RHS-ER square off in first marquee game of year on Friday

When the varsity football teams from Eastern Randolph and Randleman get together, there is usually a lot on the line, most notably of late a conference championship.

But after the latest realignment, with Eastern Randolph and Randleman now in different conferences, a league title won’t be at stake Friday night when the two Randolph County powers renew their rivalry at Eastern Randolph High School. But the opportunity to go to 2-0 in this new season will be.

The Wildcats have won four in a row in the rivalry, including thrilling one-point wins the last two seasons, which clinched the conference championship each year. Randleman’s last victory in the series was a 17-0 win during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

“Totally different,” ER veteran coach Burton Cates said of the rivalry being played out in Week 2 compared to an end-of-the-season battle. “It’s two different parts of the season. The first, second, third planned dates, you’re still feeling yourself out and trying to get people in the right places. In the 10th game of the season, you are dealing with injuries and other things. 

“It’s at Eastern Randolph, so we’re hoping there’s still going to be a lot of intensity.”

Cates, who has more wins than any other active coach in North Carolina, saw his team record a 20-8 win at Southern Alamance in Week 1. The defense pitched a shutout with the only touchdown coming on a fumble return.

Friday’s home opener against what has been the top two programs in the county for some time should be electric.

“It’s still a county rivalry, and just like Randleman, our kids love to play in rivalries,” Cates said.

Though RHS’ first-year coach David Diamont hasn’t experienced this rivalry, he likens it to one he has plenty of experience in.

“I will say in my previous life at Burns, it was Burns and Shelby in almost an identical situation three years in a row,” he said. “The conference championship was on the line and it was the last game of the year. It was almost exactly the same. I’m sure Week 2 will be very different from the last week of the season.”

The Tigers are coming off a 31-14 win over Providence Grove.

“Your season is kind of like two seasons,” Diamont said. “Non-conference with some of the rivalries and the next season is when conference starts.”

This should be a fun Week 2 non-league battle for football fans.