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Southwestern Randolph football

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.

 

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.

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.”

Lane_Dalke_Athelete-of-the-Week

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Lane Dalke

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Southwestern Randolph  |  baseball, football

Dalke, a senior, wrapped up his high school career by leading the Cougars with 20 runs batted in. He homered twice to lead the team in that category while playing in all 25 games.

In the field, Dalke was a third baseman and catcher. He played primarily behind the plate when an injury on the team necessitated that versatility.

Dalke was a linebacker for the school’s eight-win football team. He received All-Piedmont Athletic Conference honors for his role as one of the key contributors to the defense.