–Pressley’s 94 yard fumble return lifts Black Hawks over Warriors
6 October 2007By Greg Bolvi
WEAVERVILLE - October 5, 2007 - You’re North Buncombe and you’re down 14-10 with a minute to play in an important MAC game. You’re out of time outs, and Erwin has the ball first and goal on your four yard line. Who ya gonna call? The Black Hawks dialed 911 and Randy Pressley came to the rescue.
This time the junior, who must wear a cape under his uniform, rescued his teammates again when he made the defensive play of the night as he scooped up a Warriors’ fumble on his own six yard line and ran 94 yards for the winning touchdown as the Hawks came from 11 points down in the final quarter to edge Erwin 17-14.
The loss was especially devestating to the Warriors, who have gone down to defeat in the last two weeks when the opposition has scored in the final minute of the game. Last week Franklin scored with 30 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter; this time around a TD with 50 seconds to go, stomped on the hearts of Warriors’ Nation.
The game was filled with subplots. One was the return of the Brothers Three who last year wore the red, black and white. Quarterback/safety Robbie Nallenweg, linebacker/guard Andrew Nallenweg and tight end/linebacker Rick Nallenweg all 
transferred from North Buncombe to Erwin in the offseason.
Another factor was the defensive scheme run by Erwin to keep Pressley off balance. Often the Black Hawks’ quarterback was flushed out of the pocket and forced to run; numerous times defensive pressure forced Pressley to overthrow or underthrow receivers.
The bend, but don’t break scheme paid dividends for most of the game as the relentless Erwin defenders kept North Buncombe out of the end zone for most of the game.
The first half of the contest was dominated by the defenses of both teams, but there were big plays on offense as well. Erwin’s first play from scrimmage was a 26 yard run on an inside handoff by Martin Jackson. Jackson’s effort highlighted a 13 play drive in which he ran the ball five times for 49 yards, and caught a pair of passes for 12 more. The drive stalled on the North Buncombe 11 yard line, where the Warriors’ 28 yard field goal attempt was short. Erwin used up 6:12 of the first quarter and had nothing to show for it.
On the Hawks’ first play from scrimmage, Pressley then made something out of nothing when he fumbled the snap from center, 
evaded several Erwin pursuing defenders and hit Maverick Reed down the right sideline to the Erwin 23. The Warriors’ defense was up to the task, however, and the home team had to settle for a 39 yard field goal by Zack Dillow. Dillow’s kick would be the only scoring of the first quarter.
Erwin got on the board with 7:32 remaining in the half after an interception by Doug Gobble. The junior linebacker picked off a Pressley pass on the Warriors’ 25 and returned it 20 yards. This led to a ten play drive by the opportunistic visitors, capped off by a two yard touchdown run by Jackson after a 25 yard completion by Robbie Nallenweg to Devian Humes on a slant pattern. The TD concluded the scoring in the first half, giving Erwin a 7-3 advantage.
Neither team could put any sustained drives together in the third quarter, as turnovers and lack of execution hurt both squads. The final stanza, however, had enough action and changes of momentum to keep the fans on the edge of their stadium seats.
After a six play effort that took the Warriors to the NB 35, Nallenweg was intercepted by Josh Burchfield, who returned the pigskin 12 yards to the Black Hawk 45. Pressley called his own number four of the next five plays, getting 20 yards on the
ground. Another 10 yard gain, a five yard pass to Daniel Rice, and the Hawks were in business at the Erwin 19.
Here the Erwin defense stiffened, and the home team faced a 4th and 7 from the Warriors’ 21. The Hawks went for it. Erwin’s defense forced Pressley out of the pocket, and his pass to a teammate was stolen by Ronnie Fortune at the Erwin 14.
It was all Good Fortune as he took off down the left sideline, juked the last defender who had a shot at stopping him on the NB 37, and raced into the end zone untouched. The score and PAT gave the red and white a lead of 14-3 with 8:00 to play.
After a block in the back infraction on the kickoff sent North Buncombe back to its own 16, the Hawks were intercepted by Martin Jackson who returned the ball 10 yards to the Black Hawk 15. The Warriors couldn’t stand prosperity, though, and gave the ball back on the next play, thanks to an interception by Zack Moseley on his 7 yard line.
It was here that Pressley gave indication that he may have adjusted the cape. He ran for nine yards, then bounced off tacklers on the next play for seven more. The next play he fired a bomb caught by Reed, who shook off a tackle at the Erwin 
ten yard line and hit paydirt. The extra point brought the Hawks to within 14-10 with 6:24 remaining.
Neither team could move the ball on their next series, and when Erwin got possession with 3:07 to go, they gave the Black Hawks at steady diet of Jackson.
Jackson for 4, then 16. Another 4, then 24 more yards, and first and goal at the Hawks’ four. A minute 28 seconds to go. The fifth carry in succession was not the charm as Jackson gave up the ball; it took a fortunate bounce into the arms of Pressley, and 94 yards and 50 seconds later, coach Carey Metts’ charges were 5-2 overall, and 2-1 in the MAC.
Coach Chris Brookshire, who may feel like Job after the results of the last two weeks, sees his gallant band of Warriors fall to 3-5 overall, and 1-2 in MAC play.
Jackson led all rushers in the game with 146 yards in 26 attempts. Pressley topped the passing stats by going 13-29 for 250 yards and one TD. North Buncombe ran up 357 total yards; Erwin totaled 266. The teams combined for eight turnovers.
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