Megan Crotty

RANDLEMAN If the opener between the Randleman and Asheboro high school varsity football teams is any indication, the 2017season is going to be a wild one.

Tigers quarterback Tanner McGee threw a screen pass to running back Jaquan Snipes with under 5 minutes to play and Snipes sprinted 64 yards down the right side of the field into the end zone for a one-point RHS lead. McGee rushed the ball in for the two-point conversion, and the Tigers defense stuffed the Blue Comets on the next drive, icing a 37-34 RHS win at Charles R. Gregory Stadium. Not only did the gamefeaturesix lead changes and two ties, but there was also an hour and20 minutelightning delay after the first quarter.

"This was a whole team effort," RHS coach Shane Handy said. "Tanner does so much for us leading the team and being a dual threat. This group asa wholesticks together. Our seniors stepped up and gave encouragement. We just needed to compete for four quarters even if it took until 2 a.m."

McGee completed 13 of 29 passes for 260 yards and atouchdown,while notching 16 carries for 99 yards and a score. Snipes had 23 carries for 165 yards and threeTDs,and caught three passes for 68 yards. Tyson Green caught three passes for 94 yards and had a 70-yard kickoff return for a score.

For AHS (0-1), quarterback Cory Durrant completed 10 of 28 passes for 205 yards with 138 yards and two touchdowns going to Dayshawn Vaneaton. On the ground, Cameron Glover had 28 carries for 173 yards and a touchdown. Nate Fisher and Durrant each chipped in a TD.

"All of it," said Blue Comets coach Kevin Gillespie when asked how much of the loss was from the neck up. "We have a lot of players on the field with no experience. They outplayed us."

With the score tied at 21-all at the half, RHS forced AHS to punt and then took over on its 16. Eight plays later, the Tigers faked a punt on fourth-and-13 on the Blue Comets 35-yard line. AHS was called for pass interference, putting the Tigers on the 20. Seven plays and an AHS penalty later, RHS faced fourth-and-goal on the 11. Clayton Gentrys 27-yard try went wide right.

On the first play from scrimmage on the ensuing drive, Durrant found Vaneaton for a 69-yard pass play. Two plays later, Glover rushed 3 yards into the end zone, giving the Blue Comets a 28-21 lead with less than four minutes to play in the third quarter.

The Tigers coughed up a fumble on the next drive, but Durrant's pass was intercepted by Umar Abdul Matin on the third play from scrimmage.

RHS was forced to punt, but, after stopping the AHS offense, tackled Blue Comets punter David Caldron in the end zone after a bad snap for a safety, pulling the Tigers within three.

Green returned the ensuing kickoff 70 yards into the end zone, but Glover returned the next kickoff 50 yards, leading to a 17-yard Durrant touchdown pass to Vaneaton and a 34-29 AHS lead after a failed two-point conversion.

The Tigers gave the ball over ondowns,but forced another Blue Comets punt with 5 minutes remaining in the game. On the first play from scrimmage, McGee connected with Snipes and then capped the score with a two-point conversion for the final score.

Randleman started its game-opening drive from the AHS 48, rumbling to the 16 before McGee called his own number and fumbled.

The Blue Comets recovered it, but couldnt cross midfield and were forced to punt.

On the first play from scrimmage, Snipes busted loose up the middle of the field and sprinted 69 yards into the end zone to give RHS a 7-0 lead with just over 7 minutes to play in the first quarter.

AHS responded with a 10-play, 62-yard drive capped by a 14-yard TD run by Durant on fourth down that knotted the game at 7-all with less than four minutes left in the first.

After the Tigers were forced to punt, Asheboro rumbled to the RHS 25 before the second-quarter buzzer sounded. Soon after, the game was delayed due to lightning for an hour and 20 minutes.

The Blue Comets picked up where they left off despite the delay as Durant connected with Nate Fisher on a 16-yard pass play 30 seconds into the second quarter. Theextra pointwas blocked, putting AHS up 13-6.

On the first play from scrimmage on the ensuing drive, McGee found Tyson Green open and the receiver took the ball 45 yards upfield. Four plays later, the Tigers faced fourth-and-6 on the 9. McGee took the ball to the 2, and Snipes pushed into the end zone the rest of the way on the next play. Gentrys extra point put RHS up 14-13 with just under 10 minutes to play in the first half.

The Blue Comets answered with a four-play, 58-yard drive capped by a 40-yard pass play from Durant to Dayshawn Vaneaton. AHS went for two with Durant slicing up the middle, giving the Blue Comets a 21-14 edge having taken less than a minute off the clock.

The Tigers didnt take long to knot the game at 21-all. On fourth-and-1 on the AHS 45, McGee broke loose up the middle for a score with just over 6 minutes until halftime.

Neither team scored for the rest of the half with RHS seeing a 30-yard field goal go wide right with 32 ticks to play.

Originally posted here:

Tigers edge Blue Comets in wild opener - The Courier-Tribune - Asheboro Courier Tribune