Randolph Hub's 2024 All-County Football

ASHEBORO — When a team is as successful as the Eastern Randolph High School football team was this past season, there’s no doubt there are going to be outstanding individual accomplishments.

Team success is based, in a way, on many players having individual success, enough success where multiple players’ accomplishments lead to the overall achievements of the team.

The Wildcats had plenty of team and individual success as Burton Cates’ team finished undefeated in the regular season, which included a fourth-straight unbeaten Piedmont Athletic Conference campaign, their fourth straight league championship, a whopping 494-141 overall scoring advantage and an appearance in the third round of the state 1-A playoffs, finishing 12-1.

After another incredible season for the Ramseur school, Cates has been named the Randolph Hub Coach of the Year, senior running back Lucas Smith has been named the Offensive Player of the Year and sophomore linebacker James Combs has been named the Defensive Player of the Year.

In order to be eligible for the Randolph Hub All-County Team, a player had to be nominated by the head coach. Statistics were sent in by the team. 

Offensive player of the year — Lucas Smith, Eastern Randolph

One of the most hard-nosed runners in school history, Smith capped off a stellar high school career with an incredible season. He rushed for 1,525 yards and scored 26 touchdowns, adding four more through the air for a total of 30 on the season. He was also the lead blocker for the other talented running backs as ER totaled 3,325 yards on the ground.

Defensive player of the year — James Combs, Eastern Randolph

The quick-as-lightning linebacker could hit as hard as anyone in the area as he finished with 78 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions, two pass breakups and two forced fumbles. He could run opponents down and was quick enough to get in opposing backfields to cause chaos.

Coach of the year — Burton Cates, Eastern Randolph

In his second stint with the Wildcats, Cates led his team to another PAC championship. Since his return in 2018 to the school whose football stadium is named after him, Cates has led his teams to a record of 69-14. Plenty of talent? Certainly. But Cates and his staff improve that talent to form one of the top football programs in the state of North Carolina.

Overall, there are 11 returning players to the all-county team and eight more who were on the honorable mention list last season.

ALL-COUNTY TEAM MEMBERS

JULIAN BROOKS (ER) — He was an imposing force on the defensive line, reaching the opponent’s backfield on many occasions before the ball could be handed off. 

KOBE WALKER (ER) — He followed an impressive freshman season with an even better second year. An aggressive linebacker who finished with 68 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception. He also became a big part of the running game, giving ER incredible depth in the backfield.

DASEAN SHAMBERGER (ER) — He was all over the field, providing the Wildcats with extraordinary effort on both sides of the ball. He had 36 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions, numerous pass breakups and was a definite deep threat in the passing game.

RAY WEST (ER) — Playing with a torn ACL, yes, a torn ACL, he recorded 28 tackles with eight interceptions, which led the conference and the county. He also had seven pass breakups on the season.

MADDOX CARSON (ER) — The Wildcats were the top rushing team in the county, which means solid offensive linemen. Carson recorded an unfathomable 104 pancake blocks, an average of eight per game. He graded at 92 percent on the season. 

WILL STALKER (ER) — A three-year starter at center, he graded out at 96 percent on the season, recording 27 pancake blocks. He was a senior leader for the offense and was called upon for the other side of the ball as well.

CADE MCCALLUM (ER) — Just a sophomore, he led the county’s highest-scoring unit by throwing for 1,615 yards and 24 touchdowns. As the season progressed, he became more confident in leading this high-powered offense.

TYSHAUN GOLDSTON (RHS) — Goldston had a stellar senior campaign with 67 receptions for 1,068 yards and 18 touchdowns. He averaged 97.1 yards per game and made some acrobatic end zone catches. He also averaged 9.8 yards per carry and threw a pass for 17 yards and a TD.

JOHN KIRKPATRICK (RHS) — A finalist for offensive player of the year, he was 151 of 259 for 2,452 yards and 33 touchdowns. He averaged more than 200 yards per game throwing, and finished with a 113.6 quarterback rating. He also rushed for 168 yards and three more scores.

TATE ANDREWS (RHS) — He was a wrecking ball on defense and worked his way to contribute on offense as well. He recorded 124 tackles with three QB hurries, two sacks and a forced fumble. He also had three pass breakups. Offensively, he hauled in  64 yards in receptions with one TD.

CHASE FARLOW (RHS) — Farlow excelled on both sides as he had 632 yards in receptions with nine touchdowns offensively. Defensively, he recorded five interceptions.

JONATHAN STOKES (RHS) — One of the most imposing figures in the county, he led the offensive line every week. He is headed to East Carolina.

BRANDON BOONE (RHS) — Boone was a force on both lines, recording 26 tackles, including five for loss, six QB hurries, three sacks and he scored a TD on defense. He was also a mainstay on the OL.

BRAYDEN GLADDEN (RHS) — Gladden came through in big situations for the Tigers, registering 577 all-important yards with four scores. He also had a rushing touchdown.

BRADY COLLINS (PG) — The leader of the Patriots defense, he registered a school-record 147 tackles this past season, which was top 20 in the entire state. He ended his career at PG as the school’s all-time leading tackler with 357.

CARSON JONES (PG) — The kicker earned himself the honor of being on a list with the top returning kickers in the country. He registered a 68 percent touchback percentage and showed his strength with a 50-yarder during the season. He was good on 80 percent of his field goal attempts.

JACKSON LAWVER (PG) — He accounted for 15 touchdowns with his arm and legs. He threw for nearly 1,000 yards and eight scores while running for 277 yards.

JONATHAN KELLY (WHS) — He eclipsed the 1,000-yard barrier with 1,025 and eight rushing touchdowns. He also hauled in 34 receptions for 205 yards, while sparking the team with six quarterback sacks on defense.

DANNY CRAIG JR. (WHS) — The senior was a two-way threat for the Warriors, helping WHS in the rushing and receiving departments. He also had three interceptions and numerous pass breakups.

ASHTIN BENNETT (WHS) — He finished with 85 tackles and seven sacks on defense, while registering 17 pancake blocks..

NOAH BRADLEY (THS) — The senior threw for 2,215 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Bulldogs, while rushing for 523 more and adding six more scores on the ground. 

CAM NELSON (THS) — The senior caught more than 400 yards in receptions with two scores. He also picked off four passes from his secondary position.

ZORN WILLIAMS (THS) — He recorded 84 tackles this season for the Bulldogs, while adding nearly 400 yards of offense.

NOAH STILLS (SWR) — The first player to arrive and the last to leave, Stills led a no-huddle offense, using strong communication skills. He passed for 1,230 yards and 10 touchdowns, while rushing for 874 and scoring 14 times.

KEMPTON REED (SWR) — A three-year starter, he was rarely off the field. The senior was part of a four-year run, which saw the Cougars win more games than any class. He had 108 tackles, including 12 for loss, and one interception. He added 405 yards rushing and two scores.

OWEN WHELAN (SWR) — He was a three-way threat on offense — passing, rushing and receiving — while playing quarterback and running back, scoring six times. He played both on the defensive line and in the secondary, recording 80 tackles, 12 for loss.

BRODY SHEPPARD (SWR) — He was a spark on both sides of the ball, finishing with 722 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, while recording 45 tackles, two sacks and one interception. A junior, he is primed for another great year next season.

JOSE FLORES (SWR) — The leader of the defensive line, the state wrestling champion recorded 85 tackles, including a whopping 18 for loss. He also recorded four sacks. He was also the team’s top blocker on the OL.

CONNOR BRINTON (AHS) — Once called up from the jayvees and inserted into the starting lineup, the freshman sparkled, rushing for 1,076 yards and seven touchdowns. He averaged 107 yards per game, eclipsing the 100-yard mark six times. He averaged 5.0 yards per carry.

QUINCEY LEE (AHS) — The Blue Comets’ short-yardage back, he scored 13 touchdowns while averaging 7.1 yards per carry. Defensively, he had 47 tackles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

BOONE HINESLEY (AHS) — A big part of the Blue Comets’ improvement this year had to do with the running game and Hinesley was a big part of that. He recorded 16 pancake blocks. He allowed just one sack all season.

CHRIS SPIVEY (AHS) — He led the team with 18 pancake blocks and was a key reason the Blue Comets featured a strong running game. That running game allowed AHS to score 295 points this past season, an increase from 186 the year before. He, too, allowed just one sack this year.

Honorable Mention:

Josh Lowe (WHS), Kase Wilson (WHS), Jackson Rhyne (PG), Holden Swift (PG), Buck Rogers (THS), Leyland White (THS), Easton Gravely (SWR), Victor Rodriguez (SWR), Asher Perkins (SWR), Julian Mosley (SWR), Logan Laughlin (AHS), Jewell Barrett-Riggins (AHS), Dallas Brinton (AHS), Cole Trogdon (AHS), Aiden Robinson (AHS), Zak Blackwell (AHS), Luke Hughes (AHS), Ben Luck (AHS), Dylan Atkins (RHS), Ashton Dillow (RHS), Christian McLeod (RHS), Ty Moton (RHS), Jonathan Sampson (RHS), Aidan Goodman (ER), Eber Castanon  (ER).