Candler – Mike Sexton, the former Erwin coach, is in his fourth year leading Enka Jet football. In his debut in 2021, the Jets upset T.C. Roberson.
Rival coaches know not to overlook a Sexton-coached team. He won two out of three games on average, in nine Erwin seasons through 2016. Enka’s last winning football season was 26 years ago, in 1997. Sexton is building up Enka’s fundamental skills and confidence. “This is a great group that works hard every day in practice to get better,” he said.
“Two out of three ain’t bad” so far in 2024. Enka (2-1) started off brilliantly by walloping Owen 48-8 in the opener, and whacking Rosman 51-0 in its home opener. That sandwiched a lopsided loss to Pisgah, which used Enka’s field as a home field in 2022 while its own storm-damaged field was renovated.
Off last Friday, Enka opens its Mountain Athletic Conference schedule at offensively-explosive Erwin on Sept. 20. The teams are rivals seeking the MAC’s playoff-eligible second 3A seed, behind favorite Reynolds.
Enka graduated half of its 34 varsity players from 2023 including quarterback Cam Wait, 6-foot-4 receiver Sam Waddell, and running back Dalton Sims. The Jets return merely three starters on each side from that 3-7 squad. Enka’s sole MAC win was by 28-20 over North Buncombe, a 3A rival.
Trantham, McKinney Star
Logan Trantham (6-1, 195 jr.) is Enka’s new dual-threat quarterback, in the spread offense. He is part of a trio of leading Jet ball carriers. In the first three games, Trantham ran for 164 total yards (46 YPC). In the opener, he passed to Landon Wilson (5-8, 145 jr.) for a touchdown in the opener then scored on a keeper.
“Logan is calm, cool, and collected,” Coach Sexton said. “He is a solid athlete and leader. He’s the absolute right guy at quarterback. The kids look up to Logan. He can throw. He’s not super fast, but he can run.”
Enka has more power rushing than before, with Tommy McKinney (6-2, 220). He leads Enka in carries and with 205 rushing yards (6.4 YPC). The sophomore ran for the game’s first score in the win over Owen. “He’s a size-strength hybrid — a big kid with some speed,” Sexton said. “Quick slasher” Chris Bethea (5-10, 140 jr.), averages 5.2 yards.
Enka lines up two receivers each inside and out. William Parham (5-10, 150 jr.) had a 90-yard reception TD, and 201 total receiving yards in the first two contests. “William has good speed and quickness,” Sexton said. “He’s very intelligent and disciplined in running routes. He’s always going hard.” The other main wideout, Wilson, “also makes big plays.” Liam Whitmire (5-10, 165 jr.) is a reliable “possession receiver.” The big interior TE/H-backs are Mason Patton (6-5, 220 jr.) and Graham Cannon (6-2, 240 sr.). Cannon won the state discus toss as a freshman.
The offensive line returns its sole senior, Preston Reid (6-2, 235 sr.), at left guard and right guard Jacob McElreath (6-0, 240 jr.). New blockers are junior tackles James Hinson (6-3, 245) and Henry Greathouse (6-3, 250) and center Ryan Luther (5-11, 220 so.). “We have intermediate size,” Sexton said. “We’re pretty strong up front, with good quickness.”
The placekicker is junior Ian Conner.
On defense, compared to a year ago, “we’re much better in getting to the ball, for physical gang tackling,” Sexton said. The 4-2 base defense’s leading tacklers are sophomore safety Diandre Gatson,
inside linebackers Trey Davis and Jaydyn McElreath, and DEs Logan Weaver and Cooper Green. In the opener, Gatson returned an interception for a score and CB Caleb Weaver snatched an Owen fumble.
In the MAC, “Reynolds is above everybody” again, Coach Sexton reasons. As for the Jets, “we just have to keep getting better.”