Category: High School

By Zach Smith. MORGANTON, N.C. — The high school football action was wild and wooly on Oct. 20, as a highly athletic Freedom team hosted a precision-focused, disciplined contingent from Watauga. The visiting Pioneers outlast the Patriots, 54-48, with a number thrills and spills, twists and turns and could-have-beens along the way. Beginning with our Pregame Notes, here is how it unfolded.

Pregame Notes

• Watauga (8-0, 3-0) faces Freedom (3-5, 2-1) on the road
  • Watauga can clinch Northwestern Conference title with victory
  • Watauga leads NWC in scoring offense (42.3 pts/gm) and scoring defense (18.4 pts allowed/gm)
  • Freedom ranks third in NWC in both scoring offense and scoring defense
  • Watauga has not lost to Freedom since 2015

Watauga Team Leaders

• QB/DB #4 Maddox Greene (Jr)
• TE/LB #9 Jackson Pryor (Sr)
• RB #44 Everett Gryder (So)
• LB #6 Trathan Gragg (Jr)
• WB/DB #12 Evan Burroughs (So)

PLAY BY PLAY

• Freedom wins toss, defers to second half

• Watauga ball at their own 22
  • Everett Gryder carries right for 13 yards
  • Maddox Greene carries left for 6 yards
  • Gryder carries up the middle for 6 yards
  • Gryder carries right for 14 yards

• Penalty: False start against Watauga, 1st and 15 at Freedom 44

• • Gryder carries up the middle for 6 yards
  • Gryder carries left for 7 yards

• TOUCHDOWN WATAUGA

• • #12 Evan Burroughs 31-yard rush (1) for TD

• • #41 Jack Wilson PAT is good

Watauga 7 Freedom 0

• After short kickoff, Freedom ball at their own 41
  • Jaylen Barnett carries left for 17 yards
  • Kaden Davis pass incomplete
  • Davis pass complete right to Kaleb Greene for 5 yards
  • Davis pass complete right to Kayden Lytle for 8 yards
  • Barnett carries left for 20 yards
  • Davis pass complete left to Kobe Johnson for 2 yards
  • Davis pass incomplete
  • Barnett carries up the middle for 3 yards
• Penalty: False start against Freedom, 4th and 8 at Watauga 9

• • Davis pass incomplete
  • Turnover on downs

• Watauga ball at their own 9
  • Gryder carries up the middle for 16 yards
  • Greene carries left for 44 yards
  • Gryder carries up the middle for 4 yards
  • Gryder carries up the middle for 9 yards

• Penalty: Holding against Watauga, 1st and 17 at Freedom 25

• • Burroughs carries right for 10 yards
  • Greene carries up the middle for 8 yards
  • Gryder carries up the middle for 6 yards

• TOUCHDOWN WATAUGA

• • #44 Everett Gryder 1-yard rush (1) for TD

• • #41 Jack Wilson PAT is good

Watauga 14 Freedom 0

• Freedom ball at their own 33
  • Davis pass incomplete
  • Barnett carries up the middle for 5 yards
  • Davis pass incomplete

Second Quarter

• Freedom ball, 4th and 5 at their own 38
  • Freedom punts

• Watauga ball at their own 31
  • Gryder carries up the middle for 4 yards
  • Burroughs carries right for 16 yards
  • Greene carries up the middle for 11 yards

• Offsetting personal fouls, Watauga given 5 additional yards

• • Greene pass complete right to Morgan Henry for 30 yards
  • Gryder carries up the middle for 3 yards

• TOUCHDOWN WATAUGA

• • #44 Everett Gryder 1-yard rush (2) for TD

• Offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, touchdown stands

• • #41 Jack Wilson PAT is no good

Watauga 20 Freedom 0

• Penalty: Facemask against Watauga, 15 yards added to kickoff return
• Freedom ball at Watauga 45

• Penalty: Holding against Freedom, 1st and 10 at Watauga 45

• • Barnett carries right for 25, fumbles
    • Fumble recovered by Freedom
  • Barnett carries left for no gain
  • Davis pass complete right to Lytle for 15 yards

• TOUCHDOWN FREEDOM

• • #7 Jaylen Barnett 5-yard rush (1) for TD

• • #16 Jake Kota PAT is good

Watauga 20 Freedom 7

• Watauga ball at their own 29
  • Gryder carries up the middle for 3 yards
  • Burroughs carries right for 12 yards

• Penalty: Illegal procedure against Watauga, 1st and 15 at their own 39

• • Greene carries up the middle for 5 yards

• Penalty: Holding against Watauga, 2nd and 8 at their own 46

• • Greene pass incomplete
  • Jackson Pryor carries left for 11 yards
  • Greene sacked for loss of 7 yards
  • Gryder carries up the middle for 5 yards
  • Greene scrambles left for 14 yards
  • Gryder carries up the middle for 5 yards

• Penalty: Personal foul against Freedom, 1st and 10 at Freedom 13

• Penalty: Holding against Watauga, 1st and 14 at Freedom 17

• • Burroughs tackled for loss of 8 yards

• Penalty: Personal foul against Freedom, 2nd and 5 at Freedom 8

• TOUCHDOWN WATAUGA

• • #12 Evan Burroughs 8-yard rush (2) for TD

• • #41 Jack Wilson PAT is good

Watauga 27 Freedom 7

• Freedom ball at their own 41
  • Davis pass incomplete
  • Barnett carries up the middle for 16 yards
  • Davis pass complete right to Lytle for 8 yards
  • Timeout Watauga (1)

• Penalty: Personal foul against Watauga, 1st and 10 at Watauga 20

• Penalty: Holding against Freedom, 1st and 20 at Watauga 30

• • Davis pass incomplete
  • Davis pass incomplete

• Penalty: Unsportsmanlike conduct against Freedom sideline, 3rd and 35 at Watauga 45

• Barnett carries up the middle for 1 yard

SECOND HALF

•  Freedom ball at their own 44 after short Watauga kickoff
  • Barnett carries up the middle for 4 yards
  • Davis pass complete left to Johnson for 25 yards
  • Barnett carries right for 22 yards

• Penalty: false start against Freedom, 1st and Goal at Watauga 10

• • Barnett carries left for 9 yards

• TOUCHDOWN FREEDOM

• • #7 Jaylen Barnett 1-yard rush (2) for TD

• • #16 Jake Kota PAT is good

Watauga 27 Freedom 14

• Watauga ball at their own 40
  • Gryder carries up the middle for 6 yards
  • Greene carries left for no gain
  • Greene carries up the middle for 17 yards
  • Gryder carries left for 17 yards
  • Gryder carries up the middle for 7 yards
  • Gryder carries up the middle for 8 yards

• TOUCHDOWN WATAUGA

• • #44 Everett Gryder 5-yard rush (3) for TD

• • #41 Jack Wilson PAT is good

Watauga 34 Freedom 14

• TOUCHDOWN FREEDOM
  • #7 Jaylen Barnett 75-yard kick return (1)

• • #16 Jake Kota PAT is blocked

Watauga 34 Freedom 20

• • Freedom attempts onside kick, Watauga ball at Freedom 49

• TOUCHDOWN WATAUGA

• • #4 Maddox Greene 49-yard rush (1) for TD

• • #41 Jack Wilson PAT is good

Watauga 41 Freedom 20

• Penalty: Kick out of bounds
• Freedom ball at the 50
• • Barnett carries left for 6 yards

• TOUCHDOWN FREEDOM

• • #5 Kaden Davis 44-yard pass (1) to #3 Kobe Johnson (1) for TD

• • #16 Jake Kota PAT is good

Watauga 41 Freedom 27

• Watauga ball at their own 36
  • Gryder carries up the middle for 9 yards
  • Gryder carries right for 7 yards
  • Greene carries left for 7 yards
  • Gryder carries up the middle for 28 yards
  • Gryder carries up the middle for 4 yards
  • Greene tackled for loss of 1 yard

• TOUCHDOWN WATAUGA

• • #4 Maddox Greene 10-yard rush (2) for TD

• • #41 Jack Wilson PAT is no good

Watauga 47 Freedom 27

• Penalty: Offsides against Watauga, Watauga to kick off from their own 35

• Freedom ball at Watauga 48
  • Barnett carries right for 15 yards
  • Barnett carries up the middle for 2 yards
  • Timeout Watauga (1)

• TOUCHDOWN FREEDOM

• • #5 Kaden Davis 31-yard pass (2) to #2 Kayden Lytle (1) for TD

• • #16 Jake Kota PAT is good

Watauga 47 Freedom 34

 

• Freedom attempts onside kick, Watauga ball at Freedom 49

• TURNOVER: Gryder fumbles, Freedom recovers

 

• Freedom ball at their own 46
  • Barnett carries up the middle for 6 yards

FOURTH QUARTER

• Freedom ball, 2nd and 4 at Watauga 48
  • Davis pass incomplete
  • Barnett carries up the middle for 1 yard
  • Timeout Freedom (1)

• Penalty: Offsides against Watauga, 1st and 10 at Watauga 41

• • Barnett carries left for no gain
  • Davis pass complete left to Johnson for 16 yards
  • Davis pass incomplete
  • Davis pass complete right to Lytle for 10 yards
  • Barnett carries up the middle for 2 yards

• TOUCHDOWN FREEDOM

• • #5 Kaden Davis 8-yard pass (3) to #3 Kobe Johnson (2) for TD

• • #16 Jake Kota PAT is good

Watauga 47 Freedom 41

• Watauga ball at their own 43
  • Greene carries up the middle for 6 yards
  • Gryder carries up the middle for 5 yards
  • Greene carries up the middle for 7 yards
  • Gryder carries up the middle for 4 yards
  • Greene carries for loss of 2 yards
  • Greene carries up the middle for 10 yards
  • Gryder carries up the middle for 1 yard
  • Gryder carries up the middle for 2 yards

• Penalty: Holding against Watauga, 1st and 9 at Freedom 28

• • Burroughs carries left for 11 yards
  • Greene carries up the middle for 3 yards
  • Burroughs carries right for 8 yards
  • Timeout Watauga (2)

• TOUCHDOWN WATAUGA

• • #44 Everett Gryder 1-yard rush (4) for TD

• • #41 Jack WIlson PAT is good

Watauga 54 Freedom 41

• • Freedom ball at the 50
  • Davis pass complete right to Lytle for 19 yards
  • Davis pass incomplete
  • Davis pass incomplete

• Penalty: Illegal shift against Freedom, 3rd and 15 at Watauga 36

• • Timeout Watauga (3)
  • Davis pass complete over the middle to Barnett for 15 yards
  • Davis pass incomplete
  • Davis scrambles left for 15 yards

• TOUCHDOWN FREEDOM

• • #5 Kaden Davis 6-yard pass (4) to #11 Kaleb Greene (1) for TD

• • #16 Jake Kota PAT is good

Watauga 54 Freedom 48

• • Freedom’s onside kick recovered by Watauga at their own 39

• Penalty: Offsides against Freedom, 1st and 5 at Watauga 44

• Greene takes a knee
• Timeout Freedom (3)
• Greene takes a knee
• Greene takes a knee

 

FINAL SCORE: Watauga 54, Freedom 48

 

Watauga Noteables

• QB/DB #4 Maddox Greene

• • • 17 car., 194 yds, 11.4 avg, 2 TD

• RB #44 Everett Gryder

• • • 32 car., 207 yds, 6.5 avg, 4 TD

• WB/DB #12 Evan Burroughs

• • 8 car., 88 yds, 11.0 avg, 2 TD

Freedom Noteables

• QB #5 Kaden Davis

• • • 15/27 (55.6%), 212 yds, 4 TD

• RB #7 Jaylen Barnett

• • 20 car., 160 yds, 8.0 avg, 2 TD

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — With straight set sweeps across the board, Watauga women’s tennis dominated play in Round 1 of the NCHSAA 4A West Dual Team Tennis Championships, defeating Independence (Charlotte), 5-0.

At No. 1 singles, freshman Addison Cohen continued her strong play with a 2-0 win over Independence senior Melanie Orellana, 6-1, 6-4.

At No. 2 singles, Watauga sophomore Larson Berry too command early and dispatched Independence senior Lily Thorson, 2-0 (6-2, 6-0).

No. 4 singles was won by WHS sophomore Fiona Russell, who blanked Avarie Phommarath, an Independence sophomore, 2-0 (6-0, 6-0),

The Pioneers’ senior No. 5, Abbi Shuman cruised by the Patriots freshman Madison Dean, 2-0 (6-3,6-1).

And to round out the singles matches, WHS junior Hatherly Armfield defeated Independence sophomore Sarah Morgan, 2-0 (6-0,6-0).

In Round 2, Watauga will take on Ardrey Kell, Oct. 23, in Boone. The No. 16-seeded Knights defeated Northern Guilford in Round 1, 6-3.

Individuals from the Watauga team are scheduled to play in the Individual state tournment regional, Oct. 20 and 21, at Hough High School

This report will be updated as we have additional information.

 

By David Rogers. MORGANTON, N.C. — The Watauga men’s and women’s cross country teams got out their brooms on Oct. 17 and it was not to give to the Wicked Witch of the West for Halloween. No, the Pioneers had some house cleaning on their minds.

Led by sophomore Janie Beach-Verhay, the Watauga women’s team took nine of the top 10 places in the Northwestern Conference XC Championships hosted by Freedom High School, including a sweep of the top six finishers comprised of two sophomores (No. 1 Beach-Verhay and No. 6 Sydney Cate Townsend), two freshmen (No. 2 Lainey Johnston and No. 4 Maggie Visser), a junior (No. 3 Sadie Buchanan) and a senior (No. 5 Ellary Smith).

Led by senior Sam Nixon at No. 1, the Watauga men did almost as well, sweeping the top six positions and placing seven of the top 10. The Pioneers also have a bit of a youth movement going on when it comes to cross country. Two sophomores, Elliott Taft and Calvin Zwetsloot finished the 5000 meters course at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, followed by No. 4 Collin Anderson (senior), No. 5 Sam Rex (junior), and No. 6 Zeke Walker (sophomore). After a pair of South Caldwell seniors at No. 7 and No. 8, Levi Bowman and Parker Bowman, respectively, Watauga junior Jonah Norris crossed the line at No. 9.

In the women’s race, Beach-Verhay had to be feeling good, crossing the finish line in 20:10, a full minute and 19 seconds ahead of second place Johnston. Rounding out the top 10 for Watauga were No. 8 Rachel Cathey (senior), No. 9 Winter Shaw and No. 10 Katherine Rex, both freshmen.

A total of 83 athletes competed in the women’s division, with other noteworthy Watauga performances by Keatyn Wuest (No. 13, freshman), Mia Libre (No. 14, junior), Sophie Parker (No. 15, freshman) and Elyse Rea (No. 16, freshman).

A total of 75 athletes competed in the men’s division of the NWC XC Championships. Watauga also saw strong performances by Davis Crymes (No. 11, senior), Grady Gates (No. 12, freshman), Roman Sibaja (No. 13, senior), Silas Powell (No. 15, sophomore), A J McAulay (No. 20, sophomore), Wes Coatney (No. 21, senior), Santino Wood (No. 22, sophomore), Hayden Walker (No. 23, junior) and Levi Anderson (No. 24, sophomore).

WOMEN’S TEAM SCORES

1. Watauga (15)
2. Alexander Central (81)
3. Ashe County (90)
4. Freedom (106)
5. South Caldwell (114)
6. Hibriten (133)

MEN’S TEAM SCORES

1. Watauga (15)
2. South Caldwell (61)
3. Alexander Central (73)
4. Freedom (107)
5. Hibriten (142)

 

By David Rogers. LENOIR, N.C. — It was a perfect night for football and a perfect night for Hibriten’s “Homecoming” — except the Panthers may have invited the wrong opponent. No patsy, visiting Watauga ran and passed roughshod over their hosts, 41-21, at Jeff Storie Memorial Stadium.

BONUS PHOTOS @ BOTTOM OF ARTICLE ( click any image for slideshow mode)

For Watauga, the Oct. 13 performance was the perfect response to a week earlier when the Pioneers’ gridiron misadventures against Alexander Central in Jack Groce Stadium nearly led to a comeback rally by the Cougars. Watauga escaped with their unblemished 2023 record intact but it was not without some anxious moments.

Fast forward to meeting the red-and-black-clad Panthers, and the longtime Northwestern Conference adversaries traded touchdowns in the first quarter, in different ways. Watauga’s came after a failed onside kick by Hibriten on the opening kickoff gave the Pioneers good field position at midfield.

On the second play from scrimmage, QB Maddox Greene punched off tackle on the right side, catapulted himself into the secondary, then outraced all but one Panther defender across to the other side of the field before being shoved out of bounds at the 4-yard line. Just two plays later, he weaved his way through the middle for a 4-yard TD run.

Hibriten countered with a grinding, ball possession rushing attack, seeming to exploit a vulnerable Pioneers’ defense on the left side of the Panthers offensive attack.  The 12-play, 68 yard drive was complete when the Panthers’ big running back Gabe Sudderth punched the ball across on a one-yard TD rush. With Ammon Blanton’s PAT kick, the score was tied 7-7.

Not to be outdone in the “grinding” department, a combination of rushes by Greene and running back Everett Gryder, intermixed with short passes to wide receiver Jackson Pryor, moved the ball from the Pioneer 36 to the Hibriten 24 by the end of the first quarter. Switching ends of the field, Gryder finished off the 13-play, 64 yard drive with a 1-yard dive into the end zone, followed by yet another Jack Wilson PAT kick. A highlight of the drive was a 19-yard pass to Pryor.

Apparently, the Pioneers’ defensive braintrust used their offensive counterparts’ lengthy possession to make some needed adjustments because Hibriten’s offense never again proved to be a potent factor in this contest.

After the game, Pioneer head coach Ryan Habich was asked about any defensive adjustments following the Panthers’ first TD.

“We did. We made some adjustments on our defensive line,” Habich acknowledged. “They came out on both sides of the ball and were cutting us. On defense, they used a double tight edge and were running right at us. Our guys were getting shot down and we weren’t tackling very well and tackling high some of the time. They kept getting two, three yards and keeping the ball. It was a long drive. They didn’t score quickly and we didn’t give up the big play. That was one of the things we worked on all week. When you play an option team sometimes they fake and throw a play-action pass. We didn’t give up that, but we had a hard time getting them off the field.”

In addition to making adjustments on the defensive line, Habich said there were a number of guys who stepped up.

“You have to give our guys a lot of credit. We don’t have a lot of quality depth, so we have a lot of guys playing both ways. Plus, we had some guys out,” said Habich. “And that happens this late in the season. Carson Gunnell-Beck was missing, who plays both defensive tackle and also guard on offense. So we had guys step up and make plays. That’s what you have to do when you get this late in the season. When you are competing for a conference championship and a chance to get in the state playoffs, you have to have guys step up when players go down. I thought our guys responded well from the way we played last week.”

As an example of guys stepping up, Habich called out Cameron Hall, a junior offensive and defensive lineman.

“Cam is a role player, but he had a bigger role this week with (Gunnell-Beck out). Hibriten has a defensive player of the year in No. 44 and we knew he liked to blitz a lot,” said Habich. “So we worked all week in picking up that blitz and Cam did a really good job.”

With defensive adjustments made, Watauga all but ran off the Panthers’ offense. While Watauga’s offense was scoring almost at will in all manner of ways — rushing, passing and even trick plays — Hibriten punted, punted and, desperate to catch up, turned the ball over on downs for the rest of the first half.

Watauga’s offensive efforts included Gryder’s 1-yard plunge to finish off the long drive, a 63-yard Maddox Greene pass to Evan Burroughs, and a clever Greene lateral back to reserve QB Cade Keller, who lofted a pass downfield to a wide open Jackson Pryor for a 48-yard catch-and-run TD.

SECOND HALF FINISHERS

The start of the second half was more of the same. Hibriten turnED the ball over on downs and Watauga took possession at the Panthers’ 44. They scored quickly, Greene completing a 22-yard pass to Pryor, then Burroughs rambled 23 yards for a diving touchdown to the pylon on the right side of the end zone (see our cover image, top). With another Wilson PAT kick, the score was 34-7.

Some Pioneer reserves began to filter into the defensive mix and Hibriten made some creative adjustments on offense. That led to a 13-play, 64 yard drive by the Panthers, taking time off the clock and keeping Watauga’s potent offense off the field. Aided by a face mask penalty against the Pioneers, Hibriten got into the red zone and the Panthers’ hulking, 6-1, 235 lb. senior fullback Sudderth pushed across the goal line from one-yard out for another home side TD.

The score and PAT kick tightened the deficit to 20 points, 34-14, as the clock was winding down to just nine seconds left in the third quarter.

Greene & Co. quickly made sure last week’s second half collapse wouldn’t be repeated. After Hibriten attempted an onside kick that was recovered by Watauga at their own 46 yard line, it took just one play for Greene to scamper through, around and past all Hibriten defenders and deliver a 54-yard TD run. Jack Wilson’s PAT was the Pioneers’ final point of the night but it proved more than enough.

With even more Pioneer reserves getting an opportunity to see game action, Hibriten manufactured one more long drive, moving the ball 53 yards in 11 plays, finishing with an 8-yard run by senior Gerard Felder.

A 20-point lead and time fast slipping away, Watauga’s coaches all but emptied their bench. Junior QB Matthew Habich took the reins in guiding the offense while sophomore running back and speedster Matthew Leon became the featured rusher. A highlight of the Pioneers’ final drive: a 17-yard power run-and-scoot by Leon.

After a group of starting players emptied a bucket of icy Gatorade on top of Habich while he was being interviewed by reporters to celebrate his win No. 100 just during his 11 years as head coach of Watauga, in typical fashion Habich deferred any accolades.

“I never thought about 100 wins until someone mentioned it to me yesterday. It is not something I think about. The players play. The players win,” said Habich.

SELECTED INDIVIDUAL WATAUGA STATS by Zach Smith for High Country Sports

• :Maddox Greene:
  • Passing: 5-for-8, 119 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
  • Rushing: 8 carries, 136 yards, 2 TDs
• Jackson Pryor: 5 receptions, 104 yards, 1 TD
• Evan Burroughs:
  • Receiving: 1 reception, 63 yards, 1 TD
  • Rushing: 3 carries, 42 yards, 1 TD
• Cade Keller: 1 pass, 63 yards, 1 TD

SELECTED TEAM STATS by Jonathan Watson

• Total Plays: WAT 42, HIB 63
• Total Yards of Offense: WAT 383, HIB 250
• Total Passing Yards: WAT 157, HIB 10
• Total Rushing Yards: WAT 226, HIB 240
• 3rd Down Conversions: WAT 5/7 (71%), HIB 4/11 (36%)
• 4th Down Conversions: WAT 1/2 (50%), HIB 1/4 (25%)
• Fumbles lost: WAT 0, HIB 1
• Interceptions Thrown: WAT 1, HIB 0
• Penalties: WAT 2/11 yards, HIB 4/40 yards

BONUS PHOTOS

By Zach Smith for High Country Sports. LENOIR, N.C. — Watauga stampeded through Hibriten’s Homecoming Night on Oct. 13, defeating the Panthers, 41-21. Here are our pre-notes about the contest, as well as our play-by-play as the action unfolded.

Pregame Notes

• Watauga (7-0, 2-0) faces Hibriten (3-4, 1-1) on the road
  • Watauga is averaging NWC-best 42.4 points/game while allowing 18.4 points/game, fewest in the NWC
  • Hibriten is allowing NWC-worst 32.1 points/game
  • Watauga has not lost to Hibriten since 2016
    • Teams did not play from 2016 to 2021

Watauga Team Leaders for the 2023 Season

• QB/DB #4 Maddox Greene (Jr)
• TE/LB #9 Jackson Pryor (Sr)
• RB #44 Everett Gryder (So)
• LB #6 Trathan Gragg (Jr)
• WB/DB #12 Evan Burroughs (So)

Play by Play

1st Quarter

• • Hibriten wins toss, defers to second half
    • Hibriten attempts onside kick, Watauga ball at the 50
    • Gryder carries right for 3 yards
    • Maddox Greene carries left for 44 yards
    • Gryder carries for loss of 1 yard

• TOUCHDOWN WATAUGA

• • #4 Maddox Greene 4-yard rush (1)

• • #41 Jack Wilson PAT is good

Watauga 7 Hibriten 0

• Hibriten ball at their own 32
• • Gabe Suddreth carries right for 2 yards
  • DK Mitchell carries up the middle for 19 yards
  • Johnny Miller carries right for 4 yards
  • Avin Crawford pass complete left to Austin Ballard for 10 yards
  • Mitchell carries up the middle for 4 yards
  • Dillan Earp carries left for 7 yards
  • Crawford pass incomplete
  • Mitchell carries right for 13 yards
  • Suddreth carries right for 4 yards
  • Mitchell carries left for 3 yards
  • Gerard Felder carries up the middle for 1 yard
  • Timeout Hibriten (1)

• TOUCHDOWN HIBRITEN

• • #45 Gabe Suddreth 1-yard rush (1)

• • #82 Ammon Blanton PAT is good

Watauga 7 Hibriten 7

• Watauga ball at their own 36
  • Greene carries right for loss of 4 yards
  • Greene pass complete left to Jackson Pryor for 5 yards
  • Greene carries right for 13 yards
  • Greene fumbles, Gryder recovers for loss of 1 yard
  • Greene pass complete left to Pryor for 10 yards
  • Gryder carries up the middle for 9 yards
  • Gryder carries right for 5 yards
  • Greene carries up the middle for 3 yards

2nd Quarter

• Watauga ball, 3rd and 2 at Hibriten 24
  • Gryder carries up the middle for no gain
  • Greene pass complete right to Pryor for 19 yards
  • Gryder carries up the middle for 1 yard
  • Gryder carries up the middle for 3 yards
• TOUCHDOWN WATAUGA

• • #44 Everett Gryder 1-yard rush (1)

• • #41 Jack Wilson PAT is good

Watauga 14 Hibriten 7

• Hibriten ball at their own 35

• Penalty: False Start against Hibriten, 1st and 15 at their own 30

• • Felder carries up the middle for 7 yards
  • Crawford carries left for loss of 1 yard
  • Crawford pass incomplete
  • Hibriten punts

• Watauga ball at their own 37
  • Gryder carries right for no gain

• TOUCHDOWN WATAUGA

• • #4 Maddox Greene 63-yard pass (1) to #12 Evan Burroughs (1)

• • #41 Jack Wilson PAT is blocked

Watauga 20 Hibriten 7

• Hibriten ball at their own 29

• • Hibriten carries left for 1 yard

• • Crawford scrambles for 1 yard
  • Crawford pass incomplete
    • Burroughs with the pass breakup
  • Hibriten punts

• Watauga ball at their own 36

• Penalty: Holding against Watauga, 1st and 16 at their own 30

• Turnover: Greene pass intercepted

 

• Hibriten ball at Watauga 41     
  • Crawford pass incomplete
  • Suddreth carries up the middle for 4 yards

• Penalty: False Start against Hibriten, 3rd and 11 at Watauga 42

• • Mitchell carries left for 1 yard
  • Crawford scrambles for 1 yard
  • Turnover on Downs

• Watauga ball at their own 40
  • Greene carries up the middle for 8 yards
  • Greene pass incomplete
  • Timeout Watauga (1)
  • Greene carries up the middle for 14 yards
  • Greene pass incomplete

• TOUCHDOWN WATAUGA

• • #15 Cade Keller 48-yard pass (1) to #9 Jackson Pryor (1)

• • #41 Jack Wilson PAT is good

Watauga 27 Hibriten 7

• Hibriten ball at their own 40
  • Crawford pass incomplete
  • Crawford carries right for 31 yards
  • Felder carries up the middle for 6 yards
  • Timeout Hibriten (2)
  • Mitchell carries up the middle for 7 yards
  • Mitchell carries up the middle for 6 yards
  • Timeout Hibriten (3)
  • Mitchell carries left for 1 yard
  • Crawford carries up the middle for 2 yards
  • Turnover on Downs
• Watauga ball at their own 5
  • Greene takes a knee to close out first half

SECOND HALF

• Hibriten ball at their own 35
  • Crawford sacked for loss of 2 yards
    • Morgan Henry with the sack
  • Mitchell carries left for 2 yards
  • Miller carries right for 6 yards
  • Mitchell carries right for 3 yards
  • Turnover on Downs
• Watauga ball at Hibriten 44
• • Gryder carries left for loss of 3 yards
  • Burroughs carries right for 2 yards
  • Greene pass complete left to Pryor for 22 yards

• TOUCHDOWN WATAUGA

• • #12 Evan Burroughs 23-yard rush (1)

• • #41 Jack Wilson PAT is good

Watauga 34 Hibriten 7

• Hibriten ball at their own 36
  • Felder carries right for no gain
  • Suddreth carries right for 7 yards
  • Suddreth carries up the middle for 3 yards
  • Suddreth carries up the middle for 2 yards
  • Crawford carries up the middle for 10 yards

• Penalty: Facemask against Watauga, 1st and 10 at Watauga 26

• • Mitchell carries up the middle for 5 yards
  • Mitchell carries left for 4 yards
  • Crawford carries up the middle for 2 yards
  • Crawford carries left for 7 yards
  • Mitchell carries left for 4 yards
  • Mitchell carries left for 2 yards
  • Mitchell fumbles, Hibriten recovers for 1 yard

• TOUCHDOWN HIBRITEN

• • #45 Gabe Suddreth 1-yard rush (2)

• • #82 Ammon Blanton PAT is good

Watauga 34, Hibriten 14

• Hibriten attempts onside kick, Watauga ball at their own 46

• TOUCHDOWN WATAUGA

• • #4 Maddox Greene 54-yard rush (2)

• • #41 Jack Wilson PAT is good

Watauga 41 Hibriten 14

4th Quarter

• Hibriten ball at their own 47
  • Suddreth carries up the middle for 2 yards
  • Crawford carries left for 13 yards
  • Suddreth carries up the middle for 3 yards
  • Earp carries left for 6 yards
  • SUddreth carries left for 1 yard
  • Crawford carries right for 10 yards
  • Crawford pass incomplete
  • Crawford carries right for 11 yards
  • Suddreth carries right for 3 yards

• Penalty: False Start against Hibriten, 2nd and goal at Watauga 8

• TOUCHDOWN HIBRITEN

• • #8 Gerard Felder 8-yard rush (1)

• • #82 Ammon Blanton PAT is good

Watauga 41 Hibriten 21

• Watauga ball at their own 25
  • Timeout Watauga (1)
  • Matthew Habich carries for no gain

• Penalty: False Start against Watauga, 2nd and 15 at Watauga 20

• • Burroughs carries right for 17 yards
  • Habich carries left for 2 yards
  • Matthew Leon carries up the middle for 7 yards
  • Leon carries up the middle for 17 yards
  • Leon carries for no gain
  • Habich carries left for 3 yards
  • Habich carries up the middle for 2 yards
  • Timeout Watauga (2)
  • Habich pass incomplete
  • Turnover on Downs

• Hibriten ball at their own 32
  • Crawford sacked for loss of 5 yards
  • Crawford carries right for 2 yards

Final Score: Watauga 41, Hibriten 21

Noteables

• QB/DB #4 Maddox Greene

• • • 5/8, 119 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
    • 8 car., 136 yds, 17.0 avg., 2 TD

• WB/DB #12 Evan Burroughs

• • • 3 car., 42 yds, 14.0 avg., 1 TD
    • 1 rec., 63 yds, 1 TD

• TE/LB #9 Jackson Pryor

• • 5 rec., 104 yds, 1 TD

By Zach Smith. LENOIR, N.C. – It was a battle of triple option offenses as Watauga took the short road trip to Lenoir. The Pioneers faced off against Hibriten in a Northwestern Conference battle on Oct. 13.

The Pioneers seemed to have met their match early on, but the 7-7 score at the end of the first quarter proved misleading as Watauga walked away victorious over the Panthers, 41-21.

Watauga entered Friday’s contest on a hot streak. The Pioneers were riding a seven-game win streak powered by their conference best offense and dominant defense. Hibriten, however, had sputtered into their homecoming game, the Panthers’ only win over the previous four weeks being a two-point overtime victory at Freedom.

Hibriten won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half, but that proved costly as the Pioneers took just four plays to reach the endzone. Hibriten responded on their next possession, though, and the game looked to be shaping into a thriller.

Watauga then took control in the second quarter, scoring three unanswered touchdowns before the halftime break. The most notable of those touchdowns was a 48-yard strike to senior tight end Jackson Pryor, courtesy of sophomore QB Cade Keller after a backwards pass from Maddox Greene. The long touchdown was the first of Keller’s career. The Pioneers never lost the lead again.

Head coach Ryan Habich spoke on Watauga’s gameplan against a team that, much like the Pioneers, utilizes a triple option offense.

“When you play an option team, a lot of times they fake and throw a play action pass,” Habich said. “We didn’t give that up.”

Habich also spoke on dealing with injuries and depth in the late stages of Watauga’s 2023 campaign.

“You give our kids a lot of credit. A lot of our guys are going both ways. We don’t have a lot of quality depth,” Habich said. “And we have some guys out, too. This time of year you have some guys out so we had some guys step up and make plays. Next man up. That’s what you gotta do when you get this late in the season, trying to finish up the season strong.”

With the victory, Habich reached an important career milestone. It was his 100th win as Watauga head coach. When asked post-game if any of those victories stood out, Habich mentioned the Pioneers’ 2018 victory over Freedom to clinch a conference championship for the first time since 2007.

Much like Watauga’s 2018 season, the Pioneers remain unbeaten through eight weeks and can clinch at least a share of the NWC title next week as they travel to Morganton for a matchup against Freedom. Kickoff is set for 7:30p.m. and can be streamed on the NFHS Network website.

By David Rogers. TAYLORSVILLE, N.C. — For win No. 100 as the Watauga High School men’s soccer team head coach, Josh Honeycutt could hardly ask for more than what he got: a 2-0 “revenge game” victory over Alexander Central — on the road, no less.

BONUS PHOTOS AT BOTTOM OF ARTICLE (click any image for slideshow mode)

Both Watauga goals were unassisted, the first early in the first half by Stryker Ward, the second late in the game by Lade Oguntoyinbo.

“This is the Watauga team I have been waiting for,” Honeycutt said after the game. “We put two great halves together against a very good team. We have had glimpses of it. We have had halves. We have had decent games but we have not had it come together the way I know these guys can play until tonight. If they commit to being that team every time we step on the field we will be a very hard team to beat.”

Right from the get-go against the Cougars on Oct. 11, Watauga played with a sense of urgency. The intensity of their play was obvious in beating their opponents to the ball and controlling possession.

“We also did well tonight moving the ball, staying connected. We moved the ball around tonight without losing possession”

The Pioneer defense was impenetrable on this night.

“We defended really well tonight,” said Honeycutt, now in his seventh year as head coach of Watauga. “Their No. 22 (freshman forward Jaylen Bennett) is really, really fast and we didn’t give him many opportunities tonight.”

Honeycutt added that the performance wasn’t perfect.

“Finishing is one area where we can still improve,” he said. “As much as we controlled possession, there were probably two, maybe three or four more goals we should have scored. We have to finish.”

Now at 5-2 in Northwestern Conference (7-10-1 overall), Watauga holds a slim, one-half game lelad over Alexander Central (4-2-1, 10-4-2) as the top 4A school in NWC play. The Pioneers will try to spoil 3A contender, Hibriten’s unblemished conference record (7-0, 14-2-3) on Monday, Oct. 16, back home in Jack Groce Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m., following the junior varsity game.

BONUS PHOTOS

 

 

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Watauga women’s volleyball took care of business on Senior Night, Oct. 11, thumping the Freedom Patrots, in straight sets, 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 15-15).

The Pioneers celebrated the high school volleyball careers of a whopping seven seniors, including Brooklyn Stanbery, Olivia Kop, Evie Robbins, Madi Combs, Kasey Gragg, Sara Marlowe and Kate McCullough.

SELECTED INDIVIDUAL WATAUGA STATS

• Madi Combs: 19 assists, 2 service aces, 3 digs
• Lainey Gragg: 17 assists, 1 dig
• Kate McCullough: 4 kills, 1 stuff block
• Sara Marlowe: 3 kills, 1 stuff block
• Evie Robbins: 19 digs, 1 assist, 3 service aces
• Emma Pastusic: 9 kills, 1 stuff block, 2 digs
• Brooklyn Stanbery: 19 kills, 6 digs
• Grace Twillery: 3 kills, 1 stuff block
• Katie Matheson: 3 kills, 1 dig
• Kora Knight: 1 kill, 1 stuff block, 2 digs
• Kaitlyn Darner: 6 digs
• Olivia Kop: 2 service aces, 3 digs

 

By David Rogers. HUDSON, N.C. — Watauga played a good, even dominating first half of soccer on Oct. 9 against South Caldwell but could not finish (read, score goals), leading to a halftime score of 0-0. The second half turned worse — until the last eight minutes.

Call it a whirlwind effort by the Pioneers. Trailing 1-0 with just over eight minutes to go, Watauga wing forward Lade Oguntoyinbo found the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1. Four minutes later, Ben Myers put the Pioneers ahead with a goal of his own. Then, perhaps just to make a point about Watauga’s dominance, Oguntoyinbo scored a final Pioneer goal with just 13 seconds left on the clock to give the visitors from Boone a 3-1, Northwestern Conference win.

Assists were credited to Jossue Alcaraz, Thomas Moss and Myers.

“We played excellent the first half except for not being able to finish six great opportunities. We felt great tied 0-0 at half but we didn’t play well in the second half at all. Then there was that last eight minutes. I am proud of how our guys fought and never quit to pull out the win despite not giving our best effort in the second half,” said Josh Honeycutt, Watauga’s head coach.

Now 4-2 and No. 3 in Northwestern Conference (6-10 overall) standings, behind undefeated Hibriten (13-2-3 overall) and 4-1-1 Alexander Central (10-3-2 overall), Watauga travels to Taylorsville on Oct. 11 to take on the Cougars with a chance to move into second place with a win. The Pioneers return home to face Hibriten on Monday, Oct. 16.

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — After a couple of dominating road games, Watauga volleyball returned to the friendly confines of Lentz Eggers gym to put an exclamation mark on the 2023 Northwestern Conference season, defeating Hibriten in straight sets, 3-0 (25-16, 27-25, 25-14).

With the win, Watauga (8-0 in Northwestern Conference, 16-2 overall) have a firm hold on the NWC league championship, with regular season conference matches remaining vs. Freedom (0-7, 4-15) on Oct. 11 and at regional rival Ashe County (6-1, 14-3) on Oct. 16. In between, they have a non-conference encounter vs. St. Stephens on Oct. 12.

SELECTED INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATS

• Brooklyn Stanbery: 16 kills, 1 service ace, 10 digs
• Emma Pastusic: 15 kills, 9 digs
• Evie Robbins: 14 digs, 1 service ace, 1 assist
• Madi Combs: 22 assists, 6 digs, 2 service aces
• Olivia Kop: 9 digs, 1 service ace
• Lainey Gragg: 17 assists, 1 service ace, 3 digs
• Kasey Gragg: 4 kills, 1 stuff block, 1 service ace, 5 digs
• Grace Twillery: 2 kills, 2 stuff blocks, 1 dig
• Kora Knight: 2 kills, 2 stuff blocks, 3 digs