North Buncombe runs to 32-12 victory over Owen
Warhorses flash potential despite falling to 0-2 on the road
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
August 31, 2024
A short bus ride to the upper reaches of the county, Aug. 30, took Owen to North Buncombe for a meeting between a pair of 0-1 programs.
The Black Hawks followed a formidable ground game to 32-12 victory, dealing the Warhorses their second loss of the season.
Owen took the field wearing orange helmet decals bearing the numbers 6 and 68, in honor of two Rosman players, Jayden Reynaldo and Layne Jones, who lost their lives, Aug. 25, in a Transylvania County four-wheeler accident. Warhorse cheerleaders sported orange ribbons in a show of support for their fellow Western Highlands Conference school.
The Warhorses entered the contest following a 48-8 loss to Enka in week 1, while North Buncombe made its home debut after falling, 28-22, to East Henderson to open the campaign.
The Black Hawks, led by head coach David Hines, established their rushing attack early, driving to the Owen 24 yard line on the opening possession, which ended with a missed field goal attempt. The Warhorses were unable to move the ball on the ensuing drive and punted from deep in their own territory.
The North Buncombe offense settled in later in the quarter, establishing a 7-0 lead with the first of three Kyngston Denson rushing touchdowns. Owen answered with a sustained drive deep into Black Hawks territory, punctuated by a touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Emmett Minks to junior Hayden Burpeau.
The home team maintained a 7-6 lead, blocking the extra point attempt, before extending its advantage with a 65-yard touchdown run by Denson on the next play from scrimmage. The Warhorses mounted a drive in the final minutes of the half, facing fourth down and 1 from the North Buncombe 19. With less than 9 seconds remaining on the clock, Minks pitched the ball to Burpeau, who lobbed a pass to junior Haiden Small near the end zone. The play was broken up by a Knights defender, leaving Owen down, 13-6, at halftime.
While the Warhorse received to open the second half, North Buncombe followed a fumble recovery with a quick touchdown drive and failed 2-point conversion attempt. Facing a 19-6 deficit, a long pass from Minks to Small took Owen deep into opposing territory.
Burpeau capped the drive with a 15-yard rushing touchdown, as the Warhorses failed to convert the subsequent 2-point conversion. An onside kick attempt, which appeared to be recovered by Owen, was negated with an illegal touching call.
North Buncombe scored on the next possession before intercepting a Minks pass late in the fourth quarter to end a promising Owen drive. The Knights added another long touchdown run in the final minutes of the game.
Despite the loss, first-year Warhorse head coach John Faircloth was encouraged by his team’s performance.
“I told them I was proud of them and they competed their butts off,” he said. “We made a step in the right direction, but we can’t be satisfied with losing. They made a jump from week one to week two, so I challenged them to make that same jump next week.”
Offensively, the Warhorses found success by focusing on execution, according to the coach.
“We talk about taking grass, and I thought we were able to find our grass out there tonight,” Faircloth said. “Not every play has to be a touchdown, so if it’s a 5 yard gain, take your 5 yards. I think the kids understood that after last week and applied it tonight.”
Four key plays could have impacted the outcome, he added.
“That fumbled snap, the interception in the 10 yard line, the onside kick and not scoring on that last play of the first half were all big plays that didn’t go our way,” Faircloth said. “If any one, or a few of those plays break in our direction, we’re in a position to win that game at the end.”
Burpeau, a running back, defensive back, kicker and punter for the Warhorses, emerged as reliable source of production for the offense while fighting through leg cramps.
“He’s a competitor, and he was a little disappointed in how he played last week, so he really absorbed a lot of what the coaches had to tell him throughout the week,” Faircloth said. “He’s really somebody we trust and he does a lot for us. He had a heck of a game while cramping up, and he only came out for two plays. That’s impressive.”
Another junior, wide receiver and defensive back Small, also established himself as a crucial piece of the Owen attack.
“He just does everything right,” Faircloth said. “People don’t even realize it but he’s our leading rusher right now. Then, you take plays like his big catch tonight, where he gets creative and comes up big for us, he shows what a competitor he is. Some things you just can’t teach, and he has a lot of those.”
While the game ultimately slipped away, the coach felt his team was in control throughout much of the evening. Offensive coordinator Jeff Grier found a rhythm in his play calling, as Daniel Evans mentored Minks on the sideline.
“We never lost control and we maintained our composure,” Faircloth said. “If we keep doing that and make a few adjustments, these boys are capable of surprising some people this year.”
Owen will look for its first victory of the season at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 6, on the road against 1-1 North Henderson.
Photos of the game between Owen and North Buncombe can be viewed in the gallery at the top of the page.