Freshman running back gives AHS ground weapon

ASHEBORO — Winning is certainly a lot easier when a high school football team can run the ball. That was something the Asheboro High School Blue Comets have had difficulty in for quite awhile. 

Until this year.

Sparked by a freshman running back and an offensive line that has taken huge strides, the Blue Comets are now a team that can move the ball on the ground, sustain drives and, more importantly, keep possession late in close games to run off chunks of time on the game clock.

The latest example came Friday night as AHS recorded a 17-14 victory over North Davidson, the Blue Comets’ third victory of the season and first in the Mid-Piedmont Conference in the latest four-year realignment. Asheboro (3-5) snapped a 23-game overall conference losing streak, winning a league game for the first time since the final conference game of the 2019 season. 

The three overall wins earned this season are the most since the 2016 campaign when AHS finished 9-4.

And a big reason for that is freshman running back Connor Brinton. Brinton, who started the season on the jayvee team but was elevated to the varsity squad after an injury to DJ Scott, has taken advantage of his opportunity, 

“Last year, we couldn’t run the ball,” AHS coach Calvin Brown said. “(Friday night) we were able to eat up a lot of the fourth quarter by running the ball. Connor got us up the field. He has great vision and the way he hits the holes. 

“A lot of young guys have the tendency to bounce plays to the outside, but he’s going to go north and south. Contact doesn’t bother him. He doesn’t shy away from it. He’s a physical runner because he runs so hard and he’s only going to get better.”

The Blue Comets, who scored on touchdown passes from Logan Laughlin to Elijah Woodle and Aiden Robinson against the Black Knights, used the strong running of Brinton to control the clock after taking a 17-14 lead in the third quarter.

Connor and his brother Dallas, a sophomore wideout with the Blue Comets, and their family moved to Asheboro from Arizona prior to the season. Connor Brinton finished Friday night with 116 yards on 29 carries. For the season, he has rushed for 723 yards on 152 carries with three touchdowns. Four times he has gone over the 100-yard mark in the rushing department.

Brinton said once he was called up, which came in Week 2 against Eastern Randolph, he had to take advantage of the opportunity.

“On jayvee, I carried the ball five times for more than 100 yards and three touchdowns, so I knew I could do it there, and then against ER, I had like 70 yards and a touchdown,” Brinton said. “They expect me to run the ball hard and fight for everything. It feels amazing that they have the trust in me.”

Once Brown and the coaching staff saw Brinton perform against Eastern Randolph, they knew they had a tier one running back.

“Sometimes we feel as a coaching staff, he is so good, we kinda expect him to make plays, which isn't normal for a freshman,” Brown said. “Normally, you don't expect a freshman to make the plays he’s making. He loves football and studies the game really well. He’s really quiet. He just goes about his business and does what he’s supposed to do.”

So does the offensive line. Led by a pair of returning starters in senior Chris Spivey and junior Boone Hinesley, the line is opening holes for Brinton, Quincy Lee, who has scored 12 rushing touchdowns, and Scott. Sophomore center Jonah Lester, sophomore tackle Zak Blackwell and senior Nico Otero have all taken key steps in AHS becoming a formidable running team.

“Our offensive line coach Jacob Parrish has done a great job with those guys and he’s gotten the offensive line to buy into what we are doing,” Brown said. “We’re very fortunate that early in the year, these five guys solidified their spots. Anytime you can control the ball, you control the clock and dictate what the defense can do.” 

And Britton is taking advantage of his offensive line,

“They have done a great job,” Brinton said of his OL. “It just feels good to be trusted.”

The Blue Comets travel to Ledford Friday and then host Montgomery Central to close out the MPC season.