Blues, Greenies renew Carolinas' oldest rivalry
High School Sports Huddle
Andrew Pearson, apearson@citizen-times.com 5:41 p.m. EDT October 29, 2015
Rashad Morrison (11) and Asheville School are home for Saturday's rivalry game against Christ School. (Photo: William Woody / wwoody@citizen-times.com, William Woody / wwoody@citizen-times.com)
ASHEVILLE - Banners strung across the main entranceway to Asheville School this week have depicted its football rivalry in the form of graphics from the Pac-Man video game.
One guess as to who is Pac-Man and who are the ghosts being eaten.
It’s the usual build-up to the oldest high school football rivalry in either North Carolina or South Carolina.
Kickoff between the Blues (3-5) and visiting Greenies (7-2) is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday.
“I wouldn’t want to go out any other way than having a game like this on our home field,” Asheville School senior defensive back/quarterback David Schill said.
“It’s an ideal situation. We’re so excited to get to play this game here.”
Saturday’s Halloween matchup will be the 89th overall meeting between the Buncombe County private schools which first played in 1911. Asheville School leads the all-time series, 50-35-4.
Last season was the first time they had played twice in the same year. Christ School won a regular-season game played in snowy conditions, 47-12, and then six days later in the first round of the NCISAA Division II playoffs, 52-20.
"It's always a really crazy week when you are preparing for this game," Greenies senior lineman Scott Ullstein said.
"It's hard to understand if you've never been a part of it."
Drew Johnson (1,756 yards and 18 touchdowns with six interceptions) and Christ School have won four straight games. The first-year starter at quarterback doesn't do it alone. Playmakers such as Kokayi Cobb (656 rushing yards, 277 receiving yards and eight combined touchdowns), Jared Letman-Gash (19 receptions for 584 yards and eight touchdowns), Tyler Redmond (17 receptions for 228 yards and four touchdowns and Keyvaun Cobb (16 receptions for 226 yards and one touchdown) have sped along Johnson's development.
Charlie Claffey (9.1 tackles per game), Redmond (7.1) and Carson Jones (7.1) are the team's top tacklers.
Schill (1,119 passing yards, 521 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns) has been the linchpin for the Blues offense.
Other standouts are Rashad Morrison (740 rushing yards, 159 rushing yards and nine combined touchdowns), Ahmad Galimore (34 receptions for 493 yards and five touchdowns), J.P. Schill (20 receptions for 120 yards and one touchdown) and Chris Amoroso (16 receptions for 251 yards and two touchdowns).
David Schill (9.0 tackles per game), Amoroso (7.8), J.P. Schill (7.8), Fisher Howard (7.1), Titus Morrison (6.4) and Eric Rhoton (5.7) have been the biggest factors on defense.
"This game is always a lot of fun" Christ School senior halfback/linebacker Zach Ayotte said.
"It gets hyped up a lot and it never disappoints the hype."
This is the 100th year of Christ School football. And former players from the program's only undefeated season (a 8-0 campaign in 1965) are reuniting this year to commemorate it. Greenies alum Yorke Pharr said that almost everyone is expected to attend the reunion.
CHRIST SCHOOL at ASHEVILLE SCHOOL
Kickoff: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Pick: Christ School by 7.
Following is a look at the last five football games between Asheville School and Christ School:
2014: Christ School 52, Asheville School 20.
2014: Christ School 47, Asheville School 12.
2013: Christ School 45, Asheville School 25.
2012: Christ School 52, Asheville School 7.
2011: Asheville School 15, Christ School 9.
High School Sports Huddle
Andrew Pearson, apearson@citizen-times.com 5:41 p.m. EDT October 29, 2015
Rashad Morrison (11) and Asheville School are home for Saturday's rivalry game against Christ School. (Photo: William Woody / wwoody@citizen-times.com, William Woody / wwoody@citizen-times.com)
ASHEVILLE - Banners strung across the main entranceway to Asheville School this week have depicted its football rivalry in the form of graphics from the Pac-Man video game.
One guess as to who is Pac-Man and who are the ghosts being eaten.
It’s the usual build-up to the oldest high school football rivalry in either North Carolina or South Carolina.
Kickoff between the Blues (3-5) and visiting Greenies (7-2) is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday.
“I wouldn’t want to go out any other way than having a game like this on our home field,” Asheville School senior defensive back/quarterback David Schill said.
“It’s an ideal situation. We’re so excited to get to play this game here.”
Saturday’s Halloween matchup will be the 89th overall meeting between the Buncombe County private schools which first played in 1911. Asheville School leads the all-time series, 50-35-4.
Last season was the first time they had played twice in the same year. Christ School won a regular-season game played in snowy conditions, 47-12, and then six days later in the first round of the NCISAA Division II playoffs, 52-20.
"It's always a really crazy week when you are preparing for this game," Greenies senior lineman Scott Ullstein said.
"It's hard to understand if you've never been a part of it."
Drew Johnson (1,756 yards and 18 touchdowns with six interceptions) and Christ School have won four straight games. The first-year starter at quarterback doesn't do it alone. Playmakers such as Kokayi Cobb (656 rushing yards, 277 receiving yards and eight combined touchdowns), Jared Letman-Gash (19 receptions for 584 yards and eight touchdowns), Tyler Redmond (17 receptions for 228 yards and four touchdowns and Keyvaun Cobb (16 receptions for 226 yards and one touchdown) have sped along Johnson's development.
Charlie Claffey (9.1 tackles per game), Redmond (7.1) and Carson Jones (7.1) are the team's top tacklers.
Schill (1,119 passing yards, 521 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns) has been the linchpin for the Blues offense.
Other standouts are Rashad Morrison (740 rushing yards, 159 rushing yards and nine combined touchdowns), Ahmad Galimore (34 receptions for 493 yards and five touchdowns), J.P. Schill (20 receptions for 120 yards and one touchdown) and Chris Amoroso (16 receptions for 251 yards and two touchdowns).
David Schill (9.0 tackles per game), Amoroso (7.8), J.P. Schill (7.8), Fisher Howard (7.1), Titus Morrison (6.4) and Eric Rhoton (5.7) have been the biggest factors on defense.
"This game is always a lot of fun" Christ School senior halfback/linebacker Zach Ayotte said.
"It gets hyped up a lot and it never disappoints the hype."
This is the 100th year of Christ School football. And former players from the program's only undefeated season (a 8-0 campaign in 1965) are reuniting this year to commemorate it. Greenies alum Yorke Pharr said that almost everyone is expected to attend the reunion.
CHRIST SCHOOL at ASHEVILLE SCHOOL
Kickoff: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Pick: Christ School by 7.
Following is a look at the last five football games between Asheville School and Christ School:
2014: Christ School 52, Asheville School 20.
2014: Christ School 47, Asheville School 12.
2013: Christ School 45, Asheville School 25.
2012: Christ School 52, Asheville School 7.
2011: Asheville School 15, Christ School 9.
