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

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.”

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
  • WAT – Evan Burroughs: 7 receptions for 44 yards
  • SV – Thanasi Papazis: 3 receptions for 36 yards, 1 TD
  • SV – Zach Cullen: 2 receptions for 28 yards
  • WAT – Matthew Leon: 1 reception for 20 yards
  • SV – Chris Stafford: 2 receptions for 12 yards

Rushing

• • SV – Zach Cullen: 37 carries for 168 yards, 2 TDs
  • WAT – Cade Keller: 5 carries for 37 yards
  • WAT – Evan Burroughs: 5 carries for 24 yards
  • SV – Joshua Bell: 6 carries for 24 yards, 1 TD
  • WAT – Matthew Leon: 9 carries for 15 yards
  • SV – Noah Lineberry: 2 carries for 11 yards

DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS

• • SV – Brandon Creech: 7 tackles
  • SV – Xavier Flowe: 6 tackles, tackle for loss (TFL)
  • SV – Malachi Mays: 6 tackles, TFL
  • SV – Zach Cullen: 5 tackles, TFL
  • SV – Thanasi Papazis, 4 tackles, 1 pass INT
  • SV – Andrew Doody: 2 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 pass breakup
  • SV – Joseph Jones: 1 tackle, 1 pass INT
  • SV – Joshua Bell: 1 tackles,TFL
  • WAT – Everett Gryder: 15 tackles, 1 pass INT, 1 pass breakup, 1 QB hurry
  • WAT – John Wilson Mills: 12 tackles, 2 QB hurries
  • WAT – Bowen Mayo: 11 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 pass breakup
  • WAT – Thomas Deiters: 11 tackles. TFL
  • WAT – Crue Stoddard: 10 tackles, TFL, QB hurry
  • WAT – Matthew Leon: 6 tackles, TFL, QB hurry
  • WAT – Nyle Peays: 6 tackles, pass breakup
  • WAT – Brady Lindenmuth: 6 tackles, pass breakup, QB hurry
  • WAT – Kyle Williams: 3 tackles, TFL, pass breakup
  • WAT – Aiden Plemons: 4 tackles
  • WAT – Evan Burroughs: 1 tackle, pass breakup

BONUS PHOTOS

All images captured by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports

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.

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 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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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
  • WAT – Brady Lindenmuth: 5 total tackles, TFL
  • CC – Carter Garnett: 5 total tackles, TFL
  • CC – Danny Ostergaard: 5 total tackles
  • WAT – Bowen Mayo: 4 total tackles
  • WAT – Cayman Hayes: 4 total tackles
  • CC – Lukas Lupinski: 4 total tackles, TFL
  • CC – Cooper Abrams: 4 total tackles
  • WAT – Matthew Leon: 3 total tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD
  • WAT – Kyle Williams: 2 total tackles
  • WAT – Aidan Plemons: 2 total tackles
  • CC – Jackson Williamson: 2 total tackles
  • WAT – Evan Burroughs: 1 total tackles, 1 INT

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.

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:

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”

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.

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.

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Cold weather soccer fans got their money’s worth on Nov. 11 at Jack Groce Stadium. Visiting No. 5-seeded Mount Tabor and No. 4-seeded host Watauga battled to a 2-2 draw in regulation, but the Pioneers claimed the night with 59.8 seconds remaining in overtime when sophomore midfielder Maddrey Long hammered home a goal to take the 3-2 win.

With the victory, Watauga advances to the fourth round of the NCHSAA 6A state playoffs. They will face No. 1 seeded A.C. Reynolds, a Round 3 winner over No. 8 Alexander Central on Nov. 11.

Watauga seemed to own the visiting Spartans in the first half, scoring a pair of goals midway through the opening period to take a 2-0 lead into intermission.

The first goal was scored by David Ganley, who started the sequence with a centering pass from the right side which senior striker Asher Hampton quickly returned. Ganley powered the ball with his left foot into the upper right corner of the net for the Pioneers’ opening salvo.

For the second goal just a few minutes later, a long throw-in across the field from the right side to the left by Miller Hankins found Koa Lancaster all alone, some 35 yards out from the goal and 10 yards in from the left sideline. A quick start down the left side past a Spartan defender put Lancaster in space, with an opening to make a centering pass. Lucas Hamilton didn’t hesitate, using his right foot for a one-touch shot to the upper left corner.

If Pioneer fans thought they had a comfortable halftime lead, it turned out they didn’t. The Spartans’ junior forward Yuto Shiozawa found a loose ball in front of the right post and hammered it to the left side of the net to narrow the Pioneer advantage.

A few minutes later, Mount Tabor’s freshman midfielder Graham Francis tied the game by cleaning up a messy ball some 15 yards out from the left post, then scooted it past Pioneer goalkeeper Solomon Triplett.

The game was as close as the score indicated, the two 6A adversaries almost a mirror of each other in their style of play: quick, short one- and two-touch passes with possession and adaptive pressure on defense.

After the first 10-minuter overtime period remained scoreless, it appeared the second would end that way, too — until Long’s goal off an alert pass by Hampton with 59.8 seconds remaining.

The 6A West semifinal match will be hosted by the higher seeded (No. 1) A.C. Reynolds in Asheville, tentatively scheduled for Thursday evening, Nov. 13.

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It was a “Chamber of Commerce” autumn evening on Nov. 6 at Jack Groce Stadium, a rare “Beaver Moon” (also known as a “supermoon”) lighting things up over the grandstands in the night sky.  The Watauga High School men’s soccer team was “feelin’ it,” often dominating possession vs. North Iredell in Round 2 of the NCHSAA 6A state playoffs. A 3-0 win vs. a strong opponent in the Raiders was the evening’s post-Halloween treat.

BONUS PHOTOS @ Bottom of Article (Click any image for larger version and Slide Show Mode)

Quincy Honeycutt led things off with a “worm burner” from in front of the net early in the first half (Ben Myers was credited with the assist) for the game’s first score. It was a tenuous lead that held through halftime intermission.

Then, in the second half, Noah Van Werkhoven headed a corner kick that first appeared to have been stopped by the Raiders’ goalkeeper — but the ball ripped through his hands and trickled through to the net for Watauga’s second goal.

The Series: Noah Van Werkhoven’s header goal

Later in the half, Luke Hamilton lofted the ball to upper right corner of the Raiders-defended goal, but the goalkeeper made a sensational save, deflecting the bullet over the crossbar. Not much later, Hamilton got another opportunity and this time sent the ball whizzing by the diving keeper for the last score and game clincher for the Pioneers.

Two things stood out in this contest. First, for a good part of the match a well-skilled, very talented North Iredell team went toe-to-toe with Watauga, turning back most of the Pioneers’ opportunities in Watauga’s attacking third of the field.

Second, and this may well have been the difference-maker, Watauga’s high level of fitness seemed to wear down the Raiders as the match evolved. The second half saw the Pioneers not only keeping possession with their one- and two-touch, short passes to open teammates, but manufacturing more relentless opportunities in the attacking third. Periodically, North Iredell developed some counterattacks, augmented by long, downfield passes, but the Watauga defenders and midfielders responded quickly to turn away any threats.

With the win, No. 4-seeded Watauga advances to Round 3 of the state playoffs and will host No. 5 Mount Tabor (Winston-Salem) on Monday, Nov. 10, with kickoff slated for 6:30 p.m. It should be an interesting, early winter test for both sides as the weather forecast on Nov. 10 is for 28 degrees Fahrenheit as the high, 18 degrees low.

The winner of the Watauga vs. Mt. Tabor match will advance to play the winner of No. 1 seed A.C. Reynolds and No. 8 seeded Alexander Central in Round 4.

BONUS PHOTOS (Click on any image for larger version and Slide Show Mode)

All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports