Owen handles business with 28-7 win in homecoming clash

Warhorses top Avery to improve to 4-2 with second straight Western Highlands Conference Victory

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
September 26, 2026

Generations of Owen students, past and present, came together in the Swannanoa Valley, Sept. 25, when the Warhorses hosted Avery in a homecoming clash of Western Highlands Conference teams.

The festive atmosphere became a celebratory one, as Owen finished the night with its second straight home victory, toppling the Vikings, 28-7.

The Warhorses seized the lead late in the opening quarter, following a fumble recovery by senior Bear Dasher, deep in Avery territory. Quarterback Emmett Minks, rolling to his right, completed a pass to Slade Gardner in the end zone, where the junior receiver hauled in his second touchdown reception of the season. Kicker Josue Chavez-Michua kicked the extra point, giving the Warhorses a 7-0 lead in the closing seconds of the first quarter.

Facing fourth down on their own 28-yard line, midway through the second quarter, the Warhorses lined up to punt, before junior Tye Lewis snatched a high snap out of the air and completed a pass to fellow junior Parker Halford, extending the possession with a first down. Consecutive runs by seniors Stephen Anderson, Minks and Thomas Russell advanced the ball into Avery territory, before the quarterback floated a pass over the left shoulder of junior receiver LaSalle Jones for a 41-yard touchdown strike. Chavez-Michua, who finished the contest 4 of 4 on extra point attempts, gave Owen a 14-0 lead heading into the half.

With the aptly named King Colenberg having been awarded the homecoming king crown, along with prince, Donte Middleton, during a pep rally prior to the game, Owen introduced a homecoming court of 22 representatives from athletic programs, school clubs and grade levels in a ceremony at halftime. Senior chorus representative Kaydence Mendez was announced as the 2026 homecoming queen, while junior Layla Core received the princess crown.

The second half with a sustained drive by the Warhorses and ended with a fumble on the goal line, where the Vikings recovered the ball for a touchback. Avery scored its only touchdown of the contest on the drive that followed.

The one-touchdown margin did not hold long, as the special teams of the Vikings lined up in a formation indicating a short kickoff, before sending the ball deep into Owen territory. Jones fielded the kick at his own 14-yard line, cutting left behind Warhorse blockers, and racing down the opposing sideline for an 86-yard touchdown return.

Play was interrupted following the final snap of the third quarter, as an Avery player was transported off the field by ambulance.

When the game resumed, Middleton, who finished the contest with 43 yards on 8 rushing attempts, scored his third touchdown of the season. Owen’s rushing attack was bolstered by 53 yards on 11 carries from Anderson and 39 yards on 11 attempts by Minks. The quarterback finished the night with 5 completions on 10 pass attempts for 72 yards and 2 touchdowns.

The Owen offense netted a total of 239 rushing yards on 50 carries, spread between eight players.

Head coach John Faircloth danced with his team at midfield, following his first homecoming victory in his third season at the helm of the program.

“It feels really good to play that song twice in the same week,” he said, as the players and coaching staff gathered while “All the Way Turnt Up” by Roscoe Dash, featuring Soulja Boy faded from the speakers. “I felt like that was the most complete game we’ve played. There were a couple of missed opportunities, and we have to do a better job coming out of halftime… Other than that, we were efficient on offense, but even when we missed opportunities we were able to move on and create opportunities on the next plays.”

The speed of Jones, who also broke up a pass in the end zone on defense, offered a glimpse of the junior’s potential as a “homerun threat,” according to Faircloth.

“That’s why we have him returning kicks. He’s playing corner, and not a lot of people throw to him because they see a 6-foot-2-inch rangy athletic guy out there,” the coach said. “Offensively, we’re trying to find ways to get him to touch the ball seven to 15 times a game, because he has that homerun capability.”

Jones, who has accumulated 248 receiving yards with 3 touchdown receptions and an interception on defense through six games, focused on his teammates, following his career night.

“It felt amazing,” he said of his two-touchdown performance. “But, we have a good team. Last year, we had some hard-fought battles with some teams we couldn’t beat, but we all came through tonight, on homecoming, to get this win.”

He credited the play of his special teams unit for his third quarter kickoff return.

“We were in an onside kick formation, so we didn’t expect them to go deep,” Jones said. “My boys came out and gave me some wonderful blocking, which allowed me to get to the end zone. I love them for that.”

Faircloth also praised the effort of Middleton.

“He really did the simple things at a high level,” the coach said. “He didn’t try to make things happen that weren’t there. Defensively, he was double-teamed a lot, and instead of spinning out of it, he pressed into it and freed up his teammates. He was an Owen football player tonight, because he was very unselfish and willing to do everything that needed to be done.”

Wearing his homecoming prince crown on the field after the game, Middleton recalled a feeling before the game that he was ready to have a productive night.

“It all came from confidence,” he said. “It started this morning, and I just felt confident coming into this game. I feel like I’ve put together two good weeks in a row, but tonight, as far as me fulfilling both my roles on offense and defense, it felt very complete.”

The Warhorses improved to 4-2, overall and 2-0 in conference play with the victory.

“I’ll tell you this, 4-2 is a heck of a lot better than being 3-3,” Faircloth said. “It’s great, because it’s one more win, another step in the right direction, and our kids earned it. With it being homecoming, it’s special for the Valley.”

Owen will head to Mitchell County at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 2, to face the 4-2 Mountaineers, the first of three straight road games in the month.

“Next week is about nothing but respect,” Faircloth told his team. “We’re going to be like a hippo. That might sound corny, because a hippo is big, slow, looks harmless and eats a lot. But, a hippo is one of the most dangerous animals out there, and if you get in the way of one, it will demolish whatever is in front of it. We’re going in under radar, but whatever is in front of us, from here on out, is going to get everything we’ve got.”

Photos of Owen’s homecoming game against Avery can be viewed in the gallery at the top of the page.