“They brought their “A” game, and we didn’t,” remarked Polk County High School football coach Jamie Thompson, after Owen’s Warhorses invaded Columbus on Friday night, and returned to Black Mountain with a 35-0 win over the Wolverines, Polk’s first loss since August 29.

More to the point Owen, 10-0 overall, advanced to 6-0 to win the Western Highlands Conference title while the Wolverines (7-3 overall) and 4-1 in the WHC must defeat Hendersonville this evening, to claim a full share of second place.

Owen’s season is over while Hendersonville, who fell three points short against the Warhorses on Oct. 24, is 3-2 in WHC play.

Friday’s Polk/Owen game started out like the battle it promised to be. Polk won the coin toss and elected to kick off to the Warhorses. Owen, with the help of its fine running back Jager Gardner, advanced to Polk’s 29 where the Wolverine’s defense stopped the Warhorses cold on fourth down, with Polk taking over on downs.

Polk’s scrambling quarterback Jamal Wheeler wasted no time in ripping his way to the Polk 40 for a first down. The Wolverines had the early momentum, but seemed to lose it on the next play, when Owen covered a loose ball, taking over just outside the Polk 40.

The Wolverines lost no intensity after that, but Warhorse running backs Gardner, Austin Bennett and Zee Johnston ate up ground steadily all night to help the visitors score one touchdown in the first quarter, two more in the second, and one each in the third and fourth.

Polk welcomed the return of running back Tyler Jackson, who been sidelined with an injury for much of the season. Jackson performed well, but the Wolverines were unable to break down Owen’s defense.

After Owen recovered the Polk fumble, Bennett carried the ball for a first down to the Polk 30; Gardner recorded a first at the Wolverine 20 and with 4:57 remaining in the first quarter scored from the ten. Owen didn’t miss a PAT all night. Owen committed more penalties on the night than did Polk but overcame all those setbacks.

On the Wolverines’ next possession Wheeler led his team to the Owen 26 the last advance coming on Jackson’s first down carry. However, Wheeler looking for receivers and finding none scrambled and was brought down for a big loss at the Owen 45 putting Polk in a fourth and 26.

Jordan Smith’s punt was downed at Owen’s four but Bennett got the Warhorses out of that hole with a run to the guests’ 17. Subsequent first-down carries by Gardner early in the second quarter helped set up a complete short pass to him deep in Polk territory. Gardner fought his way into the end zone. The PAT was good and Owen led 14-0.

Polk received the kickoff and with it a chance to close the gap before the half ended. However, the Wolverines could not advance, and were forced to punt.

Once again, Bennett and Gardner chewed up yardage to get within Polk’s ten. Polk’s defense shoved Gardner back for a one-yard loss, before he slipped in for another score, this with just over a minute left in the half.

After receiving the kickoff, the Wolverines, under Wheeler marched to the Owen 21, courtesy of a pass to Jason Chupp, defensive pass interference on a pass to Storm Wheeler, but that was all that Polk could muster before time ran out.

In the third quarter, Owen added another score on a Sam Drummond’s pass to Tate Brown in the Polk end zone.

Worrisome beyond the loss, were injuries to Jamal Wheeler and defensive standout Damien Jackson. With Wheeler out, Tanner Garrett took over at quarterback. In the third quarter, he was able to move Polk downfield, with runs by Jordan Smith and Tyler Jackson, and complete passes to Chupp and to Bryce Martin, that last putting the ball on Owen’s 23.

However, after Garrett fell on a low snap, and threw an incomplete pass, Owen took over on downs. Third-quarter play ended with Owen leading 28-0. They picked up another score, the last of the game, with only 22 seconds gone in the fourth quarter. Taylor Frizsell snagged a TD pass, which with the PAT, put Owen up, 35-0.

“This too, will pass,” a disappointed Thompson told his disappointed players after the game. “We know we’re better than we played tonight.” Thompson admitted that the Wolverines’ first-quarter turnover was a turning point. “After that,” he said, “we didn’t slow them down. If we don’t turn the ball over, who knows what happens?”

Polk’s final regular-season game is tonight at Hendersonville, with opening kickoff set for 7:30.