Menu

Thomas Dobias

Faith Christian volleyball Cassell

Prep Notes: Dates change for football games; Check on soccer successes, streaks for volleyball teams

, , ,

Lyndsey Cassell of Faith Christian spikes the ball last week in a volleyball match vs. visiting North Moore. Faith Christian won the non-conference match in five sets. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Football games for this week in Randolph County have been adjusted because of the potential of an impact to weather in the area coming from Hurricane Ian.

Some announcements about changes came at the beginning of the week.

Asheboro’s game against visiting Oak Grove in a Mid-Piedmont Conference opener has been shifted from Friday night to 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

All three games in the Piedmont Athletic Conference also are set for Thursday instead of Friday.

Providence Grove’s game at Trinity has been moved to 7 p.m., while Eastern Randolph’s visit to Southwestern Randolph will begin at 7:30 p.m. All four of those teams take 4-1 records into those league openers.

Also, Randleman’s homecoming game against Wheatmore was set for 7:30 p.m.

Ready to return: Randleman running back/linebacker Thomas Dobias could be on the field for this week’s PAC opener against visiting Wheatmore.

He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee the day before the season opener to repair an injury that occurred during preseason practice. At the beginning of this week, the junior said he has been on a successful rehabilitation timetable that should allow him to be ready for PAC play.

Soccer stuff

Trinity and Wheatmore tied 1-1 the first time they met this season in boys’ soccer. Both teams began this week without a loss in PAC play.

The two teams meet in a rematch Oct. 5 at Trinity. That could be a showdown that decides the conference title.

Streak stopper: Asheboro’s bid for an unbeaten season ended with last week’s 2-0 loss at Wesleyan Christian Academy in High Point. That matchup was a late addition to the teams’ schedules. The Trojans are a one-loss team, though they don’t compete in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

Asheboro won its first 10 games before suffering the defeat.

On the court

Trinity’s volleyball team lost its season opener at Asheboro, but the Bulldogs have won their eight other non-conference matches. That stretch included avenging to loss to Asheboro.

But PAC play has been more challenging as Trinity held a 2-5 league mark entering this week.

Keep it going: Southwestern Randolph’s 14-match winning streak entering the week exceeds the longest winning streak for the team in 2021, when it won the Class 2-A state championship.

Last fall, the longest winning streak for the Cougars was 12 matches that stretched from the end of the regular season and into the PAC Tournament. After a loss to Uwharrie Charter Academy, Southwestern Randolph ran off six straight victories in the state playoffs.

Thomas Dobias on field Aug2022

Randleman must start season minus standout Dobias

, , , , , ,

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

, , , , , ,

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.