NBHS Losses, frustration mount for BlackHawks


By Matt Tate North Buncombe, it seems, is having


battles on and off the field these days. Te BlackHawks remain winless on


the season after Friday’s (Sept. 3) 45-0 loss to Pisgah. As the BlackHawks prepare for Fri-


day (Sept. 10) night’s game against Bre- vard, a cloud of controversy continues to hang over the team. About a dozen individuals attended


the Buncombe County Board of Edu- cation meeting Tursday (Sept. 2) to air concerns about what they perceive as a negative environment in the program led by coach Carey Metts. Chairman Steven Sizemore said since


the board acts as an appeal board, it could not hear specific personnel issues and referred the group to Bob Washel, who oversees athletics for the county schools. Washel said Tuesday (Sept. 7) he had


not heard from any concerned North Buncombe parents. Tose looking to speak Tursday


were some of the same parents who spoke to North Buncombe officials last week about allegations of improper be- havior from the coach that surfaced af- ter a loss to rival Madison on Aug. 27. North Buncombe Athletics Direc-


tor Rick High said last week following the meeting there were a few allegations raised by the parents that the school would continue to investigate. He add- ed Metts possessed “outstanding ethics and morals.” Washel said the county would work


in conjunction with the school if any- thing was brought to their attention as


well. One parent said the group is looking


for an effective, positive environment for everyone involved with BlackHawks football, and he added the group is not going away until there is change. “We’re going to fight it as long as we


possibly can,” Ed Lilly, father of tight end/linebacker Collin Lilly, comment- ed.


Lilly said he understands coaching


warrants strong commands, but he believes players at North Buncombe are subject to ridicule and disparaging remarks. “Tat is not inspirational,” he said.


“It is demeaning.” Collin missed the Pisgah game with


a slight, grade 1 torn MCL that he suf- fered during the 24-14 loss to the Patri- ots on Aug. 27, according to Metts. He could be back against the Blue Devils, Metts said, depending on the progress of his physical therapy. Metts again declined comment on


the allegations, but did acknowledge the effect they had on the team, espe- cially during the practices leading up to the Pisgah game. “It probably had somewhat of an ef-


fect on the team emotionally,” Metts said. “It leaves a bad taste in their mouths.” He said practices have been improv-


ing recently and sees the game against Brevard as an opportunity to right the ship. “I think we have a good chance of


beating them,” he said. “We just have to play without the mistakes we have been having.” Te Blue Devils won their first game of the season last week against Mitch-


Two North Buncombe players tumble during Friday night’s game. Photo by Andy Carter


ell in four overtime periods. Tey had been outscored 104-0 in their first two losses. Against Pisgah, Metts said the Bears


had too much firepower for the Black- Hawks (0-3). “Tey were just a better team than


we were,” he said. “Our kids played real hard, but we were just outmatched.” Defensively, Michael Mindo led the


way with eight tackles. Michael Bustle added seven and Jessie Ketterman chipped in six. Te Brevard game gives the Black-


Hawks a prime opportunity to get their first win before getting into Mountain Athletic Conference play in two weeks. In addition to possibly having Lilly re- turn from injury, Metts said tailback Devin Calloway, who has been sus-


Players of the Week


Te following players were chosen by the NBHS football coaching staff as “Players of the Week” for last week’s game against the Pisgah Bears:


Brad Johnson, special teams (not pictured) Jessie Eric Morin,


Ben Shelton, offense


Michael Mindo, defense


www.leicesterleader.com


Michael Bustle, defense


defensive scout team


Ketterman,


offensive scout team


pended the first three games of the sea- son, will have a hearing Tursday (Sept. 9) in hopes of reinstatement. Another suspended player, fullback


Dallas Rice, has been removed for failing to meet the stipulations of his possible return to the team, the coach added. However the Brevard game and the


season turn out for the BlackHawks, Lilly said he is and will remain a tre- mendous supporter of the school. He said he is not looking for anyone to lose their jobs, but he wants to see a change in the culture of the football program. “Our goal is for our kids to have fun,”


he said. Another parent said the state of the


program has diminished the faith the players and the fans have in the Black- Hawks.


“At North Buncombe football at this


point, the bar has been lowered to the point where we don’t expect to win,” Owen Jewkes said. Going back to last season, the Black-


Hawks have lost their last 12 games, including six shutouts, although a 2009 loss to McDowell was later overturned because the Titans were found to be us- ing an illegible player. Jewkes, father of starting quarterback


Christian Jewkes, said the parents’ is- sues had nothing to do with the specific loss to the Patriots, although past issues resurfaced following the game. He said the group is working to en-


sure the players’ voices are heard by ad- ministrators. He added he was disappointed the


matters between the parents and coach became public.


Mites, Midgets roll in NBYAA football


Te North Buncombe Black-


Hawk Mites team blitzed Lake Junaluska 44-6 on Saturday (Sept. 4) in the North Buncombe Youth Athletic Association Homecoming game. Caden Higgins and Bradley


Barham scored three touchdowns apiece, and quarterback John Mer- rill added one as well. Te Midget team defeated the


Warriors 16-6. Dylan Pressley and Dajour Edwards each scored a touchdown with Pressley and Da- vid Metts adding a two-point con- versation apiece. Conor Pressley scored the Pups’ only touchdown in a 12-6 loss. Ja-


son Taylor had a big run of 60 yards in the Pups’ loss. Rayce Pickens scored a touch-


down, but the Termites were plagued with mistakes in their 24-6 loss to Lake Junaluska. In the Homecoming court, the


Pups’ Dylan Barnwell, the Ter- mites’ Joe Jones, the Mites’ Austin Chandler and the Midgets’ Mason Bernhardt were all honored as were Pups cheerleader Selah Peter, Ter- mites cheerleader Kelly Pack, Mites cheerleader Hayley Hollifield and Midgets cheerleaders Cheyenne Rice and Jordynn Webb.


Tis special to the Tribune. September 9 - September 15, 2010 - THE TRIBUNE/LEADER 11


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28