Asheville – The Asheville Cougars are growling with confidence and eagerness for more success after winning the Mountain Athletic Conference in both football and baseball in 2021-22.
Asheville dominated the MAC for a decade—culminating in winning a state title in 2005. To stifle power running and slow down opposing quick-rhythm spread offenses, recent Cougar teams have relied heavily on punishing defense.The Cougars, as usual, also have swift, versatile skill players on offense. Third-year head coach Cort Radford said he has even greater team speed.
Asheville went 5-3 overall and 4-2 to finish in third place in the MAC and make the 3A playoffs, as the former Chase boss debuted with AHS in spring 2021. The Cougars beat Erwin 34-6 and came within a point of upsetting league champ A.C. Reynolds. AHS (9-3) won the MAC with a 6-0 record, won nine straight games, and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Asheville edged ACR 6-5 at home, in between walloping Erwin 49-14 and T.C. Roberson 42-7.
The MAC’s big boys tangle with each other early again in the conference schedule. AHS (1-1) hosts Erwin Sept. 23, is at ACR, then welcomes T.C. Roberson Oct. 7.
Linebackers Micah Ward and Otis Walton-Thach graduated, as did leading rusher Caleb Madden, RB-QB Tre McGahee, receiver Sayvon Hayden-Gibson, and Kadin Lynch. The MAC Offensive Player of the Year, Khalil Conley, had nearly 2,100 total yards as the AHS quarterback. He was the leadoff hitter in baseball. The would-be senior has since transferred to the private Christ School, where he gets an extra year of eligibility and is a receiver.
Asheville moves on, unveiling its next star QB to join eight returning starters on offense. “We are going to roll with a freshman,” Radford said. He said Meak Slydell (5-10, 173) has the “best arm talent of any freshman I’ve ever had. He can throw it. He’s getting a lot better at timing his throws. He’s very special. ” Slydell runs a crisp 4.5 in the 40-yard dash. “He learned the offense this summer” and is progressing well, Radford observed. Slydell said, “I know when to keep it and when to throw it” in read options.
Dynamic ‘W Factor’
Elusive, swift, versatile Deshaun Whitmire (6-0, 188 sr.) ran for two TDs, succeeding McGahee as red zone “wildcat” QB. “We’ll get the ball into Deshaun’s hands” in many ways, Radford said. “He’s stronger and even faster (4.44).”
AHS lines up as many as five receivers at once. Targets include T.J. Williams (6-1, 180 sr.), who Radford said had an “incredible summer. He’s a great route runner. He has incredibly strong hands, and he catches everything. He can drag his foot” to barely stay in bounds. “T.J. has special awareness on the field.”
Whitmire, downfield threat Heff Finley (6-1, 158 sr.), and strong Noah Shaw (6-2, 194 jr.) return as starters. Finley said, “We stick together as a team.” Fast slot receiver Tayveon “T.P.” Porter (5-7, 145 jr.) from Charlotte zoomed on a long reception for the sole Cougar score in scrimmaging against 5A power Dorman, S.C. TE-TB D.J. Jones (5-9, 193 sr.) or TE-WR Jeremiah Jones (6-0, 196 jr.) line up at H-back (TE-FB).
A primary AHS tailback is Jay Avery (5-10, 172 sr.). He is the nephew of Cougar and ‘Ole Miss great John Avery, a 1998 first-round pick who played in the NFL. “Jay is very electric in space. He makes defenders miss,” Radford said. “His downhill running is better. He’s one of our strongest kids.” Radford likes his backs to “pound it.” Next in are Nick Williams (5-7, 130 jr.) and Kyheem “Ky” Plummer (5-11, 180 so.). Whitmire ran the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds, Shaw in 4.53, Benjamin in 4.53, Plummer in 4.59, and Avery in 4.63.
The line returns three starters in tackles Joseph Gates (6-3, 291 sr.) and Tanner Graham (6-1, 267 so.) and RG Bill Braine (5-10, 210 sr.). Gates said that in practice, Coach Radford will “‘hound’ us about effort, to get better. But he’s super supportive of us.”
The AHS defense returns eight starters. Safety Finley and CB Whitmire are ballhawks. Finley notched two “pick six” interceptions against North Davidson in playoffs. Whitmire had one against Brevard in spring 2021.
Other standouts include DL Martavis “Tay” Davis (6-3, 230 sr.), LBs and athletic CB Aeon Benjamin (6-0, 165 sr). Davis is eager to “get the job done” and repeat as MAC champs. MLB Zyrique Smith (5-10, 190 junior), Juvea Smith (5-10, 188 sophomore), Shaw, and Plummer in Week One of this season, a Cougar trio combined to make 47 tackles. Shaw made 18 tackles, Plummer 15, and Finley 14 in beating run-heavy Robbinsville 26-14.
“We’ve developed a lot of defensive pride,” Coach Radford said. We don’t like to give up a yard, much less a touchdown. Our guys play very fast, and very hard. They’re very competitive in practice. Their ceiling can be even higher. Our defense will keep us in games as our offense gets going.”
In the MAC wars, “it’s going to be tough” with Reynolds, Erwin, and others as contenders, Radford said. “We never allow ourselves to get comfortable, as defending champs. This is a new team. Winning is a by-product of doing things right” in practice. Radford asks, “can they become the best version of themselves? If we take care of that, the rest will happen.”
Cougar players reflect Coach Radford’s view that they not only want to repeat as MAC champs, but advance far in the 4A playoffs.