Asheville – Cort Radford is in his fifth season of leading the Cougars. He won the MAC over A.C. Reynolds in 2021, when AHS was 6-0 and 9-3 overall.
Asheville (1-1) returns eight of 11 starters on offense, and six on defense. The showdown with T.C. Roberson at home on Oct. 11 inevitably decides the MAC’s top 4A seed. The game’s loser should outdo McDowell, the league’s other 4A school, to make playoffs but likely starts the postseason on the road.
If the meek shall inherit the earth, per the Bible, then might the local Meek “inherit” the MAC championship? Quarterback Meek Slydell (6-0, 189 jr.) is a third-year starter. Slydell threw two TD passes in the opener, a 42-6 thrashing of Tuscola. AHS more than doubled THS in total yards, by 470-202. Slydell passed for 1,633 yards in 2023. “He’s making more of the throws that he has to make,” Radford said. “He’ll show off his cannon of an arm throwing deep. He also throws ‘back shoulder’ balls, and can drop it over linebackers’ heads” by arcing the pass. Also, Slydell is running more…