Seven WNC high school football teams returning to the field in Week 8

(This story has been updated to add new information.)

Pisgah football will resume the 2024 season on Friday, according to coach Ricky Brindley. The Bears will host West Henderson at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Bethel Middle School football field.

This is the first game Pisgah and West Henderson have played since Tropical Storm Helene ravaged Canton, Haywood County and Western North Carolina on Sept. 27. The Bears and Falcons last played in Week 5, defeating Smoky Mountain 31-21 and North Henderson 20-13, respectively.

The Bears are playing the game at Bethel Middle School because Pisgah Memorial Stadium suffered significant flood damage from Helene and won't be able to host any more games this season. It is the second time the stadium has flooded since 2021, when Tropical Storm Fred swept through WNC.

The game will be pivotal in determining the Mountain 7 Conference champion. Pisgah enters 4-1, while West Henderson is 3-2, with both having a 1-0 record in conference play.

FAITH IT CAN REBUILD: Helene left Asheville Christian Academy damaged grounds, muddied floors and faith it can rebuild

Other games scheduled for Week 8 in WNC

• North Henderson at Franklin, 6:30 p.m., Friday
• Murphy at Robbinsville, 7:30 p.m., Friday
• Andrews at Cherokee, 7:30 p.m., Friday
• Hayesville at Swain County, 7:30 p.m., Friday
• East Henderson at Tuscola, 7:30 p.m. Friday
• West Henderson at Pisgah, 7:30 p.m., Friday
• East Rutherford at Hendersonville, 7:30 p.m., Friday

Z achary Huber is a high school sports reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times and Hendersonville Times-News. Email him at zhuber@gannett.com or follow him on X @zacharyahuber.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Seven WNC high school football teams returning to the field in Week 8