By David Rogers. ASHVILLE, N.C. — Winning NCAA Division I basketball games is challenging enough — especially when you dig a 19-2 hole to start a matchup with a team that has gone to the NCAA Championship Tournament as recently as two years ago. Once App State gathered itself on Nov. 30, it played pretty even with UNC Asheville but could never quite overcome that opening, 17-point deficit before losing, 67-55.
While the Mountaineers scored more points off of turnovers than the Bulldogs (11-9) and got decisively more scoring from their bench (26-4), this game was largely won in the trenches, inside the paint. Asheville finished with a 28-24 advantage in points scored inside and, thanks largely to 36-25 margin in rebounding, held a 13-8 advantage in second chance points.
App State center Luke Wilson with one of only a few inside opportunities during the team’s 67-55 loss to UNC Asheville on Nov. 30. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
App State had few answers for Asheville forward Toyaz Solomon, a fifth year senior originally from Enfield, N.C., a small farming community east of I-95, north of Rocky Mount. The-6-9 forward scored a game-high 25 points while also pulling down 8 rebounds. Game-high honors in clearing the boards went to Bulldog guard Kameron Taylor, with 10 rebounds and 12 points to record the only double-double of the afternoon.
At one point late in the first half, the Mountaineers went on a run and closed to within two points of the Bulldogs, 23-21, but then let the game slip away again. By intermission, it was a 7-point deficit. With just over two minutes remaining in the game, the lead was back to 14 and App State was getting desperate for possession and opportunities to score.
Toward the end, the disparity in foul shots got inflated as the Mountaineers were fouling in an effort to get the ball back, but the UNC Asheville players sent to the charity stripe kept making them, good on 22-of-27 foul shots (81.5 percent), compared to App State’s success on only 7-of-15 foul shots (46.7 percent).
“We got off to a really bad start and I can’t quite put my finger on it, but that’s on me,” said Mountaineer head coach Dustin Kerns after the game. “After that we settled in and did some good things but in the second half we simply couldn’t keep them off the free throw line, where they made 22 of 25 free throws for the game. Where we might have gotten a stop, we weren’t rebounding… We have to do better and it starts with me.”
Speaking of his expectations coming into the game, Kerns was candid.
“I expected us to get off to a better start than being down 19-2 in the first eight minutes,” he said. “I knew we were playing a good team, a team that was 0-2 in their last two games so their backs were against the wall and they came out ready to go.”
The Mountaineers now turn their attention to a Wednesday, Dec. 3, matchup with the University of Virginia-Lynchburg Dragons. It will be the team’s last home game in the early portion of its nonconference schedule. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and will also be broadcast on ESPN+.
By Bret Strelow. BOONE, N.C. — App State Wrestling took four of 10 matches in a 21-14 loss to No. 10 NC State on Sunday, highlighted by Jarvis Little’s ranked win at 133 pounds before the Mountaineers closed their first home dual of the season in a packed Varsity Gym with decisive victories from Tomas Brooker, Logan Eller and Stephan Monchery.
A crowd of 943 created an energetic environment in the matchup between the Mountaineers (2-4) and Wolfpack (3-2). NC State had a ranked wrestler at each of the first seven weights, including five wrestlers with top-11 national rankings.
A redshirt freshman who earned All-America recognition this summer at the U23 Freestyle Nationals and opened this collegiate season with a ranked win during the Southeast Open, Little allowed the first takedown in a 9-4 decision against No. 26 Zach Redding. Little responded with a takedown of his own in the first period and rode out the second period with the score officially tied at 4-all. He moved ahead 5-4 on a third-period escape and sealed the win on a takedown with 22 seconds remaining.
Brooker, a 2024 SoCon champion who suffered a season-ending injury in his 2024-25 dual debut at NC State, built an 11-2 lead in his 11-5 decision against Don Cates at 184.
Eller won a 13-0 major decision at 197 against Andrew Macchiavello, posting a first-period takedown and riding out the second period before dominating the third. Monchery recorded five takedowns in a 17-3 major decision against Xavier Wilson in the heavyweight finale.
Little is one of four first-year starters for the Mountaineers. A pair of true freshmen gave strong efforts against top-five opponents, as Cooper Foster got in the first shot and nearly posted a reversal at the end of an 11-2 loss to reigning national champion and top-ranked Vincent Robinson at 125 pounds. Colt Campbell had a third-period takedown to cut his deficit to 8-6 (counting riding time) with 1:25 left in a 9-6 loss to fourth-ranked Matty Singleton at 174 pounds.
The only ranked showdown occurred at 149 pounds, where No. 9 Koy Buesgens from NC State won a 4-2 decision against No. 31 Kaden Keiser thanks to a tiebreaking takedown with 1:12 left in the third period.
The 2025-26 season is presented by Hungry Howie’s and Penn Station. App State returns to action this week with wrestlers competing at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational and the Patriot Open.
#10 NC State 21, App State 14
125: #1 Vincent Robinson (NCST) def. Cooper Foster (APP), 11-2 maj. dec.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — A missed field goal for the would-be game winner as time expired spelled heartbreak for the App State Mountaineers on Nov. 29, losing to the Arkansas State Red Wolves, 30-29, in Kidd Brewer Stadium.
This Sun Belt Conference matchup of two 5-6 teams needing a win to become bowl eligible and prospectively add another game to their respective 2025 campaigns was about as close a contest as could be. Pregame, oddsmakers had Arkansas State a 1.5-point favorite and the teams lived up to the tight billing. The score was tied 3-3 at the end of the first quarter, 16–16 at halftime and 23-23 at the end of the third quarter.
The Mountaineers’ star freshman placekicker, Dominic De Freitas, made five of six field goal attempts earlier in the game when App State offensive drives stalled, with one blocked, but on the decisive seventh attempt pushed the ball just outside the right upright, allowing the Red Wolves to win the game and, in the process, become bowl eligible.
While the freshman placekicker may have reservations about his performance at game’s end, a sometimes sputtering Mountaineer offense that required them to settle for seven field goal tries must share a good portion of any blame. That said, on the final drive with only 42 seconds remaining to work with, QB J J Kohl led an impressive advance to get De Freitas and the special teams unit into range. Starting from their own 29-yard line, in seven plays Kohl hit three different receivers, including senior tight end David Larkins twice, to move the ball 44 yards to the Arkansas State 27-yard line. The 45-yard attempt was certainly in the mix of his earlier successful efforts from 43-, 38-, 45-, 48- and 29-yards, but the fickle finger of fate — and a strong, swirling wind — denied the potential game winner.
Although the offense had difficulty in scoring touchdowns, not all of the blame can fall on the shoulders of sophomore quarterback J J Kohl, who completed 26 of 39 passes for 271 yards, two TDs, and suffered zero interceptions. His favorite receivers on this day were Sam Mbake (9 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD), David Larkins (6-72-0) and Dalton Stroman (3-64-1).
The Red Wolves QB, Jaylen Raynor, completed 32 of 47 passes for 363 yards and 3 TDs, offset by one interception. While senior wide receiver Corey Tucker caught 10 Raynor passes on 16 targets for 90 yards and 2 TDs, junior wide receiver Chauncy Cobb was the “big play” target with five receptions for 117 yards. Cobb’s yardage came in chunks of 43-, 22- and 37-yard gainers.
Credit Arkansas State’s defense for keeping the Mountaineers out of the “red zone” and forcing long field goal attempts by De Freitas, who made five (the team record is six), had one blocked and then suffered the fatal miss at the end. The Red Wolves defenders were disruptive, tallying four tackles for loss, 3 pass breakups, and eight quarterback hurries to go with one sack.
By comparison to the Mountaineers having to settle for seven field goal attempts, almost all outside of the “red zone,” the visitors did their scoring with TDs (4) and only two field goal tries, one from 24 yards out and the other missed from 52 yards.
At the end of the day, Arkansas State now awaits its potential post-season bowl opportunity. Meanwhile, App State looks ahead to next season, the upcoming “National Signing Day” on Feb. 4, 2026, with early signing opportunities Dec. 3-5.
Scoring Summary
Team
Qtr
Clock
Score
Type
Play
Drive
Score
APP
1
11:15
FG
De Freitas,Dominic 43 yd Field Goal
10/50/03:45
3-0
ASU
1
02:36
FG
Van Andel,Clune 24 yd Field Goal
9/42/04:21
3-3
APP
2
13:47
FG
De Freitas,Dominic 38 yd Field Goal
10/59/03:45
6-3
APP
2
09:44
TD
PASS
Stroman,Dalton 37 yd reception thrown by Kohl,J.J.
2/37/00:39
13-3
ASU
2
01:33
TD
PASS
Rucker,Corey 8 yd reception thrown by Raynor,Jaylen
8/71/02:25
13-9
ASU
2
01:16
TD
PASS
Fortenberry,Tyler 13 yd reception thrown by Raynor,Jaylen
3/13/00:13
13-16
APP
2
00:00
FG
De Freitas,Dominic 45 yd Field Goal
3/49/00:26
16-16
APP
3
07:34
TD
PASS
Mbake,Sam 16 yd reception thrown by Kohl,J.J.
7/66/03:22
23-16
ASU
3
02:38
TD
PASS
Rucker,Corey 6 yd reception thrown by Raynor,Jaylen
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — An old adage says, “Statistics don’t lie” — but maybe football game statistics lie, after all.
BONUS PHOTOS at bottom of article
Nyle Peays took the opening kickoff ‘to the house’ with an 82 yard return for TD. Photographic image by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Statistics lie, after all? That might be the only way to explain Watauga varsity football’s 31-28 win over Sun Valley in Round 4 of the NCHSAA 6A state playoffs, on Nov. 28. Or was it home field advantage in Jack Groce Stadium, in sub-30 degree temperatures? Divine intervention?
At the very least, it was as improbable a gridiron victory that anyone could have imagined, statistically speaking.
Consider:
Sun Valley outgained Watauga, 363 total yards of offense vs. 319 for the Pioneers.
The visiting Spartans ran 77 offensive plays vs. just 33 for the host Pioneers.
SV had possession of the ball for 29:38 compared to just 18:22 for Watauga.
Sun Valley had a +2 advantage in takeaways for the game. The Spartans suffered just one turnover (a pass INT that all but ended the game) but benefited from two Watauga INTs and one lost fumble.
Watauga recorded seven penalties, including five pre-snap, “false start” infractions that could well have disrupted offensive possessions.
Sun Valley limited the Pioneers’ coveted rushing attack to just 74 yards on 21 carries, and that was at minus-3 yards for the entire first half.
Coming into the game, MaxPreps.com had No. 5-seeded Sun Valley ranked as No. 1 team in North Carolina’s 6A classification “power rankings,” thanks to a 9-3 record and the highest rated “strength of schedule” among the 57 teams competing at the 6A level. The 12-0 Pioneers were No. 2 in the power rankings, but with a relatively weak strength of schedule, overall.
At least some of Watauga’s upset is explained by one of head coach Ryan Habich’s favorite phrases, “complementary football,” with contributions from all three units: offense, defense and special teams. Beyond the X’s and O’s and the scheming, said Habich after the game, it comes down to execution by the players on the field.
“Big-time players make big-time plays,” noted Habich.
And the Pioneers got big-time plays aplenty from all three units on Nov. 28 — and it all started from the get-go, after Sun Valley won the coin toss and elected to defer, meaning they would kickoff to the Pioneers:
SPECIAL TEAMS: With some key blocks from his special teams comrades, wide receiver Nyle Peays collected the Spartans’ opening kickoff at his own 18-yard line, then wove his way through the center of Sun Valley’s coverage to outsprint all defenders, an 82-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Head coach Ryan Habich said later, “That was huge because it established momentum.”
DEFENSE: On Sun Valley’s opening drive, behind the hard running of running back Zach Cullen, the Spartans advanced the ball into Watauga territory but faced an increasingly stingy Pioneer defense. On 4th-and-1 from the WAT 41 yard-line, Pioneer defenders Crue Stoddard and Bowen Mayo “stood up” Cullen for no gain, giving the ball back to Watauga with reasonably good field position.
DEFENSE and SPECIAL TEAMS: After Sun Valley tied the game at 7-7 on a balanced drive that featured runs by Cullen and key pass completions from QB Noah Lineberry to three different receivers, on their next possession the Spartans threatened to go ahead, moving the ball down to the Pioneers’ 12-yard line. But on 3rd-and-8, Watauga defensive back Kyle Williams broke up a Lineberry pass to SV wide receiver Thanasi Papazis. Sun Valley opted for a short, 26-yard field goal attempt — but pressure from Watauga’s Thomas Dieters, Aidan Plemons and Evan Burroughs helped Sun Valley kicker Braden Carr push the ball just outside the posts.
OFFENSE: It didn’t take long for Watauga to take advantage as the first quarter was winding down. After the missed field goal, Watauga had the ball at their own 20-yard line — but a false start penalty moved them back to their own 15. No matter, said QB Cade Keller, who on the first play found wide receiver Nyle Peays in the left flat and the speedy senior turned upfield to outrace the only Spartan defender with a glimmer of a chance to stop him. One last desperate lunge by the DB nicked the back of Peays’ heel, but he stepped out of it and finished his race to the goal line.
OFFENSE: After a Watauga fumble was recovered by Sun Valley’s Andrew Doody, the Spartans made short work of the good field position to score a TD and knot the game at 14-14. But in response, it took Keller & Co. just three plays to push the home team back to the lead, 21-14. First, Keller found Peays for a 15-yard gain to near midfield. Two plays later, Keller found Bowen Mayo for a 57-yard pass-catch-and-run to TD paydirt.
DEFENSE: Sun Valley tied the game before halftime, 21-21, then took the second half kickoff 67 yards in 10 plays with a methodical drive that could well have spelled doom for the Pioneers, facing a 28-21 deficit and potential loss of momentum. Rather than allow Sun Valley to establish dominance, however, the Pioneers’ defense buckled down and forced a three-and-out possession by the Spartans, then another 5-play stoppage to force an SV punt. Watauga effectively put the brakes on Sun Valley’s Cullen, with key stops by Everett Gryder, Crue Stoddard, Nyle Peays, Bowen Mayo and Brady Lindenmuth — and critical “QB hurries” with pressure on Lineberry from Matthew Leon and Lindenmuth.
OFFENSE and SPECIAL TEAMS: Suddenly, Watauga’s offense began to look more like the opportunistic, if grinding juggernaut that Pioneer fans have come to expect. Evan Burroughs rushed around the perimeter for 17 yards. Keller completed a 4-yard pass to Mayo before manufacturing a 17-yard “keeper”. Keller to Burroughs for another 14 yards, then to Burroughs for 13 yards as the 4th quarter got underway. Matthew Leon punched ahead for three yards — then Keller found an open Bowen Mayo in the left corner of the end zone for a 12-yard TD. On the PAT, Watauga committed another “false start” penalty, making placekicker Miller Hankins’ PAT attempt more of a field goal. But with a snap-place-boot (and solid line play to protect the kicker), Hankins’s kick was straight and true to tie the game at 28-28. Could Sun Valley respond?
DEFENSE: Nope. In three plays, the Spartans were able to manage just one yard before punting. Crue Stoddard, Bowen Mayo and John Wilson Mills all figured prominently in the three-and-out.
OFFENSE and SPECIAL TEAMS: Getting possession of the ball at their own 46, the Pioneers went to work with good field position. Keller mixed up a balanced attack of QB keepers, rushes by Burroughs, and a 20-yard pass to Matthew Leon coming out of the backfield before the drive stalled at the Sun Valley 20-yard line. In only his second field goal attempt of the season, Miller Hankins drove the 37-yarder right down the middle for a field goal that might have been good from 50 yards. The kick pushed Watauga back into the lead, 31-28 — but there was just over five minutes remaining on the game clock and Sun Valley was getting possession. A field goal would tie the game, but a time-consuming TD drive could well win it for the visitors.
DEFENSE and DEFENSE: There is no obvious explanation as to why Sun Valley moved away from the punishing rushing attack featuring Zach Cullen to advance the ball and take time off the clock. Instead, the Spartans chose to pass the ball and were initially successful with Lineberry-to-Doody completions for 7 and 25 yards. But inside Watauga territory, the Watauga defense stiffened with good defensive back play from Nyle Peays, Evan Burroughs, Everett Gryder and Bowen Mayo to thwart Lineberry passes. When Sun Valley forced a Watauga 3-and-out, the Spartans got the ball back for one final attempt to tie the game or score, with 1:43 left on the clock. It was enough time, but after advancing the ball into Watauga territory, Lineberry’s long pass down the middle of the field was intercepted by the Pioneers’ Everett Gryder at his own 30. With just 50 seconds remaining on the game clock, Watauga’s 31-28 victory was all but in hand, advancing the Pioneers to the 6A West championship game — the North Carolina 6A semifinals — on Dec. 5.
The Series: Bowen Mayo (8) TD Catch-and-Run
“It is the grit and determination of this team,” said Habich. “We knew it was going to be a battle and the weather out there is cold. We had the pre-snap penalties, with the offensive line flinching and all that. We had the turnovers, but they weren’t big turnovers. We flipped the field position a little bit with those long (pass interceptions). But our defense… We played complementary football. Ok, we turned the ball over but our defense finds a way to get a stop and we get the ball back.
“The biggest thing,” Habich continued, “is what happens after a turnover. How do you respond? Our guys responded in the right way. Our kids stayed in the fight. You keep attacking and it starts in August. You attack every challenge and adversity with a growth mindset. That’s what this team did tonight to beat a very good football team in Sun Valley.
“A lot of people may not realize how good Sun Valley is,” added Habich. “They are a very good football team, with a lot of player that were 3-year starters on varsity. We might have been the No. 1 seed in the 6A West, but Sun Valley was the No. 1 team in the power rankings that we just knocked off, tonight.”
John Wilson Mills (15) is ready to meet Sun Valley star running back Zach Cullen on Nov. 28. Photographic image captured by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Speaking about the defensive adjustments at halftime, Habich was candid.
“Our defensive coaches made some good adjustments,” said Habich. “We are undersized up front a little bit, but the way we slant our line and bring pressure differently, with different angles. Our coaches did a really good job with that. So many of our guys play both ways, offense and defense, so really the only opportunity we have to make adjustments is at halftime.”
With the No. 1 seed, Watauga will host the 6A West championship game against No. 2 seeded Northern Guilford (Greensboro), which defeated No. 3 Ashbrook (Gastonia), 39-14, to advance.
SCORING SUMMARY
Q1 – WAT: Nyle Peays, 82-yard return for TD on opening kickoff. Miller Hankins PAT is good. WAT 7, SV 0
Q1 – SV: Zach Cullen, 14-yard run for TD. Braden Carr PAT kick is good. WAT 7, SV 7
Q1 – WAT: Nyle Peays, 85 yard TD pass-catch-run from Cade Keller. Miller Hankins PAT kick is good. WAT 14, SV 7
Q2 – SV: Joshua Bell, 1-yard TD run. Braden Carr PAT kick is good. WAT 14, SV 14
Q2 – WAT: Bowen Mayo, 57 yard TD pass-catch-run from Cade Keller. Miller Hankins PAT kick is good. WAT 21, SV 14
Q2 – SV: Zach Cullen, 4-yard TD run. Braden Carr PAT kick is good. WAT 21, SV 21
Q3 – SV: Thanasi, Papazis, 13-yard TD pass from Noah Lineberry. Braden Carr PAT kick is good. WAT 21, SV 28
Q4 – WAT: Bowen Mayo, 12 yard TD pass from Cade Keller. Miller Hankins PAT kick is good. WAT 28, SV 28
Q4 – WAT: Miller Hankins, 37-yard field goal. WAT 31, SV 28
SELECTED TEAM STATS
Total Offense, Yards: SV 363, WAT 319
First Downs: SV 22, WAT 12
Net Yards Rushing: SV 206, WAT 74
Net Yards Passing: SV 157, WAT 245
Turnovers
Interceptions: SV 1, WAT 2
Fumbles Lost: SV 0, WAT 1
Penalties-Yards: SV 3-15, WAT 7-40
Time of Possession: SV 29:38, WAT 18:22
3rd Down Conversions: SV 6 of 16, WAT 1 of 6
4th Down Conversions: SV 3 of 5, WAT 0 of 2
INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE STATS
Passing
WAT – Cade Keller: completed 14 of 22, 3 TDs, 2 INTs
SV – Noah Lineberry: completed 17 of 30, 1 TD, 1 INT
Receiving
WAT – Nyle Peays: 2 receptions for 100 yards, 1 TD
SV – Andrew Doody: 9 receptions for 82 yards
WAT – Bowen Mayo: 4 receptions for 81 yards, 2 TDs
By Bret Strelow, BOONE, N.C. — With 10 entries advancing to title matches, App State Wrestling produced four champions at the Mountaineer Open on Nov. 23 in Varsity Gym. The event featured wrestlers from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, NC State, Ohio University, Duke University, Tennessee-Chattanooga, Presbyterian and unattached competitors.
Monchery overcame what was essentially a 5-0 deficit (because of riding time) in a 9-6 overtime victory against North Carolina’s Jacob Levy.
Monchery had a second-period takedown and then posted another one with 24 seconds left in the third period, with Levy’s escape a few moments later meaning the match would go to a Sudden Victory period at 6-all. Monchery fought off an immediate shot and earned a takedown just six seconds into the overtime period against Levy, who entered the final with six pins as part of a 9-0 record.
Brooker trailed 3-1 after one period in the 184 final against North Carolina’s Nick Fea, rode out the second period and finished on top to win 7-3 after recording a takedown with 1:30 remaining. It was Brooker’s first title since he suffered a season-ending injury in the first dual of the 2024-25 season.
Foster topped McBride in the 125 final thanks to an early takedown in a 5-3 victory, and Keiser won by fall in the first period of the 149 final against Bentley Sly, a high school senior and top-60 national recruit who has signed with the Mountaineers.
North Carolina accounted for champions at 133, 141, 165 and 174 pounds, while Ohio won a title at 157. Patrick Brophy, formerly a standout at The Citadel, won the 197 title while officially wrestling as an unrostered entry.
Campbell drew some of the loudest cheers of the day in his quarterfinal and semifinal wins. He trailed 4-2 before getting a takedown and two near fall points with 48 seconds left in a 7-4 quarterfinal win, then trailed 4-1 entering the third period of his semifinal win against UNC’s Cade Tenold. Campbell was still down 4-3 before he recorded a takedown with 23 seconds left, and he won by fall with three seconds remaining.
The Mountaineers got a quarterfinal pin with three seconds left from Kai O’Dell, who trailed 7-6 against UNC’s Joey Showalter before executing a reversal with eight seconds left and then winning by fall.
O’Dell (157), Jarvis Little (133) and Brayden Fahrbach (149) all finished third in their brackets, with Fahrbach bouncing back from an overtime loss in his first match to win five consecutive times, including the rematch against Ohio’s Carson Weber.
App State’s 2025-26 season is presented by Hungry Howie’s and Penn Station. The Mountaineers host No. 10 NC State next Sunday in a 3 p.m. dual at Varsity Gym.
By Bret Strelow. BOONE, N.C. — The first fumble recovery of the fourth quarter produced the go-ahead points. The second recovery sealed an emotional, dramatic rivalry win at The Rock.App State defenders Caleb Sandstrom and Colton Phares made critical plays in the final six minutes, both recovering fumbles they also forced, and those takeaways were sandwiched around Dominic De Freitas’ go-ahead field goal from 23 yards out with 2:02 remaining in a 26-24 win against Marshall, Nov. 22 in Kidd Brewer Stadium.
It was Black Saturday and Heroes Day in Boone, with a crowd of 31,322 on hand to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the 2005 national title team and cheer on a 2025 squad that overcame a double-digit deficit against the Thundering Herd (5-6, 3-4). App State (5-6, 2-5) closes the regular season next Saturday against Arkansas State with a chance to clinch bowl eligibility at The Rock.
True freshman Jaquari Lewis rushed for a season-best 175 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries Saturday, and JJ Kohl threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to David Larkins late in the first half, after Marshall had moved ahead 21-9.
David Larkins is headed for the end zone vs. Marshall on Nov. 22. Photographic image by David Katzenmaier, courtesy of App State Athletics
That touchdown with 53 seconds left before the break, coupled with Lewis’ 5-yard touchdown run to cap a 75-yard drive that lasted more than five minutes at the start of the third quarter, pushed App State ahead 23-21.
Marshall went back in front on a 25-yard field goal with 5:29 remaining in the third quarter, but it wasn’t able to add to the lead thanks to DeNigel Cooper’s block of a 28-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. The next three drives ended with punts, but App State punter Ian Ratliff’s 70-yarder to the 1-yard line forced the Thundering Herd to start a drive from the shadow of its own end zone with about nine minutes remaining.
Marshall picked up two first downs, but Sandstrom wrestled the ball away from backup quarterback Zion Turner on a rush to the Thundering Herd 40, setting up App State’s go-ahead possession that began with 5:33 remaining. Sam Mbake’s 13-yard reception to the 22 on a third-and-5 throw from Kohl and Lewis’ 13-yard run to the 9 put the Mountaineers in scoring range.
After De Freitas’ kick, Marshall started its last drive at the 25-yard line and advanced past midfield, but Phares punched the ball out on a carry by Michael Allen and then won the race to the loose ball at the App State 39 with 55 seconds remaining.
The Mountaineers ended a four-game skid, including two straight home losses in league play, while totaling 276 yards of offense. They did account for all three takeaways in the game, with Emory Floyd intercepting a first-half pass to go along with the pair of forced fumbles.
The teams traded the lead frequently in the early going, with Marshall posting its first touchdown after De Freitas opened the scoring with a 32-yard field goal and the Thundering Herd taking a 14-9 lead on starting quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson’s 16-yard touchdown run to cap a four-play, 75-yard drive just 90 seconds after Lewis scored on a 18-yard rush in relief of a banged-up Rashod Dubinion.
Marshall quickly regained possession after a three-and-out punt covered 25 yards, then increased the margin to 21-9 on Del Rio-Wilson’s 4-yard touchdown run.
App State was forced into another three-and-out punt, but its defense forced a punt with less than five minutes remaining before halftime, and Larkins’ touchdown started a 17-3 run to end the game.
The Mountaineers, who trailed at the end of the first, second and third quarters, had been 0-5 when facing a halftime deficit and 0-5 when facing a deficit entering the fourth quarter.
MORE POST-GAME NOTES
App State snapped a four-game losing streak and moved to within a win of bowl eligibility at 5-6 on the season.
App State improved its lead against Marshall in the all-time series to 17-11, including 11-3 in Boone. The home team has won each of the last six years.
The Mountaineers forced three turnovers and allowed no takeaways. They are now 4-0 when winning the turnover battle, 1-4 when losing and 0-2 when turnovers are tied.
Attendance at a sold-out Kidd Brewer Stadium was 31,322. It was the 15th sellout in the last 16 home games and the 23rd straight crowd above 30,000.
DEFENSE
Defensive coordinator DJ Smith‘s unit allowed only three points and created two takeaways after halftime.
Two of the game’s most impactful plays were fourth-quarter takeaways in which Caleb Sandstrom forced and recovered a fumble at the 5:33 mark and then Colton Phares did the same with 0:55 left to seal the App State victory.
Emory Floyd recorded his first collegiate interception after a pass deflected off a Marshall receiver’s hands.
App State sacked Marshall quarterbacks twice in the game – by Dylan Manuel and Aiden Benton. It was Benton’s team-leading fourth of the season.
OFFENSE
True freshman Jaquari Lewis rushed 33 times for a career-high 175 yards and two touchdowns. The touchdown runs of 18 and 5 yards were his fifth and sixth scores of the season. He also had five catches for 39 yards to total 214 all-purpose yards.
Lewis ran for the second-most yards by an App State freshman. Jalin Moore holds the freshman record of 244, which he set against Idaho on Nov. 14, 2015.
Lewis’ 20-yard gain on a fourth-and-1 late in the second quarter set up a touchdown on the next play to cut the Mountaineers’ deficit to five points.
David Larkins caught four passes for 27 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown catch that pulled the Mountaineers to within one score at 21-16 in the first half’s final minute.
JJ Kohl returned to the starting lineup and completed 19 of 27 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown, with no turnovers.
Sam Mbake had a career-high seven catches (for 39 yards), including a key third-down conversion during what proved to be the game-winning drive with less than five minutes remaining in the game.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Dominic De Freitas made field goals of 32 and 23 yards. His 23-yarder with 2:02 left in the fourth quarter proved to be the game winner. The true freshman has made 15 of 18 field-goal attempts, including each of his last eight. He has made all 10 attempts from inside 40 yards.
DeNigel Cooper blocked a field goal for the second time this season when he got a hand on Marshall’s 28-yard attempt early in the fourth quarter that would have given the Herd a four-point advantage.
Ian Ratliff punted six times for a 47.7-yard average, including a career-long 70-yarder that came to rest at Marshall’s 1-yard line.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Neither Josie Mayo or Mia Mitchell are going to make Watauga women’s basketball fans forget 2-time state MVP Kate Sears any time soon, perhaps, but the talented freshmen duo should prove a good foundation for head coach Bill Torgerson to build around. They demonstrated just that on Nov. 22 in a non-conference rivalry game vs. Avery County, winning 53-46.
Watauga freshman Josie Mayo handles the ball outside the key on Nov. 22 vs. Avery County. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Of the 11 players on the Pioneers varsity for the 2025-26 campaign, only seniors Izzy Torgerson and Shelby Thompson return having played meaningful minutes a year ago. With those two seniors, five juniors, a sophomore and three freshmen comprising the Watauga roster, Torgerson is in the early weeks of a rebuilding year while teaching his young charges what he wants to happen in various situations, as well as the nomenclature.
Mayo and Mitchell, with 15 and 12 points, respectively, joined junior Izzy Mohr (10 points) in double figures, scoring-wise. The two seniors, Torgerson and Thompson added 7 and 5 points, respectively, while sophomore Charlie Mattox contributed 4 more points to account for the Pioneers’ scoring effort.
Defensively, Watauga kept the Vikings subdued for much of the match, their pressing defense forcing multiple turnovers, but starting guard/small forward Marley Jones got loose to record a game-high 20 points on the afternoon, while shooting guard Caroline Hollifield added a respectable 11 points.
Watauga sophomore Charlie Mattox lays the ball up and in vs. Avery County on Nov. 22. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Watauga jumped out to a 6-2 lead, but Avery County used their own pesky defense to force Pioneer turnovers and, led by Jones and Hollifield, made 8-0 and 10-0 runs that narrowed any large deficits.
This may prove to be the best “length” for a Watauga team in recent memory. There are no 6-footers — although the freshmen still have an opportunity to grow — but the roster includes five players between 5-8 and 5-11: Susanna Goff (5-11), Mitchell (5-9), Mayo (5-8), Torgerson (5-8), and Mohr (5-8).
With the win, Watauga evened their early season record to 1-1, while the junior- and senior-laden Avery County squad suffered their first loss (4-1). The Pioneers return to action on Nov. 25, 6:30 p.m., hosting Mountain Heritage in Lentz Eggers Gym. It will be the Burnsville-based team’s first competition of the year.
BONUS PHOTOS (All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports)
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — There was high gridiron drama at Jack Groce Stadium on Nov. 21. The outcome of Watauga’s clash with perennial powerhouse Charlotte Catholic in the 6A West quarterfinals of the state playoffs wasn’t decided until the final seconds but, in the end, the Pioneers’ “prevent defense” lived up to its name with two pass interceptions in the waning minutes to secure a 27-19 win.
That 8-point final difference is a bit deceiving, though. This contest was closer than that.
Watauga struck for end zone gold in the Pioneers’ first two offensive possessions and, in the early going, denied Catholic’s rushing attack much in the way of movement. The regular tenants of Jack Groce Stadium took a 14-0 lead midway through the first half, but would it be enough?
Everett Gryder, right, is closing in and will limit the Charlotte Catholic receiver to just a 2-yard gain. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
The Cougars won the coin toss and wanted the ball first, but thanks to a stingy Pioneer defense were forced to punt after just six plays.
Starting with the ball at their own 28-yard line, Watauga promptly unveiled a perimeter attack featuring screen passes from QB Cade Keller to WR Evan Burroughs for a 10-play, 72-yard near-error free drive, highlighted by wide receiver Bowen Mayo finishing things off with a 6-yard TD run.
Watauga’s defense was impressive when the Cougars took possession after the kickoff at their own 36. Led by Everett Gryder, Crue Stoddard, John Wilson Mills and Mayo, the Pioneers stood up Catholic’s top running backs, Garrett Nowlan and Max Whalen, for no gain on the drive’s first two plays, then Gryder was Johnny-on-the-spot in limiting QB Chase Kummer’s completed pass to Nowlan coming out of the backfield to just two yards.
Watauga got the ball back with good field position at the 50-yard line when CC’s punter, Jude Spisso — under pressure from the Pioneers’ special teams unit — sliced the ball off the side of his foot. The Pioneers took advantage of the miscue, Keller orchestrating a 9-play drive that covered that 50 yards in just under four minutes, with running back Matthew Leon punching the ball into the end zone for the final yard. With yet another Miller Hankins PAT kick, Watauga sported a 14-0 early lead and Charlotte Catholic had barely seen the ball.
Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
After the game, Watauga head coach Ryan Habich gave credit to the team’s offensive coaches for designing a game plan to go around Charlotte Catholic’s nearly impenetrable defensive line.
“We had to attack the perimeter,” said Habich, “and I consider those short screen passes out there to Burroughs behind the line of scrimmage to be running plays.”
Faced with a 14-0 early deficit, Charlotte Catholic had no intention of folding up their tents and slink off into the stillness of the night. The Cougars got on the board at the 5:09 mark of the second quarter with the kind of offensive drive for which they are known: a punishing, 13-play, 65-yard drive that kept Watauga’s dynamic offense off the field for more than six minutes. It was a one-two, CC punch featuring Nowlan and Whalen, picking up one- to seven-yard chunks before a Kummer-to-Kellan Nalitz 13-yard pass put the Cougars on the Watauga 10. Whalen ground out half the remaining distance, then Nowlan finished things off with a 5-yard TD run.
Once Watauga got the ball back, though, they produced their own 13-play scoring drive, going 77 yards in 3:41, capped off by an 18-yard TD pass from Keller to Mayo, twisting and wrestling his way into paydirt. The drive saw a lot of those Keller to Burroughs screen passes, again attacking the Cougars’ defensive perimeter, but Keller mixed things up with other pass completions to Mayo and the versatile Nyle Peays.
QB Cade Keller sprints to a gap in the line vs. Charlotte Catholic on Nov. 21. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
The drive allowed Watauga to go into the locker room at intermission with a heady, 21-7 lead — but Charlotte Catholic had demonstrated it could move the football.
Receiving the opening kickoff of the third quarter, Watauga looked to again be in control of both the clock and offensive possession. They got the ball on their own 20 when Charlotte Catholic placekicker Aidan Flynn sailed the kickoff over 60 yards and into the end zone for a touchback. Keller mixed in short passes to Burroughs, Mayo and Peays around a 28-yard run by Burroughs on a pitchout, around the outside.
In 10 plays, the Pioneers got the ball down to the Catholic 2-yard line and looked poised to score. But that formidable CC defensive front turned back Watauga attempts to get the ball in the end zone four times from 1st-and-goal from the CC10-yard line.
Charlotte Catholic inherited the ball at their own 3-yard line — and delivered. It took eight plays of short runs and short passes to get the ball out to their own 25-yard line and some “breathing room,” then Kummer hit tight end Jack Reilly in the right flat. The big Cougar senior evaded a couple of tackles, then outran the rest of the Pioneer defense for a 75-yard touchdown. The Cougar score narrowed the deficit to 21-13.
Evan Burroughs (12)was a frequent recipient of screen passes behind the line of scrimmage on Nov. 21, vs. Charlotte Catholic. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Catholic’s PAT kick was blocked by Watauga’s Gryder, providing an important end-of-game dynamic. On their ensuing possession, the Pioneers were held to a 3-and-out, giving the ball back to the Cougars with reasonable field position at their own 32 yard line. They couldn’t do much with it, having to punt after just six plays. A short time later, though, Watauga’s Peays received a pass at the Pioneers’ 37, the hit for no gain forcing a fumble that was alertly recovered by Catholic’s senior defensive lineman Dominic Basrawala.
Now, with good field position, Charlotte Catholic could potentially tie the game with a TD and a 2-point conversion.
They got the TD, covering the 37 yards’ distance in seven plays, highlighted by a 14-yard pass from Kummer to Nowlan and capped by a pair of “tush push” style keepers by Kummer behind his big offensive line into the end zone, shrinking the Pioneer advantage to just 21-19. With just over four minutes remaining on the game clock, Charlotte Catholic had little choice but to go for a 2-point conversion to tie the game, but Kummer’s pass over the middle was intercepted by the Pioneers’ Burroughs to deny the Cougars’ knotting the score.
QB Cade Keller (10) was spot on with his passes on Nov. 21 vs. Charlotte Catholic in Round 3 of the 6A state playoffs. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
To their credit, Catholic’s defense did their part to give the visitors another chance to win the game, although Watauga made it tough with savvy clock management. Starting at their own 23-yard line, Watauga used up almost four minutes of game clock before Keller was forced to punt. He angled the ball out of bounds to the right side, the ball crossing the sideline at the CC12.
It was desperation time for the Cougars, faced with just 38 seconds to try and move the ball 88 yards and possibly win the game with a TD. A penalty pushed the ball back even further, to the Cougars’ 7-yard line, so now with only 34 seconds to go 93 yards. After an incomplete Kummer pass attempt, the junior QB rolled into his own end zone and threw back to the right flat — but Watauga’s Matthew Leon read it perfectly, stepping in front of the intended receiver to poach the ball and sprint into the end zone for his first interception of the season and his first “Pick 6” as a Pioneer.
The Cougars had one more chance, receiving the kickoff and starting a next offensive possession at their own 32 — but with only 19 seconds remaining. It was desperation time again and Kummer’s long pass on first down, almost predictably, was intercepted by Burroughs near midfield. It was game over once Keller took a knee for one play in victory formation.
Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Coach Habich acknowledged later that his defensive coaches had Leon, Burroughs and their comrades in “prevent” schemes for both of the INTs.
“Charlotte Catholic is not really known as a passing team,” said Habich, “so we had an advantage there.”
For the host Pioneers, it was one of the program’s most impressive wins against a powerful opponent, a multi-dimensional performance of complementary football.
Keller finished the game having completed 29-of-40 pass attempts for 199 yards, one TD, and no interceptions. The offensive line held up well against the bigger Cougar defensive line and linebackers, not giving up a single QB sack.
Burroughs collected 17 of Keller’s passes for 91 yards and added 5 carries on the ground for a net of 43 yards.
Defensively, John Wilson Mills tallied six solo tackles and nine assisted tackles for a total of 15, to lead all defenders. Not counting Burroughs INT on the late 2-point conversion attempt by the Cougars to tie the game (on PAT’s, pass interceptions are not counted, statistically. The play is just noted in the record books as a failed conversion), the two late turnovers by the Cougars in the face of Watauga’s prevent defense turned out to be critical defensive plays.
No. 1-seeded Watauga (12-0) advances to the fourth round of the 6A state playoffs and the semifinals of the 6A West. The Pioneers will host the 6A West’s No. 5 seed, Sun Valley, which upset No. 4 Freedom, 46-20.
In the bottom half of the 6A West bracket, No. 3 Ashbrook defeated No. 11 Dudley, 15-7 and No. 2 Northern Guilford trumped No. 10 Kings Mountain, 37-7.
SELECTED TEAM STATS
Total Offensive Yards: CC 237, WAT 318
Net Yards Passing: CC 124, WAT 199
Net Yards Rushing: CC 113, WAT 119
First Downs: CC 13, WAT 21
Penalties: CC 5-40, WAT 3-25
Interceptions By: CC 0, WAT 2
Fumbles Lost By: CC 0, WAT 1
Time of Possession: CC 23:38, WAT 24:22
3rd Down Conversions: CC 5-of-11, WAT 6-of-11
4th Down Conversions: CC 2-of-2, WAT 1-of-2
Red Zone Scores: CC 2-of-2, WAT 3-of-4
SELECTED INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE STATS
Passing
WAT – Cade Keller: 29-34-199, 1 TD, no INTs
CC – Chase Kummer: 9-14-124, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Rushing
CC – Garrett Nowlan: 14-49, 1 TD
WAT – Evan Burroughs: 5-43
CC – Max Whelan: 12-31
WAT – Cade Keller: 5-28
WAT – Everett Gryder: 5-25
CC – Kellan Nalitz: 5-23
WAT – Matthew Leon: 8-19, 1 TD
WAT – Bowen Mayo: 1-6, 1 TD
CC – Frank O’Brien: 1-4
CC – Chase Kummer: 3-3, 1 TD
CC – Lukas Lupinski: 1-3
Receiving
WAT – Evan Burroughs: 17-91
CC – Jack Reilly: 3-85, 1 TD
WAT – Bowen Mayo: 7-54, 1 TD
WAT – Nyle Peays: 4-45
CC – Garrett Nowlan: 3-21
CC- Kellen Nalitz: 1-13
WAT – Tyler Leyshon: 1-7
CC – Michael Brady: 1-7
DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS
WAT – John Wilson Mills: 15 total tackles
WAT – Thomas Deiters: 12 total tackles, TFL, Pass BreakUp
CC – Caden O’Neill: 10 total tackles
CC – Andrew Kuhn: 9 total tackles
CC – Keenen Teeter: 9 total tackles
WAT – Crue Stoddard: 8 total tackles
CC – Teddy Vellio: 8 total tackles
WAT – Everett Gryder: 7 total tackles, blocked PAT
CC – Dominic Basrawala: 6 total tackles, TFL, Fumble Recovery
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Just one look at the stat sheet and it would be easy to call Watauga’s 47-6 win over St. Stephens in Round 2 of the NCHSAA 6A state playoffs, “The Keller and Burroughs Show.” While QB Cade Keller and wingback Evan Burroughs ran the ball into the end zone twice, each, and combined for two more TDs playing pitch-and-catch, the Pioneers’ dominating performance over the Indians in all three phases of the game was perhaps the most complete argument this season for their No. 1 seeding in the 6A West playoffs bracket.
Nyle Peays (9) shoestring tackle prevented St. Stephens from extending their only real scoring threat in the first three quarters. Photographic image captured by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Two pass interceptions, one each by Burroughs and Nyle Peays with healthy returns both times; a quarterback sack by senior defensive lineman Brady Lindenmuth; at least five QB hurries turned in by a combined force of John Wilson Mills, Everett Gryder, Crue Stoddard and Thomas Deiters; a fumble recovery Burroughs; and a stout run defense led by Lindenmuth, Mills, Gryder, Matthew Leon, Stoddard and Aidan Plemons that all but stonewalled the Indians’ rushing attack… it was all that the Pioneers’ defensive coaching staff could ask for.
The Series:
Watauga wide receiver Bowen Mayo catches a perfectly thrown deep pass from QB Cade Keller in the first half vs. St. Stephens on Nov. 14, in Round 2 of the NCHSAA 6A state playoffs. Photographic images captured by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
The takeaways — the pass interceptions and fumble recovery — certainly helped Watauga start their offensive drives with excellent field position in the first half, but as the game wore on and St. Stephens’ deficit grew larger, desperation set in and the Indians were often “going for it” on 4th down, sometimes in their own half of the field. That led to even more good field position opportunities for the Pioneers and, more often than not, they capitalized.
Now 11-0 on the season, Watauga advances to Round 3 on Nov. 21, and will host Charlotte Catholic (7-4), the 27-0 victors over A.C. Reynolds (Asheville) in Round 2.
The Charlotte Catholic Cougars have notable losses to 7A Marvin Ridge (7-3), 6A Sun Valley (21-0), 7A Weddington (42-7) and NCISAA I-class Providence Day (32-7). Noteworthy wins include over 8A South Mecklenburg (37-14), NCISAA I-class Charlotte Christian (16-7), 6A Kings Mountain (28-21), 7A Porter Ridge (14-13, OT), 7A Cuthbertson (28-14) and 6A Piedmont (49-0).
Kickoff for the Round 3 matchup is tentatively set for 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 21, at Jack Groce Stadium.
6A West Scores in Round 2
No. 1 Watauga 47, No. 16 St. Stephens 6
No. 8 Charlotte Catholic 27, No. 9 A C Reynolds 0
No. 5 Sun Valley 42, No. 12 Olympic 6
No. 4 Freedom 40, No. 20 Central Cabarrus 6
No. 3 Ashbrook 20, No. 14 Statesville 14
No. 11 Dudley 21, No. 6 Asheboro 6
No. 10 Kings Mountain 21, No. 7 T.C. Rogerson 20
No. 2 Northern Guilford 39, No. 15 Asheville 6
SCORING SUMMARY
Q1- WAT: 23-yard run by Cade Keller, Miller Hankins PAT; 7-0
Q1- WAT: 16-yard pass from Keller to Evan Burroughs, Hankins PAT fails; 13-0
Q2- WAT: 36-yard pass from Keller to Burroughs, Hankins PAT; 20-0
Q2- WAT: 2-yard run by Everett Gryder, Hankins PAT; 27-0
Q2- WAT:2-yard run by Keller, 2-point conversion fails; 33-0
Q2- WAT: 17-yard run by Burroughs, Hankins PAT; 40-0
Q3- WAT: 3-yard run by Burroughs, Hankins PAT; 47-0
Q4- SST: 1-yard run by Josiah Brown, PAT fails; 47-6
SELECTED WATAUGA OFFENSIVE STATS (Unofficial)
Rushing
WAT – Everett Gryder: 8 carries, 54 yards
WAT – Cade Keller: 8 carries, 60 yards, 2 TDs
WAT – Evan Burroughs: 4 carries, 26 yards, 2 TDs
WAT – Matthew Leon: 3 carries, 25 yards,
Passing
WAT – Cade Keller: 10-of-13, 161 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Receiving
Evan Burroughs: 3-for-82, 2 TDs
Nyle Peays: 5-for-90
Bowen Mayo: 1-for-36
Matthew Leon: 1-for-5
Everett Gryder: 1-for-3
Miscellaneous
Miller Hankins: 5-of-6 PAT kicks
SELECTED WATAUGA DEFENSIVE STATS (UNOFFICIAL)
J W Mills: 6 tackles, 2 QB Hurries
Brady Lindenmuth: 4 tackles, QB Sack
Everett Gryder: 7 tackles, 3 QB Hurries
Bowen Mayo: 7 tackles
Evan Burroughs: 2 tackles, fumble recovery, INT (20-yard return)
Nyle Peays: 6 tackles, Pass Defended, INT (40-yard return)
Thomas Deiters: 3 tackles, QB Hurry
Aidan Plemons: 5 tackles
Crue Stoddard: 4 tackles
Matthew Leon: 3 tackles
Editor’s Note: There are wide discrepancies in our in-game stats vs. what was reported in MaxPreps at the time this article was published. We will review videotape and try to correct any errors on our part and apologize if any of our stats are miscredited.
BONUS PHOTOS
All photographic images captured by Jared Everett and processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports.
By David Rogers. ASHEVILLE, N.C. — After a brilliant fall season, Watauga High School’s varsity men’s soccer team ran into a buzz saw on Nov. 13, falling to the NCHSAA 6A West No. 1-seeded A.C. Reynolds, 2-1, effectively bringing the season to a close for the Pioneers.
For arguably the first time in the 2025 campaign, Watauga played a team that consistently beat them to the ball, dominating not only possession but the number of scoring opportunities. The Rockets kept the Pioneers’ goalkeeper Solomon Triplett busy, their ranks fortified by arguably two of the best men’s soccer players in the state, in any of the classifications, in senior forward Christian Penland and sophomore striker Alex Golovchuk. The duo took turns sending… well, sending “rockets” at the Watauga-defended goal, eventually each finding success in spite of Triplett’s courageous efforts.
The Series: A.C. Reynolds’ “Own Goal”
AC Reynolds defender Oliver Brunner (4) inadvertently heads the ball into his own goal on Nov. 13, accounting for Watauga’s only goal of the evening. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Watauga actually got on the board first, thanks to an “own goal” inadvertently delivered by A.C. Reynolds defender Oliver Brunner. Watauga took a free kick some 30 yards out, about 10 yards in from the left sideline. The free kick was well placed to the center of the field, to a spot roughly 8 yards in front of the Rockets’ net when an unidentified ACR player trying to clear the ball with a header instead punched it into his own goal.
The score remained 1-0 at intermission and the large number of Pioneer supporters in the grandstands were hoping for an upset of the No. 1 seeded Rockets by the No. 4 seeded Pioneers.
Ben Myers (7) had a pretty good look at a scoring opportunity off a free kick set play by Watauga, his shot sailing just wide of the post. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
A critical adjustment made by the Rockets in the second half was to apply more pressure when Watauga’s defenders had the ball, looking to force more errors.
Led by Penland and Golvchuk, the Rockets’ attack was persistent, resulting in goals by the dynamic pair of offensive-minded players.
With the win, A.C. Reynolds advances to the NCHSAA 6A West championship game (also the 6A state semifinals) while the Pioneers’ season ends.
