East Flat Rock – Second-year East head coach Colton Brackett secured his first triumph at the helm of his alma mater, snapping the Eagles’ two-year, 16-game losing streak. They beat Rosman and NBHS (by 28-24, again scoring 28 points) early in 2022, but no one since then. Rosman is no longer on East’s schedule.
The Eagles can match those two wins by beating Madison, as a favorite at home this Friday.
Other local teams that won openers are West Henderson, Hendersonville, Asheville, Erwin, and Enka.
Brackett told the Eagles after their win that “you didn’t let down,” unlike a year ago when NBHS came back to win.
“We executed well,” Brackett said of the triple option he implemented from a basic double wing formation. East amassed most of its 368 total yards on the ground. Brackett praised quarterback Lex Burns’ split-second decisions about who to get the ball to. “Lex is smart. He’s in the top ten of his senior class.”
East delivered several big plays at home on Friday. Ball carriers saw openings, cut quickly, and dashed through the open field for long gains.
The defense tightened against NBHS’ relentless wing T rushing. Two-way lineman Gabe Jones starred, making sacks and tackles for losses. He is among several third-year starters. They won merely for the third time on varsity.
“Inspirational!” is how Jones termed winning the opener. “We put in the ‘grind’ every day. Coach Brackett is making us stronger and better — physically and mentally. He’s challenging us to do our parts and be leaders.” Indeed, Coach Brackett said that increased conditioning paid off in this victory.
Burns Burns Hawks
Burns charged in for two scores on keepers. “I’m ten times faster,” he said. He noted that the Eagles felt confident going into the game, and even moreso after seizing the lead then winning. “We’re climbing” up to respectability, he said.
Trailing 15-0 in the second quarter, sophomore Isaac Schulz took a pitch and ran right for East’s first TD. Burns plunged in for a two-point conversion, for further momentum. Burns pumped up his teammates in huddles, urging them on.
The tying touchdown was on swift junior receiver Landon Noel‘s 23-yard dash down the left side. Barclay George’s PAT tied the game at 15, with 3:12 left in the third quarter. East fans went wild.
Schulz set up East’s go-ahead TD with a brilliant, zig-zagging 49-yard run to the Hawk three-yard line. Burns ran up the gut to score, with 9:49 remaining. Burns burned the Hawks again four minutes later. He burst through for a dynamic 25-yard score. That was set up by a blocked NBHS punt, which East’s Dakota Page snatched mid-air.
North Buncombe matched that TD, but its onside kick failed. East ran out the clock.
Sidelined star Leland Prutzman rooted on his Eagle teammates. He noted that doctors estimate that he might return from a torn MCL knee ligament as early as week three, at Hendersonville.
Cats Pay Back NH
North Henderson upset HHS a year ago, but Hendersonville won 20-7 at home on Friday. Head coaches Kirron Ward of HHS and NH’s Jim Beatty praised their own defenses. HHS’ defense made even bigger plays. Bearcat Javanni Suber opened scoring a minute in, with a “pick six” interception on the right side.
Gianni Jacobs (also a power runner) recovered a NHHS fumble caused by star senior lineman Orion Barber’s “strip sack.” Sophomore QB JaRon Ward ran it in for a 14-0 lead. Tymir Barber pounced on a NHHS fumble in the end zone. WR Amir Albany and other emerging stars compliment swift “Top Cat” runner Hezzie Rudisill.
Knight Caleb Woodring lobbed a bomb to Josh Justice at the HHS one-yard line. Mason Gasperson ran for a TD as a wildcat QB, with 38 seconds left in the opening quarter.
West, which hosts HHS on Friday, won 51-33 over Newton-Conover. West rushed for 373 yards, averaging ten yards per carry. Zane McCraw ran for four TDs and 211 yards. He opened scoring with a “pick six.” Da’Zion Murray ran for 149 yards, while Cade Young threw for two scores.
Josh Ellis’ 78-yard TD sprint ignited Asheville’s 42-0 shutout of Tuscola. Erwin thrashed Daniel Boone 56-0. Scores included Michael Petty’s 85-yard kickoff return, and Lawson Reynolds’ 43-yard catch and run.
Enka beat Owen 48-8, as Jarren Dayton had a “pick six.” A.C. Reynolds and T.C. Roberson lost low-scoring games.