a cornerback and is involved on punt and kickoff returns.
Southwestern Randolph (8-2), which has compiled a school-record win total this year, is set to open the Class 2-A playoffs with Friday night’s home game against Polk County.
“It has been a great season,” Reid said. “We’ve been together since middle school. We’ve never really had a winning season.”
Other than when he was on the sideline as a ball boy several years ago, Reid said he has never been part of a football playoff game.
Reid’s junior season was cut short because of torn ankle ligaments. That caused him to miss a couple of baseball games in the spring.
This season, he said his favorite experience was the 42-30 home victory against Starmount because of the atmosphere — a “Blue-Out” with fans wearing school colors. He said he was most fond of teammate Adam Cole chasing down a Starmount ball carrier and causing a fumble – and then the reaction from the Cougars defenders as they blocked for a big return.
Reid said he’s still assessing his college options. He intends to major in political science.
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 will be slated for a home game Nov. 12 against the Draughn / Elkin winner.
The others will be getting started Friday night. Here’s a look at those matchups.
Forest Hills at Providence Grove
Providence Grove assistant coach Grant Handy lifts Running back Caleb Rogers in the air after their 40-34 victory against Southwestern Randolph on Oct. 22. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Eighth-seeded Providence Grove (8-2) takes on No. 25 seed Forest Hills (6-4) in a Class 2-A West Region game.
Providence Grove is trying to break through in the postseason. It is 0-9 all-time in football playoff games.
The Patriots are undefeated against Class 2-A competition this season. Their losses came to teams (Eastern Randolph and Ledford) with a combined 16-3 record.
Forest Hills won three consecutive games before falling 38-9 at Monroe in the regular-season finale. In each of the Yellow Jackets’ last three losses they’ve surrendered at least 38 points.
Providence Grove has scored 40 or more points in seven of its eight victories. Topping that list was last week’s 66-12 victory at Wheatmore, with seven players scoring at least one touchdown.
The Patriots have reached the eight-win mark in each of the past two full seasons (not counting the abbreviated 2020 season that was shifted to this past spring).
Friday night’s winner will advance to meet the winner of the Community School of Davidson / East Gaston game. Providence Grove will be home again if it wins in the first round.
Polk County at Southwestern Randolph
Southwestern Randolph’s defensive front matches up with South Stanly in a game at Ivey B.Luck Stadium at Southwestern Randolph on August 27, 2021. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Also in Class 2-A, 16th-seeded Southwestern Randolph (8-2) is amid a historic season. This just adds to it.
The Cougars have set a school record for wins. This will be the program’s first home state-playoff game.
The next thing to mark off the list: Win a game in the state playoffs for the first time.
“We’ve had a great year,” coach Seth Baxter said. “Anytime you’re the only one to do something, that’s special. This is new to this community.”
Southwestern Randolph’s Adam Cole runs against Asheboro in a non-conference game at Lee J. Stone Stadium in Asheboro on September 24, 2021. SWR won 17-7 winning at Asheboro for the first time in school history. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL
The Cougars have racked up the most points in a season in school history. Six times they’ve eclipsed the 40-point mark.
Baxter said the players have embraced the season.
“They work as hard on the practice field as they do on the game field,” he said. “They’re just looking forward to playing this week.”
This will be the first meeting between the Cougars and No. 17 seed Polk County.
“We’ve got our work cut out for us this week,” Baxter said.
The winner will face either top-seeded Shelby or 32nd–seeded Black Mountain Owen in the second round.
Randleman at Reidsville
Randleman quarterback Christian Long makes a pass against Eastern Randolph’s John Maness during the regular-season finale at Randleman on October 29, 2021. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Randleman (4-6) made the field as the No. 29 seed in the West Region in Class 2-A.
The Tigers will go to fourth-seeded Reidsville (9-0), which has made 27 appearances in state championship games and has won state titles the past three seasons.
The chance to play another game is a reward for the Tigers. They picked up some momentum in the middle of the season after beginning with an 0-3 start.
“We’re a better football team now than after that Asheboro game (to open the season),” Randleman coach Shane Timmons said.
The Tigers have lost three of their last four games.
Friday’s winner will face either Chase or Pine Lake Prep.
Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Max DeNamur scores a goal against Avery County during the first round of the Class 1-A state playoffs at Asheboro. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL
ASHEBORO — For all the good that Asheboro and Eastern Randolph did during the regular season in boys’ soccer, it was gone in a flash.
Asheboro’s Julio Ruiz Enciso, front, and Diego Gutierrez cover their faces after an emotional loss to North Lincoln in the first round of the Class 3-A state playoffs at Lee J. Stone Stadium in Asheboro on November 1, 2021. Asheboro lost 2-1 in overtime. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Both teams were upset in the first round of the state playoffs Monday night.
There was better news for Trinity and Uwharrie Charter Academy as both teams moved to the second round.
In Class 3-A, Asheboro fell 2-1 in double-overtime to visiting No. 29 North Lincoln in the West Region.
The Blue Comets entered the postseason as the No. 4 seed. They finished the season with a 14-2-3 record.
Asheboro scored in the first half on Daniel Gutierrez Resendez’s goal. North Lincoln (10-12) tied the game on a penalty kick in the second half.
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 the Blue Comets won a postgame shootout after last week’s tie to determine a seeding tiebreaker should one be necessary. It turned out to be necessary after each team completed its regular season by winning again.
Asheboro and Ledford tied 1-1 in two overtimes last week with each team scoring second-half goals. Jose Cortes scored for the Blue Comets, who then won the next night.
Asheboro defeated visiting Montgomery Central 5-0 in last Wednesday’s regular-season finale, with two goals from Diego Valdez Plata and one each from Julio Ruiz, Gutierrez Resendez and Cortes. That put the Blue Comets at 8-0-2 in league play.
In Class 2-A, No. 9 seed Trinity topped visiting North Surry 1-0 to open the state playoffs.
Trinity improved to 12-6-1.
No. 28 seed Wheatmore’s season ended with a 6-1 loss at North Forsyth. The Bulldogs ended up with a 9-9 record.
In Class 1-A, No. 6 seed UCA wiped out No. 27 seed Avery County 5-0 behind two goals from Danny Palma. Brady Mowers, Max DeNamur and Carlos Parroquin also scored for the Eagles. Mowers had two assists.
Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Danny Palma shoots on goal and scores against Avery County during the first round of the Class 1-A state playoffs at Asheboro on November 1, 2021. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL
UCA (11-3-1) and Eastern Randolph tied in Piedmont Athletic Conference play, splitting two meetings. Eastern Randolph won 3-1 and UCA claimed the rematch by 5-1.
But No. 12 seed Eastern Randolph didn’t follow that success in the postseason. The Wildcats suffered a home upset to Cornerstone Charter, falling 5-4 in double overtime.
Despite the setback, Eastern Randolph (10-5-2) reached the four-goal mark for the 10th time in its last 12 games.
Eastern Randolph lost for the first time this season in a home game after a 6-0-1 mark in the regular season.
NCCSA
At Walkertown, Faith Christian suffered a 3-1 loss to host Gospel Light on Oct. 22 in the first round of the state playoffs in the North Carolina Christian School Association.
That outcome snapped a two-game winning streak for the Eagles (7-7-1).
Faith Christian had completed a NCCSA AA District 2-West Region season with a second-place season with a 6-4 league mark.
After the NCCSA loss, the Eagles took part in the NCSSA national tournament in Xenia, Ojio. They fell 4-0 to Life Center Academy of Burlington, N.J.
