Asheville – Cort Radford is in his fifth season of leading the Cougars. He won the MAC over A.C. Reynolds in 2021, when AHS was 6-0 and 9-3 overall.
Asheville (1-1) returns eight of 11 starters on offense, and six on defense. The showdown with T.C. Roberson at home on Oct. 11 inevitably decides the MAC’s top 4A seed. The game’s loser should outdo McDowell, the league’s other 4A school, to make playoffs but likely starts the postseason on the road.
If the meek shall inherit the earth, per the Bible, then might the local Meek “inherit” the MAC championship? Quarterback Meek Slydell (6-0, 189 jr.) is a third-year starter. Slydell threw two TD passes in the opener, a 42-6 thrashing of Tuscola. AHS more than doubled THS in total yards, by 470-202. Slydell passed for 1,633 yards in 2023. “He’s making more of the throws that he has to make,” Radford said. “He’ll show off his cannon of an arm throwing deep. He also throws ‘back shoulder’ balls, and can drop it over linebackers’ heads” by arcing the pass. Also, Slydell is running more.
Primary running backs again are swift Josh Ellis (5-7, 159 sr.) and strong, stocky Kyheem Plummer (5-11, 183 sr.). Together, they rushed for 1,401 yards and 21 touchdowns last season and had 29 receptions. Ellis’ 78-yard TD sprint gashed Tuscola. He raced for 195 of the team’s nearly 400 rushing yards, and notched three touchdowns in that victory. “Josh is very quick and electric,” Radford said. Ellis was timed at running a scintillating 22.63 miles per hour. “That’s the fastest I’ve ever had,” Radford said. He noted how Ellis is fast and strong. “He’s thick. Josh benches 270 pounds.”
Call the Plummer
Plummer rumbled for 97 yards and a score in a loss to Lake Norman (LNCS). The power runner gained 13 pounds in a year. “Kyheem is a bruiser. Both are excellent in the red zone,” Radford said. “The next one in” is Semahj Brown (5-8, 164 so.). “We’ve had a long history of good running backs. Semahj is ready to step in.”
New starting receivers are Kareem Williams (6-3, 163 sr.) and Kayden Ray (5-8, 143 jr.) Ray caught five of Slydell’s completions in the opener. Ray returned a kickoff for a TD against LNCS. “Kayden ran our fastest 40. He can fly,” Radford said. Monty Mosley (6-0, 186 jr.), Addison Cain (5-11, 152 sr.), Kaiden Robinson (6-0, 156 so.) and TE Zeke Wiesner (6-2, 176 so.) also get looks.
Twin Blockers
Offensive linemen are LG Katson Johnny (6-0, 233 sr.), RT Prinson Johnny (6-0, 237 sr.), LT J’Von Howard (6-1, 234 jr.), RG Oliver Pretrick (5-11, 242 jr.), and center Aiden Briggs (5-11, 202 jr.). “Our big boys did a great job for us to run for 400 yards,” Radford said. “They’re a lot stronger. They’re smart, coachable.”
Seth Stein (6-0, 220 sr.) is the third-year kicker.
The defense’s base is a “3-3 stack.” Linebackers include baseball star Hayes Hillier (5-11, 168 sr.), Jhalil McMorris (5-10, 150 sr.), Aljour Edgerton (5-11, 161 sr.), and Jack Spagnuolo (6-1, 161 jr.). The D-line includes K.J. WIlliams (5-10, 191 sr.), MaKyan Barton (6-0, 169 jr.), and stocky Dilan Bienvenu (5-11, 261 jr.) DBs include safeties Williams and Quavo Hayes (6-2, 170 sr.) and CB Kendrick Robbs (5-8, 132 jr.).
“We’re really fast. We attack the football, and create turnovers” on defense, Coach Radford said. “We are as deep as ever in skill positions, and athletic across the board.” The Cougars should claw their way through their MAC contests and then the 4A playoffs.