Avery Journal-Times • August 18-19, 2010 Page 1B

Vikings Sail with Great Expectations

BY JAMIE SHELL
SPORTS@AVERYJOURNAL.COM
In 2009 the Avery
Vikings alternated wins
and losses in non-confer-
ence play to enter Western
Highlands Conference
action at 2-2. Once in the
thick of league play, the
team experienced a myri-
ad of highs and lows.
The nadir of confer-
ence play came when
Avery fell for the first time
in almost two decades to
the Madison Patriots in a
33-27 defeat, giving the
Marshall club its only
conference win not
named Thomas Jefferson.
Just two weeks later, how-
ever, a rousing last minute
comeback at hated rival
Mitchell was capped off
by a thrilling fourth-down
touchdown pass from
Alex Villanueva to Andy
Gonzalez with less than
30 seconds remaining to
lift the Vikings to a 42-38
win to end the regular
season.
Avery finished 2009
with a 33-9 loss at
Bessemer City and ended
its season with a 5-7 over-
all mark. In 2010 Avery
looks to learn from its
misfortunes from last year
and fly under the radar as
a sleeper team that can
make huge noise in the
Western Highlands
Conference.
The Vikings return
nine starters on the offen-
sive side of the football
that amassed over 3,300
yards of total offense last
season. Leading the attack
will be junior quarterback
Alex Villanueva (130 of
272 passing, 1865 yards,
18 TD passing, 13 TD
rushing). Villanueva is
regarding as perhaps the
best pure passing quarter-
back in the WHC this sea-
son, and has impressed
the Viking coaches during
off-season workouts.
“I could count the
number of bad passes
Alex has thrown this
spring and summer with
one hand or maybe both.
Alex has developed him-
self as a leader and that’s
what you want out of
your quarterback,”
Vikings head coach
Darrell Brewer said in an
in-depth interview last
week on the Avery club.
“I think it was hard for
Alex as a sophomore to be
a leader being a young
player learning the sys-
tem. He had pressure as a
quarterback and he was
trying to lead juniors and
seniors. I felt he did a
good job at holding it all
together as he learned
and matured.”
The quarterback is
showing a maturation
that has been a pleasure
for the coaching staff to
watch, and the staff
expects to see a refined
signal-caller that will
show increased improve-
ment upon what many
would accept as a stellar
season last fall.
“Alex’s decision-mak-
ing has been like night
and day this season. I
think he’s grown more
this summer than the
giant leaps he made
between his freshman and
sophomore season. He is
seeing the field better, and
he is throwing some balls
that I saw and just shook
my head at seeing the
good decisions he made,”
Coach Brewer added. “I
think last year at times he
tried to make things hap-
pen rather than deciding
to take a sack or throw the
football out of bounds.
Our team will go as Alex
goes to a point, but I think
there are also other kids
who will have to step up.”
Among those players
having to step to the fore-
front this season are a
number of seniors, such
as returning running
backs Colton Blackburn
(590 rushing yards, 3 TD
in 2009) and Taylor Potter,
as well as and wide
receiver Andy Gonzales
(39 receptions, 746 yards,
7 touchdowns in 2009).
Gonzalez has been picked
a pre-season 1A All-State
selection by North
Carolina Prep Football
News.
According to the
coach, other Avery run-
ners, including senior
Nathaniel Buchanan will
see some time in the back-
field, as well as juniors
Spencer Blackburn and
Hunter Shields who will
work at tailback at times
when the offense operates
out of the Wing forma-
tion.
“Primarily you’ll see
Colton and Taylor out of
the Spread set,” Coach
Brewer explained. “Both
of them do different
things and you’ll see one
in at times and the other
at a different position
depending on situation
and what we’re trying to
do offensively.”
The Vikings return
experience along the
offensive line. Three
starters return in Kyle
Greene, Ethan Hagie, and
Lucas Lecka, while fellow
lineman Brandon Huff
saw spot starts and exten-
sive action along the line
in the majority of games
in 2009.
The coaches are excited
and proud of the work
ethic of the line, and
expect great things from
the unit this fall.
“I don’t know that
we’ve had a group of line-
men that have worked as
hard as this group has this
summer,” the coach
beamed about the O-line.
“As a whole, our entire
team worked hard. The
line has put in a hard
summer of work, and
we’ve got some pretty
good expectations of
these kids. Although our
line may not have as
much depth as we might
like, I believe we’re strong
at every position on the
line.”
The Avery offense
threw the football 45 per-
cent of the time last sea-
son and ran the ball 55
percent, a ratio close to
what the head coach
hopes to see as balanced
in 2010.
“Like I say every year, I
believe our goal is to be a
50/50 run versus pass
team every season. But
you have to see where
you are from week to
week during a season,”
Coach Brewer stated. “I
think we’re going to be a
better running team this
season than we were last
year at this time, but at
the same time I think
we’ll be a better passing
team than this time last
year.”
In the times the
Vikings throw the foot-
ball, the team will have a
reliable corps of capable
pass catchers to put pres-
sure on an opposing sec-
ondary. Along with the
aforementioned
Gonzalez, the Vikings will
use any of seven other
receivers in various four-
receiver formations.
Hunter Shields has been
impressive in camp and is
making a push for the #2
receiver slot, while team-
mates Kody Hughes,
Remington Austin, and
Lane Smith have both
proven themselves equal
to the task.
“Andy is always going
to play bigger than his
size might indicate, while
Lane and Hunter have
both had tremendous
summers at the receiver
spot,” Coach Brewer said.
“Who’s gonna start will
be determined by what
we are trying to do. We
can interchange as many
as eight guys in the four
receiver spots, as we’ll use
Taylor, Spencer, and
Colton some at the receiv-
er spot at times this year. I
couldn’t tell you who is
gonna be starting on a
given night but they’ll all
be out there.”
With the flexibility,
don’t be surprised if the
Viking receiving sets dis-
play unique characteris-
tics from time to time.
“Coach (Avery offen-
sive coordinator James)
Condrey and I talked at
times about putting
together some certain
packages together, maybe
using a speed group or
maybe a size group
together,” Coach Brewer
said. “If we have any
depth on this team it’s at
receiver, and we have
some pretty dang good
ones.”
As a group, the Avery
offense will show marked
improvement in a couple
of areas that will bode
them well, especially as
the regular season wears
on and the postseason
looms on the horizon.
“This team has put a
lot of effort this off-season
in improving its speed
and strength,” the coach
explained. “These kids
are all a year into the sys-
tem so they know the Xs
and Os, but the speed and
strength has been notice-
ably improved, and I
think that in and of itself
will make us a better ball-
club.”
On defense the Big Red
has the luxury of return-
ing nine starters, tied with
Polk for the most of any
team in the Western
Highlands Conference.
The major change
noticed immediately
upon viewing the Avery
defense is the installation
of a new 3-4 defensive
front. The Vikings will
utilize Justin Crowder at
the nose guard position,
while Colton Blackburn
and Lecka will man the
defensive end positions.
Brandon Huff has been
filling in for Crowder the
past several practices and
in last week’s scrimmages
as Justin is nursing an
injury sustained in prac-
tice.
“Crowder is a quick
nose guard who moves
well and commands dou-
ble-teams, while Colton
and Lucas have the poten-
tial to be terrors at the
defensive end position,”
Coach Brewer said
regarding the change.
“You’ll see us use some of
the ‘40’ defensive fronts in
the future, but right now
we’re committed to work-
ing with the 3-4. We’ve
picked it up pretty well.
We haven’t spent a lot of
time in live defense
because of numbers, but
our defense is aggressive
and ready to hit. We’ll
make some mistakes
early, but we can fix those.
I think our defense will
get after it.”
Playing the inside line-
backer positions will be
Kenny Hicks and
Nathaniel Buchanan,
while Ethan Hagie has
also picked up the posi-
tion well in practice and
will see time in the spot.
At outside linebacker,
Tyler “Buford” Buchanan
and Brandon Earley will
hold down the fort, while
Hunter Shields will also
play the position from
time to time. Tyler Long
and Andy Gonzalez will
play at cornerback, while
Avery’s leading tackler in
2009 Taylor Potter and
Spencer Blackburn will
man the safety spots.
“Defensively, what I’ve
noticed most is that I see
that not only have we
picked up speed, but
we’re quicker,” the coach
said of the team defen-
sively. “We’ll find out
when we go up against
other teams how fast we
are, but I think we’re a
quicker club.”
Many players are well
known in the 2010 Avery
club, but there is at least
one sleeper that may well
surprise opponents this
season with what he
brings to the team and on
the field Friday nights.
“Kyle Greene is a play-
er who may not be on the
radar on a lot of teams,
but he has been on ours
for a while,” said Avery
Assistant Coach Stacey
Clark.
“From playing as a
freshman to now as a sen-
ior, I don’t think I’ve seen
another kid who has
improved as much as
Kyle has. He’s worked his
tail off, and he is very
intelligent on the field,”
Coach Brewer concurred.
“We can take virtually
any player off the street
and send him in to play
next to Kyle and Kyle can
coach him up right then
and there on the run in
the middle of the action.
He’s like a coach on the
field.”
On special teams the
Vikings have a weapon in
kicker Dustin Clark. The
junior won the long dis-
tance kickoff competition
at last weekend’s jam-
boree at Hampton (TN)
High School and has
attended summer kicking
camps to improve his dis-
tance and accuracy.
“We have spent some
time daily working on
special teams. Dustin
probably needs more reps
and kicks, but he’s com-
ing along well,” Coach
Brewer stated. “We’re
probably better than we
normally are at this time
of year.”
Five Burning
Questions about the 2010
Avery Vikings:
Question #1: Does this
team have added motiva-
tion after being picked to
finish as low as fifth in the
Western Highlands
Conference this season?
Coach’s Response: “I
think it will motivate us.
We haven’t talked about
polls or anything. We’re
thinking about making
Avery the best football
team it can be. As a coach
I want to be picked as low
as possible, then there
isn’t any pressure to live
up to a high prediction. If
you’re picked at the top
there’s only one place to
go, and that’s down.”
Question #2: How is
this year’s Viking team
different from last year’s
team?
Coach’s Response:
“We’re a year older with
another year of experi-
ence. We haven’t had to
spend time working on
X’s and O’s but we are
able to spend more time
on fundamentals. The
players themselves are
able to draw up the plays
on the board and their
responsibilities, just as an
example of how we’re not
spending extra time
teaching the players the
plays like we had to last
season.”
Question #3: What is
this team’s biggest asset?
Coach’s Response:
Our biggest asset we have
on this team is the cama-
raderie among our boys
and have become a foot-
ball team. They have
come together as a team
and like each other and
they enjoy hanging out
with each other.
Question #4: This
year’s Avery Vikings foot-
ball team will succeed if…
Coach’s Response: “If
they believe in them-
selves, which I believe
they do.”
Question #5: What one
word would best describe
the 2010 Avery Vikings
and why?
Coach’s Response:
“Hungry. The way we’ve
watched them compete
this summer and going
back to our practices and
7-on7s, these guys are
competitors and they get
after it.”
Page 2B
FOOTBALL PREVIEW Avery Journal-Times • August 18-19, 2010

Inside the Western Highlands Conference:

High School Football Preview (Part 1)

BY JAMIE SHELL hit the road, albeit not of the last decade. 7-win season in 2008 to host Avery on October ing the Bearcat offen-
SPORTS@AVERYJOURNAL.COM for long distances, for Owen will have to earn a 10-win 2009 15th. sive attack. Whiteside
a pair of games, at restock its arsenal campaign and tie HENDERSON- ran for 12 touchdowns
With the turning of Watauga on September quickly from a club Mountain Heritage for VILLE BEARCATS and over 1,000 a season
the calendar to August, 3rd and at Cloudland which had a blend of top record in the WHC. (2009 record: 5-2 in ago, while returning
it’s obvious around for the fourth renewal youth and experience The cupboard in conference, 11-3 over- three kickoffs for
high schools in our of The Avery Journal- one season ago. Columbus appears far all) touchdowns and
region that the 2010 Times Border Battle Graduated from the from bare for the The Hendersonville adding six intercep-
prep football season Classic on Friday, club is former all-con- Wolverines in 2010, as Bearcats answered its tions on defense.
has arrived. The Avery September 10th. ference running back the squad returns 21 fourth round playoff Anchoring the
Vikings look to build Let’s take a moment Andy Coleman, but the lettermen this fall. Polk push in 2008 with an defense will be senior
upon a 5-7 season in and break down a trio team returns a veteran will have nine starters 11-win season in 2009, LeQuan Young, who
2009, a three-win of teams who have starting quarterback in returning this season falling to West was named 1A All-
improvement from the often found their way Kaleb Fowler, who on both sides of the Montgomery by a field State by NC Prep
previous season, and to the top of the bounced back from a football, giving the goal in the third round Football News and was
contend for the Western Highlands broken collarbone in squad the most starters of the state playoffs. the 2009 Western
school’s first confer- Conference standings 2008 to run for almost returning to the field in Hendersonville’s Highlands Defensive
ence title since 2005. over the past four sea- 500 yards and throw- the conference leading quest for a state title in Player of the Year.
The 2010 edition of sons. ing for 900 yards in into the season. 2009 was derailed Young tallied over 100
the Western Highlands OWEN WARHORS- 2009. Polk’s hybrid I-for- when team leader and tackles for the second
Conference appears to ES (2009 record: 4-3 in “Our starting quar- mation offensive attack quarterback Ben straight season and
be as competitive as it conference, 6-6 over- terback returns with an served it well in its Walgenbach suffered a amassed 14 sacks last
has been in the past all) experienced backfield first season as a 2A season-ending injury. year to lead the confer-
three to four seasons, The Owen due to playing time,” member of the Western If there was any sil- ence.
with at least five Warhorses bounced the coach said during Highlands Conference. ver lining to the loss of Hendersonville will
schools having a viable back from its first los- summer workouts. The Wolverines its best player, the be a team noted for its
opportunity to claim ing season in eight “We have a group of return Conference Bearcats saw a number speed, as over a dozen
conference supremacy years to finish with a kids returning that did Offensive Player of the of other players step players run the 40-yard
come November. .500 overall mark in get a lot of playing Year Andre Overholt at up to the plate and dash in under five sec-
Before tangling with 2009. Veteran head time last season at a quarterback and defen- assume leadership onds.
the competition in the coach Kenny Ford is number of positions on sive back. The 5’10,” positions that will even The Bearcats defeat-
WHC, Avery opens its chomping at the bit for offense and defense.” 160-pound senior ran greater benefit the ed Avery 40-7 at Dietz
2010 season with four his group of Warhorses The Warhorses for over 1,000 yards team in 2010. Field in
non-conference tilts, to again rise to its return only 10 letter- last season and 15 Western Highlands Hendersonville in
hosting Robbinsville perch atop the confer- men from last year ’s touchdowns. Overholt Conference Special 2009. Avery will host
on August 20th and ence that it held for so club, and will return threw for over 500 Teams Player of the Hendersonville on
West Wilkes on August many seasons in the just three starters on yards and 8 touch- Year Desmond October 8th.
27th. The Vikings then 90s and early portion offense and four on downs in 2009, while Whiteside returns for Read next week’s
defense. snagging six intercep- his senior season. The edition of The Avery
“A couple of strong tions on defense. speedster will likely Journal-Times as we
JV seasons showed that Senior linebacker J.J. play at various offen- preview the four
these kids know how Maxwell will again sive positions, but may remaining teams in the
to win and that’s what anchor the Wolverine see extended time Western Highlands
is expected of them,” defense. Maxwell was behind center trigger- Conference.
the coach added. “If named 2A All-State by
everyone does their job North Carolina Prep
and understands both Football News and reg-
sides of the ball, good istered 154 tackles to
things could happen to lead the team last sea-
this team.” son.
Two-year starter Jay The Wolverines
Banks will anchor the have amassed 69 victo-
offensive lines for the ries and three confer-
club from Swannanoa, ence championships
and the team will look over the past seven
to runners like Austin seasons, and could
Davis (500 yards rush- very well add another
ing in 2009) to step up ten-win season in 2010,
early and take pressure as well as a deep run in
off Fowler. the state playoffs.
Avery defeated If the Wolverines
Owen 14-7 on a rainy have an Achilles’ heel
Homecoming night in it may be depth. The
2009. The Vikings will club has multiple play-
travel to Owen on ers who play both
September 24th. offense and defense, so
POLK COUNTY health will be key. The
WOLVERINES (2009 team will also need to
record: 6-1 in confer- complement Overholt
ence, 10-3 overall) by having an addition-
Each season it seems al running back
that any conversation emerge to take pres-
regarding the best sure off the signal-
teams in the Western caller from time to
Highlands Conference time. PHOTO BY JOSH BARE
has to include Coach Polk County defeat-
WHC Offensive Player of the Year Andre
Bruce Ollis’s Polk ed Avery 46-20 at
County Wolverines. MacDonald Stadium Overholt returns to lead the Polk County
Polk improved on a last season and will Wolverines in 2010.
Avery Journal-Times • August 18-19, 2010
FOOTBALL PREVIEW Page 3B

Mountaineers Look to Surprise Doubters

BY JAMIE SHELL With the loss of a practice and summer seasons with Jensen and son competing for the The Mountaineer ros-
SPORTS@AVERYJOURNAL.COM number of seniors, workouts up until now,” Joe Hoilman pulling the starting spot. ter boasts only 24 play-
including All- Coach Barnett said dur- trigger at quarterback. “Right now we have ers, so a number of play-
After a 4-8 season and
Conference quarterback ing Mitchell’s Media Going into this season, two good quarterbacks ers will be called upon to
first-round playoff loss
Logan Jensen, Head Day last week in Ledger. the team will use an battling for the starting play on both sides of the
in 2009, the Mitchell
Coach Russell Barnett Because of personnel option-based offensive spot, and we haven’t football. It may be a
Mountaineers varsity
looks to a new group to changes, the attack, but is still looking made a decision yet on rebuilding year in
football team looks to
rise up and lead the pur- Mountaineers have at solidifying the quar- which one we will go Ledger, but with 17 jun-
reload and be a factor in
ple attack. opted to move away terback position as a pair with. Both quarterbacks iors, the future looks
the Western Highlands
“It’s important for us from the Spread offense of players in juniors Troy may see some time at the bright for the Mitchell
Conference football pic-
to get off to a good start. that has brought the Self and Justin Hughes position,” Coach Barnett club.
ture in 2010.
We had a good spring team success in previous have split time in presea- siad.

Ryan Sparks Justin Hughes Matt Vaughn Thomas Phillips Josh Bennett Nathaniel Young
#2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7

Troy Self Isaac Edwards Josh McClellan Hunter Rathbone Shawn Jackson Austin Franklin
#8 #11 #22 #26 #28 #30

Michael Styles Logan McKinney Adam Pitman Cody Gardner Phillip Buchanan Austin Robinson
#32 #42 #50 #51 #60 #61

Ben Smith Dayshawn Blackmon Zach Peterson Dillon Oaks Jacob Stewart Daniel Petrella
#63 #65 #70 #72 #73 #76
Page 4B
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Deep Pioneers Take Aim at Northwestern 4A/3A
BY STEVE BEHR toward the end of last
SPORTS@WATAUGADEMOCRAT.COM
year.
“It happened last
Since Tim Pruitt year for Robbie against
arrived at Watauga, he Fred T. Foard,” Pruitt
has tried to build depth said.
with his football team. “Nobody expected
Though the Pioneers him to carry it.”
may not have achieved Sherrill will split time
the 100 percent success with Jake Gilliam, who
rate he, or any other also plays linebacker on
coach for that matter, defense. Baker Stanley,
would like to see, Pruitt Kyle Chambers and Will
has made Watauga deep Morgan can also carry
enough that fewer play- the ball for Watauga.
ers are being forced to Stanley, who ran for 288
play both offense and yards and four touch-
defense at once. downs on 52 carries, is
The Pioneers will test the only other Pioneer
their depth when Ashe besides Sherrill (16 car-
County invades the new ries, 132 yards, 1 TD)
Jack Groce Stadium on with any significant var-
Friday. With one notable sity experience in the
exception, Watauga’s backfield. Chambers
offensive and defensive was one of the top run-
ning backs on the JV
lines will platoon this
year. Receivers and team last year. Cody
defensive backs will be McKinney, another run-
rotated in on both sides ning back up from the
of the ball, but consider- JV team, could also be in
ation will be given to the mix.
allow those players to Watauga’s quarter-
rest so they don’t tire in backs, senior Caleb
the fourth quarter. Watson and junior
“For the first time, Ethan Greene, are likely
we’ll double platoon on to see plenty of time
our offensive and defen- running the ball out of
sive lines,” Pruitt said. the spread formation.
“Hopefully we can keep Two-year starter Devan
our people fresh there.” Corum, who graduated
The notable exception is and plays at Wingate
senior Robbie Sherrill, University now, led the
who will play defensive team in rushing last year
tackle and rotate in at with 686 yards on 185
fullback on offense.
Sherrill’s role offensive-
ly is to block, but Pruitt
carries. Watson, his
backup last year, ran for
109 yards on 23 carries.
“Our scheme calls on
feels he can carry the
football when necessary.
Sherrill scored on a 53-
our quarterbacks to run
the ball and both of our
yard touchdown run quarterbacks are good
runners,” Pruitt said.
against Fred T. Foard
Avery Journal-Times • August 18-19, 2010
“Devan led the team in
rushing last year.”
Their jobs will be eas-
ier to run and throw the
ball if the offensive line
can do their jobs. Aaron
Watson (6-foot-3, 295)
returns at left tackle and
Daniel Trivette (5-10,
195) is the guard on the
left side. Manny Alcaraz
(5-11, 200), a senior, is
the left guard and
according to Pruitt,
played well in the
Watauga Jamboree last
Friday. Victor Hamby (6-
3, 230) has settled in at
right tackle. Senior
Ethan Winkler (5-10,
210) is the center. Clint
Trivette is the tight end
that will likely see the
most action. Jordan The Watauga Pioneers look for their fifth straight win over Avery in the
Pineda (6-3, 230), who is
attracting scouts to Jack Battle for the Bucket.
Groce, is also a defen- and still may on occa- thought they tackled most work since Greene
sive end, but is nursing sion. well the other night.” is also the top long-
a sore hip and won’t be “We thought about Scott’s position at snapper. Fox and
asked to play on both that but if we do that, cornerback has been Watson can also handle
sides of the ball as I’m afraid the other taken over by newcomer the long-snapping
much. Newcomer team will just run to the Seth Sloan, the son of chores if necessary. Alex
Richard Kerhoulas, a other side,” Pruitt said. new Appalachian State Parsons, the Pioneers’
senior transfer from “We want to have bal- secondary coach Scot kicker last year, and
Louisiana, could also be ance on the defense.” Sloan. Gore will play at Cam Hass, a senior who
in the mix. At linebacker, Gilliam the other corner position is also on the soccer
Defensively, Sherrill and Matt Scott, a corner- and Kavanaugh will team, are battling at that
(6-0, 205) will play one back last year, will play play free safety. position.
defensive tackle posi- on the outside. Alex Fox Watauga also has “Both kids are work-
tion while Chris Poole and McKinney are on some depth on special ing hard at it and both
(6-0, 285) will play the the inside. “It’s an active teams. Gore and Greene have strong legs,” Pruitt
other, most likely on the group,” Pruitt said of are the punters, but said.
same side as Pineda. the linebackers. “I Gore is likely to get the
Taylor Shuford (5-10,
190), one of just two
sophomores on the ros-
ter, is the other defen-
Pioneers Sharp at
sive end and is likely to
be paired with Sherrill.
Pruitt thought about
Midnight Madness
putting Pineda and
Sherrill on the same side BY STEVE BEHR to work Monday. field and how you handle
SPORTS@WATAUGADEMOCRAT.COM "Kids are typically up adversity."
later in the night," Pruitt A session that allowed
It's not all that com- said. "Usually when you parents to take pictures of
mon for fog to roll in on a have that eight-o'clock in the players on the field
prep football practice in the morning practice on followed before the teams
North Carolina. Usually a Saturday there are about were introduced to the
hot summer's sun is bear- four or five you don't see crowd, which went back
ing down on high school because they stayed up into the stands. After a
teams all over the state. late or they don't have a talk given to them by
Yet fog started to creep run. I know this is tough Appalachian State head
in the new Jack Groce on parents, so I appreciate coach Jerry Moore, prac-
Stadium as Watauga prac- them for allowing their tice began.
ticed during its Midnight children to be out here." "All of us decided to
Madness event Saturday And as far as the get after it," Stanley said.
morning. The event, start- weather goes, the "We're all about getting
ed last year by head coach Pioneers generally after it and hustling
Tim Pruitt, drew several warmed up to the cooler around and that's what
family members and temperatures. we like to do." Watson
friends of the program "I like it," Stanley said. agreed.
with plenty still around "I like it a lot actually." "We all knew what we
with the workout ended The event began with a had to do tonight," he
around 1:40 a.m. after catered dinner by Dan'l said. "We fought through
beginning shortly after Boone Inn Friday at 6 it and got it done. We're
midnight. p.m. It was followed by a excited to go home and
"It was definitely an raffle that was won by sleep in our beds tonight."
experience to remember," cross-country coach Pruitt praised his play-
running back Baker Randy McDonough, ers and his staff for being
Stanley said. "I got a little trainer Cindy Lentz and able to stay focused on
bit tired at the end, but we Juanita Gunnell, who is football even though
had good intensity with Pruitt's mother-in-law. they've endured a strange
practice. We got to go a The raffle went down to opening week. The
little bit early because of those final three people Pioneers had to practice
the intensity and because and they agreed to split at the old Jack Groce
of how we were work- the jackpot for a little over Stadium a couple of days
ing." $2,200. during the week because
The practice itself, After a while, the play- of work being done to
which involved the varsi- ers and the parents heard complete the running
ty and JV teams, was a presentation from Jeff track at the new facility.
brisk. The Pioneers Greene, a former "It was a long day, but
opened with working on Watauga player who it was a good day," Pruitt
defensive drills, then walked on at added. "We made it
switching to offense later. Appalachian State and through a week, knock on
They also worked on spe- played defensive end wood, pretty healthy. The
cial teams before calling it during the 1990s. kids are a little tired and
a morning. Greene, after recount- as coaches, we've been
The best part of the ing his experiences of trying to figure out if
night was that there were walking on at we're gong to be moving
no injuries to report. Appalachian State (and of stuff. I think that wears
"It was great," offen- being a "15th string line- on the kids because going
sive tackle Aaron Watson backer" at the beginning), back and forth, we're not
said. "We were all excited. told the players that they hauling all of their stuff,
We were all tired, but we are role models not only so they've got to keep up
focused up with it came to the younger kids in the with what they're bring-
time to practice. We had community and to their ing and not bringing so it
our intensity good to go." peers. can be kind of a grind. I'm
Pruitt felt the practice "Kids are watching looking forward to school
went well. The Pioneers you all the time," he said. starting and so things can
have the rest of the week- "They're watching how settle down a little bit."
end off before returning you run on and off the
 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Avery Journal-Times • August 18-19, 2010 Page 5B

Mountaineers Primed Barnes Shouldering

for 2010 Campaign Legendary Burden
BY STEVE BEHR
SPORTS@WATAUGADEMOCRAT.COM

It's not like Kalik

BY MATT LAWS
MATT.LAWS@AVERYJOURNAL.COM
Last season, the
A p p a l a c h i a n
Mountaineers came
three yards short in the
snow of reaching
Chattanooga. This sea-
son, the Mountaineers
are determined to get
back in the title game.
For the Mountaineers,
the task is made difficult
by having to replace
Appalachain legend
Armanti Edwards.
Edwards was the only
two-time winner of the
Walter Payton Award as
the FCS player of the
year, and was 42-7 in 49
career starts. Entering
fall camp, the
Mountaineers had two
players in competition
for the starting role in
Jamal Jackson and
DeAndre Presley.
“They are both really
similar quarterbacks as
far as their skill set,”
Quarterbacks Coach
Brad Glenn said. “They
are both really dual-
threat guys; great run-
ners, great throwers. The
biggest separation is
DeAndre has had a little
more experience. He
[Presley] is going into
his third year in the sys-
tem. Jamal is a redshirt
freshman. So he
[Presley] is a little bit
ahead of the game as far
as experience goes.”
Appalachain returns
9 of the 11 starters on the
offensive side of the ball.
The expected playmak-
ers include running back
Devon Moore, tight end
Ben Jorden and wide
receivers Matt Cline,
Brian Quick and Blake
Elder.
Moore led the
Mountaineers rushing
attack last season with
1,374 yards, which
ranked him fifth in the
nation in total rushing
yards. The ASU coach-
ing staff is excited about
what Moore brings back
to the table.
“I think he is going to
bring the same thing
that he brought last
year,” Running Backs
Coach Chris Moore said.
“He is going to be our
featured back. He is
good out in the backfield
catching the ball. I think
his leadership is more
by what he does, by his
actions. He is not a big
rah-rah guy. He is just a
solid team guy. He is a
real good blocker. He is
a total running back.”
In addition to the trio
at wide receiver, the
Mountaineers also
expect a boost from
Travaris Cadet, who
served as a back quarter-
back last season. Cadet
is an explosive player,
and will focus his time
to the wide receiver
position this season.
"He is a super talent-
ed guy that you certain-
ly have to get the ball in
his hands,” Glenn said
of Cadet. “You will see
him first of all, start off
in as a slot receiver and
get him involved in the
passing game and you
will also see him
involved in the backfield
in our running game. He
is just a guy that you
have to get the ball to.”
The biggest coaching
move for the
Mountaineers, however,
occurred on the defen-
sive side of the ball as
Dale Jones took over as
the defensive coordina-
tor. Jones, who served as
a defensive assistant last
season, inherits a mentals,” Jones said.
Mountaineer defensive
unit that returns seven
of the starting 11 from a
year ago. That unit is led
by Buck Buchanan
Award frontrunner and
two-time All-American
Mark LeGree. ASU will
also look to Jabari
Fletcher and D.J. Smith,
which both joined
LeGree on the Buck
Buchanan watch list.
The Buck Buchanan
Award is presented to
the nation’s best defen-
sive player in the FCS.
However, the ASU
staff feels that depth
may be their best asset
on the defensive side of
the ball, and how that
depth makes practice
more competitive.
“We are healthy and
one of the things we told
the group yesterday was
that we have 22 guys
that we can put out there
on the field,” Jones said.
“When you can do that,
it does a lot of things for
you. One, it makes the
second-team guys
believe they are going to
have the opportunity. So
they are going to push it
and you are going to
have competition. Only
one of those guys is a
true freshman. The rest
of them have played. So
when you have kids that
have played the game
and that have been in
tough situations, you
got a chance to be a good
football team.”
Jones also noted that
fundamentals will be a
huge key for the
Mountaineers.
“For us, it is funda-
“We want to be the best
fundamental team that
we can be. Those are the
two things that I think
are going to make us a
good football team. One,
our depth and, two, we
are going to be a good
fundamental team.”
The Mountaineers
traded in their normal
FCS opponent to start
off the season as the
Mountaineers will travel
to Chattanooga to start
the season. ASU will,
however, take on an
upper echelon team
when they travel to
Florida to take on the
Gators on November 20
in the swamp.
Barnes wants to go
through Appalachian
State's fall workout unno-
ticed. Often times, that's
just the way things go for
freshmen. Barnes, a 6-
foot, 190-pound fresh-
man originally from
Brooklyn, N.Y., but most
recently from Atlanta, is
one of two quarterbacks
on the Appalachian State
roster not wearing a red
jersey. Those are reserved
for junior DeAndre
Presley and redshirt (par-
don the accidental pun)
freshman Jamal Jackson,
who are competing for
the starting job.
Barnes, a biology
major because partly he
likes the challenge, is the
third-stringer. Until
Wednesday, he was rela-
tively anonymous - thing in common: neither
except for one thing that
stuck out like a red shirt:
his jersey number.
Barnes said he did not
ask to wear the No. 14
that for the past four
years Armanti Edwards
turned into an
Appalachian institution.
It's not known just how
long Barnes will get to
wear the number, since
it's likely just a matter of
time before Edwards' No.
14 is retired. Barnes is
very aware of what No.
14, and what the player
who wore it before him,
means to the
Appalachian State pro-
gram. Barnes takes it in
stride.
“He's one of the great-
est players to come
through ASU, so I hear
about him all the time,”
Barnes said. “I'm going to
try to do my best to
uphold the number. It's
an honor to even have it.”
It would be very pre-
mature to compare the
two quarterbacks just yet,
but the two have one
was at the top of the
depth chart when fall
camp began. Edwards
was as deep as fourth on
the ASU depth chart
before he climbed up to
No. 2 by the season open-
er. By the third game, he
was the starter and the
rest - as the cliché goes - is
history.
It looks like Barnes has
climbed to No. 3 on the
2010 chart. ASU's other
quarterback, Jay Yokeley,
did not play in the scrim-
mage Wednesday and
played very little on
Saturday. Now I'm not
here to say that Barnes is
ready to rocket into the
starting lineup just yet.
But he showed poise in
the pocket, some explo-
sion when running the
ball, and a strong and
accurate arm during both
scrimmages.
Edwards also showed
all three of those things in
his fall freshman camp.
True, Barnes didn't face a
defense made up of pre-
season All-Americans
like Presley did when the
ASU starters squared off
against each other. But it
was hard to miss that
there is something there
with the outgoing and
personable Barnes. It was
there with Richie
Williams and it was there
with Edwards.
Both were also buried
deep in the depth chart at
the start of their freshmen
fall workouts. Both rose
to the top of the FCS divi-
sion. Will history repeat
itself? It's way, way too
early to tell and unfair to
put those expectations on
Barnes. But after two
scrimmages, Barnes is off
to a good start.
Page 6B
’Landers Look to Get Redemption this Season
BY MATT LAWS
MATT.LAWS@AVERYJOURNAL.COM
When the Cloudland
Highlanders take the
field to open the 2010 sea-
son, they will be looking
to return the Highlander
program into a con-
tender.
The ‘Landers went 3-8
in the 2009 season despite
being consistently being
in games that they ulti-
mately lost. For Coach
Robbie Turbyfill, that has
stuck with him and his
players, and will be a key
for his team during the
2010 season.
“I think the main thing
for us this year is going to
be consistency from last
year,” Turbyfill said.
“Last year we were in
every game, yardage-
wise, defensive-wise.
And we would have a
fumble or a miscue that
really cost us. If you go
back and look at the stats,
we outrushed people,
outgained them, but it
would come down to
where we were not con-
sistent at the end.”
To regain tits status as
a contender, Cloudland
looks to stay true to the
program’s roots with a
CHS impresses during
Carter County Jamboree
On Friday night, the
Cloudland Highlanders
showed that they will be
a force to be reckoned
with in the conference
race as they ran to a 14-0
victory against the Unaka
Rangers in a quarter ’s
worth of action at J.C.
Campbell Stadium. In the
quarter of action, the
‘Landers had 116 yards of
offense, all of which were
on the ground.
“We’ve got a great
bunch of boys and I feel
like we can pound it, and
we’ve got a quarterback
now that can get outside
on the boots and the
keepers and stuff,”
‘Lander Head Coach
Robbie Turbyfill said. I
was really happy with
that.”
After a both teams
traded three and outs, the
‘Lander defense kept the
Ranger offense from mov-
ing as it forced another
three and out.
Cloudland’s offense took
over on its 30-yard line.
The ‘Landers marched
down the field in
Cloudland smashmouth
style and found the end
zone when Tyler Shell
dived in from a yard out.
The two-point conversion
was good when Taylor
Whitehead found Kevin
Stevens to put CHS up 8-
0 with 8:26 remaining in
the quarter.
The Cloudland
defense stopped the
Rangers at midfield to
setup the ‘Lander offense
at their own 20. That was-
n’t a problem for the
‘Landers as they ran
down the field and scored
when senior Matt Cole
scrambled in for a 12-
yard touchdown to put
Cloudland up 14-0.
Leading the way for
the ‘Landers, Cole had 55
yards on eight carries
with one touchdown
while sophomore Taylor
Whitehead had a tough
35 yards on two carries,
including a 22-yard run
that helped set up a CHS
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
smash mouth approach
led by running back Matt
Cole. Cole, who is com-
ing off an outstanding
season, will be called
upon as the feature back
in the CHS backfield.
“I think he is one of
the best running backs in
northeast Tennessee,”
Turbyfill said of Cole.
“He runs the ball hard
and last year he had a
great season.”
Mason Cornett and
Dustin Johnson also look
to make an impact in the
backfield with Cole.
Cole and the others
will take handoffs from a
pair of new faces in the
quarterback position as
Tyler Shell and Taylor
Whitehead will split
snaps. Shell, who quar-
terbacked the ‘Landers in
the playoffs last season,
will also play the fullback
position in addition to his
role as a quarterback.
The ‘Landers offensive
and defensive line will be
anchored by three senior
linemen in Dakota
Presnell, Lucas
Whitehead and James
Ollis. Whitehead returns
to the field after undergo-
ing total knee reconstruc-
tion in the offseason after
touchdown. Shell added
21 yards on three carries
with a touchdown.
“We’re a football team
that can pound it, but I do
think that it takes us a
couple of plays to get
going,” Turbyfill said.
“Tuesday, we went to a
scrimmage at David
Crockett and we only
went 20 minutes. We
fared well against them in
20 minutes, but that isn’t
long enough for us to get
going.”
For Coach Turbyfill,
the intensity that his team
wanted to bring was
there, but there was
something notable miss-
ing from the field that
plagued the ‘Landers last
season.
“One thing I was
happy with was we did-
n’t have any mistakes,”
Turbyfill said. “We didn’t
fumble, we didn’t turn it
over and didn’t have any
penalties. I felt good on
that. We can always work
on getting off the ball
quicker, getting our heads
up, little things like that, a
bunch of small things. I
don’t think we’re where
we need to be, but I think
we are pretty close.”
Even though it was
just a quarter of action,
Turbyfill thought that it
was a key confidence
builder entering the regu-
lar season.
Before Cloudland’s
quarter, Caleb Harrison
captured the fastest line-
man competition. Other
winners in the events
included Hampton’s
Jacob Jones in the fastest
back, Josh Peterson from
Unaka won the longest
pass and Avery’s Dustin
Clarke won the longest
kick.
The ‘Landers will kick
off the regular season on
Friday night against
Hayesville, N.C. The
Yellow Jackets are 1-A in
the NCHSAA’s Smoky
Mountain Conference.
Kickoff is set for 7:30
p.m.at Orr Field.
being injured in last
year’s Avery game.
Ronald Banner, Josh
Cordell, Danny Arnett
and Cornett are expected
to contribute at the wide
receiver position for the
‘Landers.
Due to low numbers,
many of the CHS starters
will also play on the
defensive side of the ball
That group will be led by
Cole at the linebacker
position and the trio on
the line. Casey Pritchard
and Kevin Stevens will
also play a vital role in
the ‘Lander defense.
CHS Opponent Overview
BY MATT LAWS
MATT.LAWS@AVERYJOURNAL.COM
With the TSSAA playoff
changes, every game mat-
ters from week one to the
end of the season as only
the top two teams in each
conference, regardless of
classification, are guaran-
teed playoff spots. The rest
of spots are determined on
a wildcard factor. That
puts a premium on win-
ning. For the ‘Landers, the
schedule features only one
school that is in the same
enrollment bracket in
Hancock County.
However, Coach Robbie
Turbyfill and his ‘Landers
are up for the challenge.
Below is a game by game
look at the Cloudland
schedule:
Hayesville (August 20)
- The Yellow Jackets play
in perhaps the NCHSAA’s
toughest 1-A conference as
they play in the Smoky
Mountain Conference.
They went 3-8 last season
with their three victories
against conference foes
Cherokee, Andrews and
Rosman. Cherokee was
the only one of the three
who recorded more than a
single victory last season.
Hayesville last cap-
tured the Smoky
Mountain crown in 2003,
and head coach Gary
Miller will have the Yellow
Jackets ready to return to
their glory days.
West Greene (August
27) - The Buffaloes have
had a resurgence under
head coach Joe Case, who
enters his fourth season at
the helm of the program.
West Greene made the
playoffs for the second
straight year last season
with a 7-4 record. It was
their first winning season
for the program since
2002.
For the Buffaloes, it
may be a race for second
place in their conference as
they share the conference
with last season’s 4-A state
finalist Greeneville, as the
Green Devils are loaded
again this season. West
Greene plays in the 3-A
playoff classification.
At North Greene
The ‘Landers open the
season on August 22
when Hayesville, N.C.
comes to Orr Field. That
matchup is one of
Cloudland’s nine games
with schools that have
bigger enrollment and
play in higher divisions.
Hancock County is the
lone 1-A school on the
CHS schedule.
For CHS, that makes
the road to the playoffs a
little more difficult due to
TSSAA rule changes.
However, Coach
Turbyfill doesn’t expect
his team to back away
(September 3) - The
Huskies enter the season
with a distinction that they
would to no longer own.
With a record of 0-10 last
season, North Greene cur-
rently owns the longest
losing streak in TSSAA
football at 27 games.
However, North Greene
has caught the eye of
many observers as an
improving team.
Avery County
(September 10) - The
Vikings look to build upon
a three-win improvement
in 2009 (5-7) from an
abysmal 2-10 campaign in
2008. Avery will run a
Spread offense that will
rely on the capable arm of
junior quarterback Alex
Villanueva, who threw for
over 1,800 yards and 18
touchdowns last season.
Among Villanueva’s
choices of targets is senior
wideout Andy Gonzalez,
who caught passes for
over 740 yards in 2009 and
was selected as a presea-
son 1A All-State selection
by NC Prep Football
News. Avery is employing
a new 3-4 defensive
scheme, looking to rely on
its quick ends like senior
Colton Blackburn, who
ran for over 590 yards as a
tailback in 2009 and was
seen in almost as many
plays in the opponent’s
backfield breaking up
plays.
Unaka (September 17) -
The Rangers enter this sea-
son trying to improve
from a 5-6 mark from last
season. The Rangers will
be led by senior quarter-
back Josh Peterson.
Peterson is a versatile
quarterback who can
either throw the ball or
beat you on the run. He
will also be looked upon
as the senior leadership for
the Rangers. This will be
the second season that
Steve McKinney has been
at the helm of the Unaka
program.
At Happy Valley
(September 24) - Coaching
changes affected the
Warriors this off season as
Larry Shively takes over
Happy Valley. Shively
inherits a squad that went
Avery Journal-Times • August 18-19, 2010
from the challenge.
“I think the 1-A, 3- A
and 5-A schools are at a
disadvantage, especially
this year with the new
playoff system because
you are plying 2-A, 4-A
and 6-A schools in your
conference and they are
only taking the top two
(finishers in the confer-
ence),” Turbyfill said.
“There is only one 1-A
school on our schedule in
Hancock so we are play-
ing 2-A, 3-A and 4-A
schools all the way. You
know it’s tough when
you are playing schools
Cloudland looks to run through opponents
including the Unaka Rangers in 2010.
5-5 last season and fell in
the first round of the play-
offs 17-7 to Gatlinburg-
Pittman.
Happy Valley has been
known for its aerial attack
under previous coaching
staffs, but this year’s
Warriors will look to run
the ball as an essential part
of their offense.
Cosby (October 1) - The
Eagles are looking to get
back into the playoffs after
missing last year’s with a
4-6 overall record, where
they were 4-2 in confer-
ence. Playmaker and do-it-
all Robert Herzog will
move to the quarterback
position from wide receiv-
er as Tyler Shelton’s Eagles
will use a spread/read
option offense this season.
Running back Nick
Koenig, who had over 700
yards rushing last season,
and wide receiver Robby
Livingston also returns for
the Eagles.
At Johnson County
(October 8) - The
Longhorns enter this sea-
son with a talented senior
backfield that will be the
key to their success. Senior
Mark Jennings and Austin
Humphrey will lead the
Longhorn rushing attack.
Johnson County was 5-6
last season and fell to
that big, but this year I
think we will take our
chances with them.”
In conference play,
many conference insiders
are saying that the
Highlanders are the
underdogs, which is an
assessment the ‘Landers
agree with.
“I think this year we
are definitely the under-
dog in the conference a
lot of people are talking
about,” Turbyfill said.
“And we really like our
chances pounding Matt
Cole behind those three
senior linemen.”
PHOTO BY SUZANNA GALYON
Austin-East in the 3-A
playoffs.
At Hancock County
(October 15) - The Indians
are the only other TSSAA
1-A team on the ‘Landers
schedule. In its first season
as a member of the confer-
ence, Hancock County
went 2-8 overall and 1-4 in
the conference. The Indian
program hasn’t been
around to long as its first
season was in the fall of
2006. Hancock County
was the next-to-last coun-
ty in the state of Tennessee
to field a high school foot-
ball program.
At Hampton (October
29) - With the new TSSAA
playoff rules, this rivalry
game may not only decide
who takes the conference
crown, but also who gets
an automatic berth into
playoffs and who has to
wait to see if their name is
called when the selections
are made.
Mike Lunsford’s
Bulldogs went 10-2 and
fell in their quarterfinal
game to Rockwood. This
year’s Bulldogs will be led
by Dylan Ward at the
quarterback position.
Ward spilt his time last
season between playing
wide receiver and quarter-
back.
Avery Journal-Times • August 18-19, 2010
Inside the Western Highlands Conference: High School Football Preview (Part Two)
BY JAMIE SHELL
SPORTS@AVERYJOURNAL.COM
With the turning of the
calendar to August, it’s
obvious around high
schools in our region that
the 2010 prep football sea-
son has arrived. The Avery
Vikings look to build upon
a 5-7 season in 2009, a
three-win improvement
from the previous season,
and contend for the
school’s first conference
title since 2005.
The 2010 edition of the
Western Highlands
Conference appears to be as
competitive as it has been
in the past three to four sea-
sons, with at least five
schools having a viable
opportunity to claim con-
ference supremacy come
November.
Before tangling with the
competition in the WHC,
Avery opens its 2010 season
with four non-conference
tilts, hosting Robbinsville
on August 20th and West
Wilkes on August 27th. The
Vikings then hit the road,
albeit not long distances,
for a pair of games, at
Watauga on September 3rd
and at Cloudland for the
fourth renewal of The Avery
Journal-Times Border Battle
Classic on Friday,
September 10th.
The following is a pre-
view of four Western
Highlands Conference
clubs that come from a
myriad of positions in
terms of conference view-
point.
One school finished as
the co-conference champi-
ons last season and rode a
magical playoff run to the
2A state championship
game. Another school
earned its first-ever football
win over the Vikings a sea-
son ago and look to build
much-needed momentum
in 2010 following a tumul-
tuous several seasons. Yet
another school has a proud
sports tradition and has
qualified for state playoff
competition in recent sea-
sons, but come off a disap-
pointing 2010, its first sea-
son as a newly-realigned
1A school. The final school
is in just its second year in
the WHC and hopes to find
its first-ever conference win
in 2010.
MADISON PATRIOTS
(2009 record: 2-5 in confer-
ence, 4-8 overall)
In 2009, the Madison
Patriots finished with their
best record since the 2006
campaign and earned a
berth in the 2A state high
school playoffs. The squad
earned lopsided wins over
Rosman and Thomas
Jefferson, as well as a win
over Hayesville. The team’s
greatest victory in 2009,
however, was undoubtedly
its come-from-behind 33-27
win in Marshall over Avery,
the school’s first win in the
season series between the
schools.
Head Coach Mark
Gosnell returns for a sec-
ond season as head coach
of the club, and returns
eight starters on offense
and seven on defense,
including a strong offen-
sive line and senior starting
tailback Brandon
Henderson, who ran for
over 1,600 yards and 17
touchdowns in 2009.
“We look to be a much
stronger team strength-
wise. We hope to compete
for a conference title,” the
coach said during the off-
season.
Quarterback Robbie
Shelton will trigger the
Patriot offense. He passed
for 1,042 yards with 14
touchdowns a season ago.
Fellow senior Ronnie
Gosnell returns to the team
in 2010. He registered 76
tackles a season ago to lead
the club.
Senior Blake Moore will
anchor the team’s line-
backer crew and hold
down the tight end posi-
tion, with help from a pair
of junior linemen in Lucas
Garrett and Tyler Gonzalez.
To equal or exceed the
team’s success in 2010, the
team will need to grow up
quickly in the defensive
backfield, where the sec-
ondary is young and lacks
varsity experience. Depth
has been an issue in recent
years in Marshall, so
injuries could also derail
the Patriots’ potential suc-
cess in the fall.
Avery will look to
avenge its loss to the
Madison when it hosts the
Patriots on October 22nd.
MITCHELL MOUN-
TAINEERS (2009 record: 2-
5 in conference, 4-8 over-
all)
In 2009 the
Mountaineers earned their
first trip to the state play-
offs as a 1A member of the
Western Highlands
Conference, losing to con-
ference foe Hendersonville
in the first round.
Mitchell defeated neigh-
bor McDowell early in the
2009 season and had a win-
ning record of 3-2 following
back-to-back victories over
North Buncombe and
Thomas Jefferson. From
that point, the team scuf-
fled, losing six of its final
seven contests to close out
the season.
The Mountaineers look
in 2010 to build its first sea-
son above the .500 mark
since a 7-5 record in the
2003 season.
Mitchell returns 14 let-
termen from last year’s
club, with six starters on
offense and five starters on
the defensive side of the
FOOTBALL PREVIEW Page 7B
football. step in and keep the
On offense, the Cougars in the conference
Mountaineers return hunt.
strength and experience at Replacing Laws as sig-
the running back position nal caller will be Tyson
in senior running back Tomberlin, who had great
Shawn Jackson. Jackson ran success triggering the jun-
for 1,007 yards with 12 ior varsity Cougars and has
touchdowns in 2009. experience running the
Defensively Mitchell’s offense.
4-4 defensive scheme will Also returning is run-
be anchored by senior line- ning back Matthew
backer Ben Smith, who Kardulis, who ran for 90
recorded 119 tackles a sea- yards in the Cougars’ victo-
son ago. ry over Avery last season
For the Mountaineers to and also picked off six
taste a greater measure of interceptions as safety on
success this season, they the Heritage defense.
will have to overcome inex- Tomberlin will have sev- first season as a 1A member season ago, and will also
perience at both the quar- eral returning targets to
terback position as well as catch passes, including of the WHC, TJCA scored see time at the wide receiv-
on the offensive and defen- tight end Dalton Woody only 12 total points in its er and defensive end posi-
sive lines. Mitchell will and wide receivers Eli seven conference contests, tions.
giving up an average of 61 Avery upended the
miss the talent and leader- Buckner and Drew points per game. Gryphons 51-0 last season
ship of graduated starting Lettermen. Lettermen and
The road doesn’t appear in a game originally sched-
quarterback Logan Jensen Buckner have each to be getting any easier for uled to be played in
from this year’s team, but impressed the Cougar
the Gryphons in 2010 as the Avondale but had to be
the club possesses talent. faithful in preseason camp, team continues to build a relocated to MacDonald
How well the team matures and Lettermen caught over
tradition and simply Stadium. Avery will again
in the early season may tell 300 yards in passes and six become competitive in the host Thomas Jefferson this
the tale regarding the touchdowns in 2009
sport. The team returns season, with a Western
team’s ultimate fortune in The stingy Cougars some experience from a Highlands Conference tilt
2010. defense will again be led by
season ago, including sen- scheduled on October 1st.
Mitchell and Avery linebacker Austin Rice, ior quarterback Will Beam, Read next week’s edi-
played perhaps the most who will look to build
who passed for over 1,600 tion of The Avery Journal-
exciting game in the upon his record-breaking yards in 2009. Times for the first game pre-
Western Highlands performance of a year ago.
Defensively the view of 2010, as Avery
Conference last November, “Our team will be more Gryphons will continue to hosts the Black Knights
a seesaw affair won in the athletic than we have
get guidance from senior from Robbinsville High
closing seconds by Avery in been,” the coach said of this defensive lineman Trent School in the NCHSAA
a 42-38 Viking victory. season’s club. “We have
Newton. Senior teammate Endowment game next
Avery hosts Mitchell to good team speed on the Aaron Conner averaged Friday, August 20th at
close out the regular season defensive side of the ball.
over 40 yards per punt a MacDonald Stadium.
on November 5th. We should be able to throw
MOUNTAIN HER- the ball better this season.”
ITAGE COUGARS (2009 Mountain Heritage
record: 6-1 in conference, defeated Avery 35-14 at
13-3 overall) MacDonald Stadium a sea-
The most inspirational son ago. The Vikings make
story of the 2009 Western the trip to E.H. Briggs
Highlands Conference foot- Stadium in Burnsville on
ball season was the success October 29th.
of the Mountain Heritage THOMAS JEFFERSON
Cougars. Normally peren- GRYPHONS ((2009 record:
nial doormats in the confer- 0-7 in conference, 0-11
ence that battle with overall)
Madison to stay out of the The maiden voyage in
conference cellar, every- the Western Highlands
thing clicked for the Conference was bumpy
Cougars one season ago. one for Coach Tony Helton
Heritage, who won only 15 and the Thomas Jefferson
games from the year 2000 Gryphons in 2009. In its
through 2007, had the sec-
ond of back-to-back season
of 11 wins or more and
earned a conference cham-
pionship. The team showed
it could compete with any
team in the state, with a
playoff run that took the
Burnsville team all the way
to the 2A state champi-
onship game in Chapel
Hill, where the team’s
Cinderella run ended with
a 28-3 loss to state champi-
on Tarboro.
The team’s success was
a storybook season in 2009,
as the Cougars set school
records for wins, most
rushing yards as a team
(6231), which also is a state
record, as well as school
records for individual
yards rushing (3,054 by
Casey Randolph), and tack-
les (171) by Austin Rice,
which also set a state
record.
Cougar Head Coach
Joey Robinson and his staff
also received accolades for
their terrific 2009 season,
being named 2A head
coach and coaching staff of
the year, respectively.
It will be a tough act for
the 2010 edition of the
Cougars to follow, and the
squad has lost a number of
players to graduation,
including the aforemen-
tioned Randolph and start-
ing quarterback Josh Laws,
in addition to behemoth
linemen Taylor Fender and
Casey Peterson.
“All this success did not
just happen,” Coach
Robinson said of last sea-
son’s accomplishments. “It
has been a process that has
demanded sacrifices from
everyone involved with
this program. Be it the hard
work of the players and
coaches, or the support of
the school and our great
fans, our season was a
labor of love.”
Fans should not feel
sorry for Heritage this sea-
son, however, as the team
still returns a number of
skilled stars that should
Page 8B
FOOTBALL PREVIEW Avery Journal-Times • August 18-19, 2010

Avery County High School Varsity Football

Varsity Team
Members

Lane Smith Kody Hughes Nathaniel Buchanan

#1 #2 #5

Alex Villinueva Hunter Shields Dustin Clark Colton Blackburn Dustin Childress Andy Gonzalez
#7 #8 #9 #10 #14 #17

Taylor Potter Tyler Long Devin Buchanan Brandon Earley Spencer Blackburn Trent Mitchell
#21 #22 #25 #27 #28 #33

C.J. Vance Tyler Buchanan Lucas Lecka Ethan Hagie Kenny Hicks Aaron Williams
#43 #48 #50 #52 #55 #58

Blake Keller Kyle Greene Brundon Huff Nathaniel Calvert Remington Austin Darrell Brewer
#62 #65 #77 #82 #84 Head Coach
Avery Journal-Times • August 18-19, 2010
FOOTBALL PREVIEW Page 9B

Avery County High School JV Football

Junior Varsity
Team Members

Daniel Childress Ty Polsgrove Bryce Pitttman Stetson Stafford

#1 #2 #5 #7

Jonah Tenge Chase Buchanan Harley Foster Hunter Johnson Harley Rash Jake Pritchard
#8 #9 #10 #14 #17 #22

Tyler Whittington Logan Norman Trevor Pickens Josh Gragg Ty McCoury Hayden Hunnicutt
#23 #25 #27 #28 #32 #37

Hayden Ross Dustin Ruppard Dustin Barnard Payton Lowery Lucas Morton Luke Price
#42 #45 #50 #52 #55 #58

Cody Clawson Scott Wiseman Blake Johnson JW Clark Colby Flynn Eric Jackson
#61 #65 #72 #75 #77 #78
Page 10B
Vikings Seek to Pillage Knights in Season Opener
BY JAMIE SHELL
SPORTS@AVERYJOURNAL.COM
After months of condi-
tioning and weight train-
ing, following spring work-
outs and the heat of 7-on-7s
and fall practice, the Avery
Vikings varsity football
team finally hits the field
for its first game of the 2010
high school football regular
season with an intriguing
matchup Friday night
against the Robbinsville
Knights at MacDonald
Stadium.
Avery has been picked
to finish as high as fifth in
the Western Highlands
Conference by most media
prognosticators, while the
Knights are picked to finish
as high as third in the
always competitive Smoky
Mountain Conference.
A season ago, the
Vikings traveled to Graham
County for the season
opener. Turnovers in a hor-
rendous first quarter killed
the Vikings early and the
Knights running game
clicked on all cylinders to
the tune of a 41-14 rout at
Big Oak Stadium. The
game was called after only
three quarters due to heavy
lightning.
Scouting the Knights:
The Robbinsville Black
Knights are coached by vet-
eran Dee Walsh, and are
members of the 1A Smoky
Mountain Conference. The
Knights were 11-3 in 2009,
with a 5-1 record in SMC
games. The team returns 20
lettermen, with five starters
on both the offensive and
defensive sides of the foot-
ball.
In years past,
Robbinsville has relied
heavily on its running
game, and 2009 was no
exception. The team was
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
spearheaded by Kurt
Odom, who ran his way to
over 5,600 yards rushing in
his prep career and 90
touchdowns. With his
departure to play for col-
lege football for the
Campbell Fighting Camels
in the fall, the Knights are
looking to find ways to
replace his productivity as
well as that of all-confer-
ence quarterback Luke
Perkins.
A strength coming into
2010 will be its offensive
line, which returns many of
the starters from last year,
including 6’0”, 280 lb.
offensive/defensive line-
man Jeremiah Holder, who
was NCPreps.com All-
State, as well as All-
Conference and All-
Western North Carolina
last season. Chris Daniels, a
senior punter and All-
Conference defensive line-
man also returns for the
Knights, along with All-
Conference running
back/defensive back Jaron
Ayers, senior tight
end/linebacker Colton
McClung, and senior run-
ning back CJ Williams.
The Low Down:
During summer 7-on-7s,
the Vikings passing game
looked strong. However, in
its scrimmages last week,
the offense continued to
look like a work in
progress, fumbling the
football on a pair of occa-
sions inside the 10-yard
line at Thursday’s home
scrimmage. The Vikings
feel passionate about get-
ting a win in its opening,
especially considering that
the Knights have beaten
Avery in each of the past
three meetings.
There is no doubt that
the Big Red has high expec-
tations of itself for 2010,
and Friday night is the
team’s first hurdle in deter-
mining how high the limit
is for the team’s success.
Avery is familiar with the
game plan of the Knights,
and knows it must do a bet-
ter job this time around in
stopping the rushing attack
than it did in 2009. The
players for Robbinsville are
different, but the Viking
mission remains
unchanged.
If the Vikings can take
care of the football Friday
night, they stand a good
chance of gaining a victory.
They will also increase
their chance for a win by
establishing a running
game on a tough Knights
front line. Avery ran for
only 16 yards on 17
attempts last season, a
number that must improve
to take pressure of quarter-
back Alex Villanueva and
the Avery passing attack.
By The Numbers:
35 - rushing attempts by
the Knights in last year’s
41-14 win.
89 - number of seconds
it took for Robbinsville to
take a 14-0 first quarter to
open last year’s game.
96 - touchdown passing
yards in a connection from
Alex Villanueva to Andy
Gonzalez, the longest
Viking scoring play of the
season in 2009.
213 - number of rushing
yards gained by
Robbinsville’s Kurt Odom
in last year’s win over
Avery.
237 - Villanueva passing
yards in the weather-short-
ened game last season.
Read next week’s edi-
tion of The Avery Journal-
Times for a full recap of this
week’s Endowment game
with Robbinsville, as well
as a preview of next week’s
game against West Wilkes.
Local Teams Scrimmage
to Prepare for Season
This year’s edition of
the Avery varsity football
team was officially
unveiled last Thursday and
Friday in separate scrim-
mages.
On Thursday afternoon
the varsity Vikings hosted
four schools, neighboring
Mitchell, along with West
Caldwell, West Lincoln,
and Happy Valley (TN)
High School in separate
scrimmage sessions at
MacDonald Stadium, while
the junior varsity took part
in scrimmages held on the
Avery baseball field.
Two scrimmages took
place simultaneously on
the field with a pair of ten-
minute timed sessions,
once on offense and once
on defense. While Avery
sat out the first round of
scrimmages, Mitchell took
on Happy Valley.
Mitchell gave up a pair
of touchdown runs on its
first defensive period, but
also forced and recovered a
fumble. On offense the
Mountaineers scored once
during the ten-minute
timeframe.
In the second set of
scrimmages, Avery held
West Lincoln to only one
touchdown during its ten-
minute defensive period,
while the Avery offense
scored on two separate
occasions, once on a TD
pass from Alex Villanueva
to Andy Gonzalez and
again on a quarterback
keeper from Villanueva.
The Mountaineers,
meanwhile, took on the
Warriors of West Caldwell.
Mitchell gave up one long
touchdown run, but had a
goal line stand as the ten
minutes expired to hold
West to only one score. On
offense, the skills of senior
tailback Shawn Jackson
Avery Journal-Times • August 18-19, 2010
were on display, breaking
off several long runs.
Mitchell’s quarterbacks
were also successful, as sig-
nal-caller Troy Self scored
one of two quarterback tal-
lies in the ten-minute offen-
sive session.
In the third set of scrim-
mages, Avery took on
Happy Valley, while
Mitchell took its turn
against West Lincoln.
Avery’s defense gave up
only one score to Happy
Valley, coming on the final
play of the ten-minute peri-
od. The Vikings had suc-
cess on the offensive side
moving the football and
scored once on a 24-yard
touchdown pass from
Villanueva to Gonzalez. A
turnover prevented a sec-
ond score as Avery had to
settle for the single trip to
the end zone.
Mitchell found some of
its best success during its
matchup with West
Lincoln’s Rebels. After
West scored once during its
time on offense, Mitchell
put two scores on the
board. Jackson broke loose
for a 35-yard touchdown
jaunt to end one series,
while teammate Self scored
on a 26-yard option keeper
for another six points.
Avery finished its scrim-
mage with a pair of ses-
sions against West
Caldwell, one prior to a
lightning delay and one
following a wait of over a
half-hour. In both sessions,
each team scored once and
also gave up a touchdown
on defense.
On Friday night the
Vikings traveled to
Hampton (TN) for the
annual Carter County
Football Jamboree, where
Avery took on the host
Bulldogs in a 15-minute
full scrimmage.
The Vikings began the
scrimmage with possession
at its own 30 yard line and
put together a ten-play
drive, only to come up
empty-handed after an
interception by Hampton’s
Jacob Jones.
Hampton’s first offen-
sive series began at its own
19-yard line, and the
Bulldog Power-I offense
tested and penetrated the
Avery 3-4 defensive
scheme. Running back
Justin Adkins proved to be
tough to take down as he
gained 56 yards on an 81-
yard scoring drive, culmi-
nating in a one-yard
plunge on fourth and goal
to score the scrimmage’s
first points. A successful
point after kick gave the
Bulldogs a 7-0 lead with
5:41 remaining.
The Viking offense
wasted little time answer-
ing the Hampton score,
driving 70 yards in just five
plays to reach pay dirt.
Running back Colton
Blackburn peeled off 27
yards on a carry, while
Villanueva completed a
pair of passes to Gonzalez,
the second of which went
13 yards for a touchdown.
A successful two-point
conversion run by
Villanueva put Avery
ahead 8-7 at the 4:27 mark.
Hampton continued to
pound Avery with the run-
ning game using an “I” for-
mation during its second
and final offensive drive.
The Bulldogs ran on 11
straight plays to gain all 70
yards and score what
proved to be the game-
winning touchdown.
Adkins again did the hon-
ors with a two-yard jaunt
for a 13-8 lead following a
missed two-point conver-
sion.
With only 20 seconds
left on the clock following
Hampton’s touchdown,
Avery made one final
attempt to win the scrim-
mage. Completed passes to
Gonzalez as well as to wide
receiver Lane Smith moved
the Vikings to the
Hampton 42-yard line with
only eight-tenths of a sec-
ond remaining. Avery’s
final pass was intercepted
to close the contest and the
13-8 final score in favor of
the ‘Dogs.
Avery quarterback Alex
Villanueva finished the
scrimmage with 6 for 11
passing for 85 yards with a
touchdown pass and two
interceptions. Hampton
finished the contest with
151 yards of total offense,
all rushing yards.
The Vikings will strap
on their helmets in its first
game that counts this
Friday night when they
host the Robbinsville Black
Knights. Kickoff is slated
for 7:30 p.m. at MacDonald
Stadium.
Page 16B
Wright Begins Tenure as County Athletic Director
BY JAMIE SHELL
SPORTS@AVERYJOURNAL.COM
On July 1st, David
Wright began his first day
on the job as Avery County
Athletic Director. Wright, a
former head basketball
coach at Avery High
School, and most recently
principal at Riverside
Elementary School and
Avery Middle School, will
serve as the first director
for middle school and high
school athletics since Ed
Duncan held a similar posi-
tion from 2004-2005.
Wright assumes the role
of athletic director after a
successful six-year tenure
as athletic director by
Matthew Bentley, who
leaves ACHS to serve in his
new position as principal at
Cranberry Middle School.
“The transition has been
very smooth and Matthew
has been very helpful to
me. I’ve asked him hun-
Howell: a Testament of a Lifetime Passion for Football
JAMIE
SHELL
Musings and
Ramblings
When it comes to prep
sports, former Avery High
School head football coach
Charles “Babe” Howell has
just about seen and done it
all.
Coach Howell has cap-
tured five football and two
baseball state champi-
onships during his Hall of
Fame career. Winning
Seasons? Try averaging
eight-plus football wins per
season over a career span-
ning four decades, with
over 600 baseball wins at
Sylva High School, in
Georgia during a nine-year
stretch, then back at Sylva-
Webster and Avery High
Schools.
Along the way, Howell
coached many outstanding
players. Among them were
Parade Football All-
Americans Love, Ronnie
Smith and Jimmy Streater.
Tommy Pharr (Mississippi
State), whom he coached in
Georgia, and Streater
(Tennessee) went on to
become All-Southeastern
Conference quarterbacks.
Love (1966) and Gary
Cowan (1971) received out-
standing player honors in
the Shrine Bowl.
Coach Howell was also
a standout two-sport ath-
lete himself in the collegiate
ranks. He was starting
pitcher for four years at
Western Carolina
University and named
Most Outstanding Player
on the Catamount football
team when he played on
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
they take care of middle
schools as I am there to
help them in any way I
can,” Wright said. “This is
still also a learning process
for me, as this is the first
time I have held the job of
an athletic director, but I
hope that my coaching
experience and my experi-
ence in school administra-
tion is going to help me to
be an effective athletic
administrator.”
In his new role, Wright
has encountered his share
of expected issues, as well
as a couple of surprises in
his first few weeks in the
position.
“The biggest surprise I
have found deals totally
with organization. There
are so many things to keep
dreds of questions it seems up with, from getting pre-
and he’s always been will- pared for games to lining
ing to take time to discuss up game officials, gather-
the athletic situation. I’m ing equipment, placing
very thankful for him as he orders, and administrative
has made it easier for me,” responsibilities that if you
Wright said from his office aren’t careful you can for-
in an interview earlier this get,” Wright stated. “There
week. is keeping up with a lot of
As county athletic direc- different things that need to
tor, Wright will assume a be done and there is a level
larger scope of responsibili- of stress involved. Staying
ties than his job as only a ready keeps you on your
high school athletic direc- toes.”
tor would encompass. Unity is an issue that
Athletic directors will still Wright feels strongly about,
exist at the two county and he feels his role in serv-
middle schools and they ing the middle school
will work with Wright in sports scene will help to
securing the best of aca- bring oneness to the middle
demic and athletic environ- school programs as they
ments for student-athletes. join together and compete
“It is great to already as a single unit in high
have athletic directors in school.
place at Avery Middle “One of the things I’d
School in Marilynne like to see is our middle
Phillips and in Kent Hayes school athletes and stu-
at Cranberry. Both of them dents come to the high
are experienced and have school and get onboard as
done an excellent job, so one unit together repre-
the offensive line. around to this time of year.
Coach is not someone JS: Growing up, who
who desires to brag or were some people you
spend a lot of time talking were inspired by in athlet-
about himself, so it was a ics?
great thrill personally that Coach Howell: Tom Young
he sat down with us for an was my college coach, and Jim
interview for our Fall Gudger my high school coach
Football Preview. We dis- and position coach at Western.
cussed a range of topics, They were kind of my heroes. I
from his early days as a got to see some outstanding
player in Monroe, NC and players during the early war
in Hendersonville to his years. The 3rd Air Force had a
college playing days, fami- team in Charlotte who played
ly, and his coaching career. on Sunday afternoons, and a
I’m certain this space lot of great college football
won’t do full justice to the players were part of those
full range of subjects that games against other teams
were touched upon, but it with great athletes. Charley
is a great pleasure to share Trippi (Pro Football Hall of
the following insightful Famer) played at the
highlights of our sit-down University of Georgia and was
with the legendary coach. with the 3rd Air Force in
JS: Why do you love the Charlotte. Trippi was the
game of football? early-on college person that I
Coach Howell: Well, it’s remember watching.
something I’ve enjoyed my JS: You won over 600
entire life. I was very active as baseball games and over
a young person in high school 300 football games during
athletics, as were my three your coaching career. How
brothers. Football was a big special are those times and
thing for us. We enjoyed base- players from back in
ball, but football seemed to be Jackson County where you
a passion for all of us. One of coached the majority of
my brothers was a boxer, but your career, and how spe-
three of us went on to play cial are those numbers to
football. I had some good you? Do they symbolize
coaches who were more instru- anything or hold special
mental in my life than anyone meaning?
outside my mom and dad. Coach Howell: I never did
They worked us hard, back in look back too much at any-
the days before facemasks and thing and reflect. I’m not real-
water breaks. We all wore the ly a nostalgic person or any-
high-top shoes and thick cot- thing like that, and I’m reluc-
ton practice jerseys. I was for- tant to really talk a lot about
tunate to play on some cham- myself and my career. I mar-
pionship teams and was active ried a girl from the Webster
in athletics while in the mili- community, and Jackson
tary. I ended my playing County just seemed like home.
career in college and went into I still have a strong feeling for
coaching, and it all seemed like the area and have friends that
a natural course of life for me. still live there. I go back occa-
I certainly enjoyed coaching sionally.
and get the itch when it comes I never thought about
senting Avery High. I hope
that we are able to empha-
size Viking Nation and
expand it into football this
year. We want to start
including middle school
students in Viking Nation,”
Wright added. “Hopefully
when these middle school
students come to a football
game, they will be able to
participate in what’s going
on at Avery High School
games. This season we’re
offering a $2.00 discount
for students wearing
Viking Nation t-shirts to
home football games. We’re
hoping this can boost
morale and school spirit for
our student athletes.”
As a former coach and
administrator, as well as a
parent of a former high
school athlete, Wright sees
his previous experience as
a great benefit to handling
the responsibilities includ-
ed in his role with the
Avery County athletic
department.
“When I coached, basi-
cally the head coach was
responsible for eligibility
lists, schedules, and the
day-to-day business of run-
ning the program with the
athletic director in the
background. Today the ath-
letic director has come to
the forefront when it comes
to high school sports with
all the responsibilities,”
Wright explained.
“Truthfully, I’ve watched
games since leaving coach-
ing and the games are still
the same, but I admit that
my perspective changed
once I became a parent who
watched my son play
sports. Sitting on the
bleachers watching a game
is completely different from
numbers as a coach. I don’t
have any scrapbooks or any-
thing like that, but I’ve hung a
few plaques on the wall at
home that I don’t play a lot of
attention to. I coached in five
all-star games and enjoyed
working with those other
coaches and meetings when all
the coaches use to get together.
Talking to my former play-
ers mean a lot to me. I belong
to a Hall of Fame in Canton,
Georgia and I enjoy going
back every year for a reunion,
and there were some special
players back in Sylva I was
fond of, like the Streeter boys
and Tommy Love who meant a
lot to me. Most of them have
passed away now, which is
heartbreaking.
JS: As a coach, what did
you find to be difficult to
teach players to learn or
understand?
Coach Howell: I’m left-
handed, but I have always
been able to teach plays that
were in what are called right-
handed and left-handed for-
mations. Over and over and
over in practice we would
work on plays in the left-hand
formation. I learned early that
repetition was how to teach
players to learn the plays we
run. One player once comple-
mented me, saying that he
knew our plays well enough
after repeating them so many
times that he could see them in
his sleep.
JS: You concluded your
Hall of Fame coaching
career here in Avery
County with a four-year
stint as head coach with
the Vikings, and ended up
getting married and put-
ting rooted down in the
High Country. What
impressed or interested
you about the position and
Avery Journal-Times • August 18-19, 2010
being on a bench coaching
and seeing a game. I
believe working as a coach
and as an administrator for
15 years will help me in
doing this job as I work
with the public. This is def-
initely a public relations job
and I enjoy that, as I think
of myself as a people per-
son who likes helping oth-
ers.”
As athletic director,
there are times when con-
flicts may arise between
players and coaches, or
even involving parents of
student-athletes. Wright
feels he is prepared to deal
with conflicts that may
arise within the realm of
high school athletics, and
believes communication is
vital to resolving issues or
differences of opinion that
might surface within his
new job.
“The bottom line in
dealing with any conflict is
communication.
Communication with one
another is pivotal and it’s
important to deal with con-
flicts and differences of
opinion head-on,” Wright
shared. “It is important to
sit down and be willing to
listen to someone’s side of a
story and bring two parties
together to work things
out. In this job I will always
strive for ways to bring
people together for an ami-
cable solution for everyone
involved when differences
of opinion occur. I’m not
saying that it is easy or that
I enjoy resolving conflict all
the time, because I don’t
think anyone enjoys con-
flict, but it’s something that
occurs and in those times
has to be dealt with and
worked out.”
the area?
Coach Howell: Before I
came here, my wife passed
away and my children were
grown and were gone. I really
didn’t have too many things I
was directly tied to, so I
retired from coaching. Mike
Manis, the county superin-
tendent of schools at the time,
called me and asked me to
come over to talk about the
coaching job. I thought there
was a strong committee with
Paul Dietzel on the commit-
tee. I felt like if someone is ask-
ing you to come for a job that
it meant something more than
if you applied for a job. I for-
mally applied, decided I didn’t
have a lot of strings in Jackson
County, and locked up and
moved to Avery. I planned to
stay three years, and ended up
staying four seasons. We did-
n’t have a winning record the
first season, but did the last
three and had a good season,
winning the conference in my
Wright is passionate
about the student side of a
student-athlete, and is com-
mitted to students remain-
ing committed first and
foremost to education and
academics as they pursue
athletic endeavors under
the Avery banner.
“Academics is first and
foremost the most impor-
tant part of the student-ath-
lete experience in high
school, no doubt about it. If
you read all the research
out there on academics and
athletics, the kids who par-
ticipate in athletics help
students to excel in aca-
demics,’ Wright stated.
“The rules are set up where
if a student isn’t perform-
ing well enough in the
classroom, he or she will
not be participating in ath-
letics, and our students are
well aware of that once
they reach the high school
level. Our coaches also do a
good job of maintaining a
good communication with
teachers regarding their
players and the academic
status of those students,
and I’m here to help the
coaches and teachers in
that process.”
Wright is excited about
his new role with Avery
athletics, and welcomes
anyone to come by his
office to visit or with any
questions.
“My door is always
open to any parents, stu-
dents, or anyone who
wants to drop by with any
questions or concerns,”
Wright said. “I appreciate
all the parents who are on
fire and excited about our
athletic program and want
to see it succeed.”
third year. Bo Manis was our
quarterback and Matthew
Horney was quite instrumen-
tal in the team’s success. The
team was young and I really
enjoyed coaching that club.
I also got married here in
Avery and we moved back to
Sylva. She had a good job here,
so we decided to move back
here and built a house. It was
a smooth transition to come
back and live here, but we still
go back to Jackson County
occasionally for reunions and
other events.
Jackson County is part of
the mountains as Avery is,
and Avery is such a beautiful
area. I felt comfortable going
about doing the job here. The
folks were kind enough to ask
me to come, so I came and
tried to do my best as coach
and ended up staying around.
Special thanks again to
Coach Howell for sharing
with The Avery Journal-
Times.