73.8 F
Boone
Saturday, September 7, 2024
Home Blog

UPDATE: Watauga survives Maiden’s ball control offense, 24-13

David
-
0
UPDATE: Watauga survives Maiden’s ball control offense, 24-13

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Nary a cloud in the sky but lightning struck Jack Groce Field on Watauga’s first play from scrimmage on Sept. 6. Junior running back Everett Gryder ripped through a tiny gap in visiting Maiden’s defensive line, broke into the secondary and outsprinted the remaining Blue Devils’ defenders for a 66-yard touchdown, setting the tone for an eventual, 24-13 Pioneer win.

BONUS PHOTOS AT BOTTOM OF ARTICLE

Click on any image for Slide Show Mode

The play at least temporarily gave the host Pioneers some momentum as they struggled after that, but the win improves Watauga’s early season record to 3-0.

Everett Gryder (44) sprints downfield on a 66-yard TD run for the Pioneers’ first play from scrimmage in the Sept. 6 home opener. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports

In one sense, Maiden flipped the script on Watauga, the Blue Devils controlling possession for almost two-thirds of the game with a grinding, ball control offense — historically, Pioneer-style. Maiden’s offense just couldn’t seem to overcome errors when they needed to most, including penalties on what otherwise might have been scoring plays.

We are not a very good football team right now.

Watauga leveraged the Maiden miscures for some quick scores, but the overall performance of the Pioneers did not sit well with head coach Ryan Habich.

“We made a lot of mistakes across the board and we made those mistakes on both sides of the ball. It just isn’t Watauga football,” declared Habich after the last whistle had blown. “We’re a mixture between JV and varsity right now. We are not a very good football team right now and it is all my fault. It falls on the head coach. I have to do a better job with the discipline. Right now, I am not very happy the way we are playing football, on both sides of the ball.”

Habich did have high praise for the special teams units.

“One area that I am proud of is special teams,” he said. “They didn’t give up a big play, they tackled well, and they made a difficult field goal. Jack Wilson did a heckuva job making that field goal (24 yards, to put Watauga up by two scores, 24-13).”

Sporting brand new, all-black uniforms with white numerals for their first home game of the season in front of packed grandstands, the Pioneers may have been a little too “hyped up” at the beginning, Habich admitted in speaking with reporters.

Those new black uniforms… that is lunch pail black… we have to have that ‘blue collar’ mindset.

“We have some returning guys, but I don’t think they realize that the mistakes they make in practice are being carried over into games,” said Habich. “And when you play upper echelon competition like we will face next week (against A C Reynolds)… well, if we play this way, it is going to be a short game here at Jack Groce. It will be a running clock (against us). So we have to do a lot better. We have some great kids here at Watauga, with high academics, but we can’t be complacent here. We have had a lot of success here these last several years but we aren’t going to just walk out there and beat people. We have to execute and we have to get that mindset.

“Those new black uniforms… that is lunch pail black,” added Habich. “We have to have that blue collar mentality that brings that lunch pail to every game. Today, we were too undisciplined with false starts and other pre-snap penalties. That just is not Watauga football.”

Maiden featured a powerful rushing attack to open the game, but was unable to convert it into points. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports

Bright Spots

The coach’s critique aside, there were some bright spots offensively and defensively, even though Watauga only had possession of the football for 11:22 vs. Maiden’s 29:45.

Many will argue that Gryder’s opening 66-yard TD run was the best offensive play of the game. The second and third best offensive plays arguably came a couple of series later, with 3:05 left in the first half — and the circumstances proved fortuitous.

The series was set up when Watauga faced a 4th-and-short on their own 27-yard line, but an illegal procedure penalty against the left side of the offensive line pushed the ball back, forcing the Pioneers to abandon going for a 4th down conversion.

Maiden wide receiver Hampton Reed makes an acrobatic catch in the second half to extend an offensive possession. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports

Quarterback Maddox Greene’s punt was fielded at the Maiden 35-yard line, but the Blue Devils return man on the play, Hampton Reed, lost control of the ball as he started forward and the fumble was recovered by the Pioneers’ Landon Smith and Thomas Dieters.

So the fourth down punt moved the ball forward about 40 yards from where the Pioneer drive had stalled. As many football coaches like to do after that kind of dramatic turnover, especially in the opponent’s half of the field, it was time for what Habich calls “a shot play,” with a little razzle dazzle mixed in.

“We used the play last year against Mallard Creek, in the playoffs,” Habich recalled. “It was just a different combination of players.”

From his quarterback position, Greene handed the ball off to wide receiver Evan Burrough in motion, crossing to the left. Burroughs flipped the ball back to Gryder on a reverse, then Gryder passed the ball back to Greene on the right side. All the movement behind the line of scrimmage sucked up the Maiden secondary, leaving wide receiver Landon Smith deep downfield to catch Greene’s 40-yard pass at the goal line for a second Pioneer TD.

“Landon made a good play there,” said Habich. “On that play, everybody executed and the offensive line gave Maddox excellent protection.”

Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports

Defensive Gems, Too

In the second half, even though Maiden was moving the football with short runs and short to medium passes, Watauga’s defense stiffened at two critical points. Faced with 4th-and-short on two different occasions, Maiden was unable to convert.

Case in point: with 8:02 remaining in the third quarter and trailing by just one touchdown, 14-7, Maiden had successfully moved the ball to the Watauga 25-yard line and was looking at 3rd-and-2, poised to convert and keep the drive going. But Pioneer senior linebacker Trathan Gragg stopped two consecutive rush attempts by two different Maiden players. First, he drove quarterback Grant Lawing for no gain on a QB keeper, then he stopped running back Cohen Jenkins for just a 1-yard gain, Maiden turning the ball over on downs.

Led by Greene, it only took the Pioneers three plays to find the end zone after taking over at their own 24-yard line. On a keeper through the middle of the line, Greene sliced through the Blue Devils’ big guys upfront, wrestled free from a would-be tackler, and was finally collared after a 26-yard run, to midfield. The only thing that stopped him from breaking free and running the distance was, literally, a horse collar tackle that did not get flagged, apparently unseen by the officials.

Watauga’s Trathan Gragg (6), greets a Maiden ball carrier at the line of scrimmage for no gain. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports

Gryder rushed for three yards, but then it was Greene’s show again. On another keeper, he patiently waited for a gap to open, sprinted through it and into the secondary, swerved toward the right sideline around anyone with hopes of stopping him. After Greene’s 47-yard scamper to paydirt, Wilson’s third PAT of the evening put the Pioneers ahead by two scores, 21-7.

Another bright spot for the Pioneer defense came early in the 4th quarter, with Watauga leading 21-7. Maiden closed out the third frame with an 8-play, grinding drive that moved the ball from their own 15 to Watauga’s 42-yard line. When the Blue Devils’ Grant Lawing dropped back to pass and looked to the right flat, he apparently didn’t see Watauga senior defensive back Dillon Zaragoza, who turned around just in time to see the ball coming directly to him for easy pickings. He caught the ball for the game’s only pass interception, then said “thank you” with a 21-yard INT return.

Occurring early in the fourth quarter at the 11:11 mark, Zaragoza’s defensive gem all but put the game away when Watauga drove to the 5-yard line, setting up the 24-yard field goal by Wilson from the right hash mark.

Even with the good stuff that happened, Habich was far from satisfied, repeating his cautionary counsel that if his offense and defense played the same way next week, against A C Reynolds, the outcome would not be a positive result.

“We just can’t make those mistakes,” said Habich.

SELECTED TEAM STATS (kept by Jonathan Watson)

  • First Down: MAI 18, WAT 11
  • Total Offense: MAI 303, WAT 312
  • Rushing Offense: MAI 35 carries, 133 yards, WAT 29 carries, 272 yards
  • Passing Offense: MAI 17-28-172, 1 INT; WAT 1-4-40, 1 TD, no INTs
  • Penalties: MAI 4-25, WAT 8-60
  • 3rd Down Conversions: MAI 6-13 (46%), WAT 3-7 (43%)
  • 4th Down Conversions: MAI 3-6 (50%), WAT 0-0
  • Sacks By: MAI 0. WAT 2
  • Turnovers
    • Fumbles Lost: MAI 1, WAT 0
    • Interceptions Thrown: MAI 1, WAT 0
  • Time of Possession: MAI 29:45, WAT 11:22

SELECTED INDIVIDUAL STATS (kept by Jonathan Watson)

Passing

  • MAI – Grant Lawing: 11-18-106, 1 INT
  • MAI – Josh Stover: 6-10-66
  • WAT – Maddox Greene: 1-4-40, 1 TD

Rushing

  • WAT – Maddox Greene: 11 carries, 105 yards, 1 TD
  • WAT – Everett Gryder: 8 carries, 93 yards, 1 TD
  • WAT – Matthew Leon: 6 carries, 60 yards
  • WAT – Evan Burroughs: 3 carries, 10 yards
  • MAI – Kendall Roberts: 12 carries, 53 yards, 1 TD
  • MAI – Josh Stover: 10 carries, 39 yards, 1 TD
  • MAI – Cohen Jenkins: 7 carries, 25 yards

Receiving

  • WAT – Landon Smith: 1 catch, 40 yards, 1 TD
  • MAI – Raheim Misher: 7 catches, 62 yards
  • MAI – Hampton Reed: 5 catches, 61 yards
  • MAI – Keyahjae Smyre: 2 catches, 24 yards
  • MAI – Ta’len Maze: 2 catches, 21 yards

BONUS PHOTOS

Middle School volleyball launches, sees decisive sweeps

David
-
0
Middle School volleyball launches, sees decisive sweeps

By David Rogers. WATAUGA COUNTY — With six sweeps and a single split, Watauga’s 2024 school specific volleyball season got under way on Sept. 5 with a pair of tri-matches and a single encounter. As usual, the schools with the largest enrollment, Hardin Park and Parkway, dominated play. Only the Blowing Rock vs. Mabel match was extended to three sets.

SCORES:

    • Hardin Park 2, Green Valley 0 (25-19, 25-18)
    • Hardin Park 2, Bethel 0 (25-9, 25-6)
    • Green Valley 2, Bethel 0 (25-10, 25-10)
    • Parkway 2, Blowing Rock 0 (25-13, 25-9)
    • Parkway 2, Mabel 0 (25-9, 25-12)
    • Blowing Rock 2, Mabel 1 (28-26, 23-25, 15-9)
    • Cove Creek 2, Valle Crucis 0 (25-12, 25-8)

App State WSOC falls to Radford, 4-2

David
-
0
App State WSOC falls to Radford, 4-2

By Matt Present. BOONE, N.C. — Izzi Wood scored two first half goals, both assisted by Ellie Garrison, but Radford scored three unanswered goals in the second half to defeat the Mountaineers, 4-2, snapping App State’s 13-match home unbeaten streak.

The Mountaineers (2-2-2) opened the scoring on a set piece in the 13th minute of play. With a free kick from the defensive side of midfield, Aleesia Ambrosio served the ball forward. Garrison lept in the air, flicking a header forward to Wood, who was able to finish with a strike into the bottom right corner of the net to give the Mountaineer a 1-0 lead.

After Radford (5-1) tied the score on a Paige Olson goal in the 32nd minute, the Mountaineers were quick to respond. In the 35th minute of play. Garrison fed Wood on a give-and-go at the top of the box, and Wood drilled a shot into the top-left corner of the cage for her second goal of the match.

For Wood, the goal was her third of the season and 18th of her App State career, moving her into a tie with Allison Osborne (1995-98) for seventh place on the career scoring list.

The graduate student had a chance for a hat-trick just eight minutes into the second half. Wood drew a foul in the Radford box but her penalty kick was saved by the Radford goalkeeper, Jordan Phillips.

Not long after, the match turned south for App State. Just three minutes later, Jashyra Johnson scored the equalizer for the Highlanders and then less than three minutes later, Johnson netted the go-ahead goal to give Radford its first lead of the match.

In the 66th minute, Helena Wilson was fouled in the App State box and converted the penalty kick to push the deficit to 4-2.

Garrison nearly got on the scoreboard for the third time in as many games in the 60th minute, but her shot went ringing off the crossbar. Garrison finished the match with nine shots, equaling Wood for the game high.

The Mountaineers out-shot the highlanders 25-11, but Radford held the advantage 8-7 in shots on target.

Gracie Giacoletto led the Mountaineers’ bench with 55 minutes of playing time. She made a spectacular defensive play in the 39th minute, making a back post save on a Radford corner kick to keep App State in front 2-1 going into halftime.

The four goals allowed were the most by the Mountaineers at home since conceding four goals to Pittsburgh in 2020.

The Mountaineers will look to rebound on Sunday when they face Davidson on the road at 1 p.m. The match will be televised on ESPN+.

Bradbury, Townsend lead Watauga dominance in Preconference Season XC Opener

David
-
0
Bradbury, Townsend lead Watauga dominance in Preconference Season XC Opener

By David Rogers. LENOIR, N.C. — With a blistering time of 16:18 over the 5,000-Meter course at the Lenoir Aquatic and Fitness Center on Sept. 4, Watauga senior Will Bradbury finished over a minute and a half ahead of No. 2 runner Bryce Corpening of South Caldwell (18:00). Close behind were two more Pioneers, junior Calvin Zwetsloot (No. 3, 18:08) and sophomore James Bostrom (No. 4, 18:33) in the Men’s Division of the Northwestern Conference Pre-Conference Season Opener.

Watauga senior Jonah Norris (No. 7, 19:17) and sophomore Grady Gates (No. 8, 19:18) completed Watauga’s top 5 finishers for calculating the team results, which were dominated by the Pioneers among the five competing schools and their 66 student athletes in the men’s division.

In the larger, 86-runner field of the Women’s Division, Watauga freshman Cali Townsend led a 1-2-3-4-5-6 team sweep, crossing the finish line of the 5,000-Meters course No. 1 (20:25), followed by fellow Pioneers Annabelle Stewart (No. 2, 20:28, senior), Janie Beach-Verhay (No. 3, 21:08, junior), Josephine Walker (No. 4, 22:35, sophomore), Lainey Johnston (No. 5, 22:37, sophomore) and Lily Kimbrough (No. 6, 22:38). With the top 5 finishers, Watauga recorded a perfect team score of 15 points.

Team Scores, Men

  1 Watauga                19      1    2    3    6    7    8    9  
      Total Time: 1:31:34      Average: 18:18.80      1-5 Split: 3:00
  2 Alexander Central      45      4    5   10   11   15   16   21  
      Total Time: 1:37:58      Average: 19:35.60      1-5 Split: 2:17
  3 Freedom                87     12   13   17   20   25   26   29  
      Total Time: 1:48:12      Average: 21:38.36      1-5 Split: 4:11
  4 Hibriten               117    14   18   22   31   32   34    -  
      Total Time: 1:58:28      Average: 23:41.60      1-5 Split: 7:05
  5 Ashe County            121    19   23   24   27   28   30   33  
      Total Time: 1:59:18      Average: 23:51.56      1-5 Split: 3:12

Team Scores, Women

  1 Watauga                15      1    2    3    4    5    6   13  
      Total Time: 1:47:13      Average: 21:26.60      1-5 Split: 2:12
  2 Ashe County            67      7    8   15   17   20   26   27  
      Total Time: 2:02:36      Average: 24:31.20      1-5 Split: 3:25
  3 Alexander Central      70      9   12   14   16   19   24   29  
      Total Time: 2:03:39      Average: 24:43.76      1-5 Split: 2:29
  4 South Caldwell         101    10   21   22   23   25   32   33  
      Total Time: 2:11:50      Average: 26:22.00      1-5 Split: 3:12
  5 Hibriten               118    11   18   28   30   31    -    -  
      Total Time: 2:15:14      Average: 27:02.76      1-5 Split: 4:39

Top 30, Men’s Division

  1 Will Bradbury         12 Watauga              16:18.00      1
  2 Bryce Corpening       11 South Caldwell       18:00.00       
  3 Calvin Zwetsloot      11 Watauga              18:08.00      2
  4 James Bostrom         10 Watauga              18:33.00      3
  5 Zachary Zirkle        12 Alexander Central    18:40.00      4
  6 Griffin Duncan        12 Alexander Central    18:58.00      5
  7 Jonah Norris          12 Watauga              19:17.00      6
  8 Grady Gates           10 Watauga              19:18.00      7
  9 Zeke Walker           11 Watauga              19:18.60      8
 10 Samuel Rex            12 Watauga              19:19.00      9
 11 Lucas Ritchie         12 Alexander Central    19:21.00     10
 12 Elliott Taft          11 Watauga              19:26.00       
 13 Haines Heistand       12 Watauga              19:32.00       
 14 Levi Anderson         11 Watauga              19:39.00       
 15 Samuel Harris         12 South Caldwell       19:42.00       
 16 Nicholas Haney        11 Alexander Central    20:02.00     11
 17 Christopher Uren      12 Freedom              20:05.00     12
 18 Brian Newmark         10 Watauga              20:06.00       
 19 Doyle Casey           11 Watauga              20:06.70       
 20 Jonah Griggs          12 Freedom              20:28.00     13
 21 Austin Whittington    10 Hibriten             20:30.00     14
 22 AJ McAulay            11 Watauga              20:54.00       
 23 Evan Sherrod           9 Alexander Central    20:57.00     15
 24 Isaac James           10 Watauga              21:00.00       
 25 Charles Langley       12 Watauga              21:07.00       
 26 Holden Womak          11 Watauga              21:15.00       
 27 Caden Horn             9 Alexander Central    21:26.00     16
 28 Nick Chiota            9 Freedom              21:26.80     17
 29 Alexander Bruch       10 Hibriten             21:27.00     18
 30 Cohen Lemly           10 Ashe County          21:32.00     19

Top 30, Women’s Division

  1 Cali Townsend          9 Watauga              20:25.00      1
  2 Annabelle Stewart     12 Watauga              20:28.00      2
  3 Janie Beach-Verhay    11 Watauga              21:08.00      3
  4 Josephine Walker      10 Watauga              22:35.00      4
  5 Lainey Johnston       10 Watauga              22:37.00      5
  6 Lily Kimbrough         9 Watauga              22:38.00      6
  7 Emory Taylor          12 Ashe County          22:54.00      7
  8 Evie Pyles            12 Ashe County          23:48.00      8
  9 Makenzi Pyatte        11 Alexander Central    23:49.00      9
 10 Clara Noble           11 South Caldwell       24:01.00     10
 11 Ama Higgs             10 Hibriten             24:06.30     11
 12 Lydia Hendren         12 Alexander Central    24:06.80     12
 13 Riley Benson           9 Watauga              24:19.00     13
 14 Julia Benson           9 Watauga              24:20.00       
 15 Susanna Goff          10 Watauga              24:21.00       
 16 Hope Cox              11 Alexander Central    24:22.00     14
 17 Mia Grace Llibre      12 Watauga              24:26.00       
 18 Abby Bingham          12 Ashe County          24:27.00     15
 19 Sophie Parker         10 Watauga              24:36.00       
 20 Sydney Townsend       11 Watauga              24:57.00       
 21 Ava Smith             12 Alexander Central    25:03.00     16
 22 Audrey Satterwhite    10 Ashe County          25:08.00     17
 23 Anna Norris           11 Watauga              25:11.00       
 24 Carrie Bradbury       10 Watauga              25:13.00       
 25 Katherine Rex         10 Watauga              25:37.00       
 26 Bailey Collins        11 Watauga              25:39.00       
 27 Noelle Bollman         9 Watauga              25:43.00       
 28 Kara Schneider        12 Watauga              25:48.00       
 29 Aaliah Macias         10 Hibriten             26:13.00     18
 30 Tessa Roupe           12 Alexander Central    26:18.00     19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wolverines drop tussle to West Alexander, 14-6

David
-
0
Wolverines drop tussle to West Alexander, 14-6

By David Rogers. ALEXANDER COUNTY — A hard-fought, physical battle between two strong middle school football teams on Sept.3 didn’t end with the “W” the Wolverines of Watauga were looking for, but the action was fast and furious. West Alexander prevailed at the end, 14-6.

SELECTED GAME PHOTOS (click any image for Slide Show mode)

All photographic images by Jared Everett for High Country Sports

ZAP Endurance’s Izewski defends title at Wyoming Valley 10-Mile

David
-
0
ZAP Endurance’s Izewski defends title at Wyoming Valley 10-Mile

By David Rogers. PITTSTON, Pa. — Blowing Rock’s Josh Izewski was nowhere to be seen at the start of the Wyoming Valley 10-Mile Run on Sept. 1, but then no one was in sight of him as he crossed the finish line No.1, successfully defending the champion’s title he won a year ago.

Izewski is a member of Blowing Rock-based ZAP Endurance, an elite professional team of cross country, track and road racing runners, with specialists ranging from 1500 meters to the marathon, men and women.

This was just the second edition of the Allied Services hosted Wyoming Valley Run. For the elite runners, first place earned Izewski not only bragging rights of owning the title after winning for the second straight year, but also a cash prize of $2,000, according to event information.

Although hundreds of runners from the northwestern Pennsylvania region participated in the event, Izewski’s winning time of 48 minutes, 18 seconds in the rainy, sloshy conditions was almost five minutes ahead of the No. 2 finisher, Alex Monroe (53:06) and almost three minutes more than No. 3 Brendan Turowski (55:57).

Race organizers advertise the Wyoming Valley course as “the flattest and fastest” in Pennsylvania, with an elevation change of only about 60 feet.

 

Aguilar’s 326 passing yards, 2 rushing TDs lead Mountaineers past East Tennessee State, 38-10

David
-
0
Aguilar’s 326 passing yards, 2 rushing TDs lead Mountaineers past East Tennessee State, 38-10

By Peyton Ash. BOONE, N.C. — With 36,232 braving inclement weather, the Appalachian State Mountaineers hosted East Tennessee State University on Aug. 31, for a strong season opener at The Rock.

App State set the tone early, as Christan Horn caught a long ball down the middle from quarterback Joey Aguilar for an 83-yard touchdown. The score happened in the first three minutes of play and was the longest pass of Aguilar’s career.

“We had it planned out throughout the week for certain plays,” said Aguilar after the game. “Every play we got, we’ve got a deep shot somewhere and it’s just my alert… Today the safety jumped on K-Rob (Kaedin Robinson) and left the middle field open for C-Horn (Christan Horn), so I just threw it out there.”

Makai Jackson hauls in a Joey Aguilar pass vs. ETSU on Aug. 31. Photographic image by Flaco Suarez-Robles for High Country Sports

The Mountaineers got the ball again after a short drive from ETSU and marched downfield with ease, throwing and running their way through the Buccaneers. Close to the goal line, a Christan Horn touchdown was called back due to an illegal block in the back by Horn himself, according to game officials. App State settled for a field goal by Michael Hughes to put the team up 10-0 as the first quarter came to an end.

After another juggle of possessions, Aguilar and the Mountaineer run-game set up a first and goal at the one-yard line, Kanye Roberts punched in App State’s second touchdown to make the score 17-0.

Kaedin Robinson gains ground after the catch. Photographic image by Flaco Suarez-Robles for High Country Sports

With 7:19 left in the second quarter, App State linebacker Derrell Farrar rocked ETSU quarterback Jaylen King. Farrar was penalized for the alleged late hit that left King off the field for a play. Initially ruled to be targeting, upon review that aspect of the penalty was overturned.

The Buccaneers did not go out of the half without a fight. ETSU running back Devontae Houston cracked an 80-yard run down the heart of the Mountaineers logo — and through a gaping hole in the Mountaineer defense — to shorten the App State lead to 17-7.

In his post-game press conference, App State head coach Shawn Clark was critical of his team’s penalties and the late-first-half 80-yard touchdown run.

“It’s one play. Anytime you miss-fit a gap and it goes to, you know, a 70-yard run, that stuff doesn’t look good for us and it’s not what we wanted,” Clark said.

Halftime arrived with the Mountaineers still holding the 17-7 advantage.

SPECIAL DELIVERY: App State’s Joey Aguilar spots a receiver downfield. Photographic image by Flaco Suarez-Robles for High Country Sports

Following the intermission, ETSU rallied with back-to-back big plays that put them in prime scoring position, at App State’s 23-yard line. Tight End Cameron Lewis led the charge with a 28-yard physical catch and two other receptions during the drive.

App State’s defense buckled down and held ETSU to a field goal, led by inside linebackers Brendan Harrington and Jalik Thomas. ETSU capped off the drive with a 25-yard field goal to once again shorten the lead to 17-10.

Aguilar and the Mountaineers responded with eight consecutive passes. The Antioch, Calif. native delivered another deep ball to tight end Eli Wilson across the middle for a 34-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 24-10. The catch-and-run was the longest of Wilson’s career.

“We’re going to use him a lot this year,” Clark said later. “We didn’t use him enough today but anytime we need a big fourth down he’s one of our first progressions.”

Mountaineer RB Maquel Haywood has eyes for the end zone against ETSU on Aug. 31. Photographic image by Flaco Suarez-Robles for High Country Sports

Back-to-back sacks put ETSU at the one-yard line, forcing the Buccaneers to punt the possession away. Outside linebacker Thomas Davis was involved with both sacks on QB Jaylen King.

“I feel like this game went really good for the D-Line,” Davis said. “If we stop the run, we get to have fun; That’s our ‘lingo’.”

App State capitalized on the next drive with Makai Jackson running for a 47-yard reverse and into the endzone to extend the Mountaineer lead. Just six minutes later, Aguilar punched in another touchdown from the one-yard line.

App State will travel down to Clemson next week, looking for yet another Power 4 FBS win. It has been nearly a decade since the two last met, with Clemson winning the past matchup, 41-10.

“We’re going to Death Valley. It’s a big game,” Clark said. “We’ll make sure we’re firing on all cylinders come Saturday.”

Mountaineers shackle Buccaneers, 38-10

David
-
0
Mountaineers shackle Buccaneers, 38-10

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Things may have bogged down a bit in the middle but Appalachian State was stellar at the beginning and the end against East Tennessee State in the Aug. 31 football season opener, pulling away from the Buccaneers, 38-10.

Kidd Brewer Stadium was rockin’ and rollin’ with a standing room only crowd to watch quarterback Joey Aguilar’s return after a record-setting debut a season ago. The transfer from California’s Diablo Valley Community College didn’t disappoint against ETSU, completing 22 of 37 passes for 325 yards through the air, two TDs and no INTs (a 151.3 efficiency rating) while toting the pigskin five times in short yardage situations for another two TDs.

Joey Aguilar (4) had a big day for the Mountaineers, with 2 passing TDs and 2 rushing TDs. Photographic image by Flaco Suarez-Robles for High Country Sports

The Mountaineers amassed 500 yards of total offense, adding 175 rushing yards to Aguilar’s passing totals. Counting Aguilar, App State employed seven rushers in a methodical attack. Wide receiver Makai Jackson used his one carry on a jet sweep around the left side to ramble for 47 yards and a TD, to lead all rushers. Juniors Kanye Roberts  and Anderson Castle accounted for most of the ground game workload, each carrying the ball nine times for 35 and 28 yards, respectively.

Just like they did a year ago, Aguilar and wide receiver Kaedin Robinson proved an effective tandem, with Robinson on the receiving end of 8 Aguilar passes for 103 yards, the biggest a 47-yard aerial as Robinson crossed to the middle for a 47-yard gain, to the ETSU 21 yard line.

Aguilar’s biggest play, however, seemed to be supercharged by the lightning storm  preceding the game, an 83-yard catch-and-run to veteran wide receiver Christan Horn. With the ball snapped from App State’s own 17 yard line, the 6-2, 190 lb. senior collected the ball near the ETSU 37, then sprinted the rest of the way to the end zone. On App State’s third play from scrimmage, it was the first of five Mountaineer TDs on the day.

App State’s Kaedin Robinson made an acrobatic catch in the first quarter — that was ruled out of bounds. Photographic image by Flaco Suarez-Robles for High Country Sports

The matchup between two former SoCon adversaries also pitted former Watauga Pioneers against each other. Castle, Orlando Leon and Carter Everett are now on the Mountaineers’ roster. Redshirt senior Zach West, an outside linebacker, joins Carlton and Cole Horine, both freshman defensive backs and first year offensive lineman Eli Greene as Pioneer representatives on the Buccaneer roster.

Although the Mountaineer offense seemed to bog down in the middle of the contest while ETSU was gaining some momentum, midway through the third quarter Aguilar found tight end Eli Wilson crossing across the middle for a 34-yard passing TD. It seemed to provide a new spark for App State, on both sides of the ball. Up to that point, ETSU had narrowed the early Mountaineer lead to just a single possession, 17-10. Whether discouraged or worn out, the Buccaneers never really threatened for the rest of the game.

GAME NOTES (Courtesy of App State Athletics):

  • Attendance at Kidd Brewer Stadium was 36,232, the third-largest crowd in Kidd Brewer Stadium history behind the 2022 game against North Carolina and the 2023 game against East Carolina, which both announced a crowd of 40,168.
  • App State won its 10th home opener in the last 11 tries.
  • The Mountaineers improved to 33-14-1 all-time against ETSU and won against an FCS team for the 11th time in 12 tries since moving up to the FBS ranks in 2014. It was App State’s eighth straight win in the series against ETSU.
  • App State improved to 54-10 in home games since 2014, the seventh-best winning percentage nationally in that span (and best among Group of Five programs).
  • App State’s 96 wins since its 2014 FBS debut are tied for sixth-most in the nation behind Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Georgia and Oklahoma.
  • First-time starters for the Mountaineers included LG Griffin Scroggs, C Jack Hollifield, RT Thomas Shrader, DE Montez Kelley, NOSE Joshua Donald, DE Michael Fletcher, STAR Avarion Cole and CB Seth Robertson.

OFFENSE

  • On the Mountaineers’ second offensive play of the season and first passing play, Joey Aguilar connected with Christan Horn for an 83-yard touchdown, the longest throw and catch of their careers, respectively. Aguilar also threw a touchdown on his first pass of the season in last year’s opener against Gardner-Webb.
  • Aguilar – the only returning FBS QB with 33+ touchdown passes and 3,700+ yards from last year – finished the day completing 22 of 37 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns, while adding two more scores on the ground. It was his first game with multiple rushing touchdowns after scoring on the ground three times all of last season.
  • Aguilar’s 34-yard touchdown pass to Eli Wilson on a fourth-down play was Wilson’s career-long reception. The starting tight end found the end zone for the third-straight regular season game.
  • Kaedin Robinson led the receiving corps with eight catches for 103 yards, his fourth career triple-digit receiving yard outing. Robinson ranks among the top 15 players in the country with his 26 consecutive games with a reception.
  • Wide receiver Makai Jackson found the end zone via rush on an end-around toss that he took 47 yards to pay dirt. It was his first career rush as a Mountaineer.

DEFENSE

  • App State’s defense held the Buccaneers to just 122 passing yards and 305 total yards. ETSU converted only 3 of 13 third downs and 1 of 3 fourth downs.
  • Starting inside linebacker Kyle Arnholt led all players with a career-high 10 tackles.
  • Outside linebacker Thomas Davis surpassed his sack total from all of last season with 1.5 sacks and a career-high 2.0 TFLs on five total tackles. His back-to-back third-quarter sacks (shared the second one with Kevin Abrams-Verwayne) turned the momentum in the Mountaineers’ favor and helped turn a seven-point lead into a multiple-touchdown advantage.
  • Derrell Farrar, on his birthday, recorded his first career full sack.

SPECIAL TEAMS

  • Michael Hughes was good on a 33-yard field goal that gave App State a 10-0 lead. The Groza Award watch lister also made all five PATs.

SELECTED TEAM STATS (courtesy of StatBroadcast)

  • Net Total Yards: ETSU 305, APP 500
  • Net Rushing Yards: ETSU 183, APP 174
  • Net Passing Yards: ETSU 122, APP 326
  • Rushing TDs: ETSU 1, APP 3
  • Passing TDs: ETSU 0, APP 2
  • Total 1st Downs: ETSU: 15, APP 22
  • 3rd Down Conversions: ETSU 3-13, APP 6-14
  • 4th Down Conversions: ETSU 1-3, APP 1-2
  • Penalties: ETSU 7-65, APP 6-61
  • Turnovers
    • Fumbles: ETSU 0, APP 0
    • Interceptions Thrown: ETSU 0, APP 0
  • Time of Possession: ETSU 30:30, APP 28:25
  • DEF Tackles for Loss: ETSU 2, APP 6
  • DEF Tackles for Loss Yards: ETSU -3, APP -26
  • DEF Pass Breakups: ETSU 5, APP 0
  • DEF QB Hurries: ETSU 5, APP 3
  • DEF QB Sacks: ETSU 0, APP 3

SELECTED INDIVIDUAL STATS (courtesy of StatBroadcast)

Passing (completions-attempts-yards)

  • APP – Joey Aguilar: 22-37-326, 2 TDs
  • ETSU – Jaylen King: 10-19-122

Rushing (carries-yards)

  • ETSU – Devontae Houston: 15-126, 1 TD
  • APP – Makai Jackson: 1-47, 1 TD
  • ETSU – Bryson Irby: 12-40
  • APP – Kanye Roberts: 9-35
  • APP – Anderson Castle: 9-28
  • APP – Joey Aguilar: 5-19, 2 TDs
  • ETSU – Jaylen King: 13-17
  • APP – Maquel Haywood: 4-19
  • APP – Ahmani Marshall:3-13
  • APP – Kaedin Robinson: 1-13

Receiving (catches-yards)

  • APP – Kaedin Robinson: 8-103
  • APP – Christan Horn: 2-89, 1 TD
  • ETSU – Cameron Lewis: 3-47
  • APP – Eli Wilson: 3-43, 1 TD
  • APP – Kanye Roberts: 4-37
  • ETSU – AJ Johnson: 2-25
  • APP – Makai Jackson: 2-24
  • ETSU – Karim Page: 2-23
  • APP – Anderson Castle: 2-20
  • ETSU – Jonathan Burns: 1-16
  • ETSU – Hakeem Meggett: 1-11
  • APP – William Fowles: 1-10

App State VB splits first day of Bobcat Invitational

David
-
0
App State VB splits first day of Bobcat Invitational

By Katherine Jamtgaard. ATHENS, OHIO — The App State volleyball team opened the season with a gritty, five-set thriller against Xavier (24-26, 25-19, 21-25, 25-17, 15-11) Friday morning before falling short to Wright State in three sets (18-25, 24-26, 13-25) on the first day of the Bobcat Invitational.

App State 3, Xavier 2

Junior Maya Winterhoff led the charge against the Musketeers with a team-high 16 kills, three aces, and five blocks (four assists, one solo). She also recorded a hitting percentage of .536. In her collegiate debut, freshman Maddie Smith matched senior Lulu Ambrose with 12 kills apiece and made six digs. Freshman Julianna Horta also had an impressive debut, recording 29 assists and seven digs, while fellow setter and redshirt junior Addison Heidemann recorded 23 assists and eight digs. Junior Kenady Roper led the team in digs, with 26. App State had 62 kills compared to Xavier’s 59, to go along with 58 assists to the Musketeers’ 55.

The Mountaineers came out hot in the first set, establishing a 6-0 lead before Xavier managed to catch up late in the set at 17 all. As Xavier pulled ahead, App State managed to tie things up at 23-23 with a kill from Smith and a block from the duo of freshman Bella Hutchens and Winterhoff. The visitors held Xavier to a set point with a kill from Winterhoff, but the Musketeers managed to take the first set, 26-24.

It was Xavier’s turn to jump to an early lead in the second set, but the Mountaineers were quick to meet the Musketeers at 10 all after back-to-back kills from freshman Elise Marchal and Smith. Building off of a 4-0 run that featured a kill and a pair of aces from Winterhoff, App State took a 19-14 lead. Sophomore Ava Leahy slammed down a pair of kills to extend the lead to 21-17. App State secured the second set, 25-19, with a late 3-0 run.

App State and Xavier battled through a close third set, fighting for each point and not allowing for more than three points in a run, until Xavier found its footing, jumping ahead 18-12 after five consecutive points. Despite this, the Mountaineers chipped away at the deficit, coming back within one point (21-20) before Xavier pushed forward, 24-20. Marchal mustered one last kill before Xavier took the set, 25-21.

The fourth set started off closely matched as the teams traded the lead until the Mountaineers met Xavier at 12 all. Finding momentum, App State went on a 9-0 run that included kills from Winterhoff, Ambrose, and graduate student Cierra Huntley, to jump ahead, 20-12. A kill from Leahy, an ace from Horta, and a kill from Huntley brought the Mountaineers to set point. Marchal made the final kill to seal the fourth set, 25-17, and push for a fifth.

Early in the fifth and final set, App State edged ahead, 6-3, after kills from Smith and Winterhoff. Xavier managed to take a 10-7 lead, but couldn’t hold on, as the Mountaineers earned five consecutive points that included a kill from Ambrose, a block from Marchal and Leahy, and an ace from Horta. Back-to-back kills from Leahy and a Xavier error sealed the Mountaineers’ victory as they took the set, 15-11, and the match, 3-2.

Wright State 3, App State 0

In App State’s second match of the day, Winterhoff led the Mountaineers with 11 kills, while Horta led the team in assists with 13. Roper recorded a team-high 13 digs against Wright State, as well as the Mountaineers’ sole ace of the match.

Wright State took a commanding lead in the first set after an early 9-0 scoring run. Despite closing the gap to 19-14 with a pair of 3-0 runs that included kills from Marchal, Winterhoff, and Smith as well as Roper’s service ace, the Raiders managed to take the set, 25-18.

The Mountaineers took a 7-3 lead early in the second set before battling point for point with Wright State, meeting at 15 all. Wright State took a 20-17 edge, but Smith brought the Black and Gold back within one with two consecutive kills. A block from Hutchens and Winterhoff, in addition to a kill from each, and a Raiders’ error brought App State to set point. Wright State mustered three points to edge past the Mountaineers, 26-24.

The Mountaineers were held to 13 points in the third set as Wright State took the set, 25-23, and the match, 3-0. Winterhoff landed five of the Mountaineers’ seven kills as well as a solo block during the set, while Smith and Ambrose each contributed a kill.

Looking Ahead

The Mountaineers will close out competition at the Bobcat Invitational with a 1 p.m. clash against the host, Ohio, on Saturday. The match will be available to stream on ESPN+.

Watauga is electric in 56-7 halftime win over Avery County

David
-
0
Watauga is electric in 56-7 halftime win over Avery County

By David Rogers. NEWLAND, N.C. — Lightning struck twice on Aug. 30, literally and figuratively.

Watauga’s football team blitzed the Avery County Vikings, 56-7, in a storm-shortened game that was mercifully stopped at halftime.

Watauga-Only Scoring Summary

Q1

    • WAT: TD – Maddox Greene rushes for 43 yards (5 plays, 80 yards, 1:51)
    • WAT: PAT – Jack Wilson kick is good
    • WAT: TD – Matthew Habich pass from Maddox Greene, for 35 yards (5 plays, 95 yards, 1:25)
    • WAT: PAT – Jack Wilson kick is good
Maddox Greene rounds the corner vs. Avery County on Aug. 30, for a big gain. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports

Q2

    • WAT: TD – Everett Gryder rush for 5 yards (6 plays, 72 yards, 2:47)
    • WAT: PAT – Jack Wilson kick is good
    • WAT: TD – Landon Smith, 55-yard pass from Maddox Greene (1 play, 55 yards, 0:10)
    • WAT: PAT – Jack Wilson kick is good
    • WAT: TD – Everett Gryder rush for 16 yards (4 plays, 59 yards, 1:15)
    • WAT: PAT – Jack Wilson kick is good
    • WAT: TD – Matthew Leon, 66-yard pass from Maddox Greene (2 plays, 55 yards, 0:46
    • WAT: PAT – Jack Wilson kick is good
    • WAT: TD – Maddox Greene rush for 8 yards (3 plays, 20 yards, 0:23)
    • WAT: PAT – Jack Wilson kick is good
    • WAT: TD – Carson Gunnell-Beck fumble return for 20 yards (0-0)
    • WAT: PAT – Jack Wilson kick is good

.

123...110Page 1 of 110

EDITOR PICKS

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

ABOUT US

High Country Sports is the leading digital journalism site for all things sports and recreation in the mountain region of North Carolina, featuring award-winning photography and editorial content.

Contact us: david@highcountrysports.net

FOLLOW US

© Newspaper WordPress Theme by TagDiv