Asheville – The festivities of Parents’ Night, Senior Night, and the final game of the regular season were capped off with a big Cougar victory at Asheville High Memorial Stadium last Friday.  Asheville (8-2, 5-1) stunned North Buncombe (8-3, 4-2) in a 62-6 lopsided victory, giving Asheville coach Danny Wilkins his 80th career win, and Asheville a share of its third straight conference championship.  Cougar fans and players alike were surprised and upset after last week’s 21-20 loss at Franklin, and took out their aggression against the Blackhawks.

North Buncombe drew first blood, with a 73-yard scoring drive capped off by a 2 yard touchdown run by QB Randy Pressley.  Asheville quickly responded, and took the lead for good. Quarterback Rahkeem Morgan’s first carry resulted in a 42-yard touchdown run.  Spenser Clement, Giovanni McKnight, Greg Ray and Marcus Thorpe also had touchdown runs for the Cougars.  Phillip Lamy caught Morgan’s only touchdown pass of the night.  On defense, Antonio Carson and Jamal Johnson each returned an interception for a touchdown.  The Asheville defense also caused five Blackhawk turnovers.

Rahkeem Morgan now has 2,513 career passing yards, nearing the school record of 2,760.

Asheville advances to the first round of the NCHSAA 3A Playoffs as the #4 seed. The Cougars’ first round draw is #13 Tuscola, who was defeated by Asheville 3 weeks ago during Homecoming, 39-7.  Also competing in the playoffs from the MAC are #7 North Buncombe vs. #10 Franklin, and #6 T.C. Roberson vs. #11 Mooresville.

Excerpts from Citizen-Times.com

Tanglewood Park - Clemmons - Both Asheville High cross country teams made strong showings at the 2007 NCHSAA 3-A state meet.  The Asheville High girls team (107 points) was tucked behind Roberson and Reagan in third place at Saturday’s meet and paced by senior Cara Hayes (sixth place, 19:49.22).

In the 3-A boys race, the Cougars (63 points) came within seven points of knocking off heavy prerace favorite and defending state champion Mooresville (56).

Sophomore John Harwell was Asheville’s lone all-state performer (fifth place, 16:25.51), but coach Chris Stroup was ecstatic with the overall performance of his team. The second-place finish in 3-A matched the best showing in school history (2001).

“It was an outstanding day,” Stroup said. “To be up there with a team like Mooresville is spectacular.   “Our seniors really came through. And our sophomores ran well, too. I couldn’t have asked for more out of them.”

Congratulations on your outstanding performances!  Asheville High is very proud of you!

From Citizen-Times.com

WINSTON-SALEM — The Asheville High field hockey team will have to wait at least a year to win its first state championship.  The Cougars gave up one goal in each half Saturday and lost the championship match to Chapel Hill 2-0 at Wake Forest University’s Kentner Stadium.

The Cougars finished the season with a 22-2 record.

“We were pretty evenly matched,” said Asheville coach Lauren Kaye. “But I think (Chapel Hill) having a middle school program is a big plus. I get girls in the ninth grade, they get girls in the sixth grade. That’s a big disadvantage.” 

Kaye did say that the Cougars had chances to score on Saturday.  “We played hard, and everything I ask of them they do,” Kaye said of her players. “But (Chapel Hill) finished it, and we didn’t. We had some opportunities and weren’t able to do that.  Overall, 22-3 is a coach’s dream. We’re still a young team and next year could be more incredible. One thing we talked about afterward was that this was a true team effort.   There are 25 girls on the team, and every single one of them gave me something this season. I couldn’t be prouder.”

From Citizen-Times.com
By Andrew Pearson

ASHEVILLE — Asheville High quarterback Rahkeem Morgan’s campaign to win every individual postseason award imaginable is back on and then some.  Morgan ran for 254 yards and two touchdowns Friday to go along with 60 passing yards and a third score as the Cougars routed North Buncombe 62-6.

Coach Danny Wilkins’s 80th career victory at Asheville (8-2, 5-1) coincided with his team clinching a share of its third consecutive Mountain Athletic Conference championship.  “We needed to come out and make a statement tonight and I thought we did,” Morgan said. “We were frustrated with the way we played last week at Franklin (where the Cougars lost, 21-20). I really have to give all the credit to my line tonight, they really blocked well and showed that they were a good line.”

Asheville (22-2) goes for its first field hockey state championship today when Western North Carolina’s only public school program faces Chapel Hill. The match begins at noon at Wake Forest University’s Kentner Stadium.

“Of course, this is every coach’s dream,” Kaye said. “Just to see where this program has come from and hearing from all the past players has been special. Every time we step on the field, our players are taking on every challenge I give them.”

Collectively, the Cougars have a school-record 89 goals and 69 assists for the season. Four Asheville players have scored 10 or more goals: Elizabeth Keil (19), Elizabeth Gaston (12), Catherine Looper (11) and Caity Heath (10). Assist leaders include Kelly Olesiuk (14), Mallory Silver (13), Gaston (13) and Heath (12).

“No one at school really thought much about field hockey before, but since we’ve started winning, everybody is really excited,” Silver said. “We’re having a lot of fun. It’s just been an unbelievable season, and our team has such great chemistry.”

[CSN Comment:  Good luck Cougars!!!]