By Zach Smith for High Country Sports. BOONE, N.C. — It proved to be another runaway win for Watauga, this time making victims out of the South Caldwell Spartans. Here are our pre-game notes and play-by-play.
PREGAME NOTES
- Watauga (5-0) takes on South Caldwell (3-2) at home in the;ir first Northwestern Conference game of the 2023 season.
- Watauga offense is averaging 41.4 points/game
- South Caldwell has not played in a game decided by three or fewer scores
- Teams meet annually in 3A/4A Northwestern Conference play
- South Caldwell has not beaten Watauga since 2015
- South Caldwell and Watauga are the two, longest-tenured members of the Northwestern Conference with 4A classification. The only other current member with a 4A classification is Alexander Central.
- The March 29 pairing is “Homecoming” for Watauga at Jack Groce Stadium
Watauga Team Leaders in Non-Conference Play
- 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)
South Caldwell Team Leaders in Non-Conference Play
- QB #2 Luke Williams (So)
- RB/FS #12 Suan Moore (Sr)
- FS/RB #22 Sylas Scruggs
PLAY BY PLAY
1st Quarter
- SC wins toss, elects to receive opening kickoff
- SC ball at their own 28
- Suan Moore carries left for 9 yards
- Moore tackled for loss of 1 yard
- PENALTY: False start against South Caldwell, 3rd and 7 at SC 31
- TURNOVER! Luke Williams pass intercepted by Evan Burroughs
- Block in the back against Watauga, 1st and 10 at SC 48
- Watauga ball at SC 48
- Everett Gryder carries up the middle for 4 yards
- PENALTY: Offsides against SC, 2nd and 1 and SC 39
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- Gryder carries up the middle for 18 yards
- TOUCHDOWN WATAUGA
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- #4 Maddox Greene 21-yard rush (1)
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- #41 Jack Wilson PAT is good
South Caldwell 0 Watauga 7
- SC ball at their own 33
- SC fumbles the snap, recovered by the offense for loss of 2 yards
- PENALTY: False start against SC, 2nd and 17 at SC 26
- Williams pass complete right to JP Smith for 10 yards
- Williams pass complete left to Bryce Johnston for 6 yards
- Moore carries left for no gain
- Turnover on downs
- Watauga ball at SC 42
- Greene pass incomplete
- Gryder carries right for 12 yards
- Greene carries up the middle for 21 yards
- Gryder carries up the middle for 8 yards
- TOUHCDOWN WATAUGA
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- #44 Everett Gryder 1-yard rush (1)
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- #41 Jack Wilson PAT is good
South Caldwell 0 Watauga 14
- SC ball at their own 33
- Sylas Scruggs carries for no gain
- Moore carries left for 15 yards
- Williams pass complete right to Carter McGhinnis
- PENALTY: Holding against Watauga, 1st and 10 at Watauga 35
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- Scruggs carries up the middle for 7 yards
- PENALTY: Illegal procedure against SC, 2nd and 8 at Watauga 33
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- Scruggs carries for no gain
- PENALTY: False start against SC, 3rd and 13 at Watauga 38
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- Williams sacked for loss of 9 yards
- Trathan Gragg with the sack
- SC punts
- Williams sacked for loss of 9 yards
- Watauga ball at their own 15
- Gryder carries up the middle for 3 yards
2nd Quarter
- Watauga ball, 2nd and 7 at their own 17
- TOUCHDOWN WATAUGA
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- #12 Evan Burroughs 83-yard rush (1)
- PENALTY: Unsportsmanlike conduct against Watauga, penalty assessed on kickoff
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- #41 Jack Wilson PAT is good
South Caldwell 0 Watauga 21
- SC ball at their own 43
- Scruggs carries up the middle for 12 yards
- Scruggs carries up the middle for 3 yards
- Moore carries right for 11 yards
- Scruggs carries up the middle for 2 yards
- Williams carries up the middle for 20 yards
- PENALTY: Holding against SC, 1st and Goal at Watauga 19
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- Williams pass incomplete
- PENALTY: Offsetting penalties, replay 2nd down
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- Moore carries left for 9 yards
- Moore carries left for 5 yards
- Timeout SC (1)
- Timeout Watauga (1)
- Moore carries left for 1 yard
- Turnover on downs
- Watauga ball at their own 4
- Gryder carries right for 5 yards
- TOUCHDOWN WATAUGA
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- #44 Everett Gryder 91-yard rush (2)
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- #41 Jack Wilson PAT is good
South Caldwell 0 Watauga 28
- SC ball at their own 43
- Moore pass complete right to McGhinnis for 29 yards
- Williams pass incomplete
- Moore carries left for 9 yards
- Landon Borders carries up the middle for 5 yards
- Williams carries right for 2 yards
- Moore carries for no gain
- PENALTY: Pass interference against Watauga, 1st and goal at Watauga 6
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- Borders carries left for 5 yards
- Timeout Watauga (2)
- TOUCHDOWN SOUTH CALDWELL
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- #2 Luke Williams 1-yard rush (1)
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- #23 Eli Speagle PAT is good
South Caldwell 7 Watauga 28
- Watauga ball at their own 24
- Greene pass complete right to Jackson Pryor for 11 yards
- Greene pass complete right to Burroughs for 41 yards
- Greene pass incomplete
- TOUCHDOWN WATAUGA
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- #4 Maddox Greene 24-yard pass (1) to #9 Jackson Pryor (1)
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- #41 Jack Wilson PAT is good
South Caldwell 7 Watauga 35
- DEEP ONSIDE KICK: Watauga kickoff recovered by Burroughs
- Watauga ball at SC 39
- Greene pass complete left to Matthew Habich for loss of 2 yards
- Timeout Watauga (3)
- Greene pass incomplete
- PENALTY: Delay of game against Watauga, 3rd and 16 at SC 41
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- Greene pass incomplete
- TOUCHDOWN WATAUGA
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- #9 Jackson Pryor 41-yard rush (1)
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- #41 Jack Wilson PAT is good
South Caldwell 7 Watauga 42
- ONSIDE KICK: recovered by Watauga
- Watauga ball at their own 49
- Greene takes a knee
HALFTIME NOTES
Watauga
- #4 Maddox Greene is 4-of-8 passing for 74 yards and 1 TD; 2 carries, 42 yards, 1 TD
- #9 Jackson Pryor has 2 pass receptions for 35 yards and 1 TD; 1 carry for 41 yards and a TD
- #44 Everett Gryder has 8 carries for 142 yards (17.8 avg.), 2 TDs
3rd Quarter
- ONSIDE KICK: recovered by SC
- SC ball at Watauga 49
- Moore carries left for loss of 1 yard
- Gragg with the TFL
- Williams carries left for 4 yards
- Moore carries for no gain
- Moore carries left for 1 yard
- Moore carries left for loss of 1 yard
- Turnover on downs
- Watauga ball at their own 45
- Burroughs carries left for 26 yards
- Greene pass incomplete
- Greene tackled for loss of 2 yards
- Greene pass complete right to Gragg for 8 yards
- Timeout Watauga (1)
- Greene pass incomplete
- Turnover on downs
- SC ball at their own 23
- TURNOVER: Williams fumbles, recovered by Watauga’s Gragg
- Watauga ball at SC 38
- Gryder carries up the middle for 2 yards
- Gryder carries up the middle for 4 yards
- Gryder carries right for 8 yards
- Gryder carries up the middle for 4 yards
- Gryder carries up the middle for 3 yards
- Gryder carries up the middle for 3 yards
- TOUCHDOWN WATAUGA
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- #4 Maddox Greene 14-yard pass (2) to #9 Jackson Pryor (2)
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- #41 Jack Wilson PAT is good
South Caldwell 7 Watauga 49
MERCY RULE TRIGGERED (lead by 42 points in 2nd half): Running clock for remainder of game
- SC ball at their own 40
- Scruggs carries up the middle for 4 yards
- Scruggs tackled for loss of 4 yards
- Carson Gunnell-Beck with the TFL
- Williams carries left for 3 yards
- Williams pass incomplete
- Turnover on downs
- Watauga ball at SC 43
- Timeout Watauga (2)
- Habich carries right for 17 yards
- PENALTY: Offsides against SC, 1st and 5 on SC 21
- Habich pass incomplete
4th Quarter
- Watauga ball, 2nd 5 at SC 21
- Matthew Leon carries up the middle for 11 yards
- PENALTY: Holding against Watauga, 1st and Goal at SC 20
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- Habich pass incomplete
- PENALTY: Delay of game against Watauga, 2nd and Goal at SC 25
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- Leon carries up the middle for 4 yards
- Leon carries left for 10 yards
- TURNOVER! Habich pass intercepted
- SC ball at their own 4
- Zack Freeman carries right for 5 yards
- McGhinnis pass complete right for 10 yards
- McGhinnis pass incomplete
- McGhinnis pass incomplete
- McGhinnis pass incomplete
- SC punts
- Watauga ball at their own 35
- Nyle Peays carries up the middle for 8 yards
- Peays carries left for 5 yards
- Cade Keller pass complete right to Landon smith for 9 yards
- TURNOVER! Keller pass intercepted
FINAL SCORE: Watauga 49, South Caldwell 7
Watauga Noteables
- #4 Maddox Greene
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- Rushing: 6/12, 96 yds, 2 TD
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- #9 Jackson Pryor
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- Receiving: 3 rec., 49 yds, 2 TD
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- #44 Everett Gryder
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- Rushing: 14 car., 166 yds, 11.9 avg, 2 TD
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