By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It was a high school football game that all but defined the concept of “winning ugly.” After leading by 27 points at the end of the third quarter, Watauga let Alexander Central score three unanswered touchdowns in the final stanza, still slipping by the Cougars, 41-34.

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

Even while playing a sloppy first half, the Pioneers seemed to be in control of the game, dominating in spite of lackluster execution. B-back Everett Gryder finished the game with 17 carries for 158 net yards rushing and quarterback Maddox Greene also surpassed the century mark rushing, carrying the ball 11 times for 113 net yards. Each player reached the end zone one time for a TD.

Greene did even more damage through the air, completing six of 11 passes for 109 yards and three TDs — to three different receivers: Jackson Pryor, Evan Burroughs, and Trathan Gragg.

After the game, Watauga head coach Ryan Habich was understandably none too happy about letting Alexander Central back in the game and threatening.

“We did not play well. We did not practice well (this week),” said Habich after a lengthy post-game locker room meeting with the players. “We are a young football team that thinks we are better than we are. We are listening to the noise. If we are serious about being a good football team, winning a conference championship, and having a good future in the playoffs, our players need to focus. They have to stop listening to people telling them how good they are and start executing. And it starts at practice.”

Asked to elaborate, Habich said, “If we played a really good football team and it came down to (what happened), I would be fine with it. But we aren’t doing the little things right even at practice. We have higher standards here at Watauga.”

Habich said the entire week of practice leading up to Friday night’s game was really unacceptable.

“I challenged the guys and said if we play (like we are practicing), then we ae going to lose. And we almost lost tonight to a team that I thought we were much better than them,” Habich said.

He repeated that the team’s focus, or lack of focus was the culprit in explaining poor performance.

“We aren’t blocking, we aren’t tackling, we aren’t doing the things we are supposed to do. We have been very successful the last 10 years, so we have high standards. You cannot control the outcomes, but you can control the process. I have been preaching that all along. If people are looking at outcomes and not talking about process, then we are not going to be a very good football team. We want to be a good football team here, but we have to start doing the right things at practice. Our younger kids, our older kids, too, we collectively have to do a better job if we want to be a championship team.”

Asked about his confidence that this would be a necessary wakeup call, Habich said, “It should be a wakeup call. It was a bad week of practice. There were a lot of things (contributing) to that. We had some coaches out. We had some injuries here and there. But those are not excuses. We simply did not play and execute. Tonight should have been a game where we won by a lot so we could get a lot of players in. We couldn’t do that. We had to play the starters the whole game because we were not executing. I am disappointed in how we as a team executed, but I don’t think we prepared well throughout the week.”

The Pioneers (7-0 overall, 2-0 in Northwestern Conference) will try to regain that focus in the coming week as they prepare to face 3A power Hibriten. The Panthers, a perennial 3A power, defeated another NWC and 3A power program, Freedom, on Sept. 29, 35-33, led by running back D K Mitchell.

Now 3-4 overall, 1-1 in Northwestern Conference play, Alexander Central will look to rebound on Oct. 13, at home vs. South Caldwell.

SCORING SUMMARY

SELECTED TEAM STATS

• Total Offense: AC 323, WAT 411
• Net Yards Rushing: AC 178, WAT 302
• Net Yards Passing: AC 145, WAT 109
• Turnovers
  • Fumbles Lost: AC 0, WAT 1
  • Interceptons: AC 1, WAT 0
• Penalties (Yards): AC 5 (45), WAT 8 (60)
• Time of Possession: AC 26:04, WAT 21:56
• 3rd Down Conversions: AC 6-of-14, WAT 6-of-10
• 4th Down Conversions: AC 3-of-6, WAT 1-of-2

SELECTED INDIVIDUAL STATS

Passing

• • AC – Tanner Moore: 8-20-145, 1 INT, 2 TDs, 0 sacks
  • WAT – Maddox Greene: 6-11-109, 3 TDs, 1 sack

Rushing

• • WAT – Everett Gryder: 17 carries, 158 yards, 1 TD
  • WAT – Maddox Greene: 11 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD
  • AC – Tanner Moore: 15 carries, 92 yards, 2 TDs
  • AC – Braydon Rowe: 11 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD
  • AC – Sawyer Chapman-Mays: 15 carries, 59 yards
  • WAT – Evan Burroughs: 3 carries, 13 yards, 1 TD
  • WAT – Morgan Henry: 2 carries, 15 yards

Receiving

• • AC – Jaheim Redmond: 3 catches, 78 yards, 1 TD
  • WAT – Evan Burroughs: 1 catch, 40 yards, 1 TD
  • WAT – Morgan Henry: 2 catcjes. 37 yards
  • AC – Jeremiah Whitaker: 2 catches, 26 yards
  • WAT – Jackson Pryor: 2 catches, 18 yards, 1 TD
  • WAT – Trathan Gragg: 1 catch, 14 yards, 1 TD
  • AC – Garison Millsaps: 2 catches, 14 yards, 1 TD
  • AC – Wade Queen, 1 catch, 27 yards

BONUS PHOTOS

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — The four high school divisions of the Blue Ridge Mountain Rentals High Country Classic cross country meet on Sept. 20 saw strong Watauga performances, especially in the Varsity Men’s Division where Will Bradbury continued to set the pace for the Pioneers.

VARSITY MEN’S DIVISION

Watauga’s Will Bradbury finished No. 1 (16:44) and led a team of eight Pioneers finishing in the top 22 of 88 competing student athletes. A junior, Bradbury completed the 5,000 meters course 43 seconds ahead of the No. 2 finisher, Benjamin Notarangelo, of Rock Hill, S.C.’s Northwestern High School.

Watauga had a total of seven runners in the top 11, including sophomore Calvin Zwetsloot (No. 3), sophomore Elliott Taft (No. 4), sophomore Zeke Walker (No. 6), freshman Grady Gates (No. 7), junior Jonah Norris (No. 10) and senior Collin Anderson (No. 11).

TEAM SCORES

1. Watauga – 21
2. Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.) 57
3. Wilkes Central – 113
4. Forsyth Home Educators (Winston-Salem) – 140
5. North Carolina Leadership Academy (Kernersville, N.C.) -144
6. Providence Academy (Johnson City, Tenn.) – 155
7. Enka (Candler, N.C.) – 180
8. Liberty Prep Christian Academy (Mooresville, N.C.) – 203
9. Avery County – 204
10. McDowell (Marion, N.C.) – 268
11. Franklin School of Innovation (Asheville) – 307

VARSITY WOMEN’S DIVISION

With a young team that included a freshman, an 8th grader and a 7th grader in the top three positions, Lexington High School (Lexington, S.C.) ran away with the Varsity Women’s Division team title. The Wildcats dominated the top 10, including the the top six finishers. Freshman Kendra Miles completed the 5,000 meters course in 19:28.00, almost a full minute ahead of teammate Elanorah Patangan (8th grader), who crossed the finish line in 20:26.00. Just three seconds behind was 7th grade student athlete, Brooklynne Cox, in 20:29.00.

Watauga ended the meet as the No. 3 team out of the 10 teams competing. Sophomore Janie Beach-Verhay was the Pioneers’ top finisher at No. 9 among the event’s 79 participants, stopping the clock at 21:04.00. Other scorers for the Pioneer women included senior Rachel Cathey (No. 16), freshman Lainey Johnston (No. 18), junior Sadie Buchanan (No. 20), and freshman Maggie Visser (No. 23).

Other Watauga runners finishing in the top half of the field included Ellary Smith (No. 27), Mia Libre (No. 28), Elyse Rea (No. 31), and Julian Martin (No. 35).

Team Scores

1. Lexington (Lexington, S.C.) – 15
2. Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.) – 53
3. Watauga – 82
4. Providence Academy (Johnson City, Tenn.) – 153
5. Wilkes Central -159
6. Enka (Candler, N.C.)
7. Liberty Prep Christian Academy (Mooresville, N.C.) – 215
8. Forsyth Home Educators (Winston-Salem, N.C.) – 216
9. North Carolina Leadership Academy (Kernersville, N.C.) – 243
10. Avery County – 254

JV MEN’S DIVISION

Watauga showed off its roster depth in the JV Men’s Division, with nine of the top 13 finishers, including a sweep of the top four in a competition featuring 62 student athletes from seven schools. Levi Anderson finished No. 1, followed by Davis Crymes No.2, Silas Powell No. 3, Cameron Nance No. 4, A J McAulay No. 6, Brian Newmark No. 9, Miles Page No. 10, Santino Wood No. 11, and Holden Womak No. 13.

JV WOMEN’S DIVISION

East Mecklenburg sophomore Hadley Kolodziey finished the 5,000 meters course 90 seconds ahead of teammate Megan Palmer to take No. 1 and No. 2 in the race that saw 58 student athletes competing.

Watauga’s Sophia McEvoy was the Pioneers top finisher, at No. 7. Other Pioneer finishers in the top 20 included Scarlett Rupp at No. 15, Hadley Carpenter at No. 17, Kara Schneider No. 18, Madden Maple No. 19, and Anna Norris No. 20.

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Whether college or high school, “Homecoming” is always that much better when ye ol’ alma mater prevails with a big win in a fierce rivalry game. So Watauga’s 49-7 dismantling of South Caldwell on Sept. 29 at Jack Groce Stadium will be long remembered by the students and alumni packing the home grandstands.

After Watauga’s sophomore defensive back Evan Burroughs intercepted the Spartans’ Luke Williams pass on just the third play from scrimmage, there was a ripple of hope through the home grandstands that this game would be special. Although Burroughs’ interception return for a touchdown was called back due to a penalty, Watauga had the ball with good field position, near midfield. It was an opening reversal of fortune.

And the Pioneer faithful didn’t have to wait long for the rout to commence. It took only three plays — slashing runs by running back Everett Gryder and quarterback Maddox Greene — for Watauga to get in the end zone, punctuated by Greene’s 21-yard TD run. With Jack Wilson’s PAT kick, September’s full moon rising shone brightly on the Pioneers.

It was a high school football game with just about everything long. Long passes completed for TDs, as well as long passes falling incomplete just over the fingertips of the intended receiver.

There were  LONG touchdown runs by two different Pioneers, each passing the century mark in yards, rushing, for the game. Everett Gryder ran 14 times for 166 yards and two TDs, his longest a 91-yard smash-and-sprint. Teammate Burroughs rushed just twice — for 102 yards, his longest an 83-yard TD scamper.

This game even had a LONG onside kick, Burroughs recovering for the Pioneers at the Spartan 39 when the South Caldwell special teams unit fell asleep on the kickoff.

Except for the fact that Burroughs is only a sophomore and has two and half seasons ahead of him in his high school football career, Homecoming 2023 against South Caldwell could well have been a “career game” for the young athlete. A pass interception, an 83-yard TD run, 102 total yards rushing, a 41-yard pass reception, and a deep onside kick recovery that should well be reclassified as a “heads up” play because the onside kick was unintentional, head coach Ryan Habich admitted after the game. What will you do next, Mr. Burroughs?

Did we say that this game had just about everything? Senior wide receiver Jackson Pryor received a lateral and turned it into a 37-yard TD run. He also had three pass receptions, two for TDs.

there is smart… and then there is football smart.

And this Homecoming game had pageantry in abundance. After their march down and through the stadium grandstands before kickoff, the Pioneers exploded onto the playing field through not just a banner, but a billowing cloud of manufactured smoke. There were the rousing introductions of the Homecoming court at halftime, each prince and princess greeted by lusty, enthusiastic cheers for their classmates from the student section.

Then, of course, there was the crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen, both multi-sport stars and top students in Eli Greene and Olivia Burroughs. The look on Greene’s face upon hearing the announcement was worth any waiting.

But the pageantry was not done. The Pacers dance team performed a “high kicks” routine worthy of the Carolina Snowbelles, if not Radio City Music Hall’s Rockettes. Then the marching band’s rendition of Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer” closed the halftime celebrations.

our defensive guys were flying around tonight.

Was there a second half of football? Of course there was, but when the Pioneers recovered a South Caldwell fumble and Gryder ground out six successive rushes for a total of 24 yards, Greene hit Pryor for the senior’s second TD reception and the mercy rule was on: a running clock.

Habich told reporters later that one of the best things about a lopsided win is that a lot of players see action, which helps the coaching staff develop roster depth at every position.

“That roster depth will be important as we get further into our conference schedule and, hopefully, into the playoffs,” said Habich.

At quarterback, Watauga saw both Matthew Habich and Cade Keller enter the game in relief of Greene, allowing the Pioneer coaches to “see tape” on them. Same at running back, where young speedsters Matthew Leon and Nyle Peays received some opportunities to tote the pigskin.

Critical to Watauga’s Homecoming success was the play of its defensive and special teams units.

“Our defensive guys were flying around the field tonight,” said linebacker and tight end Trathan Gragg after the game. “South Caldwell came out trying to fire on us, tonight. They were trying to do some mis-directions, trying to get us to look the wrong way. But we read our keys correctly and the our guys did a great job. We missed a few tackles, but overall it was a good job by our defense. We’ll work on some things and next week be much more ready to tackle Alexander Central.”

What has become a trademark of Watauga’s special teams performance this season has been its short kickoffs, which don’t lend themselves to the potential long kickoff returns by oftentimes bigger, even more athletic opponents.

“Until we can kick the ball into and beyond the end zone,” said Habich, “we will kick short.”

While with short kickoffs you risk giving your opponent good field position to start their offensive possessions the upside is the potential of a long onside kick recovery, such as manufactured by Burroughs, even if not really an intentional onside kick.

Other Coach Habich soundbites:

• “We got up on them. Our defense made big plays early. We scored big plays right before half.”
• “Our second half wasn’t clean but we got a lot of people in the game and show what they can do on film.”
• “There were some penalties, blown coverages, missed tackles… We have to tighten those tings up.”
• “I liked the way we came out and played at the level we wanted to play at, not at the level of the other team. That’s a challenge every week.”
• “We haven’t played at home for a month, so it is great for us to be back here at Jack Groce Stadium. This is a new season, in conference. We have to win each rung of the ladder. We took care of South Caldwell, now our focus is on Alexander Central.”
• “We didn’t do a very good job tackling their running back, who is a good player. We tackled high. He picked up a lot of yardage their first three games then sat out the next two games, getting healthy. We didn’t do a very good job tackling him and have to improve on that.”
• “Evan Burroughs is a very dynamic player. He is still a young player, only a sophomore. We have to keep going in the right direction, mentally. He could be a very good player for us as we go through conference, go against better competition, and hopefully make the playoffs. But we something we saw last year is Evan is a dynamic player. He is a threat running the football. He is a threat catching the football. We have to make sure he is mentally ready to play varsity against really good competition. If he is, he can be a bigtime threat for us that adds to our others, lack Jackson Pryor, Everett Gryder and Maddox Greene.”
• “We have a base offense every year that is geared toward our personnel. Last year we were more geared toward our running backs. This year we have some guys with speed who can catch the ball really well, like Jackson Pryor, Morgan Henry, Evan Burroughs, Trathan Gragg, all of whom can get out into space. So we can throw the football now in bigtime situations. Plus, this is the third year for Maddox (Greene) throwing the football, so he make good reads. Plus, one of the things we want to do is get the ball out into the perimeter because it opens up our inside run game. If we can run inside and pass the ball, it just makes us better against good competition.”
• “Trathan Gragg is emerging as one of our defensive leaders. There is smart, and then there is football smart. Trathan Gragg is both. He picks things up quickly.”

Watauga stays at home next week, Oct. 6, to host Alexander Central, the other 4A member of the 3A/4A Northwestern Conference. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., at Jack Groce Stadium.

RELATED STORIES

• RELIVING Friday Night Lights: Watauga vs. South Caldwell

By Zach Smith for High Country Sports. BOONE, N.C. – Friday night lights returned to Watauga High this week as the Pioneers continued to roll through their opponents, this time defeating South Caldwell, 49-7.

Entering the contest, Watauga had won three of their previous five games by at least three scores, earning a No. 11 ranking out of all 4A schools in the state via MaxPreps. South Caldwell, on the other hand, took the trip to Boone having lost their last two matchups.
Evan Burroughs had a career game Friday, placing himself all over the stat sheet. The sophomore two-way star recorded an interception, 84-yard touchdown rush and an onside kick recovery, although according to head coach Ryan Habich, the recovery was unintentional.

“We don’t kick the ball that deep because we’re not getting the ball in the endzone,” Habich said. “So we place where we kick the ball.”

Watauga, this year, is known for short kickoffs to prevent long returns. In cases like this week, those kicks can be recovered by the Pioneers, who controlled two kickoffs just before halftime.

The Watauga offensive line dominated the Spartan defense, opening holes that led to two long touchdowns in the first half. Sophomore Everett Gryder was responsible for one of those, a 91-yard foot race down the right sideline. Gryder carried for nearly 170 yards in the game, pushing his season total to over 700.

The rest of the Pioneer offense continued to perform as well, earning a running game clock for the third time this season. Because of their 42-point lead, Watauga was able to give more players time on the field, something Habich is hoping will give his key backup players enough playing time to be prepared in case their numbers are ever called.

“We got a lot of people in the game to see what they can do,” Habich said. “We’re still in the process of creating some depth within our football team, so we got a lot of guys in so they can show what they can do on film.”

Habich also spoke on what Burroughs means to the team going forward and how to keep him on track in his playing career.

“Evan [Burroughs] is a very dynamic player, he’s still a young player,” Habich said. “So, the challenge with Evan is making sure he’s going in the right direction mentally. He could be a very good player for us and we’re going to need Evan to be a very good player for us as we keep going through conference and playing better competition.”

Watauga’s offense kept their impressive run going, improving their scoring average to 42.3 points per game on the 2023 campaign. The defense continued to show out as well, holding their opponent to 14 or less points for the fourth time this season.

The Pioneers are home again next week for a matchup against Alexander Central. Kickoff will be at 7:30p.m. and can be streamed on the NFHS Network.