North Buncombe ended its season Friday (Oct. 28) with a loss to Reynolds, finishing the season 1-10 under first-year coach Brandon Allen. The BlackHawks have fallen on hard times since their last playoff appearance in 2008, winning just four games on the field (they also claimed a 2009 victory against McDowell due to the Titans' use of an ineligible player).
This season started on a rocky note in the first weeks of Allen's tenure when quarterback Christian Jewkes transferred to Christ School, leaving the BlackHawks' without its 1,000-yard signal caller from 2010. The move prompted Allen to shift the BlackHawks to a running team, and they used a variety of sets throughout the year to add spice to the running game.
Senior Adam Davis had a big year from the BlackHawks, rushing for 1,175 yards and 10 touchdowns. He spent half the season at tailback and the other half at quarterback, replacing Zac Shook. Davis also had 343 return yards, second on the team behind Colby Fox. The BlackHawks only completed 29 passes on the season with two touchdowns and seven interceptions.
They were at their most effective, such as in the lone win against Enka, controlling the clock with their running game.
Although the BlackHawks started the season 0-4, they were competitive in every game early in narrow losses to Madison, Draughn, West Henderson and Mountain Heritage. After the homecoming victory against Enka, spirits ran high as the BlackHawks had a chance to move to 2-0 in the Mountain Athletic Conference with an away game at McDowell on the docket. The Titans, at the time, had the longest losing streak in the state.
However, the Titans shut out the BlackHawks in a demoralizing defeat. As injuries began piling up throughout the season, Allen was forced to rely on inexperienced and overworked players. The BlackHawks ran out of gas as they faced the meat of the conference schedule (Roberson, Asheville, Erwin, Reynolds).
No one expected the turnaround to happen quickly. The BlackHawks will continue to rebuild in 2012.
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