Andrew Pearson

apearson@citizen-times.com

ASHEVILLE – Fundamentally, two offensive styles could not have been much more opposed Friday at Kerr Stadium.

Asheville High’s way won out.

Pounding the rock between the tackles with Reggie Battle, Jave Jones and Aquila Smith, the Cougars ran to a 30-14 road win over Erwin and the Mountain Athletic Conference 3-A championship.

It is the 10th straight conference football title for Asheville, which got 100-yard games from Jones (159) and Battle (139), as well as touchdown carries from all three backs.

“It’s awesome; we’re like brothers out there fighting together on the field,” Cougars junior lineman Peter Leota said. “We’ve known each other since middle school. We’re all so close.”

The Cougars (10-1, 6-0) amassed 347 team rushing yards (234 by halftime), while both Battle (112) and Jones (101) had more than 100 individually at the midway point. Cameron Ray hauled in a 25-yard touchdown pass from fellow senior Tevin Salters at the 2:12 mark of the third quarter.

“Our defense played great, and overall we did what we needed to do to win,” Asheville coach Danny Wilkins said.

“I would have taken a one-point win, whatever we could get. Each team we have doesn’t want to be the one that drops the ball (and breaks the streak). It’s a testament to our kids and it’s a testament to our coaching staff. They come to work every day.”

The Warriors (9-1, 5-1) let it all hang out on Senior Night.

The offense lined up on the majority of its plays with an empty backfield and five wide receivers for sophomore Damien Ferguson, who came into Friday with the second-most passing yards in the MAC (1,943).

Ferguson finished with 376 yards Friday. He threw his 21st and 22nd touchdowns of the season to Kealin Goode (11 yards) and Chase Austin (32). Austin had 107 yards, second to only Jeremiah Jackson (169).

Ferguson has instilled so much confidence that Erwin even went for it (successfully) on the fourth down from its 41-yard line in the first quarter.

Mitchell Chancey (14.6 tackles per game) and the defense also had their moments. They kept Asheville out of the end zone with a successful goal-line stand in the second quarter. And they also forced the Cougars to turn the ball over on downs in the fourth quarter with the score 30-14 at the time.

But two early turnovers by Erwin swung the momentum in the Cougars’ favor and they never gave it back. Cameron Ray recovered a muffed punt and Jose Daniels made an interception. Daniels also put a safety on the board at the 7:24 mark of the second quarter when he was able to chase down Ferguson in the back of the end zone.

Alexander Paulk, who is a co-captain along with Ray, made a fourth-quarter interception.

Friday was also a school record 151st career win for Asheville coach Wilkins. The former mark was 119. Wilkins is now 13-3 against Erwin since taking over for Lou Fogle in 2000 — Wilkins was formerly the Warriors’ coach from 1988 to 1992.

The NCHSAA will release its state playoff brackets in all eight divisions sometime Saturday. Both the Cougars and Warriors are expected to be 3-AA or “big 3-A” teams.