Fairview – A.C. Reynolds has its usual speed and then some across its roster, and it features a larger than usual defensive line to harass opposing backfields.
The Rockets reeled off six Mountain Athletic Conference titles in a row before Asheville dethroned them last fall. ACR is a slight consensus pick of rival coaches to regain the crown. “Expectations are high,” Coach Shane Laws said of his experienced frontrunners. “We’re not young any more,” as in last season. On coming up short in the conference, he reasons that “it’s good to deal with disappointment.”
Reynolds (2-0) already avenged two defeats from last year, by shutting out West Forsyth 29-0 and yielding merely five first downs, and then by winning 45-21 at Shelby in a clash of juggernaut programs. Coach Laws Coach Laws said off-season “time and hard work” paid off with early success. “Interior play” shined in blocking a huge defensive line and with the D-line pressuring Shelby quarterback Daylin Lee into two interceptions.
Tailback Max Guest (5’9, 180 so.) sure emerged as a “Special Guest” as a freshman last fall. He exploded onto the stage. Guest ran for 820 yards and 11 TDs, and he broke several long kick returns. He got more than one-third of that last Friday, when he ran wild for 302 yards and four touchdowns at Shelby.
Guest blends “speed with strength and power,” Laws said. “He’s a 460-pound squatter and a 4.5 guy in the 40.” Stocky Guests are heavier now. He claims that running gives him more balance and control.
As Laws said, “This is a fast team. We’re extra athletic with many making plays from various positions. ” Compare the sizzling Rockets to fighter pilot Tom Cruise flying ten times the speed of sound to achieve the magical “Mach 10” (7,673 mph) in the latest Top Gun film.
Asher Cunningham (6-2, 230 sr.) plays mostly defense but is also a rugged red zone runner in “crunch” times. “Masher Asher” bashed in for a touchdown as Reynolds shut out West Forsyth 37-0 in the opener.
Left-handed Hayden Craig (6-0, 180 jr.) now fires the Rocket football missiles. He is mobile and throws accurately with zip on the ball. Craig said he takes “pride in the game’s strategy, to play smart,” extend plays and “find open receivers.” Coach Laws likes Craig’s skills and intangibles such as “poise and intelligence,” and the balance of ACR’s offense.
“Our receivers can stretch the field” with speed, Laws said. He raves about the playmaking ability of fast slot receiver JoJo Ikeme (5-7, 145 jr.) and WR starters Wesley Rumbough (6-0, 145 sr.) and M.A. Skanes (5-10, 155 so.). Christian Lewis (6-0, 210 jr.) is the main tight end, with Maxim Parchuk (5-11, 215 sr.) in double TE formations.
Up front, returning starters include guard Nash Rogers (6-1, 275 sr.) and center Bailey Craig (6-0, 230 sr.). Guard Connor Crain (6-2,270 so.) is among the heavier Rocket blockers.
ACR has two strong-legged senior varsity kickers who can split handling field goals, kickoffs, and punts in Jarod Glenn (5-9,165) and soccer goalkeeping superstar Sean Green (6-3,185).
Defensive Stars
Coach Laws again sees the 3-3 stack defense as the team’s most reliable asset with its blend of “speed and size.” Nine starters return. Shutdown cornerback Dashawn Stone (6-3, 190 sr.), who has pro height, hefty outside linebacker Cunningham, and DL Russell Barnett (6-3, 275 sr.) should all make big plays.
Stone picked off four passes last fall and made 80 tackles. Since then, he has added 22 pounds of muscle. He is also a basketball star.
“Masher Asher” said, “I like hitting.” He gets an encore after a season in which he was chosen as the best WNC large-school athlete in a major sport at the WNC Sports Awards. ACR’s recent lineage at linebacker includes Shrine Bowler Frank Torres, Eli Hembree, Mark Golden, and Micah Hembree. Cunningham gets after his teammates. He said he cannot wait for the rematch with Asheville at home on Sept. 30.
Third-year ILB Brandon Guest (6-0, 215 jr.) and OLB Christian Lewis (5-11, 200 jr.) have had starting experience since they were freshmen. OLB Diante Fountain (5-11, 165 sr.) and DB Skanes each picked off a Shelby pass Friday.
The D-line features disrupter Russell Barnett (6-3, 275 sr.), DE-OLB Marquan Harper (6-1, 210 sr.) and Reggie Fields (6-1, 210 sr.). The overall D-line is bigger than usual yet still fast. Barnett can plug the middle as the nose guard, or line up as an end to foil blocking matchups.
Coach Laws challenges his talented squad to “mature as a team.” Count on Reynolds as a prime contender in the MAC and then in the 4A playoffs.