For more than 30 minutes of play, Polk County High School dominated a powerful Shelby squad, but couldn’t hang on, as Shelby went home with a 38-21 win in the Wolverines’ opener on Friday, Aug. 23.

Polk head coach Bruce Ollis said he was happy with the Wolverines’ first-half offense, but acknowledged, “We didn’t slow them down on defense.

“He also said the Wolverines missed a few scoring opportunities in the second half.

Polk’s 2013 schedule includes some of the region’s finest teams, a strategic move by Ollis to strengthen his own team for post-season play.

“Our goal is to play quality competition early,” he said. “Certainly Shelby fits that mold.”

So does Asheville, whom the Wolverines will visit this Friday. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Over the past 10 seasons, Asheville owns the most wins in western North Carolina.

“We want to get in with them,” said Ollis, whose teams have averaged more than nine wins per season in 11 years.

Friday’s loss was Polk’s first opening-game defeat in 11years.