–Pigskin Preview - Week 8 - by Michael Hughes
11 October 2007Games of Oct. 12, 2007
McDowell @ Reynolds
Asheville High @ Erwin
North Buncombe @ Tuscola
Pisgah @ North Henderson
Polk County @ Avery County
Hendersonville @ Mitchell
Cherokee @ Swain County
The next four weeks will have some intense action on the gridirons of western North Carolina as numerous teams aim at conference championships and postseason berths.
Hats off to Asheville High for the big win last week over Roberson. The Rams were the region’s top dog before taking on their south-side neighbors. Much was made early this season of the surge in Spread offenses among area football teams. Asheville coaches showed how the scheme works best—especially when playing a stronger team in the trenches. Forcing the opposition to work the length and width of the field on every down puts defenders on their heels and gives offenses more room to maneuver. Consecutive strikes to open the game made it all work—aided by a trio of timely fumble recoveries by the Cougar defense—against the best D in the mountains. The third-quarter circus catch by Giovanni McKnight will stay on the minds of future Asheville opponents.
An AHS/TCR rematch for the postseason appears dim, as the quirky playoff system will likely have Roberson in 3AA and the Cougars in 3A, where they’ve been consistently placed during the era of subdivided playoffs.
Another local foe takes on the MAC frontrunners this week when Asheville High (5-1, 2-0) visits Erwin (3-5, 1-2). The angry Warriors suffered a devastating loss last Friday—their second straight in the closing seconds—and would love to release some built-up tension against the new king in town. In fact, four conference contenders remain on the Asheville schedule, starting with tomorrow’s clash at refurbished Kerr Stadium. The Cougars know not to coast the rest of the way, but the competitive edge belongs to the hungrier team at this point. Asheville smells another league crown. Erwin has been stung too often and needs a win in the worst way. It’s still Cougars, 31-21.
The region’s two teams from the Northwestern Conference normally duke it out in the regular season finale, and things have been one-sided in recent years. The annual clash was moved up this year, with McDowell (2-6, 1-2) climbing Old Fort Mountain to meet Reynolds (5-2, 3-0) a bit earlier. On the surface, it looks like a sub-duel between two of the state’s best running backs—Titans I-back Buggy Kincaid and Rockets speedster Darius Spencer—but McDowell’s defense has done little to stop anybody this season. The visitors need a stronger aerial attack and longer possessions to keep it close. Rockets, 45-28
North Buncombe (6-2, 2-1) can stay in the hunt for a MAC crown with a road win at Tuscola (4-3, 1-1). Ditto for the Mountaineers, who have bounced back after a rough middle of September and find themselves in the same boat. Following an eye-opener at Franklin, they seem to have regained their earlier pop. Sophomores Tyler Brosius and Josh Adams could form a dandy one-two in the weeks to come, and Black Hawks’ back Randy Pressley is also getting more help. Both teams have had a hard time stopping the opposition, and Turnovers and penalties could mean the difference this week. Mountaineers, 28-24
The Pisgah (5-2, 1-0) offense is starting to unwind at the right time. That’s bad news for North Henderson (5-2, 0-1), which may have overachieved—to its credit—over the first half of the season. If the Knights pull this one out, they will have proven their worth in 2007. All the same, East Henderson exposed too many holes last week and the visitors come in on a roll. Black Bears, 38-24
The Western Highlands is shaping up as a tight race in ’07. A pivotal game in the 1-A portion kicks off tomorrow as Polk County (7-1, 2-1) heads north to face sneaky Avery County (2-5, 1-1). The Vikings upended Owen two weeks ago and nearly knocked off league-leading Hendersonville last Friday. Avery has played a tough schedule and could give the Wolverines fits in chilly Newland. Polk County will move the football, but can the defense stop the revamped Viking offense? With Preston Jennings concentrating on running the football and Adam Pate behind center, both teams could be hard to hold. Wolverines, 35-21
Another WHC barnburner is shaping up in Bakersville. Mitchell (4-3, 1-1) has averaged 50 points over the past three outings; league-leading Hendersonville (6-2, 3-0) has scored at a 40 per-game clip. The Mountaineers combine a relentless offense with a porous defense, leaving the Bearcats with a few more options. The temperature is supposed to be colder Friday night. The mercury drops another notch or two in Mitchell County’s hill country. Conditions favor the purple-clad Mountaineers, 37-31.
The battle for bragging rights in the Great Smokies leaves nothing to chance tomorrow in Bryson City. Cherokee (4-2, 2-0), the team-to-beat in the Smoky Mountain Conference, faces cellar-dwelling Swain County (0-7, 0-2) in a backyard tilt that’s lost little luster despite the records. The winless Maroon Devils have made a steady climb since suffering from earlier offensive woes. The Braves had best be ready. Four formidable opponents narrowly escaped being Swain’s first victim in recent weeks. The Cherokee swagger is back, which is fine if you’re well-prepared. Keep a close eye on this one. Braves, 31-30
—Michael Hughes
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