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Shane Timmons

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.

Thomas Dobias on field Aug2022

Randleman must start season minus standout Dobias

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Randleman’s Thomas Dobias won’t be on the field at the start of the season after knee surgery. (Bob Sutton/Randolph Record)

Surgery means Tigers linebacker / running back will miss at least a month

RANDLEMAN – Randleman junior Thomas Dobias, considered one of the top football players in Randolph County, underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus Thursday.

He’s expected to play this season for the Tigers after missing four to six weeks.

“I should be back for the start of conference play,” said Dobias, who plays linebacker and running back.

Randleman, which opens the season Friday night at Asheboro, is scheduled for five non-conference games before a week off. The Tigers’ Piedmont Athletic Conference opener comes Sept. 30 vs. visiting Wheatmore.

The surgery took place at the Surgical Center of Greensboro. That’s where he underwent surgery last September for a broken arm.

The injury to his right knee occurred in practice earlier this month.

“First day of full contact, I just came down on it wrong,” he said, hoping it was just a twist.

As a result, Dobias missed last week’s scrimmages, when the Tigers generally performed well. Coach Shane Timmons said he was encouraged by how Randleman handled those situations against multiple opponents.

Dobias, 16, said his knee was feeling better daily, but further testing detected the tear.

Dobias received various all-county recognitions for his play as a linebacker in each of his first two seasons in high school.

He made 13.3 tackles per game last season before a broken arm suffered in a victory against Wheatmore cut short his sophomore season and he had subsequent surgery. Also last year, he was second on the team with 210 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

“We couldn’t afford anyone to get hurt, not to mention our best player,” Timmons said, referring to the 2021 season.

The Tigers went 1-4 in games following Dobias’ injury.

His absence could have the biggest impact on defense at the beginning of this season.

“We’ve got a lot of depth at running back,” Dobias said.

Either way, he became a key player right away for the Tigers as a freshman on a team that was undefeated in the regular season. His influence has grown since then.

“Thomas is a big leader for our team,” senior quarterback Christian Long said.

Randleman QB Christian Long 2021 v SWR

Randleman Tigers plan on quick football turnaround

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Quarterback Christian Long is hoping for a smoother season in his second year as Randleman’s starter. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Randleman reaches for rapid rebuild after rough season

RANDLEMAN – The quest to return to the top is in the works for the Randleman football team.

“We’re not who we want to be yet, but we’re getting pretty close,” senior quarterback Christian Long said. “I think the mentality going into this year is different. I don’t think we’re all the way there yet.”

A sudden dip has given the Tigers a sense of urgency entering the season, which begins Friday night at Asheboro.

Randleman’s motto under third-year coach Shane Timmons is GSD – Get Stuff Done.

So there’s an emphasis on across-the-board improvements after last season’s 4-7 record. That mark followed a three-season stretch when the Tigers were a combined 32-3 without a regular-season defeat.

“Things come in cycles,” Timmons said. “Culture starts with me.”

No doubt, part of that will be embracing a physical approach. The Tigers want to hammer on foes.

With that, four senior offensive linemen create what might be the strength of the team. Randleman wants to be in control along the line of scrimmage.

Long said he has improved his ability to improvise with the ball and he senses there are strong pieces in place around him. There were uneven outings in his first season as a starter.

“He had his growing pains,” Timmons said. “He took his lumps and he learned from his lumps.”

The Tigers lost last season’s leading rusher Ervodd Cassady because of his transfer to Eastern Randolph. And they’ll begin this season without battering running back Thomas Dobias.

Dobias, a standout junior linebacker, will miss the opening few weeks with a knee injury. Timmons said depth has been developed in some areas to help compensate.

“It’s so nice to have other guys,” he said.

Still, the defense is going to have a youthful element.

“When you look at the driver’s ed class and half your defense is in it, you’re pretty young,” Timmons said.

Sophomore Tyshaun Goldston, a transfer from Asheboro, could help at receiver and safety.

The Tigers were encouraged by solid outings in last week’s scrimmages.

Last August, there was a stunning defeat to open the season, so there’s a reminder about the importance of reversing that. A “Beat Asheboro” countdown clock is in the team’s weight room.

The goal is for a quick rebuild to re-establish those winning ways.

“We’ve got a lot better energy this year,” Dobias said.

Whether the Tigers are up to the task remains to be determined, they seem encouraged by the attitude. Long said that’s already on display.

“We’ve got guys willing to play anywhere,” he said.