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Providence Grove football

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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Zane Cheek

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Providence Grove, multi-sport

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Cheek was active in each of the sports seasons, beginning as a multi-purpose back for the football team. He averaged more than 90 rushing yards per game as a senior in 2022. He again was selected as an All-Piedmont Athletic Conference player.

He was one of Providence Grove’s key players in boys’ basketball as a guard.

He wrapped up his prep career as a sprinter on the track and field team.

His twin brother, Zander Cheek, also was a standout athlete for the Patriots.

** During the summer, we recognize seniors from the past school year.

David Hayes headshot new PG football coach

Hayes ready for challenge at Providence Grove

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School’s new football coach is Trinity alum

CLIMAX – David Hayes has been around high school football teams for more than a decade as an assistant coach.

Now it’s something different. He’ll be a head coach.

Providence Grove hired Hayes, who has close ties to a couple of other schools in Randolph County, as its next football coach.

“I feel like I was ready to take an opportunity like this,” Hayes said.

Hayes takes the vacancy left when Calvin Brown departed to become Asheboro’s coach.

Most recently, Hayes has been an assistant coach and physical education teacher at Thomasville, which has one of the state’s most tradition-rich football program.

But Hayes has other ties close to Providence Grove. He’s a Trinity graduate and former assistant football coach and head girls’ basketball coach at Asheboro.

“I’m a football coach,” Hayes said. “PG worked very hard to get me.”

Providence Grove will open the Hayes era Aug. 18 at East Davidson. The home opener will come Sept. 1 against Bishop McGuinness.

Hayes is a former Guilford College offensive lineman and later a student assistant with the Quakers. He spent time on coaching staffs at Trinity, Southwest Guilford and East Gaston, where he was offensive coordinator for five seasons.

Then he joined the Asheboro staff under coach Kevin Gillespie. While there, he coached the girls’ basketball team to a 54-30 record.

After three seasons with the Blue Comets, Hayes followed Gillespie to Thomasville.

The Patriots could be in a regrouping mode considering that 20-plus seniors were on the 2022 roster. Providence Grove won a game in the state playoffs for the first time last season, defeating host McMichael in a Class 2-A game and finishing with an 8-4 record after a second-round loss to Reidsville.

“The measuring stick might be a little different,” Hayes said. “How quick can we get over the learning curve? It will definitely look a little bit different.”

Hayes said he has always been an offensive guy in terms of coaching. He’s looking to stock a coaching staff.

“Mission 1 for us right now is to determine how many (from the most-recent staff) stay and it goes from there,” he said.

Hayes said he has never attended a Providence Grove football game. When he was at Asheboro, the schools didn’t meet in football, but they did have girls’ basketball matchups.

“Coach Hayes is a true leader (who) brings energy, passion and he has a unique ability to form relationships with all students,” new Providence Grove athletics director Cody Moran said.

The coach’s mother, Renee Hayes, guided Trinity to two Class 3-A girls’ basketball state championships in the 1980s. David Hayes lives in Trinity.

Coming from Thomasville, which went 11-2 last season, will mean an adjustment when Hayes formally starts his duties March 2 at Providence Grove.

“Thomasville is one of the few places in the state where the logo instills fear,” Hayes said.

Calvin Brown headshot Dec2022

Prep football: Brown works on compiling Asheboro staff while finishing duties at Providence Grove

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CLIMAX – New Asheboro football coach Calvin Brown is still finishing his time at Providence Grove.

While no longer the football coach of the Patriots, Brown is remaining at the school in other roles, including as athletics director, through Jan. 20.

Then he makes the full transition to Asheboro.

In more than a month’s time between his introduction as Asheboro’s coach and completely leaving Providence Grove, Brown said he hopes to have in place most of his new staff with the Blue Comets.

“I’d like to have everything lined up,” he said.

Brown, who spent seven seasons as Providence Grove’s coach, said last month that he hasn’t been involved in the process to hire a new coach for the Patriots.

Oak Grove promotes assistant

Oak Grove hired Rob Creason as its next football coach, promoting him from assistant coach.

He replaces Mark Holcomb, who was the only coach in the program’s six seasons and moved on to become the coach at Bishop McGuinness.

Creason is a physical education teacher at Oak Grove.

Oak Grove is in the Mid-Piedmont Conference along with Asheboro, so that league will have at least two new football coaches in 2023.

Asheboro football coach Calvin Brown Dec2022

New Asheboro football coach: ‘A great opportunity’

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Calvin Brown was introduced Monday as Asheboro High School’s new football coach. He spent the past seven seasons in that role at Providence Grove. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

ASHEBORO – Calvin Brown will try to get Asheboro’s football program back on a winning path.

“We want to compete on Friday nights and I know that’s what Asheboro expects,” Brown said Monday. “We want to change the culture and bring back the winning atmosphere.”

Brown is leaving Providence Grove, where he directed sustained success, to become coach of the Blue Comets.

Among more than 40 applicants, Brown was a clear choice for the hiring committee, principal Dr. Ryan Moody said.

“You look at where we were,” Moody said. “You want to find a coach who is successful, high character, high motor type of guy. … He was head and shoulders the best candidate we could possibly ask for.”

Brown’s Providence Grove teams were 42-34 in seven seasons. He guided the Patriots to their first postseason football victory in school history earlier this fall as part of an 8-4 record.

Brown takes the position held by Blake Brewer, a former Asheboro quarterback whose three-season record was 2-25 as head coach. The Blue Comets were 1-9 each of the past two seasons.

Providence Grove defeated Asheboro 28-14 and 49-0 the past two seasons.

It could be quite a project for Brown. Asheboro is a combined 7-52 in the last six seasons.

Brown said Asheboro, which has about twice the enrollment of Providence Grove, should be the best football program in Randolph County.

“I see that as a great opportunity,” Brown said. “That’s one thing that really excited me and (made me want) to take the job. The potential that is here at Asheboro.”

Brown was also athletics director for the past four years at Providence Grove, where he spent 11 years overall. He won’t hold those responsibilities at Asheboro, where such a dual role isn’t permitted.

“I’m thankful for Providence Grove and everybody there,” Brown said.

Brown stressed a family atmosphere when he spoke to supporters Monday. He said he feels the football team can set the tone for the athletics department.

He said he’ll require a commitment from players on and off the field.

Providence Grove’s eight wins matched the most in program history. The Patriots went 8-4 in 2019 and 8-3 in 2021.

Brown said his Asheboro coaching staff could include a few members from his Providence Grove staff.

Providence Grove lost to eventual Class 2-A runner-up Reidsville, a team it has never defeated in six all-time meetings, in the second round.

Not only will Providence Grove also have a new coach in 2023, it could be a rebuilding period for the Patriots. There were 22 seniors on this year’s team.

PG coach Calvin Brown in 2022 at Asheboro

Asheboro hires Providence Grove’s Brown as next football coach

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Here’s Calvin Brown during Providence Grove’s 2022 game at Asheboro (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

ASHEBORO – Calvin Brown will try to get Asheboro’s football program back on a winning path.

Brown is leaving Providence Grove, where he directed sustained success, to become coach of the Blue Comets.

Brown’s Providence Grove teams were 42-34 in seven seasons. He guided the Patriots to their first postseason football victory in school history earlier this fall as part of an 8-4 record.

Brown takes the position held by Blake Brewer, a former Asheboro quarterback whose three-season record was 2-25 as head coach. The Blue Comets were 1-9 each of the past two seasons.

Providence Grove defeated Asheboro 28-14 and 49-0 the past two seasons.

It could be quite a project for Brown. Asheboro is a combined 7-52 in the last six seasons.

Brown was also athletics director at Providence Grove. He won’t hold those responsibilities at Asheboro, where such a dual role isn’t permitted.

Providence Grove’s eight wins matched the most in program history. The Patriots went 8-4 in 2019 and 8-3 in 2021.

Providence Grove lost to eventual Class 2-A runner-up Reidsville, a team it has never defeated in six all-time meetings, in the second round.

Not only will Providence Grove also have a new coach in 2023, it could be a rebuilding period for the Patriots. There were 22 seniors on this year’s team.

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Calvin Brown’s coaching record at Providence Grove

2016: 4-7

2017: 4-7

2018: 6-6

2019: 8-4

2021 (spring): 4-3

2021: 8-3

2022: 8-4

Total: 42-34

Randleman football v Lincolnton 2022

Prep Football: Patriots win for first time in state playoffs; Randleman falls in OT

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Randleman’s Chase Farlow chases Lincolnton’s Andre Bost during Friday night’s game. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record)

MAYODAN – Providence Grove won a football game in the state playoffs for the first time in school history Friday night.

The visiting Patriots topped McMichael 48-14 in the Class 2-A first round.

Members of the Providence Grove football program pose for a photo after the first state-playoff victory in the sport in school history. (Courtesy photo)

Next, Providence Grove (8-3) aims for an even more monumental task by going to state power Reidsville, which is the No. 1 seed in the West Region, for a second-round game.

Zander Cheek and Zane Cheek both scored three touchdowns. Zane Cheek ran for three touchdowns and Zander Cheek had two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown in conquering No. 16 seed McMichael (7-4).

Quarterback Andrew Canter was 9-for-11 for 157 yards and a touchdown throw. Zane Cheek gained 173 rushing yards on 13 carries.

Brady Collins made 15 tackles and Chase Whitaker was credited with 12 stops.

The 17th-seeded Patriots led 31-6 at halftime.

Lincolnton 37, Randleman 36. OT: At Randleman, the host Tigers rallied to force overtime but then fell in the Class 2-A first-round game.

Lincolnton gambled after pulling within one point in overtime by going for a two-point conversion. The rushing play worked when Andre Bost took a pitch and ran into the end zone, ending Randleman’s season.

Amarion Moton ran for five touchdowns for the Tigers. That included a 2-yard run in overtime, followed by Christian McLeod’s extra-point kick.

Randleman (7-4), which was the Piedmont Athletic Conference runner-up and landed the No. 10 seed in the West Region, never led after the first quarter.

No. 23 seed Lincolnton broke a tie at the 6:40 mark.

But Moton’s 7-yard run in the fourth quarter followed by his two-point conversion run knotted the score at 29-29 with 1:17 remaining on a drive that consumed 14 plays and nearly 5½ minutes.

Moton earlier had touchdown runs of 2, 8, 2 and 7 yards. Those were part of his 169-yard rushing outing on 27 carries.

Quarterback Christian Long ran for 78 yards on 13 attempts and threw for 120 yards. He was 15-for-24 with an interception.

Lincolnton (6-5) was credited with 394 yards of total offense, including 314 on the ground. Randleman had 373 yards of total offense.

The Wolves snapped a two-game skid. They ended up in their second consecutive overtime game.

Thomas Dobias led the Tigers on defense with eight tackles and teammate Tyshaun Goldston intercepted a pass.

Randleman also bowed out with a first-round loss last year.

Class 1-A

Eastern Randolph, the top-seeded team in the West Region, will face Mountain Heritage in the second round Friday night in Ramseur.

The Wildcats (9-1), who hold a nine-game winning streak, had a first-round bye. No. 17 Mountain Heritage (5-6) won 42-8 at No. 16 seed South Stokes.

PG football Andrew Canter throws

Three area teams land in state playoffs for football

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Andrew Canter throws a pass for Providence Grove, which is in the state playoffs again.

Eastern Randolph’s football team is the top seed in Class 1-A’s West Region for the second year in a row.

Randleman and Providence Grove are in the states in Class 2-A West Region.

Eastern Randolph (9-1), the Piedmont Athletic Conference champion, receives a first-round bye and will play Nov. 11 at home against the winner of this Friday night’s game between South Stokes (4-6) and Mountain Heritage (4-6).

In Class 2-A, Randleman (7-3) is the No. 10 seed with a home date Friday night against No. 23 seed Lincolnton (5-5). The winner faces either No. 7 seed Monroe or No. 26 seed North Stanly, which edged Randleman 40-34 in the regular season.

Providence Grove (7-3) is the No. 17 seed, so it has a game at No. 16 seed McMichael (7-3).  If the Patriots win, they could be heading to Rockingham County for the second week in a row to face top-seeded Reidsville, which takes on No. 32 seed Madison in the first round.

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

Randleman QB Christian Long 2022 throw at Asheboro

Prep Football: Tigers topple Providence Grove; Wildcats, Cougars cruise to wins

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Randleman quarterback Christian Long makes a pass earlier this season. (Randolph Record file photo)

CLIMAX – Amarion Moton scored on two fourth-quarter touchdown runs to help Randleman seal a 30-14 road victory against Providence Grove in Piedmont Athletic Conference football Friday night.

Randleman’s defense limited the often-potent Providence Grove offense to 180 yards.

Randleman never trailed, going up in the first quarter on Christian McLeod’s 26-yard field goal. Tyshaun Goldston scored on a 13-yard pass from Christian Long in the second quarter.

James Ellis of Providence Grove scored on a 44-yard pass play before halftime.

Gregory Price’s 40-yard interception return gave Randleman a cushion.

Moton, who gained 151 yards on 23 carriers, took care of the rest. Goldston ended up with 106 receiving yards on six catches. He accounted for all except 13 of the team’s receiving yards.

Providence Grove was 0-for-10 on third-down conversions, while picking up one of three on fourth downs.

Eastern Randolph 55, Trinity 13: At Ramseur, Stratton Barwick threw three touchdown passes and Davonte Brooks scored on runs of 35 and 19 as the host Wildcats rolled in the PAC game.

Lucas Smith (3 yards), Ervodd Cassady (6 yards) and Angel Hernandez (18 yards) also scored on runs for Eastern Randolph (6-1, 2-0), which led 35-7 at halftime.

Trinity (4-3, 0-2) received touchdown runs of 60 and 65 yards from Dominic Payne.

Southwestern Randolph 56, Wheatmore 25: At Trinity, Adam Cole scored five touchdowns and a two-point conversion in the PAC road victory.

Cole caught three of the four touchdown passes thrown by Easton Clapp. He ran for a touchdown and returned a kickoff for a touchdown. Clapp also ran for a touchdown among his 157 rushing yards.

The Cougars (5-2, 1-1) also scored on Sean Adkins’ catch and Jentzen Cox’s rushing play.

Wheatmore is 1-6, 0-2.

Central Davidson 56, Asheboro 6: At Lexington, the Blue Comets surrendered more than 50 points for the second week in a row in the Mid-Piedmont Conference loss.

The Blue Comets (1-6, 0-2 Mid-Piedmont Conference) failed to reach a double-figure point total for the sixth game this season.

Central Davidson is 6-1, 1-1.

ER Brooks vs SWR Sept2022

Prep Football: Wildcats fend off SWR; Providence Grove, Randleman cruise in PAC openers

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Davonte Brooks of Eastern Randolph heads for the end zone against Southwestern Randolph. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

ASHEBORO – Davonte Brooks scored three touchdowns and Eastern Randolph relied on its defense in a 20-12 road victory against Southwestern Randolph in a Piedmont Athletic Conference football opener Thursday night.

“We just all came together and played as one and that’s how we got the job done,” Brooks said.

Eastern Randolph (5-1), which is the reigning PAC champion, won despite its lowest point total of the season.

“It was not our best game,” Eastern Randolph coach Burton Cates said. “Too many mistakes – penalties at the wrong time.”

Southwestern Randolph (4-2) couldn’t crank up enough offense.

“I thought our kids gave everything they had,” Southwestern Randolph coach Seth Baxter said.

The Wildcats stuck to a ground attack in the second half after the Cougars intercepted two first-half passes. Cates said windy conditions impacted the game plan.

“Let’s go with our strength, which is the offensive line and running the football,” Cates said.

Brooks gained 160 rushing yards and teammate Ervodd Cassady ran for 128 yards.

Brooks scored on a 25-yard run to open the scoring and later in the first quarter Southwestern Randolph’s Easton Clapp scored on a 1-yard run.

Adam Cole’s 42-yard punt return for a touchdown put the Cougars on top 12-7 in the third quarter.

Brooks scored on a 1-yard run later in the third quarter. Brooks scored again from 1 yard out in the fourth quarter.

“I thought in the second half they dominated the line of scrimmage,” Baxter said.

Providence Grove 31, Trinity 0: At Trinity, Zane Cheek ran for two touchdowns and Providence Grove (5-1) built a 28-0 halftime lead.

Zander Cheek also scored a touchdown. Brady Collins threw a touchdown pass to Joe Coltrane. Andrew Canter kicked a 37-yard field goal.

Trinity (4-2) suffered a shutout to the Patriots for the second time in three seasons. Dominic Pay had 57 passing yards and 53 rushing yards.

Randleman 49, Wheatmore 0: At Randleman, Christian Long threw four touchdown passes – two each to Chesney Welch and Tyshaun Goldston – as the host Tigers rolled.

Long also ran for a touchdown. Amarion Moton’s 10-yard run opened the scoring in the PAC game.

Randleman quarterback Christian Long picks up yards as Wheatmore’s Ethan Roberts, left, tries to make a stop. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record)

Randleman (4-2) led 42-0 at halftime. All of Long’s touchdown passes came in the second quarter, hitting Welch for 17 and 10 yards and connecting with Goldston for 9 and 20 yards.

Long finished 11-for-18 for 128 yards. Moton rushed six times for 105 yards.

Wheatmore (1-5) was held to 81 yards of total offense. Jonathan Kelly had 48 rushing yards.

Oak Grove 52, Asheboro 7: At Asheboro, unbeaten Oak Grove in the road victory to open Mid-Piedmont Conference play for both teams.

The Grizzlies (6-0) were up 28-7 at halftime. Asheboro (1-5) scored early in the second quarter after trailing 21-0.