The Ashe County High School football team gets to open the 2011 season with back-to-back home games, including a matchup against the team’s most hated rival.

Ashe gets its first taste of football on Aug. 12 with a home scrimmage against Fort Chiswell. The first regular season game comes a week later when the West Caldwell Warriors make a trip to the High Country take battle the Huskies. Ashe faces the Warriors for the first time since 2008 when the Huskies traveled to West and beat them 34-7. Ashe has won two games in a row against the Warriors.

The Huskies then host the Watauga Pioneers on Aug. 26, hoping to avenge last season’s shutout loss. Ashe returns to North Surry to face the Greyhounds on the road for the second consecutive year to open the month of September. North Surry pounded the Huskies 55-21 last season. Before that, Ashe had won the previous two matchups, 19-14 and 19-0 against the former Mountain Valley 1A/2A Conference member.

Following those three non-conference games, the Huskies open MVAC play on the road against Elkin on Sept. 9. The Elks have won the first two conference games between the schools. Last year, Elkin jumped on the board early on, beating Ashe 28-7. After that, the Huskies return home for a game against defending MVAC champs Starmount. The Rams were the class of the conference last year, going undefeated before falling in the first round of the 2A state playoffs.

Ashe goes back on the road on Sept. 23 to face the West Wilkes Blackhawks. The Huskies scored its first win of the season against West Wilkes after an 0-5 start to the year. Homecoming is set for Sept. 30 where the Huskies will host North Wilkes. Ashe downed the Vikings 40-22 last season to earn its second win of the year.

The Huskies travel to Alleghany to battle the Trojans on the first Friday of October. Ashe beat the Trojans 27-6 last season for the team’s most convincing win of the year, a three-touchdown victory thanks to a strong Husky defense.

Wilkes Central is next up on the schedule for Ashe as the rival Eagles make its way up the mountain. Wilkes Central defeated Ashe last year 29-20, but the Huskies have more than held its own against the Eagles over the past few years, including three straight victories from 2007-2009.

Ashe plays its final regular season road game on Oct. 21 against the Forbush Falcons before holding Senior Night against East Wilkes on Oct. 28.