By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It was a “Chamber of Commerce” autumn evening on Nov. 6 at Jack Groce Stadium, a rare “Beaver Moon” (also known as a “supermoon”) lighting things up over the grandstands in the night sky. The Watauga High School men’s soccer team was “feelin’ it,” often dominating possession vs. North Iredell in Round 2 of the NCHSAA 6A state playoffs. A 3-0 win vs. a strong opponent in the Raiders was the evening’s post-Halloween treat.
BONUS PHOTOS @ Bottom of Article (Click any image for larger version and Slide Show Mode)
Quincy Honeycutt led things off with a “worm burner” from in front of the net early in the first half (Ben Myers was credited with the assist) for the game’s first score. It was a tenuous lead that held through halftime intermission.
Then, in the second half, Noah Van Werkhoven headed a corner kick that first appeared to have been stopped by the Raiders’ goalkeeper — but the ball ripped through his hands and trickled through to the net for Watauga’s second goal.
The Series: Noah Van Werkhoven’s header goal
Later in the half, Luke Hamilton lofted the ball to upper right corner of the Raiders-defended goal, but the goalkeeper made a sensational save, deflecting the bullet over the crossbar. Not much later, Hamilton got another opportunity and this time sent the ball whizzing by the diving keeper for the last score and game clincher for the Pioneers.
Two things stood out in this contest. First, for a good part of the match a well-skilled, very talented North Iredell team went toe-to-toe with Watauga, turning back most of the Pioneers’ opportunities in Watauga’s attacking third of the field.
Second, and this may well have been the difference-maker, Watauga’s high level of fitness seemed to wear down the Raiders as the match evolved. The second half saw the Pioneers not only keeping possession with their one- and two-touch, short passes to open teammates, but manufacturing more relentless opportunities in the attacking third. Periodically, North Iredell developed some counterattacks, augmented by long, downfield passes, but the Watauga defenders and midfielders responded quickly to turn away any threats.
With the win, No. 4-seeded Watauga advances to Round 3 of the state playoffs and will host No. 5 Mount Tabor (Winston-Salem) on Monday, Nov. 10, with kickoff slated for 6:30 p.m. It should be an interesting, early winter test for both sides as the weather forecast on Nov. 10 is for 28 degrees Fahrenheit as the high, 18 degrees low.
The winner of the Watauga vs. Mt. Tabor match will advance to play the winner of No. 1 seed A.C. Reynolds and No. 8 seeded Alexander Central in Round 4.
BONUS PHOTOS (Click on any image for larger version and Slide Show Mode)
All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports
By Bret Stelow. BOONE, N.C. — App State Football rallied for three touchdowns over the final 20 minutes, but needed one more score to complete a comeback win. Georgia Southern was able to run out the clock in a 25-23 victory at Kidd Brewer Stadium on Nov. 6.
The mid-autumn ‘supermoon’ scored big on Nov. 6 when App State hosted Georgia Southern in the annual ‘hate’ game. Photo by Jon Pearl, courtesy of App State Athletics
App State’s red zone defense made a comeback possible by forcing the Eagles to kick field goals from 21, 26, 23 and 24 yards during the midweek rivalry game that drew a crowd of 31,876. The Mountaineers (4-5, 1-4) trailed 19-0 when Dominic De Freitas made a 36-yard field goal to put points on the board as the first half ended, and they were behind 22-3 before scoring touchdowns with 4:51 left in the third quarter (David Larkins’ 1-yard reception) and 13:50 remaining in the fourth quarter (Jaquari Lewis’ 27-yard run).
The Eagles (4-5, 2-3) pushed a 22-16 lead to a two-score separation with their final field goal at the 9:05 mark, and AJ Swann’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Barnes with 1:56 remaining prolonged the comeback bid. Georgia Southern recovered the onside kick but still needed to move the ball given that App State had all three of its timeouts remaining.
The Eagles collected a first down with an 11-yard run on the first play and sealed the game by converting a fourth-and-inches run from the App State 27 with 34 seconds remaining.
Barnes totaled 13 catches for 160 yards and a score, posting App State’s highest reception total since Sean Price had 13 catches for 167 yards against Illinois State in 2012, and Swann threw for 348 yards with two scores in his return to the starting lineup. He completed 34 of 51 passes on a night when the Mountaineers rushed 23 times for 77 yards.
It was a packed Kidd Brewer Stadium on Nov. 6, 2025, for the annual ‘greater than hate’ rivalry game between App State and Georgia Southern. Photo by Joseph Chapman, courtesy of App State Athletics
Defensively, Colton Phares delivered a big third-down sack to force a punt between App State’s back-to-back touchdowns, and DJ Burks led the way with 12 tackles.
Larkins tipped the ball to himself on his 1-yard score that cut Georgia Southern’s lead to 22-9 in the third quarter, with Barnes’ 32-yard reception on a fourth-and-2 throw from the 33 setting up that touchdown, and Phares’ sack forced Georgia Southern to punt from its 32. Barnes made a diving grab for 6 yards on a fourth-and-1 throw from the App State 40 to prolong that drive, and Lewis rushed for 15 yards to the Eagles’ 27 before scoring untouched on the next play — he cut between key blocks from pulling offensive linemen Griffin Scroggs and Will Flowers.
Georgia Southern needed just six plays to go from its own 28 to the App State 6 on the next series, but Aiden Benton’s stop for a 2-yard loss and Kevin Abrams-Verwayne’s tackle on a 1-yard gain to the 7 preceded another short field goal.
A J Swann led the Mountaineers in a 2nd half comeback that fell just short in the 25-23 loss to Georgia Southern. Swann completed 31-of-54 passes for 348 yards and two TDs. Photo by Taylor Newton, courtesy of App State Athletics
The Mountaineers reached the Georgia Southern 23 on the next series thanks to Barnes’ improbable catch for 22 yards on a fourth-and-14 pass, but Georgia Southern intercepted a throw just shy of the end zone from a pressured Swann on the next play.
Time and field position took a hit when a three-and-out punt resulted in App State regaining possession at its 34 with 5:24 left, and Swann’s 17-yard pass to Davion Dozier on a fourth-and-17 play from the Georgia Southern 47 extended an 11-play, 66-yard scoring march.
Barnes scored his seventh receiving touchdown of the season on the first play after the two-minute timeout, but the Mountaineers never got the ball back.
App State hits the road next weekend to face division-leading James Madison at 3:30 p.m. in Harrisonburg, Va.
By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — When a business grosses about $300,000 in sales each week and is an iconic social hub equaled only by the post office, the store getting a major makeover is a big deal.
Blowing Rock’s Food Lion supermarket is one of more than 1,100 store locations in 10 Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern U.S. States and one of the 153 locations in the supermarket chain that recently completed extensive renovations in the Central Division (Charlotte area, generally), all of which celebrated with ribbon cuttings on Nov. 5.
Blowing Rock store manager Lisa Maultsby and assistant manager Larry Tester cut the ceremonial ribbon on Nov. 5, celebrating the renovations across 153 Blowing Rock locations in the Charlotte area. Police Chief Nathan Kirk and Mayor Charlie Sellers, left, hold one end while newly re-elected Commissioner Doug Matheson holds the other end. Photographic image by David Rogers for Blowing Rock News
Based on customer feedback, explained Lisa Maultsby, the Blowing Rock store manager, all of the renovated Food Lion locations’ modernization steps include self-checkout lanes, while providing customers the choice of traditional checkout options, with cashiers.
“We are excited to offer our customers a fresh new look, new products, including ‘food on the go’,” said Maultsby. “At checkout, we offer fast and friendly options.”
Maultsby, it turns out, is a “Horatio Alger” story, with the “pulling yourself up your bootstraps” pedigree that goes with that iconic literary author who wrote rags-to-riches stories for young adults in the mid- to late-1800s. His unflaggingly positive work helped cement the modern vision of what is widely known as “The American Dream,” where working hard while starting at the proverbial bottom can lead to great things.
The former Food Lion associate at both Lenoir and Boone locations shared that in a first professional career she was in manufacturing until 2006, when she elected to stay home with her children. Later, she decided to go back out into the workforce.
“I decided to try Food Lion and to do it just for a little bit until something else comes along — but I loved working for Food Lion. I started out as a cashier and worked my way up through the ranks, from cashier to office work, assistant manager and then store manager. After they advertised the Blowing Rock manager position, I was really grateful for this opportunity,” said Maultsby. “I was in the Lenoir store for four months, then was in Boone for five and a half years. I love the mountains and I particularly love Blowing Rock. It is friendly and has a hometown feel. I have always enjoyed coming to Blowing Rock on my personal time, so when the store manager position became available I was excited they let me have it.”
Maultsby claims she didn’t have to pay anyone for the coveted Blowing Rock assignment.
“I didn’t, I promise!” she said, smiling. “I was supposed to go back to the Boone store but when this opening came up I threw my name in there and they gave it to me.”
When asked, Maultsby reported that since she took over in May the store has averaged about $300,000 per week. She added that the sales volume has trended higher in recent years, partly because of inflation but primarily in terms of unit sales.
“We work hard to keep our prices low,” said Maultsby, before adding an observation about the renovations’ impact on sales.
“One of the things I have noticed since the renovation is that our deli department has seen double-digit increases over last year’s sales,” she said. “A lot depends the number of tourists in town, of course, and those weeks can be up and down, but we have seen several weeks where those comparisons are well up into double-digits.”
The Blowing Rock store employs 65 people, including the manager. Over the years, the store and its team have worked hard to go beyond their daily business routines and become a part of the community they serve.
“On a daily basis, we support the food banks, including Casting Bread, the Hospitality House and Hunger & Health Coalition. Last year, from just this store we donated 62,000 meals to the community, which translates into about 75,000 pounds of food,” she said. “We also volunteer. Our store managers and assistant managers volunteer at local food banks and even off the mountain. I worked at Hunger & Health two weeks ago and it is just amazing to see what they are able to do with the food we have donated. Laura, at Hunger & Health Coalition, comes up with some wonderful meals for people who need food. I was honored to help her prepare some of that.”
Food Lion was also very involved with recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene, Maultsby said.A
“I know that Food Lion donated a lot of water. I can’t even tell you how much. The company was pretty quiet about that but they donated a lot of water to the areas that were hit the hardest,” said Maultsby. “At the time, I was at the Boone store and they (the company) sent us gift cards (to distribute) and we put together a whole lot of bags of food. One of my assistant managers, Scott Stansbery, also worked with the fire department, hiking bags of food into remote areas for people who couldn’t get out.”
The Food Lion location in Blowing Rock is 7533 Valley Boulevard, Blowing Rock. Need to call? (828) 295-7585.A
By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — Blowing Rock’s Board of commissioners will have two new members in the upcoming new year. While incumbent Doug Matheson was the top vote-getter with 434 votes, newcomers Wayne Miller (394) and Melissa Tausche ((272) outpolled incumbents Pete Gherini (264) and Melissa Pickett (119).
Meanwhile, Mayor Charlie Sellers did slightly better than Matheson as overall top vote-getter, receiving 464 votes to remain as mayor, overcoming the “challenge” of 46 write-in votes, the names of which were not provided.
Matheson, Miller and Tausche will now join the other two sitting commissioners, David Harwood and Cat Perry, once sworn in at the December meeting of Town Council.
By David Rogers. NEW YORK CITY — Blowing Rock-based Amanda Vestri has enjoyed a storybook year in distance running — and that 2025 journey just got more memorable after she finished No. 9, overall among women in the New York City Marathon. She was the No. 4 American woman, finishing in 2:25:40, behind three Kenyans, three Americans, one athlete from The Netherlands and one from Great Britain. It was Vestri’s marathon debut on Nov. 2 — and the fastest marathon debut in history for any American woman.
A member of Blowing Rock-based ZAP Endurance and sponsored by Brooks sports apparel, Vestri’s historic jaunt through the five New York City boroughs puts an exclamation mark on her 2025 season. Earlier this year, she won the U.S. Women’s 6K Road Running Championships in Canton, Ohio (July 12); was No. 2 in the U.S. 4-Mile Road Running Championship in Peoria, Ill. (June 14); placed No. 6 in the Mastercard New York Mini 10K (June 7); was No. 3 in the USA Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta (March 2); No. 4 in the Aramco Houston Half Marathon (Jan. 19); No. 4 in the Medtronic Twin Cities 10-Mile in Minneapolis (Oct. 5); and No. 8 on the track for the U.S. Track & Field Championships 10,000 Meters in Eugene, Ore. (July 31).
For the ZAP Endurance team, Vestri now owns the club records at a range of distances, including the 3,000 Meters; 5,000 Meters; 10,000 Meters; Half Marathon; and the Marathon. In New York for her marathon debut, her 2:25:40 time was 12 seconds faster than teammate Tristin Colley’s 2:25:52, set in Chicago.
“Amanda ran the first half of today’s race close to a minute faster than I wanted her to go out,” said ZAP Endurance head coach Pete Rea. “The concern was that she wouldn’t have enough gas in the tank to finish the last half strongly. But overall, her race today was impressive. When she got to the 21 miles marker, she was No. 9 and that is where she finished. She didn’t let any of the following runners pick her off in the closing miles.”
Rea reported that Vestri was running with the lead pack until about the 15 mile marker. “That’s when the eventual top three runners, all from Kenya, put the hammer down,” said Rea.
Those three included No. 1 Helen Obiri, who set a new course record that had stood for 23 years, in 20:19:51. She was followed by No. 2 Sharon Lokedi (2:20:07) and No. 3 Sheila Chepkirui (2:20:24).
Next to cross the line were Americans Fiona O’Keefe (No. 4, 2:22:49) and Annie Frisbie (2:24:12). Rea said Vestri was running with American recordholder for the marathon, Emily Sisson for a good bit of the closing laps, but the veteran gained some separation to finish 35 seconds in front of the High Country’s newcomer.
“Amanda had a great debut marathon,” said Rea. “She was controlled and relaxed through 30 kilometers and then maintained a courageous effort home in her first stab at this distance. New York is the toughest of the world’s seven elite marathons, which also include Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Chicago and Berlin. Starting on Staten Island, running through the five boroughs is probably two and half minutes slower for most athletes. You don’t run New York for time, but for the competition and Amanda competed very well. She executed our plan for Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Manhattan beautifully. Her future in the marathon is bright.”
With ZAP Endurance’s imminent closure by the end of the year, most of its team members have already signed contracts with other teams, including teams affiliated with shoe companies like adidas, Puma and On.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It has already been an historic season for Watauga High School’s athletics program, with women’s tennis, women’s golf, cross country, and volleyball going deep into the state playoffs, but two more Pioneer teams have a chance to make history after the brackets were announced for the 6A state playoffs in men’s soccer and football over the weekend.
MEN’S SOCCER
As the No. 4 seed in the 6A West bracket, Watauga receives a bye for the first round of the state playoffs and are in the upper half of the 6A West bracket, where the No. 1 seed is A.C. Reynolds (Asheville). In the second round, the Pioneers will host the winner of No. 13-seeded North Iredell (Olin) and No. 20 Piedmont (Monroe).
The Pioneers went undefeated in Northwestern 6A/7A Conference play. In addition to Freedom, NWC-member school Alexander Central, the No. 8 seed, is also in the upper bracket.
In the lower half of the bracket, other NWC schools include No. 19 South Caldwell and No. 23 St. Stephens.
As the No. 2 seeded team, Charlotte Catholic is the top-ranked school in the lower half of the bracket.
Full Seedings and First Round Pairings
No. 1 A.C. Reynolds – BYE
No. 16 Berry vs. No. 17 Statesville
No. 8 Alexander Central – BYE
No. 9 Western Guilford vs. No. 24 Ashbrook
No. 5 Mt. Tabor – BYE
No. 12 T.C. Roberson vs. No. 21 Freedom
No. 4 Watauga – BYE
No. 13 North Iredell vs. No. 20 Piedmont
No. 3 Asheville – BYE
No. 14 Olympic vs. No. 19 South Caldwell
No. 6 Ragsdale – BYE
No. 11 Northern Guilford vs. No. 22 Ben L. Smith
No. 7 Glenn – BYE
No. 10 Asheboro vs. No. 23 St. Stephens
No. 11 Dudley vs. No. 18 Sun Valley
No. 2 Charlotte Catholic – BYE
FOOTBALL
With its undefeated overall record, 10-0 and 5-0 in Northwestern Conference play, Watauga earned the No. 1 seed, positioned in the 6A West upper bracket. Joining them in the upper bracket are three other NWC teams, including No. 16 St. Stephens, No. 24 South Caldwell, and No. 4 Freedom, which also received a BYE.
The lone NWC member school in the lower 6A West bracket is No. 19 Alexander Central. Other opponents faced by the Pioneers who earned spots in the 6A West bracket are No. 15 Asheville and No. 7 T.C. Roberson (also a bye).
FULL 6A WEST FOOTBALL BRACKET
No. 1 Watauga – BYE
No. 16 St. Stephens vs. No. 17 Mt. Tabor
No. 8 Charlotte Catholic – BYE
No. 9 A.C. Reynolds vs. No. 24 South Caldwell
No. 5. Sun Valley – BYE
No. 12 Olympic vs. No. 21 Ragsdale
No. 13 Southeast Guilford vs. No. 20 Central Cabarrus
No. 4 Freedom – BYE
No. 3 Ashbrook – BYE
No. 14 Statesville vs. No. 19 Alexander Central
No. 6 Asheboro – BYE
No. 11 Dudley vs. No. 22 Glenn
No. 7 T.C. Roberson – BYE
No. 10 Kings Mountain vs. No. 23 Ben L. Smith
No. 15 Asheville vs. No. 18 Western Guilford
No. 2 Northern Guilford – BYE
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been corrected to accurately reflect the prospective second round pairing for Watauga Men’s Soccer.
By David Rogers. RALEIGH, N.C. — It was a comeback win deserving of a post-match celebratory dogpile at center court.
Victorious in the 2025 6A state final vs. Watauga on Nov. 1, the J H Rose Rampants all rush to center court for a celebratory ‘dogpile.’ Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
After Watauga women’s volleyball captured the first two “nail biter” sets on Nov. 1 at Reynolds Coliseum, J.H. Rose (Greenville, N.C.) stormed back to take the final three “cliffhanger” sets to be crowned the 2025 NCHSAA 6A Women’s Volleyball champions, 3-2 (26-28, 23-25, 25-21, 25-22, 15-7).
Whether you were rooting for the Pioneers or the Rampants, the see-saw, back and forth action was enough to grind your teeth down to their nubs.
It was a mixture of smiles and tears for Watauga’s volleyball team on Nov. 1 after finishing ‘runner-up’ to J H Rose in 6A state championship final at Reynolds Coliseum. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
It’s a fact of life in any competition. There may be “ties” now in the NFL, but only winners and losers in North Carolina high school volleyball. The state championship final match between 6A West champion (Watauga) and 6A East (J.H. Rose) featured 20 lead changes and 46 tie scores across the five-set thriller. Certainly, it is hard to call anyone a lost cause. A break here or there, a reversed call undone, a ball hitting “in” instead of “just out”… and you might have a different final result. All credit to J.H. Rose for the team’s resilience in not panicking after losing the opening two sets.
In the beginning, the Rampants didn’t seem to have an answer for the Pioneers’ dynamic outside hitter, senior Emma Pastusic. As the match wore on, they were better positioned to block or dig those powerful Pastusic smashes.
“We knew Watauga had a strong outside hitter,” Rose libero Caroline Bayes noted in the post-match press conference.
If there was any fear in that knowledge, it didn’t show. While Pastusic recorded a game-high 31 kills, Bayes was the match-high leader in digs, with 25, and the team-high leader in serve receptions, with 39.
Watauga’s student section was out in force for the 6A state volleyball match on Nov. 1 at Reynolds Coliseum, part of the largest crowd of the weekend. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Testimony to the strong defensive effort Watauga recorded, the quartet of Carolina Childers, Ashlyn Smith. Lilli Combs and Emma Pastusic combined for 72 of the team’s 86 digs on the night to keep the ball in play, most of the attacks coming off the arm of match MVP and Rampants senior outside hitter Clara Evans.
More than in any other recent match, the Pioneers were more active at the net, defensively, including nine total team blocks. Senior middle blocker Kora Knight’s four solo blocks led the way, with one solo and two assisted blocks each by junior outside hitter Julia Rowan and sophomore middle blocker Addie Stough.
J.H. Rose has been in Watauga’s shoes in recent years, including runner-up to West Henderson, 3-1, in the 2024 3A state championship under the old classifications. In 2023, they lost in the 3A East final to Orange, 3-1. In 2022, they lost to the 3A West’s North Iredell in the state championship match, in a 5-set thriller. And in the 2021 state playoffs, they lost, 3-0, to Cedar Ridge in the 3A West final.
Post-match, Rampants senior Mia Kendrick said that even in losing the first two sets, her team channeled the disappointment and frustration of the last few years with the knowledge they could come back and win, which they did.
By David Rogers. KERNERSVILLE, N.C. — With all five scoring members of the Watauga Women’s Cross Country team finishing in the Top 25 out of 139 student athletes competing in the NCHSAA 6A State Cross Championships, the Pioneers ran away with the state title on Nov. 1.
All six members of the team, including only one backup, completed the 5K Run at the Redmon Sports Complex among the Top 33. The team score of 64 easily beat the team runner-up, East Chapel Hill (82) and the No. 3, Middle Creek (107).
While senior Georgy Helmers of E.E. Smith HS (Fayetteville) won individual honors (17:21.40), followed by Asheville senior Sofi Alexander at No. 2 (17:30.41) and sophomore Elle Dawson of Ragsdale (Jamestown) at No. 3 (17:35.07), Watauga sophomore Cali Townsend’s No. 4 (18:15.46) finish led a brigade of Pioneers, including freshman Josie Mayo (No. 9, 19:00.77), sophomore Lilly Kimbrough (No. 14, 19:32.68), senior Janie Beach-Verhay (No. 21, 19:55.96) and junior Lainey Johnston (No. 25, 20:06.26).
Not counted as part of the team score (only the top 5 finishers from each school go into the team totals), junior Susanna Goff crossed the finish line in the No. 33 position, well ahead of the vast majority of the field with a time of 20:41.85.
By David Rogers. HICKORY, N.C. — It wasn’t the prettiest or most artful Watauga gridiron performance, but it was just enough to secure the program’s eighth straight, undefeated Northwestern Conference championship. The Pioneers prevailed against a big, athletic and physical St. Stephens squad, 28-18.
Given the number of seniors that graduated last year, including from key positions, there was widespread, preseason speculation Watauga would not repeat as conference champions, even with the reorganization of the Sun Belt into a 6A/7A league under the revamped NCHSAA classifications. This would be a rebuilding year, or so the pundits wagged.
To lose proven veterans like Maddux Greene (QB/DB), J.T. Cook (OL/DL), Caleb Dewey (OL/DL), Carson Gunnell-Beck (OL/LB), Dillon Zaragoza (WR/DB), Landon Smith (TE/LB), Trathan Gragg (TE/LB), Matthew Habich (WR/DB), and others left a hard-to-fill void, especially in the defensive and offensive line trenches. For the 2025 campaign, the returning juniors, sophomores and freshmen, by and large, had limited playing experience.
The Series: Evan Burroughs (12)
There were exceptions, of course, like the dynamic playmaker, Evan Burroughs (now a senior) at wide receiver and defensive back, as well as senior Brady Lindenmuth, an anchor to build around in the line on both sides of the ball.
That veteran returning group this year also included a pair of speedy, slash-styled running backs in Everett Gryder and Matthew Leon, but there were still a lot of holes to fill on both offense and defense, as well as on special teams — and they presented opportunities for the younger guys to step up and embrace their new, starring roles.
That is the nature of high school football, every year: younger guys growing, developing and taking over for the players that went before them.
With the help of what Pioneer head coach Ryan Habich describes as one of the best teams of assistant coaches in North Carolina high school football, that core group of returnees and younger players have developed into what many local pundits consider is one of the best Watauga teams to ever take the field.
That said, St. Stephens even further exposed some vulnerabilities if the often undersized players of Watauga don’t execute. Against the Indians, their big, athletic backs and receivers all too frequently broke what should have been tackles for loss on first contact, turning the plays into big gainers. On offense, run blocking was uneven, perhaps missing the aforementioned Lindenmuth, inactive because of a nagging, lower body injury.
Then there were a couple of turnovers, fumbles recovered by St. Stephens, and post-play penalties (i.e., unsportsmanlike conduct) that Habich bemoaned after the game as uncharacteristic of Watauga football. Those mental errors are costly, he said.
“We often started offensive drives with poor field position, backed up inside our 15-yard line, and that makes it (challenging) for the offense,” said Habich.
In the end, when the final buzzer had sounded, the Pioneers had done enough to secure the win. They survived a grueling season to emerge 10-0 overall and 5-0 in Northwestern Conference play.
WATAUGA STAT HIGHLIGHTS (UNOFFICIAL)
In the win, quarterback Cade Keller completed 12-of-19 passes for almost 200 yards and two TDs. Everett Gryder carried the ball 9 times for 46 yards and a pair of TDs. Matthew Leon had 5 carries after intermission for 32 yards, punctuating a key drive that used up a lot of second-half clock.
Matthew Leon (14) finds a big hole in the line of scrimmage, in the second half of Watauga’s 28-18 win over St. Stephens on Oct. 31. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
Gryder was also effective on defense, credited with a pass deflection and a pair of TFLs (tackles for loss).
Evan Burroughs was on the receiving end of some big aerials, five pass receptions of 10 yards or more, including an early 25-yard pickup and a 47-yard TD romp. He was also responsible for one of Watauga’s key plays, defensively, with an interception of St. Stephens’ QB Ryland Milligan’s pass near midfield and returned about 15 yards to setup rare good field position for the offense.
Bowen Mayo caught two passes for 24 yards, including a 7-yard TD reception. An even bigger contribution may have been on defense, where he recorded five tackles, including a pair of TFLs and a pass breakup.
Kyle Williams was relatively quiet on offense, but was instrumental in five tackles and a pair of defended passes.
Aidan Plemons was a menace on defense, credited with five solo or assisted tackles, a quarterback hurry that forced Milligan to throw the ball away in the second half, and a QB sack.
Nyle Peays’ night, on offense, was marred by a lost fumble after a 29-yard pass reception-and-run, but he made amends on defense with 6 tackles and a pair of pass breakups.
Not to be left out, sophomore linebacker John Wilson Mills was again all over the place, defensively, credited with at least 13 tackles, a TFL and a quarterback hurry.
SCORING SUMMARY
7-0: WAT – 6-yard run by Everett Gryder, PAT kick by Miller Hankins is good
14-0: WAT – 4-yard run by Everett Gryder, PAT kick by Miller Hankins is good
14-6: SS – 55-yard run, PAT kick is blocked
14-12: SS – 3-yard run by Izzy Payne, PAT fails
21-12: WAT – +47-yard pass from Cade Keller to Evan Burroughs, PAT by Miller Hankins is good
28-12: WAT – Pass from Cade Keller to Bowen Mayo, PAT by Miller Hankins is good
28-18: SS – +40-yard screen pass to Izzy Payne from Ryland Milligan, PAT failed
BONUS PHOTOS (Click on any image for larger version and Slide Show Mode)
All photographic images captured and processed by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
By Layne McNary. BOONE, N.C. — The App State field hockey team posted a 9-0 shutout over Kent State for Senior Day Friday to close out the regular season.
The nine-goal performance is the most goals scored against a MAC opponent in program history, and most scored in a game since a 10-1 win over Queens in 2022.
With the win, the Mountaineers solidified their spot as the No. 3-seed in the MAC Field Hockey Championship, facing Ohio in the first round of the tournament on Nov. 5.
1st Quarter: The Mountaineers (13-5, 7-2 MAC) got on the board twice in the first, with Baxter scoring her 13th goal of the season. Kuzmicky followed shortly, scoring off a deflection after inserting a penalty corner. The Mountaineers outshot Kent State (4-11, 3-6 MAC) 5-0 in the first.
2nd Quarter: App State tacked on another goal in the period, with Frederique Grimbergen scoring off a goalie deflection to give the Mountaineers a three-score advantage heading into halftime.
3rd Quarter: The Mountaineer offense exploded in the second half, adding two more goals to the total. Boekaar also found her 13th goal of the season, slamming it past the goalkeeper to put App State up 4-0. Kuzmicky scored her second of the day and 10th on the season in the tail end of the period. The Mountaineers generated four penalty corners to Kent State’s one.
4th Quarter: The Mountaineer offense poured it on in the final period of the regular season, scoring four goals. Richardson scored her seventh goal of her senior season after a scrum around the goal. Stegen scored her third of the year after a pass from Kuzmicky, making it a 7-0 lead with less than 3 minutes remaining. With less than a minute in the game, Connors scored her second goal this year off a penalty corner, followed by a sliding goal from Callery to close out the 9-0 win.
The Mountaineers will hit the road to Harrisonburg, Va., for the 2025 MAC Field Hockey Championship. The No. 3-seeded Mountaineers will take on the No. 6-seeded Ohio Bobcats on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 2:30 p.m., streaming on ESPN+.
