Draughn dominates Owen in Western Highlands Conference opener

Warhorses slide to 1-3 in lopsided loss to Wildcats

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
September 18, 2021

A road trip to Valdese for the opening of the Western Highlands Conference football season ended in a lopsided loss for the Owen Warhorses, who slipped to 1-3 in a 36-7 loss to Draughn.

The Wildcats, one of two new teams to enter the conference this season, were in complete control throughout the night.

Owen entered the game a week removed from a 48-34 loss at home to North Henderson, and once again fell behind early in the first quarter.

The Warhorse offense struggled to move the ball on its opening possession, turning it over on downs. Draughn responded with a quick scoring drive, capped by an 8-yard rushing touchdown for Nigel Dula, his first of two in the game. A successful 2-point conversion put the Wildcats up, 8-0.

That lead was extended to 16-0 on the ensuing Owen possession, when senior quarterback Eli Lanter was hit on a third down pass attempt that was intercepted by the Wildcats defense and returned for a touchdown.

Sophomore fullback Will Johnson scored the only Warhorse touchdown of the night in the opening minutes of the second quarter, but sophomore quarterback Elijah Tillery and the Draughn offense responded with another touchdown drive on their next possession.

A pair of Tillery touchdown passes in the second half sealed the win for the Wildcats.

Owen spent the week preparing for the passing attack of Draughn, head coach Brint Russell said after the game, but the Warhorse defense was “slow to adjust” to the Wildcats running game.

“I didn’t feel like they gashed us with their passing game, but they lined up and ran the ball effectively, early in the game,” he said. “We had some missed tackles, and we came out flat, again. We can’t start like that and win football games.”

The offensive and defensive lines, strengths for the Warhorses in their first three games, struggled against the opposing Draughn units. Injuries to two senior starters on the offensive line were a contributing factor in Owen’s inability to protect the quarterback.

“Defensively, what they did was put everyone on the line and blitz us,” Russell said. “When that happens, you have to be able to throw the football, and that’s an area we’ve struggled this year. Our pass protection just didn’t hold up tonight.”

Owen will host WHC opponent Mitchell, Friday, Sept. 24. The 3-2 Mountaineers enter the contest following a 63-20 win over Madison.

“They’re a really physical football team, and we know that about Mitchell” Russell said. “We’re going to have to tackle well, stay in our lanes and match their physicality next week.”

Photos from the Sept. 17 game between Owen and Draughn can be viewed in the gallery at the top of the page.

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