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Easton Clapp

Wheatmore soccer Riley Queen 2022

Piedmont Athletic Conference all-conference teams for fall sports

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Riley Queen, right, of Wheatmore was voted the top offensive player in the PAC for boys’ soccer this year. (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: Robert Burton (Wheatmore)

Coach of the Year: Jonathan Ruiz (Providence Grove)

Team: Robert Burton (Providence Grove), Colin Duvall (Providence Gove), Riley Gaines (Providence Grove), Jackson Garland (Providence Grove), Aiden Shelton (Providence Grove, Kaden Shoptaw (Providence Grove), Kelton Shoptaw (Providence Grove), Caleb Ward (Providence Grove), Chris White (UCA), Kevin Allred (Randleman), Jose Castillo (Trinity), Zach Hazelwood (Wheatmore)

 

Girls’ cross country

Runner of the Year: Brecken Snotherly (Eastern Randolph)

Coach of the Year: Jonathan Ruiz (Providence Grove)

Team: Jensen Auman (Providence Grove), Mia Browder (Providence Grove), Carolina DuVall (Providence Grove), Abbie Gudino (UCA), Victoria Jennings (UCA), Jazmin Palma (UCA), Alyssa Ramusson (UCA), Olivia Hildreth (Wheatmore), Kaitlyn Miller (Wheatmore), Sadie Mabe (Southwestern Randolph), Brecken Snotherly (Eastern Randolph)

 

Football

Offensive Player of the Year: Easton Clapp (Southwestern Randolph)

Defensive Player of the Year: Davonte Brooks (Eastern Randolph)

Coach of the Year: Burton Cates (Eastern Randolph)

Eastern Randolph: Stratton Barwick, Davonte Brooks, Ervodd Cassady, Jake Fesmire, Adonye Herbert, Jani Norwood, Al Randall, Mason Sechrest, Ladaryian Spinks, Lucas Smith, Nicah Taylor, DJ Thomas.

Randleman: Bryson Atkins, Thomas Dobias, Riley Edwards, Tanner Gneiting, Tyshaun Goldston, Christian Long, Caden Lundsford, Amarion Moton, Greg Price, Chesney Welch.

Providence Grove: Tucker Batten, Karson Bowman, David Braddy, Zander Cheek, Zane Cheek, Lemuel Coltrane, Chase Whitaker, Colton Wood.

Southwestern Randolph Sean Adkins, Easton Clapp, Adam Cole, Nathan Ellis, Eli Gravely, Colton Law, Hunter Simpson.

Wheatmore: Ashtin Bennett, Jonathan Kelly, Ethan Roberts, Trey Swanney, Jacob Ward.

Trinity: Griffin Dills, Evan Stepp, Joey Smith, Daniel Torreblanca.

 

Girls’ golf

Player of the Year: Caroline Wright (Providence Grove)

Coach of the Year: Wes Luther (Providence Grove)

Team: Morgan Heilig (Providence Grove), Anna Holloway (Providence Grove), Megan Oakley (Providence Grove), Caroline Wright (Providence Grove), Madison Canoy (Eastern Randolph), Zoe Ferguson (Eastern Randolph), Mackenzie Gee (Eastern Randolph), Lanie McDaniel (Eastern Randolph).

 

Boys’ soccer

Offensive Player of the Year: Riley Queen (Wheatmore)

Defensive Player of the Year: Jaxson Hatcher (Wheatmore)

Coach of the Year: Mike Sink (Trinity)

Team: Luke Beasley (Wheatmore), Collin Burgess (Wheatmore), Nick Galloway (Wheatmore), Jaxson Hatcher (Wheatmore), Anakin Leister (Wheatmore), Riley Queen (Wheatmore), Zack Cox (Trinity), Grayson Earls (Trinity), Brendan Jenkins (Trinity), Cooper Pollock (Trinity), Diego Torres (Trinity), Moises Venture (Trinity), Aaron Bowers (Eastern Randolph), Axel Canela (Eastern Randolph), Yane Jaimes (Eastern Randolph), Jose Rosales (Eastern Randolph), Colby Chamblin (UCA), Nick Hodge (UCA), Jake Perreira (UCA), Chris Ayala (Randleman), Owen Leonard (Randleman), Nathan Murillo (Randleman), Fernando Hernandez (Southwestern Randolph), Jonathan Lopez (Southwestern Randolph), Providence Grove (Logan Stover).

 

Girls’ tennis

Player of the Year: Andee Bullard (Southwestern Randolph)

Coach of the Year: Lori Lagrama (Southwestern Randolph)

Team: Elayna Brown (Wheatmore), Mikalah Walls (Wheatmore), Hannah Wilson (Wheatmore), Andee Bullard (Southwestern Randolph), Allie Popp (Southwestern Randolph), Maya Barber (Providence Grove), Audrey Frazier (Providence Grove), Anna Money (Providence Grove), Autumn Gentry (Trinity), Abigail Todd (Trinity), Leah Ingle (UCA), Gracyn Hall (Randleman), Elizabeth York (Randleman).

 

Volleyball

Most Valuable Player: Madelyn Smith (Southwestern Randolph)

Defensive Player of the Year: Coley Shiflet (Southwestern Randolph)

Coach of the Year: Darby Kennedy (Southwestern Randolph)

Team: Gracie Hodgin (Southwestern Randolph), Raegan LeRoy (Southwestern Randolph), Coley Shiflet (Southwestern Randolph), Madelyn Smith (Southwestern Randolph), Carleigh Whitson (Southwestern Randolph), Chloe Dixon (Randleman), Karli Kennington (Randleman), Dacia Lowery (UCA), Chloe Painter (UCA), Emma Mazzarone (Providence Grove), Dyyanna Wade (Providence Grove), Taylor Richardson (Wheatmore), Karrington Batten (Trinity), Addie Flinchum (Eastern Randolph).

Eastern Randolph logo

Prep Football: Eastern Randolph takes PAC title by defeating Randleman

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RAMSEUR – Devonte Brooks scored two touchdowns and Eastern Randolph repeated as Piedmont Athletic Conference football champion with a 28-13 victory against visiting Randleman on Friday night.

Ervodd Cassady returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown against his former team as part of Eastern Randolph’s scoring plays.

The Wildcats (9-1 overall, 5-0 PAC) have won nine games in a row since a season-opening loss at Eastern Alamance. They benefited from three Randleman turnovers.

Stratton Barwick threw for a on a 12-yard play with Adonye Herbert. Nicah Taylor had 83 receiving yards among Barwick’s 128 passing yards.

Randleman (7-3, 4-1), which trailed 21-0 at halftime, scored on Christian Long’s 38-yard pass to Aiden Robinson and on a Tyshaun Goldston’s 43-yard punt return. Amarion Moton was held to 48 yards on 12 carries.

Providence Grove 59, Wheatmore 6: At Climax, Zander Cheek and Karson Bowman each scored two touchdowns and the Patriots won their home finale in the PAC.

Chase Whitaker ran and threw for a touchdown for Providence Grove (7-3, 3-2), which led 42-0 at halftime and claimed third place.

Zane Cheek, Brandon Davis and Josh Ward also scored touchdowns for the Patriots. Jacob Hart kicked a field goal and eight extra points.

Wheatmore finished with a 2-8, 1-4 record.

Southwestern Randolph 50, Trinity 12: At Trinity, Easton Clapp ran for four touchdowns and threw for two more in the finale for both teams.

Sean Adkins and Eli Gravely had touchdown catches. Colton Law scored on a run for the Cougars (6-4, 2-3), who snapped a two-game losing streak in PAC play.

Trinity (4-6, 0-5) finished last in the PAC despite one rushing and one passing touchdown by Tait Conti.

Montgomery Central 45, Asheboro 22: At Asheboro, the Blue Comets went winless in the Mid-Piedmont Conference for the second season in a row.

Asheboro (1-9, 0-5) has had back-to-back one-win seasons after going without a victory the season before that.

Hakemme Butler returned an interception for a touchdown for Asheboro’s first points. Kai Matthews scored on a fumble return. The only points generated from the Blue Comets’ offense came on a Hamza Khan’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Jaylon Moore.

Montgomery Central is 1-9, 1-4.

Randleman vs Trinity football photo Oct2022

Prep football: Wildcats, Tigers win routs to set up title clash

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Randleman’s Amarion Moton leaps Trinity’s Jacob Hodges on the way to a touchdown. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record).

The showdown for the Piedmont Athletic Conference football championship is set for Friday night.

That comes after more blowouts across the league, including romps for co-leaders Eastern Randolph and Randleman last Friday night.

Those teams meet for the title in Ramseur.

Here’s a look at games from the second-to-last week of the regular season:

Eastern Randolph 62, Wheatmore 0: At Trinity, the visiting Wildcats posted their highest point total of the season in their last road game as Stratton Barwick threw for four touchdowns.

Barwick was 9-for-14, with two of the scoring passes going to Ethan Frye. D.J. Thomas and A.J Randle also caught touchdown passes. Running back Ervodd Cassady ran for three touchdowns as part of his 88-yard outing on the ground.

Eastern Randolph (8-1, 4-0) will try to repeat as PAC champions in the the regular-season finale. Cassady is a transfer from Randleman.

Wheatmore (2-7, 1-3) suffered its fourth shutout of the season in its home finale.

Randleman 70, Trinity: At Randleman, the Tigers continued their impressive turnaround from last season by winning their regular-season home finale.

Amarion Moton ran for four touchdowns and Tyshaun Goldson scored on a reception and a punt return.

Randleman (7-2, 4-0) notched its third shutout of the season, holding Trinity (4-5, 0-4) to 32 yards of total offense.

Moton had 55 yards on seven carries. Christian Long threw for two touchdowns on 8-for-10 passing for 156 yards.

Moton’s touchdowns came on runs of 13, 17, 10 and 1 yard. Daylan Atkins scored on an 11-yard carry.

Goldston made an 18-yard touchdown catch and returned the punt for 50 yards.

Aiden Robinson and Amari Ferdna also match touchdown catches, the latter on a pass from Logan Laughlin.

Providence Grove 48, Southwestern Randolph 21: At Asheboro, the visiting Patriots jumped out to a 17-0 first-quarter lead on the way to ruining the Cougars’ home finale.

Zane Cheek scored on two runs while gaining 111 yards on 17 carries and Zander Cheek had one touchdown run as part of 131 rushing yards on 10 attempts. Zander Cheek also scored on a touchdown pass from Andrew Canter.

Karson Bowman scored on a run and returned a fumble for a touchdown.

Providence Grove (6-3, 2-2) also received a big game on defense from linebacker Chase Whitaker, who made nine tackles, caused two fumbles and intercepted a pass. Tucker Batten kicked two field goals.

Southwestern Randolph (5-4, 1-3) has lost two games in a row for the first time this season. Quarterback Easton Clapp rushed for 112 yards and threw a touchdown pass to Eli Gravely. Clapp also made 15 tackles on defense.

Ledford 56, Asheboro 7: At Ledford, the visiting Blue Comets (1-8, 0-4) trailed 35-7 at halftime. The Panthers (8-1, 3-1) bounced back from a road loss to Oak Grove a week earlier.

Asheboro scored first on Michael Brady’s 10-yard run.

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Week 11 schedule

Friday’s games

Randleman at Eastern Randolph

Southwestern Randolph at Trinity

Wheatmore at Providence Grove

Montgomery Central at Asheboro

Asheboro M Graham and SWR Danny Jackson Sept2022

Prep Football: Cougars clobber Asheboro; Wildcats roll in non-league finale

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Asheboro’s Markell Graham is pursued by Southwestern Randolph’s Danny Jackson and Caleb Shelton, far right, during Friday night’s game. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

ASHEBORO – Southwestern Randolph scored on the first snap of the game and went on to drub visiting Asheboro 40-2 on Friday night.

Adam Cole took a short pass from Easton Clapp and burst 64 yards for a touchdown for the first points.

“It was open,” Southwestern Randolph coach Seth Baxter said. “I think our wide receivers did a tremendous job of blocking on that play.”

Southwestern Randolph (4-1) heads into Piedmont Athletic Conference play on a two-game winning streak. This puts the Cougars in a good mindset.

“We came in and did what we needed to do up front,” Baxter said of controlling the line of scrimmage.

Cole ended up with two rushing touchdowns to go with the scoring pass play. Clapp threw for two touchdowns and ran for another on his way to 196 passing yards and 126 rushing yards. Marcus Robertson caught a touchdown pass.

Asheboro (1-4) avoided a shutout by tackling a Southwestern Randolph ball carrier in the end zone in the fourth quarter. That accounted for the final points of the game, though it came a couple of plays after the Blue Comets had a possession halted inside the Southwestern Randolph 10-yard line.
“We’re going to have to go back to the drawing board,” Asheboro coach Blake Brewer. “We’re going to have to build some toughness.”

Michael Brady rushed for 97 yards for Asheboro.

Until last year, Southwestern Randolph had never defeated Asheboro in consecutive football meetings. Now, the Cougars have won three straight in the series.

Asheboro leads the all-time series 26-4.

The Blue Comets open Mid-Piedmont Conference play next Friday at home against undefeated Oak Grove (5-0), which is coming off an open week.

“We’re going to have to find an identity and do it quick,” Brewer said.

Eastern Randolph 42, West Stanly 0: At Oakboro, the visiting Wildcats tuned up for Piedmont Athletic Conference play by winning their fifth consecutive game.

Among the scoring plays for Eastern Randolph (5-1) were two touchdown runs for Davonte Brooks and one touchdown apiece for D.J. Thomas, Ervodd Cassady and Angel Hernandez. Stratton Barwick threw a touchdown pass to Jake Fesmire.

West Stanly (3-3) has lost three straight games, though the first two defeats came by a combined 15 points.

 

Asheboro logo

Blue Comets enter win column, but Providence Grove suffers first loss

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TRINITY – Every team in Randolph County has at least one victory after Friday night’s results.

There also is no longer an undefeated team among the seven football-playing schools in the county.

Asheboro entered the win column by securing an 18-13 road victory at Wheatmore.

Asheboro’s Tony McRae tries to pull away from Wheatmore’s Levi Johnson during Friday night’s game. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

The Blue Comets (1-3) won for the first time since August 2021, snapping a 12-game losing streak.

Josh Meadows scored on a 2-yard run with about four minutes to play for the winning points.

Michael Brady scored a first-half touchdown for Asheboro. Kai Matthews ran 18 yards for the Blue Comets’ second touchdown.

Wheatmore is 1-4.

Ledford 42, Providence Grove 21: At Thomasville, visiting Providence Grove suffered its first loss, hurt by three turnovers in the non-conference game.

Zane Cheek scored three touchdowns for the Patriots (4-1). He gained 147 rushing yards on 26 carries.

The game was tied at 21-21 after three quarters. Ledford (5-0) went ahead on the third play of the fourth quarter.

Trinity 18, Carrboro 13: At Carrboro, Dominic Payne’s pass to Brandon Campbell gave the visiting Bulldogs the winning points in the non-league game.

Trinity (4-1) has won two games in a row. Carrboro fell to 2-3.

Southwestern Randolph 20, Albemarle 7: At Albemarle, Easton Clapp ran for two touchdowns and 194 yards in the non-league road victory.

The Cougars (3-1), who were shutout victims a week earlier, bounced back. Adam Cole also scored on a run. Albemarle (1-4) failed to post a double-figure point total for the third game this season.

North Stanly 40, Randleman 34: At Randleman, North Stanly used a strong fourth quarter and then held on after the Tigers threatened late, recovering an onside kick to help clinch the outcome in non-conference play.

Randleman quarterback Christian Long scored on three 1-yard runs and a 2-yard run. Amarion Moton, who finished with 114 rushing yards on 15 attempts, opened the scoring for the Tigers with a 12-yard run. Tyshaun Goldston racked up 133 receiving yards on seven catches.

Randleman held 14-point leads twice in the first half.

Both teams are 3-2.

SWR Grant Little v South Stanly

Prep football: Wildcats trounce Asheboro; Providence Grove, SWR cruise

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Southwestern Randolph’s Grant Little heads for a big gain against South Stanly on Friday night. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

RAMSEUR – Ervodd Cassady scored on four touchdown runs as Eastern Randolph bashed visiting Asheboro 69-7 in Friday night’s non-conference football game

The Wildcats improved to 1-1 to maintain dominance in the series under veteran coach Burton Cates.

Eastern Randolph scored 28 points in each of the first and second quarters to build a 56-0 lead by halftime. Stratton Barwick threw for two touchdowns and ran for another.

Nicah Taylor returned an interception for a touchdown, marking one of the three pick-offs for Eastern Randolph’s defense. He also made a touchdown reception.

Asheboro dropped to 0-2.

Providence Grove 42, Southern Guilford 0: At Climax, Andrew Canter threw two touchdown passes and Zane Cheek ran for two touchdowns for the host Patriots (2-0).

Providence Grove benefitted from six Southern Guilford turnovers. Brady Collins, Chase Whitaker, Zach Lohr and Karson Bowman had interceptions.

Lemuel Coltrane and JC Cruz caught touchdown passes. Zander Cheek and Whitaker also scored on touchdown runs.

Southern Guilford is 0-2.

Southwestern Randolph 49, South Stanly 13: At Norwood, Adam Cole scored four touchdowns and Easton Clapp threw for three scores and ran for two more as the Cougars won their road opener.

Cole scored on two receptions, a rushing play and a punt return. Sean Adkins caught the other touchdown throw from Clapp.

Clapp racked up 177 rushing yards and threw for 87 yards.

“Defensively, we did a great job flying around the ball,” Southwestern Randolph coach Seth Baxter said.

South Stanly fell to 0-2.

Central Davidson 46, Randleman 21: At Lexington, the visiting Tigers surrendered nearly 500 rushing yards in the setback.

Central Davidson (2-0) led 35-7 at halftime. Amarion Moton had a 12-yard touchdown run in the first quarter for Randleman (1-1), while Tyshaun Goldston caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Christian Long to open the second-half scoring. Long finished 13-for-21 for 201 yards with an interception. Goldston gained 60 yards on four carries.

Trinity 45, Forbush 21: At Trinity, the Bulldogs are 2-0 after topping visiting Forbush (1-1) behind a strong performance from Dylan Hodges.

Hodges had 216 return yards, 109 receiving yards and 75 rushing yards. Quarterback Dominic Payne ran for 154 yards and threw for 126.

East Davidson 41, Wheatmore 0: At Thomasville, the Warriors were blanked as their record dropped to 0-2. East Davidson is 1-1.

Randleman Anthony Santos v Asheboro Aug2022

Prep Football: Randleman blanks Asheboro in opener; PG rolls; SWR, Trinity score big

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Randleman’s Anthony Santos tries to pull away from Asheboro’s Julian Faz on Friday night. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

ASHEBORO – Randleman clicked better in the second half of a 24-0 season-opening victory Friday night at Asheboro.

The Blue Comets never got into a groove.

Those factors allowed the Tigers to avenge last year’s season-opening loss.

“They had to live with last year’s score all year,” Randleman coach Shane Timmons said of his players.

Even as they wasted a few chances until late in the first half, there were reasons for the Tigers to be pleased.

“They kind of got the butterflies out of their system,” Timmons said. “Anytime you get a Game 1 win, you feel good about yourself.”

Quarterback Christian Long scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter to build a 10-0 lead after teammate Christian McCloud opened the scoring with a 25-yard field goal. Amarion Moton and Micah Thurston added 2-yard touchdown runs in the third quarter.

After a combined seven shutouts in 2019 and the 2021 spring season, Randleman was without a blanking last fall. The Tigers will like the feel of this result.

“Really proud of their effort and I hope they enjoy it for sure,” Timmons said.

Asheboro missed scoring chances, particularly by fumbling on a second-and-goal play from the 5-yard line.

“Couldn’t get out of our own way,” Asheboro coach Blake Brewer said. “I thought our guys hustled. We just didn’t play well enough to win.”

Asheboro was limited to 114 yards of total offense. Valentino Mark was charted for 43 rushing yards.

“We didn’t put ourselves in good positions,” Brewer said. “We put our defense in bad spots. They continued to fight.”

For Randleman, Thurston gained 50 yards on 12 carries, Moton had 49 yards on 10 attempts and Long added 42 yards on nine rushes. Tyshaun Goldston, a transfer from Asheboro, racked up a game-high 55 receiving yards on four catches.

Providence Grove 31, East Davidson 14: At Climax, Chase Whitaker scored two touchdowns and Andrew Cantor threw two scoring passes and the host Patriots rolled.

Zane Cheek scored on a run, Zander Cheek scored on a short pass play from Cantor, and Whitaker reached the end zone on a 2-yard quarterback keeper and Tucker Batten booted a 31-yard field goal in the first half as Providence Grove built a 24-7 lead.

Zander Cheek, who gained 62 rushing yards, picked up 100 yards on four receptions. Zane Cheek gained 63 yards on the ground.

Southwestern Randolph 62, Jordan-Matthews 6: At Asheboro, Easton Clapp ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more and Adam Cole scored three touchdowns as the host Cougars set a single-game school record for points.

Cole scored on two rushing plays and on a reception. He had 116 rushing yards in the first half.

Eli Gravely also caught a touchdown pass. Colton Law and Asher Perkins scored on runs and Carson Norris returned a fumble 40 yards for a touchdown.

Eastern Alamance 42, Eastern Randolph 28: At Mebane, the host Eagles raced to an early lead and held on, handing the Wildcats their first regular-season loss since the 2021 spring season.

Eastern Randolph quarterback Stratton Barwick threw for two touchdown passes to Nicah Taylor and was intercepted twice. Taylor collected 136 receiving yards on six catches.

Trinity 52, Chatham Central 0: At Bear Creek, Dominic Payne threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as the visiting Bulldogs rolled up their most points since 2018 to win their opener for the season in a row.

Payne racked up 115 passing yards and 91 rushing yards. Bo Gibson, who gained 82 yards on the ground, and Dylan Hodges, who picked up 69 rushing yards, both scored touchdowns.

West Davidson 27, Wheatmore 21: At Trinity, the Warriors were involved in just their second game since 2019 with a final margin in single digits and they came up short in the home game.

Jon Kelly scored two touchdowns and rushed for 135 yards for Wheatmore. Riley Strickland threw for a touchdown and three interceptions.

SWR Easton Clapp vs ER in 2021

Southwestern Randolph Cougars find more roles for Clapp

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Even in a new position, Easton Clapp should have ample chances to carry the ball for Southwestern Randolph. (File photo)

After record season, Southwestern Randolph seeks to keep it going

ASHEBORO – Trying to follow the best season in school history, Southwestern Randolph has moved one of its best players to another position.

Makes good sense to the Cougars.

They enter this season with Easton Clapp, the hard-running ball carrier, taking snaps at quarterback.

Don’t worry, his mentality hasn’t changed.

“I knew I was going to have to play quarterback this year,” said Clapp, who had been a running back. “I like it. But I also like running the ball, too. Running over people, I like that.”

Most of all, Southwestern Randolph liked many of the results a year ago. The Cougars produced an 8-3 mark, setting a school record for wins and playing a home game in the state playoffs for the first time.

“I think we just need to keep practicing hard, keep our heads focused,” tight end and backup defensive end Eli Gravely said. “Our confidence is very high this year.”

Part of that comes because despite quarterback Keaton Reed gone via graduation, there’s plenty to be excited about.

Record-setting slot back Adam Cole figures to be a huge part of the offense and defensive secondary.

Easton Clapp will handle quarterback duties this season for Southwestern Randolph. (Bob Sutton/Randolph Record)

Clapp, who’s up 20 pounds from a year ago to 185, will have the ball in his hands regularly as the quarterback. He has played that position since middle school.

“Easton had done that before,” coach Seth Baxter said. “In our scheme, our quarterback runs the ball anyway.”

His teammates endorse the move.

“He can make things happen,” Gravely said of Clapp.

“He’s got a cannon,” Cole said. “Almost as shifty as Keaton.”

Clapp likes to emphasize the rushing part.

“I’m going to be running the rock,” he said. “Adam will be running the rock. We’re going to have a strong running game.”

Along with Cole, there’s Colton Law as a receiver or slotback and a couple of newcomers at the skill spots with basketball players Sean Adkins and Marcus Robertson joining the team.

“Skill-wise, as a collective group, it’s the best we’ve had,” Baxter said.

The Cougars might look thinner along the line of scrimmage. Two-way lineman Jake Gallimore and sophomore Jose Flores could make those units sturdier.

For seniors such as Cole and Clapp who helped the program take steps toward prominence, now is no time to backtrack.

“We’ve also gained a lot of key guys,” Cole said. “They’re really stepping it up. We’ve got talent. Everybody thinks we lost everything and underestimates us, but we’re going to have a good season this year. We’re going to be a tough matchup for everybody. I don’t think anybody really knows what we have this year.”

Clapp also will be in a role as a linebacker by the time PAC games arrive on the schedule.

With 70 players in the program, Baxter said there’s a good trend with the Cougars.

“Success brings confidence and confidence brings success,” he said. “They expect to be successful. They understand now people know who they are.”