By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — As renewed High Country rivalries go, it wasn’t much more than a sparring match. Watauga marched through and around Avery County on Aug. 25 at Jack Groce Stadium, winning 55-6.
BONUS PHOTOS AT BOTTOM OF ARTICLE
The Pioneers scored touchdowns with almost every possession — and given more opportunities thanks to the Vikings’ turnovers, pre-snap penalties and mistakes.
To say the game was one-sided would be an understatement. Watauga rolled up 510 yards of total offense vs. the Vikings managing just 67. Avery County rushing against the Pioneers was an exercise in futility, recording -3 yards on the ground compared to +298 rushing by Watauga. This Pioneer offensive performance was also more balanced, with 212 yards gained through the air, including two touchdowns, while the visitors gained just 70 yards passing, with one TD, most of it gained long after the game had been decided, in the fourth quarter.
Offensively, Watauga spread the ball around generously. Running back Everett Gryder pushed into the endzone for three TDs, while the Pioneers got first career TDs rushing from senior Ben Gosky, as well as from sophomores Kyle Williams and Matthew Leon.
Seniors Jackson Pryor and Morgan Henry led the receiving corps, each on the scoring end of a TD pass from quarterback Maddox Greene.
Of special note: Jack Wilson was successful in booming eight PAT kicks straight through the uprights.
In one sense, Avery County was merely a sparring partner for Watauga as the Pioneers prepare for a rugged road schedule the next three weeks before hosting South Caldwell on Sept. 29 in the Northwestern Conference season opener. Next on the schedule is 2A powerhouse Maiden on Sept. 1, then at A.C. Reynolds in Asheville on Sept. 8, followed by a trip to Lexington where the Pioneers will challenge North Davidson.
“We were favored to win this game against Avery County,” said Watauga head coach Ryan Habich after the game. “But flip that around for the next three weeks on the road. We will be the underdogs… I like the win, but we were sloppy at times. We have things to fix.”
It was youth football night at Jack Groce Stadium, with players from the Equip program as well as the Watauga County middle school program, the Wolverines. The home side grandstands were packed and there was a large contingent of Avery County students, families and friends on the visitors side, altogether numbering an estimated 3,000-plus spectators for the rivalry renewal.
SCORING
1st Quarter
- WAT – Everett Gryder, 4-yard run (Jack Wilson PAT)
- WAT – Everett Gryder, 7-yard run (Jack Wilson PAT)
- WAT – Everett Gryder, 1-yard run (Jack Wilson PAT)
2nd Quarter
- WAT – Ben Gosky, 7-yard run (Jack Wilson PAT)
- WAT – Matthew Leon, 1 yard run (Jack Wilson PAT)
- WAT – Jackson Pryor, 21-yard pass from Maddox Greene (PAT Blocked)
3rd Quarter
- WAT – Morgan Henry, 14-yard pass from Maddox Greene (Jack Wilson PAT)
4th Quarter
- WAT – Kyle Williams, 6-yard run (Jack Wilson PAT)
- AVY – Oak Markland, 51-yard pass from Kaleb Liner (PAT kick failed)
SELECTED TEAM STATS
- Total Offense: WAT 510, AVY 67
- Passing Yards: WAT 212, AVY 70
- Rushing Yards: WAT 298, AVY -3
- Penalties: WAT 5-40, AVY 9-53
- Turnovers
- Fumbles-Lost: WAT 1/1, AVY 2/2
- Interceptions: WAT 0, AVY 0
- 3rd Down Conversions: WAT 9/9. AVY 1/9
- 4th Down Conversions: WAT 0/0, AVY 1/1
- Sacks by-Yards: WAT 5-36, AVY 0-0
- Time of Possession: WAT 20:17, AVY 27:43
SELECTED INDIVIDUAL STATS
Passing
- WAT – Maddox Greene 9/15, 212 yards, 2 TDs
- AVY – Kaleb Liner 4/11, 70 yards, 1 TD
Rushing
- WAT – Everett Gryder 14 carries, 112 yards, 3 TDs
- WAT – Maddox Greene 6 carries, 52 yards
- WAT – Matthew Habich 3 carries, 43 yards
- WAT – Kyle Williams 5 carries, 32 yards, 1 TD
- AVY – Logan Wayne Bro, 13 carries, 25 yards
- WAT – Ben Gosky 3 carries, 28 yards, 1 TD
- WAT – Evan Burroughs 3 carries, 19 yards
- WAT – Matthew Leon 4 carries, 12 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
- WAT – Morgan Henry, 4 catches, 77 yards, 1 TD
- WAT – Jackson Pryor, 3 catches, 78 yards, 1 TD
- AVY – Oak Markland, 3 catches, 56 yards, 1 TD
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