Robbinsville Starting QB Perkins to Miss Season Opener against Vikings

Robbinsville Black Knights quarterback Luke Perkins will miss at least four to five weeks of his senior season as he recovers from knee surgery, Asheville Citizen-Times reporter Andrew Pearson is reporting on the newspaper's website.

According to the report, Perkins damaged the miniscus in one of his knees earlier this week while the Black Knights were running a drill at practice. He had the surgery Friday. Doctors have told Perkins and Knights Head Coach Dee Walsh confirmed that Perkins will spend the next couple of weeks on crutches and could begin jogging again in about a month.

Even in Robbinsville's run-oriented offense, Perkins passed for 1,076 yards and 11 touchdowns with five interceptions last season.

"We're just trying to be optimistic," Black Knights football coach Dee Walsh said. "If it's got anything to do with hard work, (Perkins) will be back sooner than people think. That's a great kid."

AJ-T SPORTS LIVE FROM... AVERY HS SCRIMMAGE

The Avery Vikings hit the field for the first time this afternoon as they square off with four squads in a friendly full-contact scrimmage here at MacDonald Stadium. Mitchell and Happy Valley (TN) tangled on one end of the turf, while West Lincoln and West Caldwell butted heads. We're getting ready for Round Two as the Vikings will begin with the West Caldwell Warriors. Our first look at the full team of 11 on the field as both teams will play two halves of 10 scoreboard clock running minutes of offense with a 2-minute break between halves.

We'll have updates throughout the scrimmage.

7:00 PM Avery's defense allowed a couple of scores on its first defensive series, but made a couple of sterling defensive plays. The Vikings scored once in its 10-minute offensive set, but the touchdown came on the final play of the set. Avery will next take on Happy Valley out of Elizabethton, TN

7:30 PM Avery took on the Happy Valley club in their second session. Happy Valley moved the ball effectively and scored a pair of touchdowns during the series. Avery did not manage to score in its offensive series but managed to move the ball effectively. Pass protection will be key, as Happy Valley consistently pressured sophomore QB Alex Villanueva.

Avery next takes on neighboring Mitchell in two 10-minute scrimmages.

7:55 PM - Avery took the offense first against the Mountaineers and scored a touchdown during its 10 minutes on the field. The Mitchell offense kept the ball exclusively on the ground with its shotgun attack. Avery however was able to keep the Mountaineers out of the end zone. Avery's final scheduled opponent for the scrimmage is the squad from West Lincoln.

8:25 PM - Avery finished its scheduled scrimmage sessions with West Lincoln High School. Avery took the football for the first half of the session and ran 15 plays in the time allotted, but were unable to scratch across the goal line for a score. West Lincoln in its offensive half drove for a pair of touchdowns during the series.

The Vikings junior varsity players came on following the final series to scrimmage with the JV club from West Lincoln. The JVs currently boast a depleted roster but are hungry and talented. Avery's varsity will next take the field on Friday afternoon at Cloudland High School in Roan Mountain, TN for the team's final full-team scrimmage competition before it travels a week later to Robbinsville to take on the Black Knights. Fans unable to make the drive to Graham County can tune in to WECR AM 1130 on Saturday afternoons at 1 p.m. for the tape delayed re-broadcast of Friday night's action. That's it from the press box at MacDonald Stadium. Thanks for reading!

Excitement Builds as Players and Coaches Prepare for 2009 Avery Soccer Season

Following a five-win campaign in 2008, the Avery men’s soccer team hopes to rekindle an era of excellence when the program was consistently among the top of the Western Highlands Conference.

A number of new faces dot the field for the Big Red, but returning to this year’s team are around a half-dozen seniors who are hungry to provide steady leadership and to encounter success on the field yet to be experienced in their prep careers.

Tom Evaul returns to the Vikings men’s soccer program as head coach, following a successful tenure by former coach Lou Brancourt who moved away from the Avery area following last season. Evaul, former Toby Webb Coach of the Year Award recipient, helped begin the soccer program at Avery High School and has previously served as coach for both the men’s and women’s soccer programs. The remainder of the staff consists of fellow coaches Daniel Jimenez, former Avery player Mitchell Bledsoe, and Pat Daniels.

Although he is listed as head coach, Evaul sees himself and the other coaches as equals when it comes to teaching and leading the team.

“We have a great group of coaches. I can turn a practice to any of the coaches and they are able to run it seamlessly. As coaches, we are all equal,” Coach Evaul said during a team practice last week. “I may have more knowledge and experience, but that doesn’t always make me the better guy. Coach Bledsoe is a youth leader at church, so he is good at dealing with the mentality of the players. It’s like we’ve told our guys, there are four coaches working with them.”

“It’s great to have the coaches we have. We’re able to go to any of them with any problems we have, and it’s nice that any of them are willing to help and work with us,” senior Cody Shadoin said.

The Vikings have been working hard since practice began on August 3^rd, developing teamwork and honing skills from passing to dribbling to defense. Through the time, the players have impressed the coaches with their work ethic and progress.

“This is a good group of guys. They are dedicated and they push themselves and each other. We’ve had some good camaraderie. These players will do all we ask and do it well,” Coach Evaul said.

“These guys have put in a lot of hard work under Coach Lou, and it has paid off with a good group of guys who have been providing leadership. Coach Evaul is giving the players the chance to use everything they’ve learned, be a team, and play the game. Hopefully we coach a little less and they play a little more,” Coach Mitchell Bledsoe added.

This year’s club will build on a foundation of five seniors who will provide leadership to a talented squad that boasts a pair of freshmen and ten other sophomore or junior players that fill out the roster.

Two seniors, third-year starting goalkeeper Morgan Bounds and teammate Kyle Griewisch, have participated in club soccer during the off-season to continue shaping their skill sets in preparation for their final season on the pitch in an Avery uniform.

“Club soccer has helped us to keep with the game,” keeper Bounds said following practice. “Instead of waiting six months before the season begins, we’re able to continue to keep with the game. Instead of losing anything, we keep on building.”

“I think this group of guys has good leadership material. A couple of the players spending extra time playing club soccer means a lot. Those players have been traveling across the state playing soccer against the best players in the state. These players respect that leadership and perhaps may do so more than they have previously,” Coach Evaul added. “Even a couple of the non-seniors are well respected and the team listens to them when they make suggestions. This is a great group of attitude guys and is one of the main reasons I decided to coach the team for the first time in five years.”

2009 shapes up to be a competitive season for Avery soccer as the team hopes to improve on the five victories it experienced a year ago. “I think we’ll be a lot more competitive, as long as we’re healthy. I told the players that I believed we could triple the total of five wins we had last year. I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t have a winning season,” Coach Evaul said. “I’ve seen these guys work and how they play, and as long as we stay injury-free I believe we have a good shot at a winning season.”

The confidence is echoed by the other coaches on staff. “We have a good chance to be at least a .500 club, but will be better able to gauge that when school starts and we’re able to get our entire team together every practice, scrimmage, and learn where players best fit together,” Coach Daniel Jimenez shared.

The team appreciates the faith and confidence placed in them by their coaches and is committed to bring the Avery program back to prominence starting now.

“To me personally, I think it gives us confidence that they have confidence in us. It raises the spirits on the field and we play better soccer,” senior Cody Shadoin said.

“Confidence in us and each other is always good, as it is what helps hold a team together,” fellow senior Daniel Huff added. “This year we have a good group of guys. Some of us have played all year and for a lot of time together, and we know each other’s skills and what we’re good at, and we hope to use that to our advantage.”

From the sentiments of the elder statesmen of the team, expect the 2009 edition of the Avery soccer team to display a winning attitude and full effort each and every time they take the field this season.

“Our goal isn’t necessarily that we win every single game, but that we get the team to the point where we are comfortable with each other, encouraging each other and being positive as a team,” senior Daniel Huff stated. “Even if we don’t win every game, I want to be able to say that we played hard through every minute in every game,” Shadoin added.

“We will keep encouraging each other, try to keep everything positive and fun the whole season so nobody gets down. We’ll play together the entire time,” Bounds echoed.

The Avery soccer team begins the season with an all-day jamboree in Hickory this Saturday. The Big Red will open the regular season with a game at Chase High School on August 19^th.

“Musings and Ramblings: Western Highlands Conference Football Preview Part One”

The following is the first in a two-part series previewing Avery’s opponents in Western Highlands Conference action this season. This week’s story features conference foes Owen, Hendersonville, and Polk County.

As the whistles blare and the pads crack, it’s obvious that high school football season has arrived. There have been a number of changes leading up to the opening of the 2009 campaign. Teams have changed classifications following the latest NCHSAA realignment, with many schools moving to different conferences.

The 2009 edition of the Western Highlands Conference looks much the same, as the seven schools participating in the league last year remain, with the addition of a new school in Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy. Mitchell and Polk County have swapped classifications, as the Wolverines will play as a 2A school and Mitchell drops to 1A for playoff competition.

Let’s take a moment and breakdown a trio of teams who have often found their way to the top of the Western Highlands Conference standings over the past four seasons.

OWEN WARHORSES (2008 record: 3-3 in conference, 4-7 overall)

The Owen Warhorses suffered its first losing season in eight years as injuries and youth contributed to only a .500 conference mark. The Warhorses are eager to bring winning ways back to the banks of the Swannanoa River, and look to have the components to improve on a forgettable 2008 campaign.

Owen returns a trio of all-conference selections in RB/S Andy Coleman, FB/LB Brennan Kirby, and lineman Seth Stewart.

One of Owen’s four wins a season ago came by way of a 23-14 victory over the Big Red in a conference game at home. That Owen squad returns seven starters on both offense and defense, including quarterback Kaleb Fowler, who suffered a broken collarbone two games into last season and hampered the team’s offensive potential.

Coleman will power the Owen rushing attack in 2009, as he rushed for over 1,000 and 14 touchdowns last season. Logan Newhouse, a senior linebacker, led the team with over 100 tackles on defense last year and will be called upon to share much of the same burden this season.

POLK COUNTY WOLVERINES (2008 record: 4-2 in conference, 7-5 overall)

Polk County has perennial proven that it is a power to contend with in the Western Highlands Conference. Although the squad finished with five losses in 2008, head coach Bruce Ollis will look to reload quickly with his group.

Polk County focused on running the football effectively in 2008, and found measures of success which included a 28-7 win over Avery at home a season ago.

Gone from this year’s club is all-conference wide receiver Kamron Kerr, as well as bruising quarterback Jordan Ollis. Junior Andre Overholt appears poised to step in as a team leader, while the team will look to continue its running game with players such as running backs Justin Ridings and Keenan Littlejohn.

HENDERSONVILLE BEARCATS (2008 record: 6-0 in conference (2008 champions), 13-2 overall)

The Hendersonville Bearcats enjoyed its most successful season since 2003 as the squad advanced to the fourth round of the state playoffs a season ago.

Much of the nucleus of the team remains, including most notably senior quarterback Ben Walgenbach. Walgenbach was All-Conference, All-Western North Carolina in 2008, as he passed for 2,099 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also added 663 yards and ten touchdowns as a runner, making him the ultimate dual threat.

Joining Walgenbach on the offensive side of the football is the tandem of seniors Daniel Orr, who caught 35 passes for 889 yards and 12 touchdowns, and James Foster, who grabbed 25 passes for 819 yards and 10 TD.

Foster will help anchor the Hendersonville 5-2 defense, along with a pair of players in juniors Laquan Young and Desmond Whiteside who each registered over 100 tackles last year.

Gone from the Bearcats backfield is leading rusher Cedrick Allen, whose big-play ability and versatility will be missed. Hendersonville will look to replace his production with Whiteside, as well as fullback and fellow junior Connor Cope. If Hendersonville stays healthy, the Bearcats will be a state title contender in 2009.

Scenes From App State Media Day

Here are some scenes from App State's Media Day that occurred on Saturday. We will follow the Mountaineers all year as they chase another FCS National Title. Also, the Avery Journal-Times Sports Blog will have scenes and stories from the Tennessee Volunteers later this week or at the first of next week as well as some other surprises along the way

.

Mountaineers Ready to Get Back On Championship Track

By: Matt Laws (matt.laws@averyjournal.com)
Avery Journal-Times

The 2008 season wasn’t the fairy tale season that the Appalachian State Mountaineers had hoped for. The Mountaineers came up short of their bid for their fourth straight FCS National Title last season, but they feel like they are still the team to beat this season.

“I feel like we are the hunted,” Jacque Roman said. “Tradition never falls. Anyone who steps on this field right here knows that tradition never falls. So we are always going to have that target on our backs. One year doesn’t collapse everything. We have most of the same players coming back and everyone knows what we are capable of doing so I definitely feel like we are the hunted.”

On paper, the Mountaineers to most are the team to beat. The Mountaineers return 18 starters including 2008 Walter Payton Award Winner and All-American Armanti Edwards. The senior quarterback has the potential to be the first two-time winner of the Payton award as well as break every record associated with quarterback play in Appalachian and Southern Conference history.

“We have talked about it and we honestly think we can go undefeated,” Edwards said. “Even the year we beat Michigan we didn’t go into the season that confident that we could go undefeated. We feel we can only beat ourselves out here.”

Edwards received a setback as he injured his right foot in a mowing accident before the first fall practice.

Edwards will be joined in the backfield by a variety of options at the running back position. Devin Moore will be the starter on opening after missing last year’s final 11 games. Robert Welton, Devin Radford, Josh Jackson and Cedric Baker all saw action last season, and are competing for playing time.

At the wide receiver slot, CoCo Hillary, Brian Quick, Matt Cline, Blake Elder, Tavaris Washington and B.J. Frazier are all expected to take snaps at the position. Ben Jorden returns at tight end. Three of App’s starting offensive line from last season are also returning.

The Mountaineers return nine starters on the defensive side of the ball to one of the best defenses in the nation.

“My expectations are s so high for the defense this year because we are so experience,” left end Tony Robertson said. “Every year, we have always had in the back of the mind we are young and we don’t have the seniors or the leaders, but we can’t use that anymore because we are so experienced. We have been doing good with the youth we had, but now we are a bunch of old guys who played a couple years together.”

The App defense is led by senior linebacker Roman, the SoCon Defensive Play of the Year last year. Roman is joined by D.J. Smith as returning starters in the linebacking corps, and redshirt freshman Justin Lloyd is expected to fill the role left behind by Pierre Banks. The defensive line gets a boast from the return of Tony Robertson from injury last season. The secondary features once again Cortez Gilbert, Mark LeGree and Ed Gainey.

With all the returning starters and the caliber of players, Coach Jerry Moore can’t help but be excited by the season’s prospects, but knows that doesn’t translate into success.

"I think we have the potential to be as good as the championship teams,” Moore said. “But as I've said in the past, that doesn't get you anywhere if you don’t have the leadership and if you don’t have the intangibles."

The Mountaineers kick off the season on September 5^th as they take on the East Carolina Pirates.

App's Edwards Hurt in Freak Accident

By: Matt Laws (matt.laws@averyjournal.com)

The Appalachian State Mountaineers almost saw their star quarterback lost for the season on Wednesday, even before he took the field for fall practice. Mountaineer Quarterback Armanti Edwards, the 2008 Walter Payton Award winner, suffered a setback last week when he had to receive around 30 stitches in his right foot after a freak accident mowing his yard.

“I had cut the grass plenty of times, but it was just a freak accident,” Edwards said. “My foot slipped as I was putting the lawn mower back up.”

“The situation with Armanti is we got about 12,000 people here in town who will mow his yard the rest of the year, and when the students get back there will be another 12,000,” Appalachian State Coach Jerry Moore said. “I think his yard is going to be in nice shape. I just don’t know what kind of shape his toe is going to be.’

The senior was mowing his lawn at his off campus residence that he shares with teammate Brian Quick when he slipped and got his foot caught under the mower. Quick had just got home and saw Edwards mowing, but did not see the quarterback get injured. When Edwards first saw his shoe he was wearing he knew something had to be wrong.

“I said this could be really bad because my shoe is really messed up,” Edwards said. “It was actually better then it seemed.”

Edwards entered the house to take off his shoe and realized that something was wrong. He called the Appalachian training staff who decided that Edwards needed to be taken to the Watauga Medical Center Emergency Room where he was joined by Coach Moore. There, doctors cleaned the wound and stitched Edwards up and released him. Edwards indicated that it would be at least two weeks before the doctors would remove the stitches

Edwards was able to participate in media day activities and Coach Moore also talked about Edwards’ toughness.

“Armanti is a great player, everybody knows that,” Moore said. “I think if you followed him or know about him or the inner workings of Armanti Edwards, pain for him is not like it is for all the rest of us. His pain threshold is extremely high. He is a tough kid. How soon can he push off that foot, I think that is going to be the tell tale thing.”

Edwards, however, saw that there might be a silver lining in the whole ordeal.

“It could be a good thing or a bad thing,” Edwards said. “I always get injured some point in the season and hopefully this is the time I got injured. I have been a fast recover since I have been here. I am just happy it is the beginning of the season. It was just a freak accident.”

Doctors expect Edwards to miss anywhere from two to four weeks. The Mountaineers kick off the season against East Carolina on September 5.