Blue Comets rally to win thriller over Eastern Guilford, 37-33

ASHEBORO — Perhaps during a future Asheboro High School Homecoming night, thoughts will turn to some impressive performances from this annual night of celebration. In the long, storied history of Asheboro High School football, there certainly has been a list of incredible achievements in past Homecoming contests, both team and individually. 

None, more than likely, can top this year’s 37-33 Homecoming win over Eastern Guilford Friday night in Triad Area Athletic Conference action at Lee J. Stone Stadium.

With the home side jam-packed with fans, junior quarterback Dallas Brinton and a stout offensive line led the Blue Comets on a 14-play, 76-yard scoring drive with Brinton carrying the ball on every play, save two incomplete passes. 

After converting a fourth-down play with a 13-yard run around end, Brinton scored on a third-and-goal from the 3 with 1:02 to play to push AHS back in front in the seesaw battle.

The win breaks a two-game losing streak for the Blue Comets, who improved to 1-2 in the TAAC and 6-2 overall heading into Friday night’s home league encounter with Northeast Guilford. The six wins are the most in one season since the 2016 team won nine times.

AHS took over on its own 24, trailing 33-30 after EG converted on a 24-yard field goal with 6:26 to play.

“It’s great having a coaching staff who trusts you and to have such a great OL,” beamed Brinton after the victory. “Our OL tonight and our running backs and everyone blocking. Our receivers did a great job, our line did a great job blocking for me. I couldn’t have done anything without them.”

Brinton, who also starts on defense, said there was no doubt when the Blue Comets began that drive it would end up in the end zone.

“We came into this game knowing we’re great players and great players stay composed in those situations,” Brinton said. “We get the ball and we know we are going to score. In your mind, if you’re not confident in what you’re going to do, you don’t have anything. We knew we were going to score and Coach kind of put it in my hands and I did everything I could.”

Offensive lineman Jackson Thill, Kaleb Rosenblatt, Zak Blackwell, Boone Hinesley and JJ Balfour opened holes for Brinton.

“Our kids have poured so much into this week,” AHS head coach Calvin Brown said. “Odds were against us, we were missing a few guys. Starting center goes down yesterday, hurt. Starting middle linebacker goes down at halftime. Every time something happened, our guys answered the call. We had guys out of position, guys stepping up and making plays. They just willed us to win. We have a bunch of guys right now saying, ‘Coach, whatever it takes for us to win we’re going to do it,’ and they are doing that.”

The Blue Comets trailed 9-0 after one quarter before Brinton scored on a 28-yard run and, later, Jaydon Spruill scored on a 4-yard run to cut the AHS halftime deficit to 16-14. 

Brinton’s 2-yard TD run and a two-point conversion pass to Spruill made it 22-16 Blue Comets, but EG retook the lead at 23-22 before Connor Brinton returned a kickoff 97 yards for a score. EG scored the next 10 points to set up Asheboro’s game-winning drive.

“We showed up and played tonight,” Brown said as Shane Immel, Jewel Barrett-Riggins, the Brinton brothers, Spruill, Kenneth Smalls and others sparked the defense. “Our guys don’t quit. They just keep fighting and keep fighting. That’s the culture change we’ve been going for and a lot of credit goes to our guys and our coaching staff.”