Warhorses strive for next level following playoff return

Elevated expectations and standards generate a New buzz around Owen football program

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
August 16, 2026

Owen senior Stephen Anderson jumps over a tackle attempt, Aug. 14, as the Warhorses scrimmage East Burke in the Burke County Jamboree at Patton High School. Photo by Fred McCormick

Football is a game of momentum. On a given play, the force of mass can be the difference between moving the chains or a turnover on downs, while, in the abstract, an immeasurable, sometimes sudden shift in the competitive advantage can determine the outcome of a game.

The concept is a familiar one at Owen, where, two years ago, the Warhorses set in motion a series of events that resulted in the program’s best season since 2019, including a postseason appearance at home. As head John Faircloth enters his third year on the sideline, the goal this fall is simple, but the path to success will likely be anything but.

“We obviously don’t want to take a step back,” said Faircloth, who led Owen to five victories in his second year, following a debut campaign that was shortened by Helene. “This is the first time, since I’ve been here, we’re kind of feeling a little pressure. Last season I felt like we were a little ahead of schedule, as far as the results on the field are concerned, but with so many guys returning there is a different kind of expectation now. There’s some excitement and buzz, and that’s a little different than how we felt last year around this time.”

The Warhorses enjoyed an auspicious start in 2025, cruising to a 35-0 victory over Rosman at home. The program entered its conference schedule in Polk County, where a late field goal lifted Owen to a 17-14 win. A campaign in which the team finished 5-5 in the regular season ended with a loss in the opening round of the playoffs, but the return to the postseason, following a 1-8 showing in the previous season, motivated the returning players, according to the coach.

While key contributors like Hayden Burpeau, Rio Obispo and Haiden Small graduated last June, a new core of juniors and seniors have continued to hone an already strong sense of familiarity with Faircloth’s system.

“We have a lot of guys right now who have been in the system for so long that, in practice, if they make a mistake they can coach each other or themselves,” the coach said. “That’s kind of cool, and I’m not sure I’ve ever been in a situation quite like that before. It’s a good feeling.”

Owen head coach John Faircloth enters his third season on the sideline, following a 2025 campaign in which the Warhorses finished 5-6 and advanced to the postseason. Photo by Fred McCormick

A pair of seniors — quarterback Emmett Minks and running back Stephen Anderson — are entering their third seasons as starters as key pieces of the Owen attack. Under center, the decision-making and game management abilities of Minks have proven to be stabilizing elements in the triple-option offense, while Anderson, who debuted with 711 rushing yards in 9 games as a sophomore and has accumulated 19 career touchdowns, provides a powerful presence in the backfield.

Seniors Emerson Autrey, Thomas Russell and Bear Dasher have combined to play in 51 games under Faircloth and his staff. Joining the seven seniors on the roster are 11 juniors, with nearly half entering the campaign with significant playing time.

“One great thing for us is that we didn’t lose a lot of dominant leaders from last year. Of course, we had seniors who were great leaders, but so was Stephen, so was Slade Gardner, so was Emmett,” Faircloth said. “Plus, you have Cam McDonald, who has had a phenomenal offseason, especially from a leadership perspective.”

Gardner, who established himself as a reliable option in high-pressure situations with a game-winning catch in his freshman season, was a two-way starting player in every game last year. McDonald, who blocked multiple kicks and a punt as a sophomore, has been an anchor on the offensive and defensive lines. The cumulative experience of the roster has allowed Owen to focus less on the installation of broad concepts and more on details.

“We took a look at different things we could add, tweak or take away in the offseason,” Faircloth said. “We made those adjustments in the spring and summer, so guys were able to come in and immediately get to work on improving in specific areas.”

Although the Warhorses have retained key personnel, the upcoming season will test players in different ways, according to the coach.

Owen senior quarterback Emmett Minks will return for his third year under the center, Aug. 21, when the Warhorses open the 2026 football season on the road against Rosman. Photo by Fred McCormick

“We’re a different team than we were last year, when we had Hayden Burpeau kicking. Even if you take away everything he did on offense and defense, we were able to swing the field, pin opponents deep and win hidden yardage that way,” Faircloth said. “This year, we have to figure out how to win hidden yardage in new ways. So, things might look a little different, as far as giving our team the best opportunities to be successful.”

The identity of Owen football will remain the same, he added.

“One thing we talk about as a coaching staff, which is a big part of our culture, is when people turn on the film what do they say,” the coach said. “Our scheme hasn’t changed and the way we go about the game hasn’t changed, we just have different people doing it. We’re not going to change who we are.”

The Warhorses option-heavy offense ran the ball more than 400 times last year, attempting 91 passes. The physical approach to ball control and clock management will feature multiple running backs, led by Anderson.

“Stephen knows the expectations and he definitely knows his role. He has gotten better as a football player every year,” Faircloth said. “He understands what he is. He is not a one-cut kind of guy, instead he’s going to run on a track and if anything gets in his way, put cleat marks on it.”

The pressure of establishing himself as the program’s leading rusher in his sophomore year resulted in a “humbling” junior campaign for Anderson, the coach added, but the running back and linebacker represents a vital component in the Owen attack.

“He’s been a lot more relaxed and poised this year, and he is communicating clearly and not yelling as much as he did when he was younger,” Faircloth said. “In a lot of ways he’s like a different guy, but with the same intense work ethic, which is exactly what we need.”

Anderson will headline a backfield that includes Russell and juniors Donte Middleton and Haydon Roland.

Owen junior Slade Gardner, who will play multiple positions for the Warhorses in the 2026 season, hauls in a pass, Aug. 14, over an East Burke defender. Photo by Fred McCormick

“In the past couple of years we had three guys who probably contributed about 80 percent of our yardage,” the coach said. “I think we have about six or seven this year.”

While Gardner and Autrey provide reliable targets for the quarterback, the speedy junior duo of wide receiver LaSalle Jones and slot back Tye Lewis offers a new dynamic.

“Slade really is a special tool when we’re trying to get our best 11 players on the field. He’s probably put on close to 40 pounds since his freshman year, so we’re able to use him at tight end, as our X receiver or even bring him in as an offensive tackle,” Faircloth said. “On defense, we can stand him up at linebacker or he can put his hand in the dirt as a defensive end.”

Lewis is one several players to emerge since the departure of the previous senior class.

“Tye has had a phenomenal fall camp, and he was a guy, going into the summer, who was still kind of a backup,” Faircloth said. “He came in these past few weeks and did a great job for us, so I think he can be a guy who makes a difference for us.”

Junior Parker Halford, who will play defensive back and slot back, has also demonstrated consistent improvement, the coach added.

“He trimmed his (40-yard dash) time down to under 4.7 (seconds), and completely changed his body,” Faircloth said. “He has put himself in position to really help this team.”

Facilitating the offense again will be Minks, who stepped into his current role as an inexperienced quarterback in 2024.

Owen junior Donte Middleton follows blockers in an August practice, as the Warhorses prepare to open the 2026 football season, Aug. 21, at Rosman. Photo by Fred McCormick

“Emmett has always had the tools, but the biggest thing with him was between the ears. We’ve put a lot of energy into getting him to not overthink stuff, and making sure he knows he’s good enough. Being a three-year starter instills confidence, but it has been a process,” the coach said. “He’s so coachable that he wants to do things exactly how we want them done, but in our offense the quarterback gets to freelance. So, we’re counting on him to be the decision maker and we’re encouraging him to trust himself as much as we trust him.”

On the defensive side of the ball, a complementary system returns five of the top 10 leading tacklers from a season ago, including Autrey, who totaled 85. Anderson, Russell, McDonald and Dasher, who led the team with 3.5 sacks, combined to bring down the ball carrier 216 times in 2025. Anderson anchors the unit from the middle linebacker position.

“Right now, we already have the ability to be truly competitive this season,” Faircloth said. “We’ve talked about what the next steps look like, but we need to identify ways we can stay competitive as the season goes on. How do we play, execute or put ourselves in better situations to keep getting better? It sounds cliché, but it’s all about us.”

While the coaching staff will prepare for opponents one week at a time, the responsibility of the players is to focus on continued growth and development within the Warhorse system.

“Our style is so unique, so nobody really sees it,” Faircloth said. “You don’t see any teams going under center anymore, because teams are too prideful. But, these guys have had a glimpse of what the results can look like if we commit to our identity and push ourselves to get better at our style of football.”

The first test will begin at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 21, when the Warhorse travel to Rosman to kick off the upcoming campaign. The season opener represents an opportunity to reintroduce the style of Owen football that generated more victories last season than the previous three seasons combined. The program will return to the Swannanoa Valley to host its home opener at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 28, against Cherryville.

“One thing we can control is what other coaches say when they sit down to watch us on film, and we want them to know that they’re going to have to play us for 48 minutes,” Faircloth said. “They’ll get limited possessions, which is going to require their team to execute at a high level. From 7:30 p.m. until the game is over, they will know if they marked a ‘W’ on their calendar next to Owen in permanent marker, they probably should have written it in pencil instead.”