Watauga defuses Rockets, 48-21

September 13, 2024

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Evan Burroughs dances across the goal line to score a Watauga TD vs. A C Reynolds on Sept. 13, 2024. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Defying all the high school football pundits who forecast visiting A C Reynolds (Asheville) would win the rematch from a year ago, Watauga had all of last week’s problems corrected in running away from the Rockets, 48-21.

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By all accounts, the Sept. 13 meeting between Watauga and A C Reynolds was between two of western North Carolina’s strongest programs, even if it turned out a bit one-sided. Even in the rainy, wet conditions at Jack Groce Stadium, the Pioneers saw near perfect execution in all three phases of the game: offense, defense and special teams to take their non-conference schedule to 4-0.

“Hey guys, I know it is Hawaiian Night for this football game against A C Reynolds, but where is the post-game luau?” Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports

Senior quarterback Maddox Greene led the Pioneer attack on offense, carrying the ball 22 times for 128 yards and three touchdowns before giving way to junior QB Cade Keller midway through the fourth quarter. To complete his robust stat line, Greene completed 10 of 14 passes for 126 yards and two TDs.

The Pioneers won the toss and elected to receive, starting the opening possession from their own 20 yard line. It was patented Pioneer football on the first drive, going 80 yards in 15 plays and, just as importantly, taking 6:07 off the game clock before getting the first TD.

He was a big recruit and we did not want him to take over the game.

Early down yardage often came difficult for Watauga, going up against a stout and aggressive A C Reynolds front seven. At least in part, that explains much of the Pioneers’ production through the air, being put in 3rd- and 4th-down passing situations. Without question, among the best stat lines on the night for the home team: converting nine of 12 (75 percent) third downs and a perfect two-for-two (100 percent) in fourth down opportunities.

Watauga rolled up 409 yards of total offense, proving pretty balanced at 228 yards rushing and 181 yards through the air.

Watauga QB Maddox Greene was brilliant both running the ball and passing, leading a balanced attack against an aggressive AC Reynolds defense. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports

With two players committed to Division 1 schools and a 6-5, 223 lb. junior quarterback in Ely Hamrick with six Division 1 offers already (including from App State, Kentucky, East Carolina, Charlotte, Toledo and Virginia), A C Reynolds came to the High Country with a rich athletic pedigree. Two losses against strong Winston-Salem area 4A schools East Forsyth and West Forsyth serve as bookends to a thrashing, 51-21 victory over perennial 2A powerhouse Shelby just two weeks ago.

So, at least on paper, Watauga’s defensive unit knew they had a challenge in front of them: containing the Rockets’ playmakers. They succeeded, limiting ACR to just 235 yards of total offense. The visitors had mild success on third down, converting 60 percent (6-of-10) of their opportunities, but came up emptyhanded in two fourth down “go for it” opportunities.

Matthew Leon (14) on a sweep around the left side, picking up big yardage and a first down vs. A C Reynolds on Sept. 13. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports

ACR running back Max Guest is committed to play at App State next year and head coach Ryan Habich said after the game that a key component of the Pioneers’ defensive strategy was to keep the ball away from him and to contain him when he did have the ball.

We don’t fear teams like we used to.

The grinding, ball control Watauga offense that kept the ball out of A C Reynolds’ hands for much of the game helped advance the Pioneers’ defensive strategy. Kickoffs away from him neutralized Guest as a kick return threat. And individual, in-your-face defensive performances helped prevent him from breaking off any long plays. The Pioneer defense limited Guest to just 17 yards rushing on six carries. He caught three passes, but they were only good for 10 yards gained.

In spite of A C Reynolds’ significant size advantage in their offensive line, Watauga’s defensive unit was able to record five QB sacks, two by Brady Lindenmuth and one each by Callan Riordan, Caleb Dewey and Matthew Leon.

On special teams, Watauga continued to play well, including kicking the ball away from Guest. They recovered a couple of onside kicks in the process, one that was recorded as a fumble by the Rockets and rolled some 15-20 yards within inches of the sideline where it was alertly recovered by junior defensive back Kyle Williams.

After beating A C Reynolds two years in a row, head coach Ryan Habich was understandably enthused by his team’s performance.

“That was a big time win,” Habich told reporters after the game. “I am really proud of our kids. I thought we played a complete game. We talked last week of being sloppy in certain parts of the game (against Maiden), but tonight we played sound in all phases. We didn’t have too many mistakes. We had a turnover, but I really like our our team responded after that.

Especially when you get in the red zone, you have to score points.

“Maddox Greene played a heckuva game making the reads,” Habich added, “because A C Reynolds was a very aggressive defense. They loaded the line of scrimmage and brought (the pressure). I thought we did a very good job of managing the game and our defense didn’t let that Division I running back (Guest) run all over us.”

Many of the high school football observers around the state had A C Reynolds winning this game either by a little or a lot, especially after last week’s sloppy performance by Watauga when, by Habich’s own admission, “We are not a very good football team right now, somewhere between a JV and a Varsity.”

In the first half, Maddox Greene broke through a gap in the line and scored this big TD. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports

Watauga’s fast start to this one and using over half of the first quarter game clock on the opening possession was important in Habich’s view.

“That is a huge drive,” said Habich, of the opening possession, “especially the way we marched the ball down the field. That was a good, aggressive defense (we were facing). We marched down and then executed on a trick play. It was the same play that Trathan Gragg dropped the pass last year in the playoffs against Mallard Creek. But Maddox made a great throw under pressure and Trathan wasn’t going to drop this one. I am really proud of the way our kids executed. Especially when you get in the red zone, you have to score points.”

They brought a fight to A C Reynolds tonight.

Habich acknowledged how important it was to keep the ball away from Guest.

“That No. 5 is an Appalachian State commit for next year. He was a big recruit and we did not want him to take over the game. When he is back there and they are moving him around, I thought our special teams’ coaches did a really good job of kicking away from him. All of those calls were audibles at the line of scrimmage. We may have lost some field position (by kicking short), but people don’t realize that if you kick it (deep) to the 10 yard line and No. 5 picks it up, he may very well take it all the way back for a touchdown,” said Habich.

Now in his twelfth year at the helm of the Pioneer program, Habich noted some changes to the mindset of the Watauga players, as a whole.

“(A C Reynolds) is a big-time program with high expectations… but our kids were ready,” said Habich. “I am really proud of our kids. We don’t fear teams like we used to. In my first few years at Watauga, we would play teams like A C Reynolds and people were (questioning) why we (would put them on our schedule). I said eventually we are going to be beating teams like this. Our kids aren’t (intimidated) by these big-time programs. They were ready for this fight. They brought the fight to A C Reynolds tonight.”

Even in the rainy conditions, the Watauga grandstands were packed for the Pioneers’ football game vs. A C Reynolds. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports

Reynolds had two areas of unusual concern on the night. One was the number of penalties that negated positive plays on both offense and defense. ACR was flagged seven times for 64 yards while Watauga was more disciplined in drawing two penalties for 10 yards.

Perhaps it was the wet weather, but the other area of concern was the large number of dropped passes. Numerous times, Hamrick made good throws only to have the intended receiver muff the reception.

Up next for Watauga is a Homecoming date at Jack Groce Stadium, hosting North Davidson. Then the Pioneers have a bye week before starting Northwestern Conference play on Oct. 4, at South Caldwell, then again on the road at Alexander Central on Oct. 11.

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Quarter
- WAT – TD, Trathan Gragg, 10-yard pass from Maddox Greene (6-0)
- WAT – PAT, Jack Wilson (7-0)
- WAT – TD, Maddox Greene, 45 yard rush, PAT failed (13-0)
2nd Quarter
- ACR – TD, Ely Hamrick, 1 yard rush (13-6)
- ACR – PAT, Rossi Santelia (13-7)
- WAT – TD, Maddox Greene, 2-yard rush (19-7)
- WAT – PAT, Jack Wilson (20-7)
- WAT – TD, Evan Burroughs, 2-yard rush (26-7)
- WAT – PAT, Jack Wilson, (27-7)
3rd Quarter
- WAT – TD, Evan Burroughs, 12 yard pass from Maddox Greene (33-7)
- WAT – PAT, Jack Wilson (34-7)
4th Quarter
- WAT – TD, Maddox Greene, 5-yard rush (40-7)
- WAT – PAT, Jack Wilson (41-7)
- ACR – TD, Tremaine Keeter, 20-yard pass from Ely Hamrick (41-13)
- ACR – PAT, Rossi Santelia (41-14)
- WAT – TD, Matthew Leon, 1-yard rush (47-14)
- WAT – PAT, Jack Wilson (48-14)
- ACR – TD, Ely Hamrick 3-yard rush (48-20)
- ACR – PAT, Rossi Santelia (48-21)