Skyland – T.C. Roberson Rams are the presumptive 4A champions of the 4A/3A Mountain Athletic Conference, after conquering Asheville Cougars 41-13 at home Friday.
The convincing win sets up a showdown on Oct. 20 at TCR (6-1 overall) for the overall MAC crown with reigning champ A.C. Reynolds (5-3). Roberson and Reynolds are both 4-0 in conference games.
ACR is now in smaller 3A. Reynolds (5-3) moved in front of the league’s 3A teams, after demolishing Erwin 45-3 at home Friday.
Roberson annihilated the other 4A MAC school, McDowell, by 48-0 on Sept. 15. MHS (2-5) is 2-1 in the MAC after beating Enka 44-0 Friday. But the Titans have to play Asheville and Reynolds. The Cougars should beat MHS, at home on this Friday the 13th. If so, they are in line for the MAC’s second 4A playoff seed.
Asheville and Erwin are both 1-2 and 2-5 overall. North Buncombe (3-4; 0-3 MAC) and Enka (2-5; 0-4) ensure one of them gets a MAC win, when they play each other on Friday the 13th at Enka. MAC game times are 7 p.m. NBHS nearly won a MAC contest, when falling to MHS 38-36 on Sept. 29.
Diamond Rams Honored
Ram athletic spirit simmered in a pre-game ceremony, when title rings were presented to the 4A state baseball champion Ram players and coaches including manager Eric Filipek. “Amazing” is how slugging first baseman Caden Davidson, part of TC’s esteemed Class of 2025, described the honor in front of peers and other fans.
The ballplayers include two who also play football. They are workhorse senior runner Reno Jeter, the cleanup hitter, and junior back Zeb Swangim who helps ignite baseball batting rallies. Swangim has been out for the football season with ankle and toe injuries, since week three. But he said he is about to begin physical therapy, and is on track to be healthy for baseball in the spring.
“Great!” is how Swangim termed getting his title ring, and also the football win which he saw up close. He was on the Ram sideline, moving about on a medical scooter. Typically, Swangim was just ahead of where his teammates needed to go for a first down. They repeatedly reached him.
Triple Threat
Indeed, Roberson’s relentless triple-option rushing attack was too much. Senior RBs Jeter and P.J. Deshauteurs and senior quarterback Lex Dinwiddie took turns gashing the vaunted Cougar defense. All three combine power with quickness and excellent field vision.
A week earlier, Dinwiddie ran for ran for five scores including an 88-yarder and for 271 yards in a 58-23 thrashing of Enka. He is bigger this year, and it shows with his breaking more tackles.
This rushing trio is close to one another in yardage production. Entering the AHS game, Dinwiddie ran for 539 yards (9.8 YPC), Jeter 476 (9.3), and Deshauteurs 439 to average 17 a pop.
The visiting Cougars struck first last Friday. Kyheem Plummer’s long run set up Josh Ellis’ four-yard TD run. The PAT missed.
After that, it was nearly all TC on the scoreboard. The Rams first scored on Jeter’s three-yard run.
Shamar Darity’s interception set up TC at its 40. The Rams steadily moved the ball. Then came a long injury delay as senior AHS linebacker Ben Bevans was tended to, followed by a slew of Ram TDs.
Rockets Explode
A.C. Reynolds also stayed unbeaten in MAC play, by beating Erwin. QB Hayden Craig connected with former Erwin star Ty Johnson for the opening score. The play directly followed senior linebacker Ayden Hines’ interception.
Malik Angram scored the next two TDs — on a long punt return, then a 40-yard run. Angram transferred from Hendersonville. His lateral moves and upfield acceleration are reminiscent of his father, Michael Angram, who starred for East Henderson.
Elsewhere, 2A Owen (1-7; 0-4 WHC) was on the wrong side of history by enabling 1A Rosman to end its 40-game losing streak with a 48-21 victory. Owen got a 50-yard TD pass from Jakob Knighton to fellow senior Hudson Minks.