–Pigskin Preview - Week 10 - by Michael Hughes
26 October 2007This week’s Super Seven
Games of Oct. 26 & 27, 2007
Polk County @ Owen
Hayesville @ Murphy
Asheville High @ Franklin
Enka @ Tuscola
North Henderson @ Brevard
East Henderson @ Pisgah
Christ School @ Asheville School
Thanks to plucky Mountain Heritage, everyone knows how to beat hit-or-miss, quick-strike offenses: get first downs, stay inbounds, and keep in front of the opposing quarterback. Mitchell entered Briggs Stadium last week averaging close to 50 points per game since mid-September. This season the 2-A Mountaineers have had wins over Pisgah, Hendersonville, Polk County and 4-A McDowell. Facing a major challenge, the Cougars came in with five straight losses and were pummeled the previous week by Owen. By defending the run more than the pass, error-free Mountain Heritage played “keep away” and kept the football for 65 plays—50 on the ground—compared to six rushes and 29 plays from scrimmage for Mitchell. Two long TD strikes by the visitors were well short of their weekly output. For Mountain Heritage: way to go guys.
Swain County shocked the region two weeks ago. Last week it was the boys from Burnsville. What happens this last Friday in October?
In tomorrow’s biggest battle, Owen (7-2, 4-1) can clinch a sixth straight conference title with a home win over its main rival from the newly formed WHC, Polk County (8-1, 3-1). The Warhorses have deemphasized the pass in recent weeks and look more like the Owen of old. The Wolverines still lack a running threat but are starting to have more success on the ground. Pending Polk’s next game with Hendersonville, the Warhorses could still share the WHC with a loss. Both powers have upset the other on each others home field over the last two years. As usual, anything is possible. Wolverines prolong the pattern, 27-20.
It took 42 first-half points for Hayesville (6-3, 3-1) to hold off Robbinsville last Friday, while every week has something out of the ordinary in this wildly entertaining season. The Yellow Jackets need another scoring burst at Murphy (6-3, 3-1) as both clubs fight to keep their championship hopes alive in the SMC. The Bulldogs have lost twice to teams beyond the state border, showing little defense against unknown Tyler Academy a week ago. Neither defense has held firm for long in ’07. Bulldogs, 34-28
The high ankle sprain suffered two weeks ago by burly tailback/linebacker Josh Young has slowed Franklin (4-5, 1-3) considerably. That situation hurts the Panthers hopes for an upset more than the pain in Young’s leg. They’re still capable, especially on partisan turf surrounded by a Panther Pit. Just ask Roberson: the state-ranked Rams left town with a narrow seven-point win last month. Franklin needs a full team and a filled house to hold off Asheville High (7-1, 4-0), the new team to beat with two games to go. The Cougars and Panthers shared the MAC last season after Asheville handed Franklin its only blemish in the ’06 regular season, 14-7. The last meeting at the Pit between these two: a 49-28 whirlwind from ’05, in favor of the Cougars, 35-21.
In Waynesville, Tuscola (4-5, 1-3) tangles with Enka (3-6, 1-3) in a MAC tilt pitting two teams looking to escape the league cellar. Both programs have new head coaches needing to build some late season momentum, and each club has a new-look offense that has excelled, at times, in ’07. The Mountaineers defeated two teams that whipped the Jets this season. Enka recently put up 41 against a team that nipped Tuscola last month. Special teams will stay busy with lots kickoffs in a game that barely favors the Jets, 35-31.
Brevard (5-4, 3-0) is back to its winning ways after a rough, late-August/September slate. North Henderson (5-4, 0-3) started October out at 5-1, but has dropped its last three as the defense continues to struggle. The Knights have done the unexpected more than once this season, but the home team’s gain is the visitors’ loss. Blue Devils, 31-21
East Henderson (5-4, 2-1) and Pisgah (6-3, 2-1) are still in the hunt for a WAC title. The outcome of the tomorrow’s clash in Canton keeps one of those teams in the fall picture. The hot-and-cold Eagles face Brevard next week and could force their own destiny with a late season surge. The Black Bears would need East or North to knock off the front-running Blue Devils to claim another crown, but first things first. The home team has lost in each of the last two seasons. Not this time. Black Bears, 24-20
Saturday afternoon promises better weather than the balmy rain that slid into western North Carolina this week. That’s reason enough to get out and see the area’s only football playing private schools resume the oldest rivalry in the mountains. Asheville School (0-8, 0-5) could forget everything that’s gone wrong in ’07 with another huge upset of Christ School (3-5, 2-2). The Greenies have waited 12 months for revenge after being bounced by the underdog Blues at home. Not this time. Greenies, 38-12
—Michael Hughes
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