Scouting the Warhorses:
The Owen Warhorses finished with a disappointing 4-7 record and 3-3 conference mark a season ago and are coached by long-time head coach Kenny Ford. The squad returns 12 lettermen, with five starters on offense and seven starters on the defensive side of the football.
Offensively, the Warhorses employ variations of its patented “I” formation (Straight I, Power I, and others) to chew up yards with a punishing rushing game, while also throwing in some spread formations. Defensively the Warhorses have used a 4-4 scheme, but at times will bring extra defenders to the line of scrimmage.
Owen hopes to rebuild its tradition of winning with a group of junior varsity players who won many games the past two seasons. Those youngsters are being counted on to immediately contribute to this year’s club.
Of the few returning skill players for the Warhorses, none are more welcomed than senior All-Conference running back Andy Coleman (5-11, 175 lbs.; 286 yards rushing in 2009). Fellow All-Conference senior Brennan Kirby (6-0, 210 lbs.) helps anchor the backfield as both a ball carrier as well as a lead blocker for Coleman. Triggering the Owen offense is junior quarterback Kaleb Fowler, who returns for his second season under center for the Warhorses. Fowler was injured early in the 2008 season and was lost for most of last season.
Other players who play key roles for the Warhorse attack are FB/LB Logan Newhouse, who racked up over 100 tackles in 2008, as well as senior lineman Seth Stewart (6-3, 265 lbs.).
The Low Down:For the first time in recent memory, the Avery club has had a week off to prepare for its game with Owen. The Warhorses are often one of the most physical teams that the Vikings play during the entire season, and the team should expect nothing different from Coach Ford and his troops who invade Newland Friday night.
Avery committed a number of turnovers in its last game against Cloudland, turnovers that need to be limited to maximize the effectiveness of the Big Red offense. Sophomore quarterback Alex Villanueva threw three touchdowns in the win over the Highlanders, but threw three first-half interceptions. Owen converted four Enka turnovers into four touchdowns a week ago, proving its ability to capitalize on its opponent’s mistakes.
Avery should expect a healthy dose of Andy Coleman this week, as the senior was a force in the second half of last year’s battle with the Vikings.
In last year’s contest, the Vikings broke out the Wing-T offense and baffled the Warhorses for a halftime lead before turnovers sealed Avery’s fate. This week’s equation is a simple one: Protect the football + balanced offense = increased opportunity for victory.
By the Numbers:
1- rank in passing yards in Western North Carolina held by Avery QB Alex Villanueva.
4- number of touchdown runs by Owen RB Andy Coleman in last week’s win over Enka.
5- conference championships won by the Warhorses this decade (last one in 2005, shared with Avery)
9- wins over Avery in the last 10 meetings by Owen
86- yards of total offense allowed by Owen in last week’s win over Enka.
285- combined rushing yards this season for the backfield tandem of Colton Blackburn and Kenny Hicks.
341- average yards in total offense gained by Avery through four games this season.
Read next week’s edition of the Avery Journal-Times for a full recap of this week’s Homecoming game with Owen, as well as a preview of next week’s home game against Thomas Jefferson. Note: The October 2nd home game with the Gryphons will be Youth Football Night at MacDonald Stadium, where area youth football teams will be recognized and playing during the halftime intermission.
