Smoky Mountain scrimmage offers sneak peak into Owen football

Warhorses and Mustangs face off as season nears

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
August 15, 2021

With only two weeks remaining before the kickoff of the 2021 season, the Owen Warhorses took a trip to Sylva for a scrimmage against Smoky Mountain High School.

The simulated game between the Warhorses and Mustangs offered first-year Owen head coach Brint Russell and his staff an opportunity to test their team in live competition.

Senior Eli Lanter handled nearly all of the snaps at quarterback for the Warhorses behind a seasoned offensive line. Senior linemen, including Peyton Rickard, Brett Gaynor, Jarrett Tweed, Zach Rogers and Orion Angus, played key roles in the ground attack for Owen.

Running back Briggs Barker, another returning senior who battled heat-related challenges in the scrimmage, was a feature in the running game for the Warhorses when on the field. The offensive attack focused on ball control through a consistent running game, which was complemented by the athleticism of juniors Hunter Inabinett and Alex Sanchez.

Lanter connected with wide receiver Sanchez for a long touchdown pass early in the scrimmage and Inabinett found success in the open field as a runner and receiver.

Defensively, the Warhorses showcased an aggressive strategy against the Mustangs, who finished the shortened 2020 season 2-5 in the Mountain 6 Conference.

Owen will open its season at home, Friday, Aug. 27, against Chase. The Warhorses will begin Western Highlands Conference play, Friday, Sept. 17, when they travel to Valdese to take on Draughn, which joined the conference in the offseason.

A photo gallery of Friday’s scrimmage between Owen and Smoky Mountain can be found below.