Five things to know as Owen travels to Columbus Friday to face Polk County in a 7:30 p.m. Western Highlands Conference clash at G.M. Tennant Stadium.
Last week: Polk County defeated Patton 35-14; Owen fell 37-15 to West Henderson.
HOMECOMING ATMOSPHERE: The stage is set for a memorable evening as Polk County both welcomes TV cameras and celebrates Homecoming with the coronation of the Homecoming Queen at halftime. Tennant Stadium should be electric as the Wolverines look to give their home crowd something to cheer about in their first conference game back in the WHC.
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Homecoming festivities will begin at 5 p.m. with the annual parade through downtown Columbus. Drivers are advised to avoid the downtown area beginning around 4:45 p.m. until approximately 5:20 p.m.
BACK WHERE THEY BELONG: Friday’s matchup will mark Polk County’s return to Western Highlands Conference play for the first time since 2020. The Wolverines and Warhorses were former conference rivals before Polk County departed for the Mountain Foothills 7 Conference.
The schools last met in the spring of 2021 after COVID-19 delayed the 2020 season, making Friday’s clash a reunion of sorts. Both teams enter conference play at 2-2, setting up what should be a competitive opener. The game will be broadcast locally by WMYA-TV.
OWEN’S GROUND GAME: The Warhorses bring a potent rushing attack led by a trio of capable backs. Hayden Burpeau has been the most explosive, averaging 8.7 yards per carry on his way to 297 yards and a touchdown on just 34 attempts.
Stephen Anderson provides the workhorse element with 259 yards and four touchdowns on 58 carries, while quarterback Emmett Minks adds another dimension with 205 yards and three scores on the ground. The return of Haiden Small, who led Owen in rushing last week after missing time with injury, gives the Warhorses even more depth in the backfield.
MILESTONE WITHIN REACH: Polk County senior running back Loreynzo Sanchez enters Friday’s game needing just 102 yards to reach the 1,000-yard milestone for the season. If Sanchez achieves the mark, he would become the first Wolverine to rush for 1,000 yards since Angus Weaver accomplished the feat in 2022.
Sanchez has been a workhorse for the Wolverines this season, and reaching the milestone in a Homecoming conference opener would provide the perfect storybook moment for the senior standout.
CIRCLED ON THE CALENDAR: According to The Valley Echo, Owen head coach John Faircloth told his players after last week’s loss to West Henderson that he had the Polk County game circled on his calendar “for a while.” That comment suggests the Warhorses view this as more than just another conference opener.
Looking to make it a successful conference opener for Faircloth will be an Owen defense anchored by Anderson, who has recorded 27 tackles and three tackles for loss, along with Emerson Autrey’s 26 stops. The Warhorses will need their defense to step up against a Polk County offense that has found its rhythm in recent weeks.
