Published: November 14, 2008 05:52 pm            

ERHS loses draw for playoffs

RAMSEUR — Because of the luck of the draw, the Eastern Randolph High School varsity football squad’s streak of 11 straight playoff appearances was broken.

In playing what ERHS Head Coach Burton Cates termed “one of our most consistent games of the season,” the Wildcats defeated a strong Trinity team 23-12.

The win moved ERHS into a three-way tie for third place in the final Mid-Piedmont 3A Conference standings with Southeast Guilford and Trinity – each finishing at 3-3.

The MPC received three automatic spots in the postseason playoffs, forcing a late Friday night draw.

Trinity captured the third slot of the draw, eliminating the Wildcats from the playoffs.

Ragsdale whipped Asheboro 28-0 Friday night to earn the MPC championship to finish at 6-0, 11-0.

The Blue Comets settled for runnerup honors at 5-1, 8-3. Both teams open playoff competition this weekend.

The Wildcats turned in a solid performance on both sides of the ball against Trinity as ER struck for a 7-0 first-period lead and never trailed.

“I am very proud of this team,” said Cates. “The seniors have provided excellent leadership and the entire team has worked hard all season.”

Midway of the first quarter, the ER defense forced a punt that launched a 67-yard, seven-play drive ending with a keeper by QB Tucker Coward who ran eight yards to paydirt.

The PAT kick by Dario Phetmixay made it 7-0 at 3:48. Highlighting the march was a 31-yard aerial from Coward to Bill Stanley for a first down at the Bulldog 13.

The teams traded punts until Khyri Crawford recovered a fumble at the ERHS 32 late in the first half.

The Wildcats drove inside the Trinity 15 before stalling and settled for a 32-yard Rasmus Ravn field goal and a 10-0 halftime lead.

Trinity took the second-half kickoff and went 68 yards in 11 plays for a score. Tyler Cruthis capped off the drive with a 19-yard TD run to pull the Bulldogs within 10-6 at 6:27 of the third period.

Eastern Randolph responded by taking the ensuing kickoff and driving for another score. In 11 plays the Wildcats went 80 yards, with Malcolm Greene covering the final six off the rightside. The PAT kick by Phetmixay made it 17-6 with 4:05 left in the third.

Crawford sparked the drive with a 47-yard romp to the Trinity 13. On fourth-and-13 at the 16, ER faked a punt and Stanley threw a 15-yard strike to Lloyd Newman for a first down.

The Bulldogs bounced back, taking the kickoff and driving 65 yards in five plays for a TD. Backup QB Robert Reynolds (filling in for the injured Rhyne Kivett) threw a 40-yard bomb to Ryan Spencer. Trinity was within 17-12 with 1:56 left in the third quarter.

The game turned into a defensive standoff until Matt McDonald recovered a Trinity fumble at the Bulldog 8 yard line. ERHS took two plays to capitalize as Crawford sailed up the middle for five yards and a TD for a 23-12 cushion with just 3:37 left in the game.

Trinity took the kickoff and drove from its own 28 to the ER 21. But a pass interception by Bradley Heath ended the threat and sealed ER’s victory.

On the night, Eastern Randolph had a 17 to 14 edge in first downs while Trinity led in total offense 299 yards to 294, including 229 rushing.

Crawford paced the ER ground attack with 124 yards on 18 tries while Coward had 68 yards on 13 attempts. Cruthis led Trinity with 62 yards on 11 carries and Reynolds was 5 of 8 passing for 98 yards.

        

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