RANDLEMAN, NC – A storm-delayed kickoff eventually gave way to a strong performance by Eastern Randolph quarterback Cade McCallum.
McCallum accounted for five total touchdowns — four through the air and one on the ground — as the Wildcats earned a 42-14 victory over Randleman at Charles R. Gregory Stadium.
The game was originally scheduled for a 7:30 PM kickoff, but inclement weather pushed the start time back nearly 45 minutes. The two Randolph County teams finally took the field shortly after 8:15 PM.
Eastern Randolph wasted little time establishing control once play began.
The Wildcats got on the scoreboard first with 1:33 left in the opening quarter. McCallum connected with Marcus Bowden for a 6-yard touchdown pass, giving ER a 6-0 lead on the road.
Just 20 seconds later, Jayden Spinks added a defensive touchdown for the visitors from Ramseur. He returned an interception thrown by Randleman quarterback Reid Herring 36 yards to the end zone. The Wildcats converted the two-point try to extend their lead to 14-0.
It was the second interception of the contest for Herring, who threw for 207 yards and three touchdowns in the season opener against Providence Grove. Cameron Hinton recorded Eastern Randolph’s first takeaway.
Randleman scored its first touchdown early in the second quarter when Kayden Saunders found the end zone from 1 yard out with 10:54 remaining. The Tigers converted the extra point to cut the deficit in half to 14-7.
The Wildcats extended the lead just before halftime. McCallum called his own number to score on a 1-yard run with 1:23 left in the second quarter. ER converted the two-point try to take a 22-7 advantage into the break.
With 4:40 to play in the third quarter, McCallum hit Garrett Saunders for a 19-yard touchdown pass. The two-point attempt was unsuccessful, but Eastern Randolph led 28-7 entering the fourth quarter.
Randleman refused to go quietly on its home field. Herring scored on a 4-yard quarterback keeper with 8:05 remaining, and the Tigers' successful extra point trimmed the margin to 28-14.
Eastern Randolph answered right back.
McCallum faked a run play and found Justin Brown wide open with nothing but green grass ahead for a 35-yard touchdown pass. The Wildcats converted the ensuing two-point run to extend their lead to 36-14.
McCallum then closed the scoring with 2:30 to play in the fourth by finding Cainan Glover for a 17-yard touchdown. The two-point attempt failed to leave ER with the final 42-14 margin.
Eastern Randolph played without several key contributors in all three phases against Randleman, including linebacker and running back James Combs, who has missed both of the Wildcats’ games this season with an injury.
Eastern Randolph has now won six straight games against Randleman. The Tigers’ most recent victory in the series came during the shortened 2021 spring season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, when Randleman posted a 17-0 shutout.
Eastern Randolph (1-1) will return home to Ramseur next Friday to host Union Pines. Like ER, the Vikings enter the matchup with a 1-1 overall record.
Randleman (0-2) will look for its first win of the 2026 campaign next Friday at home against Asheboro. The Blue Comets are 2-0 and have scored 60 total points through their first two games.
Box Score
| 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | F |
| E Randolph | 14 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 42 |
| Randleman | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |