ARDEN — Senior running back Shiloh Mukendi knew he had one more half to help Asheville School football overcome a 14-point deficit against archrival Christ School.
“Leaving everything out on the field, making sure they actually felt me for this game was a big thing,” Mukendi said. “Knowing it’s going to be my last chance.”
Mukendi made sure Christ School felt him.
Trailing 20-6 at halftime in the 100th edition of The Game, the Blues (4-2) turned to their senior running back. Mukendi responded with 290 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the second half, helping Asheville School rally for a 41-34 victory on Sept. 26 and keep the Fayssoux-Arbogast Trophy for a second straight season.
including Tuscola's strong defensive showing
The Blues’ halftime conversation helped set the tone.
“I will never let someone come to my home and take what’s mine,” offensive lineman Anton Oladejo said. “That’s something I tried telling the guys when we were at half, and we were losing. We never let guys come take what’s ours. We’re serious about that. We’re family.”
The message carried over to the second half.
Christ School (5-1) received the opening kickoff and drove near midfield before Asheville School stopped the Greenies and sniffed out a fake punt. Mukendi broke loose for a 37-yard touchdown on the following play, cutting the deficit to seven.
Mukendi wasn't finished. He added touchdown runs of 72, 7 and 63 yards as the Blues answered each of Christ School’s two second-half touchdowns. He finished with 390 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 28 carries, averaging 14 yards per carry.
“He runs the ball hard,” Asheville School coach Shawn Bryson said. “It’s tough because he’s playing both ways. I could only imagine how fresh he would be if he was only playing offense.”
Mukendi’s rushing yardage was a season high, surpassing the 343 he had against R-S Central on Sept. 4.
As a junior, he ran for 1,106 yards and 13 touchdowns on 123 carries in 11 games. He entered Sept. 26 with 1,210 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 105 carries, already establishing himself as one of the nation’s most productive backs.
Now he has added one of the most memorable performances in the 100-year history of The Game to his résumé.
Zachary Huber is a high school sports reporter for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him at zhuber@gannett.com or follow him on X @zacharyahuber.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: How Shiloh Mukendi, Asheville School football started its own winning streak vs. Christ School
