Mountain Heritage Justin Keener (16) rushed for six touchdowns Friday night. The Cougars won at Erwin, 58-31.
ASHEVILLE – Trey Robinson’s injured left ankle didn’t need any ice or elevation Friday night.
Every limb and appendage was feeling just fine after one of the most impressive nonconference wins in recent memory for Mountain Heritage football.
Justin Keener rushed for six touchdowns (five in the first half) and the Cougars rolled up 554 total yards in a jaw-dropping 58-31 game at Kerr Stadium.
Robinson’s status was up in the air all week at practice. The junior not only played, but played well – rushing for 168 yards and passing for 121.
He was in the game until the very end. Mountain Heritage (2-0) took no chances, even after jumping out to a 44-7 halftime lead.
“Everyone on our team gave it all they had tonight. I’m still in shock,” Robinson said.
“Our line was just incredible and a win like this lets people know we can play teams (with speed). I think there were some doubts before this.”
Keener’s touchdown runs covered 4, 6, 7, 12, 12 and 38 yards. The senior wasn’t touched on his first jaunt into the end zone at the 8:40 mark of the first quarter and his final touchdown tote occurred with just 20.3 seconds to go in the nonconference game.
Keener finished with 16 carries for 110 yards, and a third player, Junior Denton (11 carries for 110 yards), joined Keener and Robinson with more than 100 yards across the ground. Michael Austin snared Robinson’s only touchdown pass (9 yards).
“I really can’t say enough about our kids or our coaching staff,” Mountain Heritage coach Joey Robinson said.
“We prepared all week thinking we might not have our quarterback tonight. It meant a lot to turn around and see the way we executed. Our offensive line did an incredible job and overall our kids were just unbelievable. They really played tough against an Erwin team that I have so much respect for.”
Austin and Cole Burleson made interceptions for the Cougars defense. Kane McCandless recovered a fumble.
Erwin quarterback Damien Ferguson passed for 252 yards with a pair of touchdowns to Kealin Goode (6 and 20 yards). Isaiah Poore and Quentin Smith each rushed for one score.
The Warriors beat Mountain Heritage by 22 points last year without Ferguson (who sat out with an ankle injury) but never led Friday. In fact, the Cougars scored on four of their first five possession before Erwin got on the scoreboard.
Mountain Heritage had lost the last seven games in this series (six of those by double digits).
“We knew that Mountain Heritage was a great team and they proved it from the first whistle to the last whistle,” Erwin coach Mike Sexton said.
“There’s nothing negative you can say about them. For us, we’ve got a lot of things that we need to fix.”
Mountain Heritage returns home next Friday to host North Buncombe, while Erwin travels to Ooltewah (Tenn.) – a team led by former Enka coach Mac Bryan.
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