Leicester – Erwin returns nine of 11 starters on offense including its entire offensive line, as it wears down opposing defenses and scoreboards as well.
The spread offense exploded with nearly 800 yards of total offense, in winning 56-42 at Mountain Foothills favorite Brevard last Friday. “It was a shootout,” eighth-year Erwin head coach Rodney Pruett said. “We kept fighting. We made stops when we needed to.” Containing opposing offenses is pivotal for a defense that returns merely three starters.
The Warriors (2-1) are eager to at least reverse their 4-7 mark of a year ago and resume winning ways. Pruett is nearing 200 Erwin victories, as an assistant in 2001-16 then in leading the program.
Super-marketed Ingle
Left-handed quarterback Caden Ingle (6-3, 216 so.) progressed as a freshman starter in 2023. “Caden has command of our offense,” Coach Pruett said. “He’s more comfortable. His pocket presence is much better.”
Skill-wise, “Caden’s arm strength is unbelievable” with improved accuracy, Coach Pruett said. “He puts it ‘on the money.’ He ‘threads the needle.’” At Brevard, Ingle threw a perfect spiral right to lead his receiver to a 13-yard touchdown and a 21-6 lead in the opening quarter. Ingle has “deceptive speed,” Pruett added.
Ingle passed for four touchdowns in the first two games. He threw for four more TDs at Brevard, and for 421 yards to rank among school leaders. He ran for a TD. Ingle’s intangibles shine, too, Pruett said. “Caden is a natural leader. He has good chemistry with his receivers” and with offensive coordinator Roy Lusk.
Petty Air Officers
Michael Petty (6-1, 162 sr.), Lawson Reynolds (6-0, 163 jr.), Hunter Cromer (5-11, 143 sr.), and new starter Noah Houldham (5-8, 142 jr.) are the four starting receivers who line up at once.
Swift Petty ran the season’s opening kickoff 85 yards to the end zone. He has five TDs and 442 yards (245 at Brevard) receiving TDs after three games, and 139 kickoff return yards after two games. Petty scored twice last Friday. On an 84-yard tunnel screen, he zoomed untouched down the right sideline to score. Petty seems nearly as fast as Richard Petty’s stock cars. Coach Pruett said, “He’ll make a cutback for the ‘home run’ (long TD).”
Reynolds, like Petty, is also an alert slot receiver who gets occasional carries. Reynolds ran for a TD in week two. In the opener, he took a slant pass 43 yards for a score. He caught a TD pass in week three. Cromer is quick. Houldham returns punts.
Milking Defenses
Swift De’Alijah “Milky” Ray (5-9, 156 sr.) set an Erwin record by running for 310 yards at Brevard. He scored four TDs in the game. Ray already has 850 rushing yards. He receives well, too. He caught that 13-yard TD pass. Other runners are two-way star Amarion Smith (5-6, 136 jr.) and strong Chavion Irby (6-1, 214 jr.).
The large, seasoned Warrior line has three third-year starters. They are massive right tackle Cody Luther (6-3, 294 sr.), LG Ulysses Rea-Nunez (5-9, 235 sr.), and center Nathaniel Brown (6-1, 263 sr.). Brown’s father is OL coach Chris Brown. Left tackle Da’veon Hill (6-4, 276 sr.) and RG Jordan Ellis (6-2, 277 sr.) also start again. “They have not given up one sack” in three games, Pruett proudly noted. “Caden got knocked down only one time. They open up running lanes.”
The kicker is Austin Trembeczki (6-0, 135 sr.).
The 3-4 defense returns its leading tackler, third-year inside linebacker Judah Dayton (5-11, 214 sr.). The co-captain is a sharp “leader,” Pruett said. Other mobile linebackers are Sawyer Cromer (6-0, 160 so.) and OLBs Jadyn Holder (5-11, 169 jr.) and Dravin Ferguson (5-11, 157 sr.). Up front are NG Luther, and DTs Mikey Miller (6-1, 206 sr.) and DT Davion “Fatty” Ray (6-0, 219 jr.).
“Our secondary came up big against Brevard,” Pruett said. Smith picked off a pass in the end zone. Safeties are Reynolds and Breandon Phelan (6-0, 167 jr.). “We’re still progressing on defense,” Pruett said. “I like our grit. We’re faster.”
Erwin gets MAC favorite Reynolds at home, but has to play at 4A powers Asheville and Roberson. Erwin routinely makes the 3A playoffs as the league’s second seed by beating 3A Enka and North Buncombe, and should do so yet again.