Vikings Set Sights on Robbinsville in Season-Opener

Following a long, hot summer of 7 on 7s, weight training, scrimmages, and jamborees, the 2009 season officially kicks off Friday night when this year’s edition of the Avery Vikings make the three-hour trek down the spine of the Smoky Mountains to Robbinsville to take on the Black Knights.

Avery finished the 2008 season with a 2-10 record and opening round exit in the 1-AA state playoffs, while Robbinsville finished with a 12-2 overall record, and are this year’s favorite to claim a conference championship. A late-game missed field goal at Elkin in last year’s playoffs prevented the Knights from reaching the state 1A semifinals.

The Vikings have lost their last two meetings with the Knights, falling 35-13 at MacDonald Stadium one season ago and 41-34 the last time the team traveled to Graham County in 2007.

Scouting the Knights:
The Robbinsville Black Knights are members of the Smoky Mountain Conference, and are led by second-year head coach Dee Walsh. The squad utilizes a run-heavy offense and has run a Wing-T formation with great success. The team also utilized one-back and two-back set, as well as a Power-I formation during its encounter with the Big Red a season ago to feature its rushing game.

Robbinsville returns a pair of its top rushers, a leading receiver, as well as its starting quarterback from a season ago. Senior running back Kurt Odom ran for 2,063 yards and 36 touchdowns a season ago, among the state leaders returning this season in both categories. Odom has returned kicks and punts for the Knights and displays deceptive speed and quickness. Odom also shows a nose for the football on the defensive side of the ball, commonly running down backs from behind and is one of the team’s leading tacklers.

Odom is not alone in the offensive backfield as teammate Blake Anderson, who missed a portion of last season due to injury, returns after gaining 929 yards rushing and scoring six touchdowns last year. In the trenches for the Knights will be big men Cody Anderson and Jeremiah Holder. Defensively, the pair accounted for more than 100 tackles, 50 assisted tackles, and 10 tackles for losses last season.

Other returning senior starters include wide receiver Randy Hernandez, who had 952 yards and reached the end zone ten times, as well as Colby White, who had 86 tackles, 23 assisted tackles, seven tackles for loss, and two blocked punts last year, and Taylor Wachacha with 306 yards, seven touchdowns, and 159 tackles.

Hopes were even higher as Robbinsville returned its two-year starting quarterback Luke Perkins, who completed 72 passes for 1,076 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2008. Unfortunately for the Knights, they will have to play without the services of the 6’5” signal-caller for at least the next four weeks, as he is sidelined after surgery on a torn meniscus in his knee sustained at practice last week.

The Low Down:
For Avery to find success at Robbinsville Friday night, a number of things must fall into place. The Vikings must be sure tacklers against a team that thrives on running through or racing by its opponent. Avery’s defense must focus on wrapping up and taking down runners rather than simply attempting to strip a football or force a turnover. This point was evident in the team’s final scrimmage a week ago, as opponent Hampton managed to move the football for around 190 rushing yards in a 12-minute scoreboard clock span.

The loss of Robbinsville QB Luke Perkins is a tough blow to the Knights’ hopes for a championship, but the injury will only galvanize the team and force them to rely more on its running attack to carry the team.

Avery will look to utilize multiple offensive formations to keep Robbinsville off-balance, including a Wing-T formation to complement the team’s Spread offense. This young Avery club must have success rushing the football with the likes of Kenny Hicks, Taylor Potter, Cole Blackburn, and the other Viking running backs to keep the Robbinsville offense off the field and control the clock. Without a doubt, this week’s matchup will make it crucial for the young Vikings to mature quickly if it hopes to spring the upset at Big Oaks Stadium this week.

By the Numbers:
2- Friday’s game marks the second career start for Avery sophomore QB Alex Villanueva. His first was in last year’s opening round playoff game at Hendersonville.
5- number of senior players on the latest 2009 Avery varsity football roster.
10- number of 1A state football championships won by Robbinsville.
163- miles between Avery High School and Robbinsville High School, according to Mapquest.
177- total yards rushing by senior RB Kurt Odom in last year’s season finale at Elkin during the 1A state quarterfinals.
1992- the date of the Black Knights’ last state championship in football.

Read the Avery Journal-Times next week for a full recap of this week’s Endowment game with Robbinsville, as well as a preview of next week’s showdown at West Wilkes.

Interview with Avery Head Football Coach Darrell Brewer

With only hours remaining before the Avery Vikings season-opening football game at Robbinsville, Vikings head coach Darrell Brewer shared his thoughts on the 2009 Vikings and this week's contest.

(Click on the underlined portion for the full audio interview.)

WEEKLY FOOTBALL PICKS CONTEST WEEK 1 (week of 8/21)

Avery Journal-Times Weekly Football Picks Contest Games for Week One:

1. Avery @ Robbinsville

2. Cherokee (TN) @ Johnson Co. (TN)

3. Mitchell @ Swain

4. Watauga @ Ashe County

5. South Caldwell @ McDowell

6. Hibriten @ Freedom

7. West Forsyth @ AC Reynolds

8. Alexander Central @ Davie Co.

9. Patton @ Draughn

10. Chase @ East Henderson

11. N. Henderson @ Enka

12. West Davidson @ East Wilkes

13. Rosman @ Madison

14. T.C. Roberson @ Franklin

15. Tuscola @ Polk County

16. Erwin (NC) @ Pisgah

17. Mt. Heritage @ N. Buncombe

18 Brevard @ Owen

19 Wilkes Central @ West Iredell

20 Hendersonville @ W. Henderson

Tie-Breaker Game: Avery @ Robbinsville

Total # of points scored: __________

Entrants are asked to email their picks, as well as a combined total of points for the week's Tie Breaker Game to the Avery Journal sports desk at sports@averyjournal.com by NO LATER THAN MIDNIGHT ON THURSDAY OF EACH WEEK. Entries may also be dropped off at the Avery Journal-Times offices on Linville Street in Newland by Friday afternoon at 5 p.m.

Each weekly winner will be qualified for prizes to be drawn at the end of the contest period (around Thanksgiving weekend), with prize donations from sponsors such as The Avery Journal-Times, Avery Tire and Service of Newland, the Avery High School and Cloudland High School football teams, and much more!

Games will be posted here on the Blog home page by Tuesday morning of each week. Limit one entry per person per week, regardless of entry method. No postal mail-in entries will be accepted. Each week's winner will be posted on the Blog as well as in the following week's edition of The Avery Journal-Times.

AVERY JOURNAL-TIMES WEEKLY FOOTBALL PICKS CONTEST Ready to Kickoff

It’s almost Football Season again, and this season the Avery Journal-Times Sports Blog will be hosting a Football Picks Contest BEGINNING THIS WEEK!

A list of high school, college, and/or professional games will appear each Tuesday on the AJ-T Sports Website at http://www.ajtsports.blogspot.com.

Entrants are asked to email their picks, as well as a combined total of points for the week's Tie Breaker Game to the Avery Journal sports desk at sports@averyjournal.com by NO LATER THAN MIDNIGHT ON THURSDAY OF EACH WEEK. Entries may also be dropped off at the Avery Journal-Times offices on Linville Street in Newland by Friday afternoon at 5 p.m.

Each weekly winner will be qualified for prizes to be drawn at the end of the contest period (around Thanksgiving weekend), with prize donations from sponsors such as The Avery Journal-Times, Avery Tire and Service of Newland, the Avery High School and Cloudland High School football teams, and much more!

Games will be posted here on the Blog home page by Tuesday morning of each week. Limit one entry per person per week, regardless of entry method. No postal mail-in entries will be accepted. Each week's winner will be posted on the Blog as well as in the following week's edition of The Avery Journal-Times.

Again, find the list of games online each week at the Avery Journal-Times sports website at www.ajtsports.blogspot.com and play each week for YOUR chance to win!

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

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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.

Edwards to Miss Two to Four Weeks after Accident

From Appalachian Sports Information

BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University All-America quarterback Armanti Edwards will be sidelined for 2-4 weeks of practice after sustaining a foot injury in an accident at his off-campus residence on Wednesday afternoon.

Edwards was mowing the lawn at his residence when his right foot was injured by the lawnmower. Roommate and teammate Brian Quick transported the 2008 Walter Payton Award winner to Watauga Medical Center, where he was treated and released.

At this time, Edwards is expected to be behind center when Appalachian opens the 2009 campaign on Sept. 5 at in-state rival East Carolina.

“First of all, we’re all fortunate and grateful that Armanti wasn’t more seriously injured in this accident,” head coach Jerry Moore said. “It’s unfortunate for him because he has put a lot of energy into being a great leader on and off the field this summer. He has been instrumental in orchestrating voluntary workouts with his teammates while also putting in the academic work — with classes and an internship — that will allow him to graduate in three-and-a-half years this December. But, as he’s demonstrated many times, his toughness is second-to-none, so I’m confident that he’ll be back on the field with his teammates as soon as possible.”

Appalachian opens practices in preparation for the 2009 season on Friday.

Lady Vikings Volleyball Camp Builds Fundamental Skills for Varying Ages

Last week was a busy one at the Avery High School gymnasium around three dozen local ladies took part in the Lady Vikings Volleyball Camp. The camp is in its second year since Avery head volleyball coach Kim Hayes returned to lead the Big Red. Lead instructor for the week of camp activities was Fish Gupton, college volleyball coach and current NCAA volleyball official who has called games in numerous conferences and tournaments and returned after working the camp for the Avery club last season.

“This week Fish has been great. He just worked the Wake Forest Volleyball Camp last week, and he brought many of the training, drills and techniques that they used and incorporated that into our camp,” Avery head volleyball coach Kim Hayes said during camp action. “The girls have really done great. The elementary and middle school students were just taught basic skills. The older girls have been working hard out of season. Skills wise, they’re where they need to be. This week we’ve been working on the game, transitioning of the game. From 2-4 pm we’ve worked on conditioning and drills, and from 6-8 pm I had former players who played for me before come in and scrimmage our current players. That’s been going really well.”

The $85 cost for the camp was a great bargain for a week of college-level instruction that otherwise would be a significant strain to the pocket of parents who wish to send ladies to camp but are unable to afford to do so. “I’m very, very fortunate to have Fish come do what he does at a great price. We’re able to save a ton of money and get the exact same instruction,” Coach Hayes added. “We’ve received positive comments from parents on the camp, and I am so lucky that he is willing to come in and do it.”

As the camps continue through the years, it is evident that the efforts put forth during camp each year will produce a harvest of volleyball success in the seasons to come.

“It might take a few years to start seeing results, but when I coached here previously Fish came and worked those camps. In each year I saw a little improvement, and by my third year we saw huge improvement with the girls coming in,” Coach Hayes added. “We’re kind of back as square one at rebuilding as we just began the camp again, but you can tell the kids who came to camp last year. The next year or two from now, I know we’ll be seeing the positive effects from this camp.”

The Avery Vikings team is a sleeper squad in this year’s Western Highlands Conference race. Despite losing a quintet of talented seniors, several returning players took part in individual position camps during the summer break from school. The team camp affords the squad the opportunity to jell as a unit, learn or reacquaint themselves with teammate tendencies, and improve together.

“I think and hope that we are going to surprise a lot of people,” Coach Hayes said. “We have no seniors and four juniors, so we will be young. These girls have been working so hard doing what they need to do to be top-notch volleyball players. Every girl played club volleyball, and has been working out and coming to open gyms. They’re doing everything they need to do; it’s obvious to see it on the court.”

Although the 2009 edition of the Avery Lady Vikings may experience some early growing pains, the girls are a talented group which should strengthen together and get better with each passing game.

“At this point I’m excited at our skill level. In my years of coaching, this is probably the most skilled group I’ve ever coached. In the past, I would spend a lot of time on skills before teaching the game, but this group with all the work they have done is past that point,” Coach Hayes explained.

“These girls just need to play, to learn each other and how they play. Volleyball is 90% mental, and as a coach I am able to incorporate the game and understanding it in partnership with the skills the girls already have. With young age comes young mentality, but I’m excited because the players know and understand my coaching style and what I want. I can’t promise that we’ll win conference at this point, but we will be competitive. I believe our parents and community will be pleasantly shocked and surprised with the talent and maturity of this team.”

Runners Race in Local Version of Triple Crown

Saturday morning, July 1st at 8 a.m., the first leg of the Avery County Triple Crown Foot Race kicked off at the intersection of Ivey Heights Road and Old Toe River Road. The first leg was a four (4) mile run with a 300-foot plus elevation climb which ended in the Ingles/Roses Express parking lot some thirty (30) minutes later.

The winner of the men’s division was Gereme Daniels of Newland with a time of 31 minutes, 47 seconds for the four mile run, and Buffy Clark of Crossnore won the Women’s Division with a time of 42 minutes, 19 seconds. Both winners of each division were presented with a $40.00 gift certificate from Stone Walls Restaurant in Banner Elk, NC.

The creator of the Avery Triple Crown Foot Race Stephen Duncan is allowing the Avery County Foundation to be the pass-through agent for the profits to go to local authorities. The overall winners of the men’s and women’s divisions will have the option to choose what local charity or church will receive their portions of the monies raised by the event.

The next leg of the event will be Saturday, August 8th at the Montezuma Run, which will begin at Aaron Baptist Church in Montezuma at 8:00 a.m. and will go by old Montezuma Road to the Avery County Middle School, at which location runners will reverse their course and return to a start/finish line at Aaron Baptist Church.

The last and third leg of the Triple Crown Foot Race will be held on August 15th, beginning at Linville Resorts and Camp Yonanoka, with the runners racing to the Blue Ridge Parkway and back by way of Roseboro Road.

In all, creator Steve Duncan and Avery Community Foundation hopes this will be an annual event that will ignite the attention of local runners to come out and enjoy a nice Saturday morning run and stem fellowship and philanthropy for Avery County.

Schedule:
Aaron Baptist Church, August 8th at 8:00 a.m.
Linville Resorts, Camp Yonanoka, August 15th at 8:00 a.m.
(Runners should arrive by 7:30 a.m.)

Avery Parks and Recreation Baseball Camp a Huge Success

Last week Avery Parks and Recreation Department held its fourth annual baseball camp for local youngsters looking to further develop their skills and learn “tricks of the trade” regarding America’s pastime.

Campers were instructed by Avery JV baseball head coach and varsity assistant coach Samuel Phillips, who played college baseball as a southpaw pitcher for Tennessee Wesleyan College. Assisting Phillips during the camp was brother Seth, 2008 Avery High graduate who will pitch next season at Lenoir Rhyne University, as well as recent Avery graduate Sutton Stanley and current Vikings baseball players Dustin Childress and Steven Daniels.

“I’ve really surrounded myself with a good staff. They were really great with the kids and they had a lot of fun,” Samuel Phillips said at the camp’s conclusion on Friday. “The high school students working with us this week have a great work ethic and love the game of baseball, and that was something I wanted the kids to see in them. We tried to instill in the kids that baseball is meant to be fun and that it’s a game they can play and practice all year long.”

A total of 26 campers took part in the five-day camp, ranging in ages for 4 ½ to 16 years old. Students learned fundamentals of the game, encompassing fielding, hitting, and throwing. The camp also taught about situational hitting, defense, and a number of drills for kids to practice at home or while playing the game with friends.

“One of the biggest things we told the kids was just because the baseball season in Avery County is short, that doesn’t mean you have to stop playing. There is no off-season, and we taught the kids to go out and play the game and keep having fun,” Coach Phillips added.

As a group, the campers showed marked increases in development and grasping of skills taught by the older players. Every camper who attended the baseball came received an award. Outstanding Offensive and Defensive Player awards were given out to individual players, in addition to an award to the camper with the best attitude.

“We wanted all the kids to feel like they were important. Our staff evaluated the awards and I believe every kid was terrific,” Phillips remarked. “Many of the kids who have come back multiple years have continued to improve. There are some who are taking unbelievable strides toward becoming good baseball players.”

The annual camp is a great opportunity for not only the campers to learn skills, but for the county’s baseball programs to contribute to the lives of youngsters and growth of the sport locally in a tangible and meaningful way.

“The goal of Seth and I is to build a solid foundation for our kids. It’s something a lot of the kids are missing,” Phillips said. “We hope that if we have kids with a firm foundation who have played baseball with each other growing up; we won’t have to teach that to them when they get to high school.”

Overall, the kids were treated to a great camp experience, and both camper and instructor were blessed from having taken part in the activities. “It’s been a very good week. I’ve enjoyed it thoroughly. We’ve been able to share a wealth of knowledge with the kids and we’ve had a lot of fun,” Phillips said.

Avery County Football Day Brings Local Players Together to Open 2009 Gridiron Season

Last Saturday afternoon the turf at MacDonald Stadium received quite the workout as players representing the county’s local youth league, both local middle schools, and the Avery High School football teams took the field for Avery County Football Day to officially open the 2009 football season.

The day was designed as an opportunity for youth football players to register for the upcoming fall league, while Cranberry Middle School and Avery Middle School in addition to Avery High School held their first official practices for the upcoming regular season.

“With the Parks and Recreation taking over youth football as they have and trying to get us involved has been a wonderful thing. As the high school coach I want to be involved in Little League, as it is our future,” Avery High School head coach Darrell Brewer said following the festivities. “For the younger kids to be out on the field and to be able to watch and interact with them was a great thing. Then later getting the chance to watch the two middle schools work out was a great opportunity for us to see our future. Both those teams had some talented football players that I thought to myself “Man, we could use them!””

The weather was beautiful Saturday morning as parents brought children to sign up for youth football. Avery Parks and Recreation Director Robbie Willis was on hand to register kids wishing to participate in fall football.

By mid-afternoon, approximately 50 total students of middle school age were registered and took the field representing the Wildcats and the Panthers. Both teams went through exercises and drills, practicing for two hours on the artificial surface.

In the early evening the Avery High School squad officially opened the 2009 high school football season with its first team practice. Team chaplain Bryan Griffith led the Vikings in a devotion and prayer at midfield to open the practice, then the junior varsity and varsity players began stretching and working out. Just as the players were getting into the groove of practice, dark cloud settled overhead and a thunderstorm cut the practice short after approximately 40 minutes.

The Vikings are working to upon a 2-10 record from 2008, the team’s worst season this decade. Nevertheless the team has put forth much effort, beginning with spring practice and throughout the summer, to start the new season strong.

“I feel like we’ve had as good a spring and summer as I’ve been a part of,” Coach Brewer said. “The boys have worked hard this summer, and we’ve had good numbers here this summer working out in the weight room and running.”

Through the summer months, the Vikings have taken part in multiple 7-on-7 passing leagues to hone their skills in the defensive backfield and at the offensive skill positions.

“I think the 7-on-7s are very beneficial. One thing about them is your team is out on the field learning how to compete. Anytime you’re doing competition, I believe it makes you better,” Coach Brewer added. “As far as receivers and defensive back go, it instills in them how to run precise routes and your secondary is forced to concentrate on backpedaling correctly and turning their hips the right way in their technique.”

Next week Avery will have the chance to measure itself against a variety of teams in a pair of scrimmages. With only themselves to practice against, however, the Vikings already have a grasp on where the squad can focus on strengthening prior to the season kickoff.

“This time of year, the best things we can work on are blocking and tackling,” the coach explained. “The blocking scheme is often the last thing to come and teams can struggle early with tackling, but we’re still a few days away from being able to hit and work on those areas. Until it’s fully live, it’s hard for us to work on that.”

With only a handful of seniors on this year’s club, competition has been heated throughout the summer as players have vied for starting positions on both sides of the football.

“One thing that I really enjoyed this summer and will probably do so continuing into the season is seeing the competition in a lot of places on the team. Having such few a number of seniors has really opened the door up for players who aren’t seniors to challenge for a spot,” Coach Brewer said. “Right now we’re seeing competition at offensive line, defensive back and linebacker, pretty much across the board. That always seems to make a team better when it has that kind of competition.”

With just a couple of weeks left before opening night, Avery’s coaches and players have appeared to focus on improving itself as a team rather than preparing for the Black Knights of Robbinsville. However, Coach Brewer explained that he and his staff have designed practices and schemes that serve the dual purpose of getting their club ready for what they might encounter from its first opponent.

“We’re focusing on Avery, working on our fundamentals and on getting ourselves better. But as a coaching staff goes, we’ve been spending time working to get our team ready for Robbinsville,” the coach stated. “We haven’t mentioned Robbinsville by name to the players, but when we run our offense we’re preparing against Robbinsville’s defense. That was a decision we made all the way back in the spring, and everything we’ve been doing offensively has been working toward that first game.”

Preparations continue for the Big Red as they host a football jamboree at MacDonald Stadium on Wednesday, August 12^th. Teams at the event include nearby Mitchell High School, as well as West Caldwell, West Lincoln, Alleghany, and Happy Valley (TN). Avery will then travel two days later to nearby Cloudland High School for a jamboree on Friday, August 14^th.