10/08/2026
I have held off speaking publicly on the matter so the board could make decisions. Those decisions have been made public.
To my Ashe County football family,
Saturday was one of the most difficult days I’ve experienced as a coach. What should have been a day of kids playing football turned into something that no child, parent, or coach should ever have to experience.
First and foremost, my thoughts and prayers remain with the injured player and his family. No one ever wants to see a child hurt playing this game, and I sincerely hope he makes a full recovery.
I also want to make something very clear. I will never excuse a player’s actions simply because he wears an Ashe County jersey. When our kids make mistakes, there must be accountability. That’s part of growing up, and it’s part of what we are supposed to teach them.
But accountability does not stop with children. Adults have a responsibility to lead by example, especially when emotions are running high. Unfortunately, Saturday was an example of what happens when that responsibility is forgotten.
To our parents, coaches, staff and players. I want to say thank you. You were placed in an incredibly difficult situation, and I am proud of the restraint and composure you showed. You protected our children without allowing emotions to turn an already terrible situation into something worse.
To our players, I am sorry that you had to witness what happened. You should never have to feel afraid, ashamed, or threatened because of a football game. You are children, and the adults around you have a responsibility to make sure you are protected.
I also want to address something that has weighed heavily on me. An 11-year-old child should never be made into a monster over a mistake on a football field. He deserves accountability, but he also deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and move forward. Every child involved deserves that same grace.
As your coach, I accept responsibility for the things I could have handled differently. Leadership means being willing to recognize your own failures, not just pointing out the failures of others.
I know there are many emotions surrounding Saturday. There are things being said publicly that do not accurately represent our children, our coaches, or our program. Those matters were brought up to the appropriate channels. I am not going to ask our families to engage in arguments on social media or defend themselves against every accusation.
Our actions and our character will speak louder than any argument ever could.
I love these kids. I love this community. I believe in what we are building together, and I refuse to allow one terrible afternoon to define who we are.
Football is supposed to teach our children discipline, accountability, toughness, respect, and how to respond when life gets difficult. Right now, we have an opportunity to demonstrate those lessons ourselves.
Thank you for trusting me with your children. I don’t take that responsibility lightly, and I will always do everything within my ability to stand up for them.
We are Ashe County. We stand together, we take responsibility for our mistakes, and we move forward together.
Jake Brown
