"We've been banged-up a little bit": Pisgah coach Ricky Brindley speaks after Sawyer Belue & Kenyon Moore's latest injury

The Pisgah Bears kicked off their football season with a 28-0 victory in the first week of August. But on Friday night, they faced a challenge against Asheville High at the Pat Ryan Buncombe County Jamboree at Reynolds. The Bears did secure a hard-fought 19-13 victory but lost two crucial players to injuries.

The Bears faced blows in the wide receiver and defensive back room as key players Sawyer Belue and Kenyon Moore were sidelined due to injuries. Belue was seen on the sidelines with a large black knee brace on his left leg, while Moore had his right knee heavily taped up. Both of them play on both sides of the ball.

"We've been banged-up a little bit," head coach Ricky Brindley told Citizen Times. "We've lost some crucial kids. We don't really know the extent of how long it might be. But we know we lost some excellent players."

Belue and Moore’s potential absence can largely impact the Bears moving forward. Last season, Belue recorded 40 tackles and three interceptions while adding 493 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Moore contributed 66 tackles, five interceptions, a fumble recovery, 173 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

The Bears, who returned to Pisgah Memorial Stadium last year, are now gearing up for their first home game on Aug. 30 against Brevard.

Ricky Brindley shares his first-year coaching challenge with Pisgah

Ricky Brindley, a 2001 graduate of Pisgah High School, is facing the challenge of his first year as the head coach of the Pisgah Bears. He took over the program this spring following the resignation of coach Brett Chappell. Chappell stepped down after 11 successful seasons, including leading the team to two conference titles.

Brindley previously served as an assistant coach at Pisgah and later as the head coach at Smoky Mountain High School. He has also coached boys’ and girls’ track and men’s golf. Brindley has now inherited a program known for its strong defense under Chappell and the expectations are high.

“It’s really been a teaching process of us trying to install our system and coach those kids in a way that they understand our expectations,” Brindley told The Mountaineer.

“I certainly put a lot of pressure on myself because of the fact that I care so much about this place and community. It’s internal pressure you put on yourself because you want to be successful. There’s also excitement to be home and about what that 'P' stands for.”

With a record of 36-28 from his six years of coaching, Brindley will face the challenge of continuing Pisgah’s tradition of excellence on the field.