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RAMSEUR - Don't look now, but the defending 3-AA champs are peaking at the right time.

The Eastern Randolph Wildcats (8-4) notched their fifth straight win with a convincing 19-7 victory over conference rival Asheboro in the first round of the playoffs Friday night.

"We've gotten better each week," Eastern coach Burton Cates said. "From the first game to now is quite a change. We've got some great kids, but they're very young."

Sophomores Khyri Crawford and Zebulon Milliner led the way for the Wildcats.

Crawford picked up a game-high 132 yards rushing on 27 carries, while quarterback Milliner chipped in with 100 yards and two touchdowns.

Eastern Randolph broke open a tight game in the second half by pounding the ball at the Blue Comets. Crawford had seven straight carries up the middle in the third quarter, running the ball 12 times in the first 12 minutes after halftime.

"We challenged the offensive line," Cates said. "(Crawford) wanted the ball. We felt like we could move the ball because they had some injuries in there."

The bruising running attack paid off early in the fourth quarter when Milliner broke free for a 30-yard touchdown run for the game's final score.

Asheboro jumped on top early thanks to a 76-yard kickoff return by Champ Fonville.

Three plays later, Tony Ratliff scored from the 1 on a sneak.

The Blue Comets then recovered an onside kick. However, on the next play they turned the ball over on a fumble, the first of five turnovers of the night for the visitors - four fumbles and one interception.

The Wildcats had a fourth-and-inches on the ensuing possession, but could not crack the end zone. The defense came up with points, as Alex Phillips and Heath Muller combined on a safety.

In the second, Asheboro (6-6) fumbled on three consecutive possessions, each on their side of the field. But the stout defense of the Blue Comets held the Wildcats to just 10 points, which gave Eastern a 12-7 halftime lead.

In addition to the five turnovers, Eastern allowed just 115 yards of total offense in the game.

  Asheboro E. Randolph First downs 7 11 Rushes-yards 37-81 47-248 Passing yards 34 22 Comp-Att-Int 3-7-1 3-7-0 Punts-average 3-38.0 3-31.3 Fumbles-lost 4-4 0-0 Penalties-yards 4-30 4-25

Asheboro 7 0 0 0 - 7 Eastern Randolph 2 10 0 7 - 19

A - Tony Ratliff 1 run (Daniel Marley kick)

E - Alex Phillips & Heath Muller tackled Ratliff in end zone for safety

E - Zebulon Milliner 20 run (Miguel Uribe kick)

E - Uribe 27 FG

E - Milliner 30 run (Uribe kick)