By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — An electric, 53-yard pass from typically Watauga’s backup QB. Aiden Amason. to starting QB Chris Ruiz doubling as a wide receiver scored a mid-fourth quarter touchdown for the Wolverines, tying the game at 6-6. But Gamewell (Lenoir) came right back with a grinding offensive drive and punched the ball into the end zone from two yards out with just 14 seconds left on the game clock to win the day, 12-6.
It was the last home game of the middle school football season for the Wolverines and it was against an opponent that may have outweighed Watauga an average of 20-30 pounds per player. Gamewell’s massive defensive front seven made it near impossible for Watauga to move the football on the ground, with few exceptions. When the Wolverines were playing defense, Gamewell took advantage of its larger offensive linemen to move the football with a larger-than-average tandem of rushers. And yet, terrific defensive stops especially among Watauga’s linebackers and defensive backs helped make the contest a defensive battle until the fourth quarter — and keeping the game close.
In the second half, Watauga modified its scheme to include more of a passing attack and saw better success. With roughly five minutes to go in the game and the line of scrimmage at the Wolverines’ 47-yard line, head coach Michael Neff inserted the strong-armed Amason at QB, moving Ruiz to wide receiver. Dropping back with good protection, Amason lofted a high-arching aerial down the right sideline, over the outstretched arms of the Gamewell defender, and into the hands of the speedy Ruiz. The versatile athlete high-stepped it out of the grasp of a would-be tackler, breaking free to sprint down the sideline the remaining 25 yards and into the end zone to tie the game, 6-6. The point after kick attempt failed.
“We were pretty sloppy in the first half and couldn’t do all the things we were wanting to do,” Wolverine head coach Neff told High Country Sports later. “In the second half, it was a different ball game. The second half looked better, but it goes so fast with every tick of the clock and change of possession. You really don’t get many possessions to do everything you want to do, so you really have to capitalize on the ones you do get.”
Neff acknowledged that the size differential, particularly on the offensive and defensive lines is pretty typical of what Watauga has been facing.
“It was a challenge. We had a hard time getting the ball up the middle,” said Neff. “In our other two losses this year it was pretty much the same story. When you are going against big interior defensive linemen, it is a challenge. Our offensive linemen do a terrific job, but when you are outmanned by as much as 50 pounds, if not more, you learn to do the best you can. Our O-line and D-lines really do a great job, but sometimes it is hard to get good penetration. Our boys work their tails off to battle, whoever the opponent is.”
Watauga’s final football game for the season is on the road at Starmount Middle School in Boonville, N.C. (Yadkin Country), on Oct. 18.
