Weaverville – The Hawks (2-1) got their first win by 32-12 over Owen in week two, after a six-point lost at East Henderson in the opener. They won 42-14 at arch-rival Madison on Sept. 6.
“Our guys were upset at how we started slow” versus Owen, Coach Hines said. “But we got going.” The young Hawks have merely 11 seniors, of which seven played football last year. The program has 30 freshmen. “We’ll learn and grow, and win together,” Hines said. Erwin head coach Rodney Pruett said, “Coach Hines has won at quality schools. He’s trying to instill a winning culture there.”
The ball-control offense has clicked. In the opener, three Hawk drives lasted at least 14 plays. The Hawks relentless rush in their Wing T, starting plays similarly but fooling defenses with misdirection. Three running backs line up per play, with a fullback and two halfbacks. In “Wedge” blocking — like what the Philadelphia Eagles use — NBHS converges power running up the middle toward the goal line.
New quarterback Les Otis (6-3, 180 jr.) scored on a keeper against Owen, after Eli Morgan recovered a Warhorse fumble. Otis passed for three touchdowns at Madison, and ran for a score. “Les strides in the open field, and pulls away,” Hines said. “He runs hard. He sticks it up in, if we need just three yards. Les leads by example. He’s respected. He’ll correct a teammate.”
‘Thunder, Lightning’
The running back king is Kyngston Denson (5-9, 180 so.), with 479 rushing yards (9 YPC) in three games. Denson rushed 25 times for 145 yards in the opener. Next, Denson rushed for 203 yards and three TDs against Owen. He broke two runs each for nearly 70 yards. Last Friday, Denson returned the opening kickoff 75 yards for a score, and rushed for 131 yards.
Curtis Johnson (5-7, 170 fr.) ran for 146 yards (16.2 YPC) in week two. He scored on a 21-yard run versus Madison. “We have an awesome tandem of hard-nosed runners,” Coach Hines said. “Kyngston is ‘thunder,’ and Curtis is ‘lightning.’ But Kyngston also has speed, which makes him dangerous on the edges.” Both play at once, when Johnson is the flanker. Dane Houston (5-11, 190 sr.) is another back. HB Hayden Burnette and QB Alex Rash graduated in 2024.
Flanker Ryan Moffatt (5-11, 170 jr.) caught five passes for 75 yards and a TD at Madison. He kicks. The wide receiver is Owens Starosta (6-0, 170 jr.), Moffatt, or Devin Hyatt (5-10, 170 sr.) who also caught a TD pass in week three. Maxim Kolodich (6-0, 230 jr.) and Grey Reedy (6-2, 235 sr.) split TE duties and are “important blockers,” Hines noted.
‘Protectors’
Drew Rhinehart (6-5, 285 sr.) and center Thomas Kirkpatrick (5-9, 245 sr.) again anchor the offensive line. Other blockers are tackles Julian Lanning (6-4, 305 so.), and Banks Burgess (6-1, 205 so.), and guard Eli Morgan (6-2, 230 sr.). “This is our largest line overall, across the board” in his three years, Hines said. He calls them “protectors of the offense.” He is proud that they opened holes for 413 rushing yards in week two.
The defense is simpler this year, sticking mostly to a four-man front, Hines said. There is likely some 3-3 “stack” against spread attacks or an eight-man front to swarm on rushing teams and to blitz. “We’re improving toward where I can take away something” from an opposing offense, Hines said. NBHS held Madison to 81 rushing yards — half what the Hawks managed.
Defensive starters include linebackers Trey Sexton (5-11, 210 sr.) and Dalton Anderson (5-10, 185 sr.) inside and Gavyn Stephenson (5-11, 190 sr.) outside, and cornerbacks Luke Banks (5-8, 135 so.) and Brock MacMahan (6-4, 180 so.). “We cross-train guys,” Hines said. “We get to the ball. We’re doing better tackling.”
North Buncombe has not won a Mountain Athletic Conference game since going 3-3 four seasons ago. NBHS was winless overall in 2021 and ‘22, but won three times in 2023. This time, NBHS hosts 3A league rivals Erwin and Enka. Coach Hines sees progress. “We’re taking a step each year.”