–Pigskin Report - Week 8 - by Michael Hughes
11 October 2007Never say never
by Michael Hughes
Fumbles figured prominently in at least two key Mountain Athletic Conference games last week. None was more damaging than the last-minute miscue by Erwin at North Buncombe Stadium. Up by four with 1:28 to play, the Warriors had first-and-goal at the Black Hawks’ four-yard-line. North Buncombe still had one time-out left. All Erwin had to do, it seemed, was take a knee on consecutive downs to end the game and ride home with a badly-needed conference win.
Three weeks earlier, the Black Hawks had faced a similar situation at Swain County, holding a slim 15-12 lead at the Swain five with about a minute to go. The Maroon Devils were out of time outs and North Buncombe coach Carey Metts chose to run the clock rather than risk another play from scrimmage. The Black Hawks left Bryson City with a three-point win and a 4-1 record.
Not certain that the timer would reach 00.0, other thoughts were apparent last Friday on the Erwin sideline. North Buncombe’s earlier fourth-quarter score had been a 72-yard strike from quarterback Randy Pressley to junior receiver Maverick Reed. With that play in mind, the Warriors intended to put the game out of reach with one more hand-off before taking three knees if they fell short. If the football changed hands with a few ticks left, the Black Hawks had maybe one final desperation heave, or a mad dash from inside their own 10.
“All things are possible,” Metts said of his thoughts at the time.
With the clock running, Erwin quarterback Robbie Nallenweg, no doubt sensing the drama at his old home field, handed off to junior Martin Jackson, who had just gained 48 yards on four consecutive carries. Before Jackson could hit the hole, junior linebacker Justin Rice took on a block at the line of scrimmage and forced Jackson to the outside. Rice stayed in pursuit and popped the ball loose after a hard collision. Pressley, moving up from his safety position, earned a few more votes for MAC player-of-the-year after he followed the play to his right, grabbed the loose pigskin, and sprinted 94 yards for the eventual 17-14 win.
“It was one of those fluke things that happens,” said Metts. “[Justin Rice] is the hero. Randy, he was just the one who picked it up” and ran the other way.
It’s easy to second guess, but going for a “needless” score instead of running the time down left Erwin coach Chris Brookshire open to review by “Saturday-morning quarterbacks.” Hindsight is 20-20, but there may have been more to it.
During the preseason in 2006 there was some intense competition at North Buncombe for the starting job at QB—Pressley or Nallenweg. Pressley won out but was injured after five games, giving way to Nallenweg, who eventually moved with his two brothers to the Erwin district.
A lot was at stake last Friday in Weaverville. The teams are in-county rivals and the game was played in a playoff-like atmosphere. Erwin/North Buncombe had been hyped all week as fans and players alike were caught up in the heavy buildup.
“I think there was a lot more involved than just the ballgame,” said Metts. “There was a lot of emotion in that ballgame because of the Nallenweg boys being from here and leaving.”
Coach Brookshire and his team are trying to put it all behind them before taking on kingpin Asheville High tonight at home. A favorable outcome could erase some bad memories from the past two weeks (Erwin also fell to Franklin on Sept 28 in the last minute). If the Warriors dwell on the negative, know that the Cougars plan to take no prisoners.
The Black Hawks take on Tuscola tonight in Waynesville.
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