Asheboro wakes up in 2nd half, eyes Randleman next

ASHEBORO — One team is riding high. One team is finding its footing. One team is 2-0. The other 0-2.

But it’s the proverbial throw everything out the window when these two teams meet as Asheboro High School makes the short trip to Randleman to battle the Tigers Friday night in a non-league Randolph County battle.

The Blue Comets remained undefeated with a second-half surge that saw them break away from a halftime tie to roll past Northwood 35-7 Friday night at Lee J. Stone Stadium.

Whether it was a halftime speech, better execution in the second half or realizing that every week is going to be a battle no matter the opponent, the Blue Comets found what was needed with four second-half touchdowns.

“We came out and weren’t mentally in it and it looked like the guys were just going through the motions,” AHS coach Calvin Brown said of the 7-7 halftime tie. “We made mental mistakes and Northwood showed us something we weren’t prepared for. 

“At halftime, it was a combination of a lot of things,” Brown added about the turnaround. “The coaching staff getting some things cleared up, our mental focus, we played harder. I don’t know if the delay had anything to do with it. But we were more focused, mentally sharp and that allowed us to fly around.”

Because of rain and lightning, the 7:30 p.m. scheduled start was moved to 8:30 p.m.

Northwood led 7-0 before Garrison Cheek scored on a 7-yard run to tie the game. The Blue Comets looked sluggish after that score.

“The remainder of the first half, we struggled,” Brown said. “If we had a big play, there was a penalty, we had negative plays and we were behind the chains.”

But all that changed in the third quarter.

“It was more of a challenge to our guys about their toughness and if they want to be a championship team we need to execute every game,” Brown said. “We had people telling us how good we are after beating Scotland County. There really wasn’t any ranting or raving. It was more of a challenge to better understand what it takes to be a champion.”

The players listened as Connor Brinton hauled in a 14-yard TD reception from brother Dallas Brinton early in the third and, minutes later, Dallas Brinton and Cheek connected on a 75-yard pass play to make it 21-7.

The Blue Comets added two more scores in the fourth quarter, one on a 22-yard run from Connor Brinton and one on a Dallas Brinton 1-yard run. Dallas Brinton was 10 of 19 for 217 yards in the passing department, matching the 217 yards the Blue Comets registered on the ground.

“We want to establish the run, that’s who we are,” Brown said. “But we have to throw the ball to open things up. Being able to throw it better this year allows us to keep teams from concentrating on the run.”