Maybe call it ‘Twelfth Night’: Watauga storms to 6A state championship with 47-25 thumping of Middle Creek

By David Rogers. CHAPEL HILL, N.C. —On 2025’s 12th day of the 12th month, surely there were 12 Watauga players wearing “No. 12” in the Pioneers’ 47-25 win over Middle Creek in the NCHSAA 6A State Championship Game played at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Evan Burroughs, the real (and only) No. 12 playing for Watauga, was seemingly everywhere in the 6A title game against the Mustangs: on offense, on defense and on special teams. Not to overlook quarterback Cade Keller’s top tier performance in completing 22 of 26 passes for 277 yards and two TDs, with no INTs, Burroughs may have set state championship game records for a performance by a single individual player:

• • 7 carries for 46 yards, including 3 TDs
  • 14 catches for 149 yards and 1 Td
  • On defense, two pass interceptions for 54 return yards, including one “Pick 6” TD

And most of that was in the first half as the Pioneers took a 33-10 lead into intermission. From there on out, much of Watauga’s strategy seemed intent on protecting the lead and using up the clock — at least until the Pioneers’ last offensive series when, on 1st-and-15 after an “illegal shift” penalty, Keller hurled a 51-yard, TD-scoring dagger to wide receiver Nyle Peays with just 43 seconds remaining.

While Burroughs deservedly received all kinds of post-game adulation, including “MVP” recognition, the Pioneers’ journey to and including the championship game was a team statement. Throughout the season, the Pioneer playmakers took turns being featured in the individual games on their journey to Chapel Hill for the state championship — undefeated. Keller, Burroughs, Peays, Matthew Leon, Everett Gryder and Bowen Mayo alternated in being the key figures on any given Friday night.

Fittingly, on Dec. 12, it was No. 12’s turn once again to shine behind the steady contributions of the guys in the trenches, the offensive and defensive lines, those guys opening holes in the line of scrimmage or protecting the QB long enough to make a pass possible; those guys pressuring the opposing QBs and forcing them to make mistakes.

Looking beyond the performance of the playmakers like Burroughs, Keller, Leon, Mayo and Peays on this night, these stats stand out:

• Watauga churned up 471 yards of total offense while limiting Middle Creek to 397 yards
• Watauga controlled possession 25:51 vs. 22:09 for the Mustangs
• Watauga converted on six of eight 3rd down opportunities while Middle Creek  was successful on just five of 11 chances.
• Watauga won the turnover battle, highlighted by Burroughs “Pick 6” in the first quarter.
• Early Turning Point: With Watauga having just scored to lead 19-10, a successful onside kick gave the Pioneers the ball back and good field position at the Middle Creek 47 yard line — and just six seconds remaining in the first quarter. On a trick play (double pass), Middle Creek intercepted deep in their own territory but Watauga’s defense held the Mustangs to a three and out and the Pioneers got the ball back on their own 47 yard line. Keller orchestrated a 5-play, 53-yard TD-scoring drive featuring Burroughs, Leon and the QB’s own 27-yard keeper, the drive finished off with a 3-yard run by Burroughs, making it a 26-10 lead for Watauga.
• Complementary Football: When you look at the offensive stats, there is not really such a wide difference to suggest a 22-point gap between the two sides. Dig deeper, and it is the Watauga advantage in all three phases: offense, defense, and special teams.

Besides the significance of the No. 12 on this night, another number emerged as significant by the end of the post-game press conference: “47.”

Many in the stadium might have thought head coach Ryan Habich was being merciful after the Keller-to-Peays TD pass all but prompted the Mustangs to surrender. He later told the media that when he looked at the scoreboard and saw that his Pioneers had taken the 47-25 lead, it hit him that it has been 47 years since Watauga last won a state football championship, in 1978. So he immediately called out to Keller not to kick the PAT, to instead take a knee and preserve the 47-25 score. Those 47 points were a symbolic gesture to the alumni of Watauga who had come before — and many of those Pioneers of 47 years ago were in the grandstands, including the head coach of that 1978 team, Bill Mauldin and his family.

That an estimated 2,000+ Boone fans were in the grandstands for this game demonstrates just how important a connection to the community is to the 2025 Watauga Pioneers.

Not quite a year and a half ago, the High Country was hammered by Hurricane Helene. Many in Western North Caroina lost their homes or businesses to the ravaging floods, mudslides and powerful winds. Habich acknowledged how his players helped others by shoveling mud and clearing debris in the wake of the storm. More recently, the players’ parents helped organize a team-based, mid-week project to help Samaritan’s Purse pack shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, gifts destined for needful children in distant lands.

So it isn’t surprising that so many in the community made the 3-hour trek to Chapel Hill, to support the team, not just because they are winners, but because they are winners.

SCORING SUMMARY

SELECTED TEAM STATS

• Yards of Total Offense: WAT 471, MCR 397
• Net Yards Rushing: WAT 194, MCR 127
• Net Yards Passing: WAT 277, MCR 270
• Penalties: WAT 3-15, MCR 3-22
• Time of Possession: WAT 25:51, MCR 22:09
• 3rd Down Conversions: WAT 6-of-8, MCR 5-of-11
• 4th Down Conversions: WAT 0-of-0, MCR 0-3

SELECTED INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES

• WAT – Evan Burroughs: 7 carries for 46 yards and 3 TDs; 14 catches for 149 yards and 1 TD; on defense, 2 pass breakups, 2 INTs (54 return yards), including 1 return for TD
• WAT – Cade Keller: Completed 22-of-26 passes for 277 yards and 2 TDs, no INTs; 5 carries for 41 yards
• WAT – Matthew Leon: 12 carries for 78 yards and 1 TD, 2 catches for 14 yards
• WAT – Bowen Mayo: 5 carries for 29 yards, 3 catches for 25 yards; on defense, 6 tackles
• WAT – Nyle Peays: 2 catches for 82 yards, 1 TD; on defense, 5 tackles
• WAT – John Wilson Mills: on defense, 13 tackles (game-high)
• WAT – Thomas Dieters: on defense, 8 tackles, 1 tackle for loss
• WAT – Brady Lindenmuth: 3 tackles, 2 tackles for loss
• WAT – Aidan Plemons: 5 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 QB Hurry