Warhorses bounce back with 38-21 win over Patton

Owen secures home victory on Veterans and First Responders Night

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
September 5, 2026

Warhorse Stadium trembled, Sept. 4, as the Mountain Area Medical Airlift (MAMA) commemorated Veterans and First Responders Night with a pre-game flyover, minutes after the home team marched down the bleacher steps wearing special camouflage uniforms from the N.C. National Guard for the occasion. 

It was the play on the field, where Owen secured its first home victory of the season in a 38-21 performance against Patton, that elicited the loud cheers at the end of the night. 

Swannanoa Valley military veterans, law enforcement, firefighters and paramedics unfurled a large American flag at midfield, prior to kickoff, as the Warhorse Regiment Band played “Taps,” followed by the Star Spangled Banner. As eager players prepared to run onto the field, MAMA hovered overhead, with vehicles from the Swannanoa, Black Mountain and Riceville Fire Departments staged nearby. 

Despite six penalties in the first quarter, Owen staked an early 8-6 lead, following a touchdown run and successful 2-point conversion by senior quarterback Emmett Minks. A 22-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to junior Slade Gardner, who hauled in the subsequent 2-point conversion, extended the lead to 16-6.

The Panthers responded in the final minutes of the half with a drive that culminated in a short pass over the middle, ending with a long touchdown run. An unsuccessful conversion attempt gave the Warhorses a 16-13 advantage at the break.

An Owen fumble in Patton territory marked the beginning of the second half, before the Warhorse defense forced the Panthers to punt from their own 18-yard line. On the ensuing possession, Minks rolled to his right and connected with junior receiver LaSalle Jones, who jumped over a Panthers defender to secure the reception before sprinting to the end zone for a 53-yard touchdown.

Senior Emerson Autrey secured a 30-13 advantage for the Warhorses on the next drive, stepping in front of a Patton pass and returning the interception for a touchdown. The Owen defense forced a Panthers punt from their own 22-yard line on the subsequent possession, as the Warhorses initiated a drive in the final minutes of the third quarter.

Senior running back Stephen Anderson broke through the opposing defense, into the end zone, in the opening minutes of the final frame, as the Warhorses claimed a 38-13 lead, before a late Patton touchdown.

Owen’s contrasting performances in the first and second half provided clarity for head coach John Faircloth, following a loss to Cherryville in the Warhorses’ home opener.

“I want everybody to hear this—coaches, too,” he said, as players, coaches and cheerleaders gathered on the horseshoe logo at midfield, following the victory. “We’re going to go back to who we are. We’re not a Rolls Royce. We’re a doggone 4-wheel drive, muddy, 1996 Toyota pickup. Nope, we’re American made, so we’re a Ford pickup.”

The coach encouraged the group to block external expectations and focus on team goals.

“There’s all this pressure, and you can say there isn’t, but there is,” Faircloth said. “Pressure does two things: it busts pipes and it makes diamonds. Moving forward, the Owen Warhorses are blocking all the noise out and getting back to who and what we are.”

As the Warhorses improved to 2-1, Minks was encouraged by his team’s ability to overcome early mistakes.

“In the first half, we messed up on offense and defense and were really hurting ourselves with penalties,” he said. “In the second half, we made some adjustments and fixed some stuff. I couldn’t be more proud of the job we did in the second half.”

Minks led the team with 156 rushing yards on 16 carries and a touchdown run, while completing 4 of 8 pass attempts for 85 yards and 2 touchdowns. Although four different offensive players registered touchdowns for the Warhorses, the quarterback credited the offensive line that led the charge.

“We can’t get the ball to those guys without the five up front,” he said. “They played a hell of a game and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

The contest offered coaches and players insight into the team’s true identity, according to the head coach.

“The first half, we did a lot of what we’ve seen in our first two games this season, where we put too much pressure on ourselves and pressed too much,” Faircloth said. “I walked away from that unhappy with our performances as players and coaches. But, in that second half, we got answers to who we are.”

Halftime adjustments began with the coach settling his players nerves.

“I think we were putting a little too much pressure on ourselves,” Faircloth said. “Who cares if we win by 1 or if we win by 40? Everybody’s going to be happy as long as we win."

Owen’s ability to overcome adversity against a “tough” Patton defense will build confidence, following a week 2 loss.

“Patton is very well coached. Their defensive coordinator is one of the sharpest defensive minds I’ve been around,” Faircloth said. “Their kids played well, and they deserve credit. This was a super important win for us, because to be 2-1 while not playing your best football allows us to fix mistakes and get back to our blueprint.”

The Warhorses will face their next test on the road, at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 11, against 1-1 West Henderson.

“I’m going into the weekend working on ways to make Owen better,” Faircloth said. “If West Henderson beats us straight up, that’s fine, but our only focus is getting back to who we are and being the team we truly are.”

Photos of Owen Veterans and First Responders Night and the Warhorses victory over Patton can be viewed in the gallery at the top of the page.