By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Rolling up almost 300 yards in total offense (290) while limiting the Alexander Central junior varsity to just 175 yards proved a good recipe for Watauga JV success on Oct. 16 at Jack Groce Stadium. The Pioneers JVs defeated the visiting Cougars, 28-16.
Eli Reed carried the ball eight times for 111 net yards and a touchdown, while teammate Easton Burns toted the pigskin nine times for 66 yards and a TD to lead the Pioneers’ offensive effort. As the QB, Reed only passed the ball once, completing it Bryson Cain for a 55-yard touchdown.
Watauga drew the proverbial first blood midway through the opening quarter, taking a 7-0 lead on a 30-yard ramble to the end zone by Reed and a successful PAT kick by Gaines Hunt.
Alexander Central countered with a 6-play, 65-yard drive that culminated with a 3-yard plunge by Lane Chapman, then took the lead on a successful 2-point conversion punch through the line of scrimmage by Chapman.
Late in the first quarter, Reed hit Cain for the 55-yard pass completion, giving the Pioneers a 14-8 lead when Hunt kicked another PAT through the uprights. The advantage was short-lived, however, as the ball hungry Cougars put together a 16-play, 61-yard drive with a little more than four minutes to go before halftime, finishing it off with a 4-yard rush for TD by Eli Queen and a 2-point conversion by Malachi Bennett, ACHS reclaiming the lead before halftime, 16-14.
The second half was dominated by Watauga, however, with two successful, long scoring drives in the third quarter. The first, a 6-play, 55-yard drive ended with a 1-yard TD rush by Brayson Gough (and Gaines Hunt PAT). The second was a 5-play, 51 yard possession that finished with a 1-yard Easton Burns run (and Gaines Hunt PAT).
Watauga’s defense was responsible for a whopping nine tackles for loss as well as two QB sacks. Isaac Blakely recorded a game-high 3 TFLs. Dominick Portante added a pair of TFLs. Portante and Blakely were also responsible for the QB sacks.
The High Country’s gridiron eyes now shift to Taylorsville where the Cougars and Pioneers face off in what could be undefeated Watauga’s toughest test to date.
Game statistics courtesy of Jonathan Watts, Alexander Central High School
