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The A. C. Reynolds High School football team (14-1) brought the 2002 4-A state football title home to Western North Carolina by defeating Northern Nash High School 14-7 in Chapel Hill on the University of North Carolina campus on Saturday, December 14. The state championship game was played at UNC's Kenan Stadium in front of some 1,500 Reynolds fans who made the long trip to Chapel Hill to cheer their beloved Rockets to victory.Bobby Poss, Reynolds' head football coach, won his fifth state championship with the victory over Northern Nash on Saturday. Poss coached Reynolds to a state championship in 1999. Prior to coaching at Reynolds, Poss won three state championships while coaching in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The score did not reflect what a dominating game the Rockets played against the Northern Nash Knights (12-4). Once again, the Reynolds defense dominated its opponent on offense, holding the Knights to a total of 172 yards for the game. The Rockets held Northern Nash to a mere 55 yards rushing in 27 attempts, for an average per rush of only 2.1 yards. Northern Nash finally scored in the fourth quarter with only 35 seconds remaining on an 88-yard punt return. Reynolds recovered the ensuing onside kickoff to effectively seal the victory. Trevor Steele, Reynolds' star running back and defensive stalwart, scored one touchdown and gained 154 yards rushing while carrying the ball 22 times. In addition to making five unassisted tackles, Steele also had a pass interception and recovered a critical onside kick. Steele was voted the game's most valuable player and Reynolds' most valuable offensive player. Reynolds got on the scoreboard when Steele bulled his way across the Knights' goal line from three yards out midway through the first quarter. On the Knights' next possession, the Rockets recovered a fumble on Northern Nash's 45-yard line. Following the fumble recovery, the Rockets finally scored on a ten-play drive by completing an 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ben Johnson to wide receiver Billy Britt. For the game, Johnson only completed two of three passes for a total of 16 yards, and the Rockets gained only 221 yards of total offense. However, it proved to be more than enough offense due to the Rockets tenacious defense. The Knights only gained a total of 172 yards of offense against the swarming Rocket defense. Coming into the championship game, the Knights were also known for their tough defense, and the Rockets' offense demonstrated a great deal of determination on its part by pounding in two touchdowns in the first half against a game Northern Nash defense. Reynolds found their offense matched against a defense that played with some of the same tenacity and determination demonstrated game-in and game-out by their own stellar defense. The first half ended with Reynolds leading 14-0. The second half was played to a stalemate by both teams with Reynolds committing a couple of, potentially, costly mistakes. The Rockets lost two fumbles in the second half, and missed two field goals to leave the door slightly ajar for the Knights. But, following each turnover, the Reynolds defense rose to the occasion and prevented the Knights from scoring on offense. The Reynolds defensive squad played a swarming team defense throughout the game that seemed to be just a step quicker than the Knights' offense. Asheville.com extends its hardiest congratulations to the Reynolds Rockets, the 2002 4-A North Carolina State Football Champions. All of Western North Carolina is proud of you. Way to go, Rockets!!! (Photo provided by Buncombe County Schools.)
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