Five things to know as Hendersonville visits Polk County in week 11 of the 2025 football season.
Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m. The game will mark the final regular-season contest for both teams.
Last week: Hendersonville lost 36-20 to Mountain Heritage; Polk County defeated Avery 68-21.
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BEARCATS’ DYNAMIC OFFENSE: Hendersonville enters the game with a potent offensive attack led by quarterback JaRon Ward and running back Jordan Buford.
Ward has completed 93 of 138 passes for 1,720 yards and 22 touchdowns against just five interceptions. He’s also a threat on the ground with 51 carries for 197 yards and four scores.
Buford anchors the running game with 105 carries for 936 yards and 13 touchdowns. He’s equally dangerous on defense, recording 49 tackles with 11 for loss and three interceptions.
Ward spreads the ball to multiple receivers, led by Amir Albany’s 24 catches for 569 yards and eight touchdowns. Javanni Suber has 17 receptions for 338 yards and three scores, while Gianni Thompson has hauled in 19 passes for 318 yards and four touchdowns.
SPECIAL TEAMS DANGER: The Bearcats have been lethal on special teams and in creating defensive scores this season.
Hendersonville has recorded 11 return touchdowns this year, including three on fumble returns, three on interceptions, three on punt returns and two on kickoff returns. That explosive ability to score from anywhere on the field makes the Bearcats dangerous at all times.
Suber leads the team with four interceptions, while Buford and Eric Glisson each have three picks. On defense, Tymir Barber leads the team with 12 tackles for loss, followed by Buford’s 11.
RECORD-BREAKING PERFORMANCE: Polk County senior Loreynzo Sanchez delivered a historic performance in last week’s 68-21 win over Avery.
Sanchez rushed for a school-record 343 yards and eight touchdowns, also matching the North Carolina state record for rushing touchdowns in a game. Only six players in state history have reached that mark, the most recent being Rashad Dockery on Oct. 18, 2024, against Grays Creek.
The Wolverines’ 68 points marked the sixth-highest total in school history and the program’s first game topping 60 points since 2013. Polk County’s all-time high came on Oct. 22, 2010, when the Wolverines defeated Thomas Jefferson 90-17.
SERIES HISTORY: This will be the 37th meeting between the two programs, with Hendersonville holding a 24-12 advantage in the series.
The Bearcats have won six of the last eight meetings between the schools. Polk County will be looking to build momentum from last week’s offensive explosion as it faces one of the Western Highlands Conference’s top teams.
PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS: Both teams enter the game with playoff positioning on the line in the final week of the regular season.
Hendersonville sits at 7-2 overall and 4-1 in conference play, with its only league loss coming to Mountain Heritage. The Bearcats’ only other defeat came in overtime to Erwin. Hendersonville is currently seeded 8th in the 3A West bracket – a win would likely keep the Bearcats in the top eight, which would mean a first-round bye.
Polk County improved to 3-6 overall and 1-4 in the conference with last week’s victory. The Wolverines are seeded 19th in the 3A West bracket at present. A loss isn’t expected to keep Polk County out of the postseason – a win would likely improve the Wolverines’ seed when pairings are announced on Sunday afternoon.
