By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Junior forward Evan Mawhinney posted a brace of goals while four other Pioneers added one apiece, powering the Watauga High School varsity men’s soccer team to a dominating, 6-0 win over South Caldwell on Oct. 15 at Jack Groce Stadium.
Match scheduling can be quirky and that has certainly been the case for Watauga this year in Northwestern Conference play. The Pioneers’ first half of the home-at-home series for each of the other five conference member were on the road — which also means the last five league matches are within the friendly confines of Jack Groce Stadium
The Series: Gooaalll!!!
Evan Mawhinney (11) punches one in for Watauga vs. South Caldwell on Oct. 15 at Jack Groce Stadium. Photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports
After an 8-0 thumping of Freedom on Oct. 13, Watauga was playing the second of those five straight home affairs when they took on South Caldwell. The Pioneers dominated possession from start to finish against arguably an undermanned Spartan varsity.
Watauga played an almost near perfect style to match head coach Josh Honeycutt’s preferred approach: one- and two-touch passing, keeping the ball low and maintaining possession as the ball is worked downfield.
While the Pioneers, as a team, hammered at the South Caldwell goal with a total of 31 shots, on the other end of the field Watauga’s junior goalkeeper Rush Brasier’ biggest challenge may have been not falling asleep. In shutting out the Spartans, he recorded just two saves from shots on goal.
Quincy Honeycutt has the South Caldwell goalkeeper diving to his right, but sending the ball the other way. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
In tallying his two goals, Mawhinney worked his way in space with the ball to register a game-high eight shots. Junior Trace Martinez and senior David Ganley also benefitted from attacking in space, each putting in a goal on four shots. Other goals included junior Quincy Honeycutt (on a penalty kick) and sophomore Gavin Kimak.
Now 12-3-3 overall and 7-0 in Northwestern Conference play, the Pioneers will return to Jack Groce Stadium on Oct. 20, to face Alexander Central. On Oct. 22, they meet NWC’s 7A classification school, McDowell, before finishing the regular season on Oct. 27 vs. St. Stephens.
BONUS PHOTOS (Click on any image for larger view and Slide Show Mode)
All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports
By David Rogers. MARION, N.C. — A double-double by sophomore libero Caroline Childers (19 digs, 16 serve receives) and a near triple-double by senior outside hitter Emma Pastusic (20 kills, 10 serve receives, 8 digs) highlighted Watauga High School’s sweep of Alexander Central on Oct. 15, 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-19), in the championship final of the Northwestern 6A/7A Conference Volleyball Championships tournament, hosted by McDowell High School.
If there were any doubts as to the identity of the best women’s volleyball team in the NWC, the No. 1 seeded Pioneers shattered them in the conference tourney final. This may have been the first post-season conference tournament for the NWC but Watauga was in familiar territory after knocking off all league adversaries in the regular season with 3-0 sweeps before tournament play.
In the championship final, the Cougars confirmed themselves as the deserving No. 2 seed for the tourney, pushing the Pioneers to competitive and close straight set victories. Now the teams await the state tournament seedings and brackets, with Watauga almost certain to get home court advantage that comes with a high seed in the early rounds. The Pioneers’ gaudy, overall record is 23-1, including 10-0 in conference play before the tournament. MaxPreps currently has the Pioneers ranked as the No. 1 team in North Carolina’s 6A classification.
As the No. 9 ranked team in NC’s 6A class, according to MaxPreps, Alexander Central’s 16-7 overall record is likely to earn a spot in the playoffs, too.
INDIVIDUAL MATCH STATISTICS
Kills: Emma Pastusic (20), Ashlyn Smith (7), Kora Knight (6), Gracyn Phelps (3), Addie Stough (3), Lainey Gragg (2), Hannah Adams (1)
Service Aces: Ashlyn Smith (3), Caroline Childers (2), Lainey Gragg (2), Ember Honeycutt (2), Lilli Combs (1), Graycie Collins (1)
Blocks: Addie Stough (3), Emma Pastusic (3), Kora Knight (1)
Digs: Caroline Childers (19), Ashlyn Smith (11), Emma Pastusic (8), Lilli Combs (6), Lainey Gragg (4), Kora Knight (4), Graycie Collins (1), Ember Honeycutt (1)
Assists: Lainey Gragg (35), Ashlyn Smith (2), Lilli Combs (1)
Serve Receive: Ashlyn Smith (19), Caroline Childers (16), Emma Pastusic (10)
By David Rogers. MARION, N.C. — The Watauga High School varsity women’s volleyball team cruised through the semifinals of the Northwestern 6A/7A Conference Championships tournament on Oct. 14, defeating St. Stephens, 3-0 (25-12, 25-7, 25-15).
A familiar trio of Pioneers led the No. 1 seeded and regular season champion Watauga offensive attack, with senior outside hitter Emma Pastusic tallying a game-high 17 kills. Ashlyn Smith (7 kills) and Kora Knight (5 kills) proved an able supporting cast. Setter Lainey Gragg fed the attack with 27 assists.
Sophomore libero Caroline Childers and Smith got things started on the Indians’ serves with 14 and 7 serve receives, respectively.
Defensively, the Pioneers were efficient with team totals of 33 digs and a total of six blocks, led by Childers (12 digs), Lilli Combs (9 digs), Smith (6 digs), Gragg (6 digs), Kora Knight (2 solo blocks, 1 block assist), Addie Stough (1 solo block, 2 block assists), Athena Elliott (1 solo block, 1 block assist) and Pastusic (4 digs, 2 block assists).
The Pioneers continued to rack up service aces, with 12 as a team. Gragg recorded six aces and Smith four.
Next up is a return trip to host venue McDowell High School on Oct. 15 to face Alexander Central in the tournament championship final.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It was one of those “Chamber of Commerce” autumn days in the High Country and if you were a fan of long distance running or one of the more than 150 harriers competing in the Northwestern 6A/7A Conference Cross Country Championships on Oct. 14, conditions (and setting) could not have been more favorable.
Watauga’s ‘Top 3’ in the Women’s Division of the Northwestern 6A/7A Conference Cross Country Championships on Oct. 14. Left to right: Freshman Josie Mayo (No. 2), senior Janie Beach-Verhay (No. 3) and sophomore Cali Townsend (No. 1). Watauga swept the top 7 places and had 9 of the top 10 finishers. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
While the Watauga High School women’s cross country team may well have thrown down a gauntlet: making a statement they will be a team to beat for the 6A West Regionals and the 6A state championships, the Pioneers were also near perfect in winning the Men’s Division conference title. Both races were hosted by Watauga.
South Caldwell’s Bryce Corpening (No. 1, 17:30.41) and McDowell senior Dawson Spath (No. 5, 17:48.67) were the only runners preventing the Pioneer men’s runners from sweeping the top 12 finishing spots. Senior Zeke Walker (No. 2, 17:30.42), senior Calvin Zwetsloot (No. 3, 17:45.69) and senior Levi Anderson (No. 4, 17:47.63) led a brigade of Pioneers, including senior Elliott Taft (No. 6), junior Brian Newmark (No. 7), freshman Jonah Pearson (No. 8), junior Grady Gates (No. 9), sophomore Sean Rea (No. 10), junior James Bostrom (No. 11), senior Holden Womak (No. 12) and junior Isaac James (No. 14).
A total of 77 student athletes competed in the Men’s Division from the six Northwestern Conference member teams. Of that number, almost half (32) were Watauga team members.
The 2025 Watauga Men’s Cross Country team, AKA ‘The Mudcats’, had a lot to smile about in winning the 2025 Northwestern 6A/7A Conference Cross Country Championships. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Men’s Team Scores:
Watauga (22 points)
St. Stephens (83)
Freedom (98)
Alexander Central (99)
South Caldwell (110)
McDowell (122)
Sophomore Pioneer Cali Townsend all but ran alone in dominating the Women’s Division of the Northwestern 6A/7A Conference Cross Country Championships hosted by Watauga on Oct. 14. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Townsend Dominates Women’s Division
Ninety-three harriers competed in the Women’s Division, but Watauga sophomore Cali Townsend finished a little more than minute ahead of the No. 2 runner, Watauga’s rising freshman star, Josie Mayo. Senior Janie Beach-Verhay (No. 3), sophomore Lily Kimbrough (No. 4), freshman Sophia Stull (No. 5), junior Lainey Johnston (No. 6) and junior Susanna Goff (No. 7) completed the Pioneers’ sweep of the top seven runners to cross the finish line of the 5,000-Meters course.
Including Sydney Townsend (No. 9), Nora Price (No. 10), Vivian Hans (No. 11), Josephine Walker (No. 14), Riley Benson (No. 16), Zoey Stille (No. 17), Bailey Collins (No. 19) and Ayla Crawley (No. 20), Watauga had 15 of the top 20 finishers in the Women’s Division.
Watauga was represented by 42 student athletes in the women’s division.
2025 Watauga Pioneers Women’s Cross Country team after winning the Northwestern 6A/7A Conference Cross Country Championships. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — Blowing Rock’s Town Council made short work of an abbreviated agenda for its regular monthly meeting on Oct. 14.
After public comments, Town Manager Shane Fox recognized town employee Tim Everhart’s 40 years of service to the town, in Public Works. Fox rattled off a number of descriptors that co-workers and town staff members have used to characterize Everhart before presenting a plaque, received by Everhart’s co-workers representing him since he was unable to attend due to an illness.
Aerial view of the slope failure of Velley View Road in Blowing Rock on Sept. 27, 2024 (Hurricane Helene), Photo courtesy of the Town of Blowing Rock
The one agenda item was the acceptance of a bid from Mountain Crest LLC (Lenoir), for the permanent repair project for Valley View Road at the intersection of Old Orchard Road, the site of a catastrophic slope failure caused by Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Described as a particularly complicated project, the Town worked with FEMA and the town’s engineering firm, McGill & Associates, to develop a comprehensive scope of work for the permanent repair of the slope failure (approximately 300 feet wide) and road access.
In the initial bid opening on Sept. 25, the Town had received only one bid (from Mountain Crest LLC), so the project was rebid as required by Town policies. On the second bid opening of Oct. 9, there was still only one bid, from Mountain Crest LLC, in the amount of $985,000.
The Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to award the contract to Mountain Crest LLC so work could begin.
Among the public speakers was Tricia Aiken, a resident of Heather Ridge Lane, who articulated an ongoing problem with speeding and volume of traffic on Green Hill Road. She described the area as a residential neighborhood without sidewalks along a narrow Green Hill Road. She reported that a number of people, including herself, walk the streets either by themselves or with dogs. She recounted one neighbor who recently had his mailbox sideswiped and ripped away. Much of the traffic, she said, is comprised of construction-related trucks and people using Green Hill Road as a cut-through or shortcut to U.S. 321, near the Green Park Inn. She asserted that the previous traffic study (2021) was incomplete because it only focused on that portion of Green Hill Road that is within the town limits and did not include the northern half of the road up to the Blue Ridge Parkway. She suggested that the only logical solution is speed bumps in asking for the Town’s help with the problem and its related dangers to her and her neighbors.
The Town Council went into closed session at approximately 6:36 p.m. No decisions were expected in coming out of closed session.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Scoring six unanswered goals in the first five minutes of a soccer match is a good pathway to winning — and that is exactly what the Watauga High School men’s varsity accomplished on Oct. 13 in what turned out to be an 8-0 thumping of visiting Freedom (Morganton).
Senior striker Asher Hampton recorded a “hat trick” (three goals) and five other Pioneers got into the scoring romp with individual goals, including senior Shiris Kandel, senior Ben Myers, senior Lucas Hamilton, junior Evan Mawhinney and junior Trace Martinez.
Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Koa Lancaster, David Ganley and Martinez were each credited with an assist.
Even though head coach Josh Honeycutt emptied his bench and gave several reserves valuable playing time as the Pioneers gear up for a probable trip to the state playoffs, the 8-0 advantage Watauga secured by halftime held up for the duration of the match. Pesky defense and grounded possession passes are hallmarks of the Pioneers’ style of play and it was clearly evident against the Patriots.
Now 11-3-3 overall and 6-0 in Northwestern Conference play with four home games against NWC teams they defeated in the first round on the road in the home-at-home series, the Pioneers are in the drivers seat for the conference championship and a high seed in the 6A state playoffs if they can stay true to form and win out in Jack Groce Stadium.
Remaining league schedule:
Oct. 15 – vs. South Caldwell, 6 p.m.(previously won, Sept. 29, 3-0)
Oct. 20 – vs. Alexander Central, 6 p.m. (previously won, Oct. 1, 4-0)
By David Rogers. ATLANTA, Ga. — Two methodical offensive drives in the first half directed by App State quarterback J.J. Kohl along with a shutdown defensive performance set the tone against Georgia State on Oct. 11. The Mountaineers cruised to a convincing, 41-20 win.
With Kohl at the helm, completing 21-of-32 passes for 309 yards and four touchdowns — and no interceptions or fumbles — the App State offense hummed, rolling up 435 yards of total offense (311 passing and 124 yards rushing). Protection was good as Kohl was only sacked once for a 2-yard loss.
Mountaineer QB J.J. Kohl passed for 309 yards and 4 TDs against Georgia State on Oct. 11, 2025. Photo by Taylor Newton, courtesy of App State Athletics
Unlike early games when turnovers in the red zone plagued the Mountaineers, against the Panthers App State made six trips inside the 20-yard line and capitalized on all six opportunities.
Kohl and 4th quarter replacement Noah Gillon combined to complete passes to 11 different receivers, with four of them tallying touchdowns.
Defense and special teams completed App State’s ‘complementary football’ effort on Oct. 11, 2025, at Georgia State. Photo by Taylor Newton, courtesy of App State Athletics
If no one thought senior Izayah Cummings was exciting to watch in previous games, he made believers out of Mountaineer fans against Georgia State, collecting six receptions on all six targets for 94 yards and a TD. Most impressive: 55 of those yards came after the catch.
Four of Cummings’ receptions picked up big chunks of gridiron real estate, including 2nd quarter catches of 17, 18 and 26 yards before 3rd quarter receptions of 24, 6 and topping the day off with a 3-yard TD.
Among the most impressive pass plays of the day was a short flare to the left side targeting senior tight end David Larkins, who turned a four-yard catch into a 40-yard power dance down the sideline. It may not have been a TD but it certainly extended a memorable scoring drive in the third quarter that was finished off by Cummings’ 3-yard TD.
David Larkins rambles down the sideline against Georgia State for a 40 yard gain. Photo by Taylor Newton, courtesy of App State Athletics
Defensively, App State held the Panthers scoreless until late in the third quarter. It was 31-0 before the Mountaineers’ hosts saw the end zone at the 4:40 mark of Q3 when quarterback Cameran Brown found tight end Grant Hollier for a 15-yard TD. Even though Georgia State manufactured a trio of TD-scoring drives in the third and fourth frames, the Mountaineers always countered with points of their own, never allowing the Panthers to seriously threaten.
While a lot App State’s offensive performances earlier in the season featured running back Rashod Dubinion, this time the senior transfer from Arkansas evenly shared the rushing duties with freshman RB Jaquari Lewis, the pair rolling up 56 (12 carries) and 57 yards (14 carries), respectively.
App State freshman Jaquari Lewis shared running back duties against Georgia State on Oct. 11, 2025. Photo by Taylor Newton, courtesy of App State Athletics
Mountaineer running back Rashod Dubinion goes airborne for some extra yards at Georgia State on Oct. 11, 2025. Photo by Taylor Newton, courtesy of App State Athletics
The game was still relatively close at halftime, with the Mountaineers leading 17-0. Georgia State received the second half kickoff, but their possession was short-circuited when App State’s sophomore linebacker Colton Phares stepped in front of a T J Finley pass intended for GSU wide receiver Ted Hurst with still 13:23 left in the third quarter. That led to a virtual explosion of TDs manufactured by the Mountaineers to all but put the game away in the third quarter.
App State head coach Dowell Loggains was candid in opening his post-game press conference.
“We need to finish the game better but I like the way we started, in all three phases,” said Loggains. “I’m happy with the game. We cut down on the penalties… defense was good and special teams showed up.”
Loggains could feel his team’s confidence building as the game progressed.
“Any time you give yourself a three-possession lead and then start the second half the way we did… at that point I felt pretty good about the game,” said Loggains. “We still need to learn how to finish, to play all four quarters.”
Wide receiver Dalton Stroman hauls in a TD pass against Georgia State on Oct. 11, 2026. Photo by Jon Pearl, courtesy of App State Athletics
Kohl was similarly candid in assessing the App State offense’s performance.
“We started kind of slow with a couple of three and outs,” he conceded, “but then we got into the flow of things. We got some confidence going and then it was pretty cool from there. It was (great) to see different guys making plays from both the receivers and running backs rooms. The offensive line… they fought their butts off for me.
“The thing about this offense,” Kohl added, “is that it is multi-dimensional. We can move the ball running or throwing.”
Next up for the Mountaineers is a Homecoming date with Coastal Carolina at Kidd Brewer Stadium on Oct. 18, with kickoff slated for 3:30 p.m.
By Katherine Jamtgaard. BOONE, N.C. — The App State volleyball team rose to 13-4 on the season (4-2 SBC) after completing a weekend sweep against Old Dominion (3-14, 0-6 SBC) with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-23) victory on Saturday. The Pink Day victory was punctuated by a career best performance from sophomore Bella Hutchens, who slammed down 20 kills on a clip of .645.
“This was an emotional weekend matched with an emotional fight to get two wins in Holmes,” said head coach Chad Sutton. “This team continues to find ways to get it done. I’m very proud of the team’s effort and continuing the fight. Go App.”
App State 3, Old Dominion 0
Hutchens and senior Maya Winterhoff combined for 30 of App State’s 49 kills against the Monarchs. Winterhoff, who reached 1,000 career kills in Friday’s 3-2 victory against ODU, contributed 10 kills with a hitting percentage of .400 in Saturday’s sweep. She also made four blocks, including the Mountaineers’ sole solo block of the day. Redshirt senior Addison Heidemann registered her fifth double-double of the season (16th career) with 33 of App State’s 40 assists and 11 digs. Additionally, Heidemann helped the Mountaineers to a team hitting percentage of .303. Sophomore MeMe Davis led the Mountaineers with 17 digs and senior Ali Morris also made double-figure digs on the afternoon with 10. The Black and Gold outpaced the Monarchs in kills (49-39), assists (40-35), and blocks (6-2).
Over the course of the first set, the Mountaineers and Monarchs tied on eight occasions and swapped the lead four times. Additionally, Hutchens accounted for 10 of App State’s 18 kills in the first set alone. The Mountaineers jumped to an early 5-0 lead as Hutchens slammed down three kills, Winterhoff contributed a kill, and the duo of Morris and Winterhoff went up for a block. The Monarchs managed to catch up to the Mountaineers and take a 14-10 lead, but App State steadily chipped away at the deficit to tie things up at 16 all. The Black and Gold built off kills from senior Keionna Mackey and Hutchens, an ace from Heidemann, and a pair of ODU errors. After ODU took a late 21-20 edge, kills from Winterhoff and Mackey pushed the Mountaineers ahead, 23-21. Heidemann set Hutchens up for a pair of kills to secure the set, 25-23, for App State.
Much like the first set, App State and Old Dominion knotted the score eight times, but traded the lead on five occasions in the second set. Down 5-2, Winterhoff went to work, slamming down a trio of kills and going up for a block alongside Morris to push the Mountaineers ahead, 6-5. With a 5-1 run that featured kills from sophomore Lou Johnson, Hutchens, redshirt freshman Maddie Smith, and Heidemann, App State took an 18-16 lead. The Mountaineers maintained their lead with a pair of kills from Winterhoff and an ace from Morris (21-18). Hutchens capped the set with three more kills for the Mountaineers, 25-21, despite ODU’s late efforts to narrow the deficit.
In the third and final set, App State jumped to an early 5-2 lead, building off a pair of ODU errors, a pair of kills from Hutchens, and a kill from Morris. ODU managed to close the gap, meeting the Mountaineers at 7-7. Over the course of the set, the Mountaineers and Monarchs fought through 12 ties. With a 4-0 run that included kills from Morris and Winterhoff, Winterhoff’s solo block, and an ace from freshman Bella Dafforn, App State pushed ahead, 15-12. The Monarchs chipped away at the deficit and managed to take a 21-17 lead with a 6-1 run. The Mountaineers answered with a 5-0 run of their own, building off a block from the duo junior Maria Contreras and Johnson, a pair of Mackey kills, a kill from Hutchens, and an ODU error (22-21). Heidemann set Hutchens up for a kill to break a 22 all tie. App State won the set, 25-23, and the match, 3-0, after a pair of Old Dominion errors.
Looking Ahead
The Mountaineers will hit the road for their next four matches. App State will challenge Georgia Southern in Statesboro, Ga. on Oct. 16 and 17 before taking on Coastal Carolina on Oct. 24 and 25 in Conway, S.C.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Playing ultra-complementary football, Watauga High School celebrated “Homecoming 2025” by taking a wrecking ball to longtime Northwestern Conference rival South Caldwell. The undefeated Pioneers remained that way with a 56-0 win in front of a near capacity crowd at Jack Groce Stadium.
Senior quarterback Cade Keller completed 13-of-15 passes for 300 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. On the receiving end, Evan Burroughs caught five passes for 184 yards and three TDs, some of them simple flare routes and screen passes that he turned into big chunks of gridiron real estate with his elusiveness and speed. Nyle Peays added five catches for 72 yards, while 6-4, 215 lb. senior tight end Tyler Leyshon caught two passes and dragged would-be tacklers with him for 43 yards.
Cade Keller prepares to launch a pass deep downfield against South Caldwell. Photographic image by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Pioneer head coach Ryan Habich explained after the game that based on personnel and what the coaching staff usually sees from South Caldwell, defensively, they opted for a heavy dose of aerial attack. Plus, he said, the Pioneers wanted to be better prepared and more rounded as the playoffs approach and what he feels will be stiffer competition in Alexander Central, McDowell and St. Stephens over the next three weeks.
“When you are a good football team you want to play like a good football team regardless of who your opponent is,” said Habich, “and for the entire game.”
Certainly, the Pioneers kept the proverbial “pedal to the metal” against the Spartans. It was the sixth time this year that officials instituted the “mercy rule” with a running clock.
Watayga’s Bowen Mayo (8) has emerged as yet another key playmaker for the Pioneers. Photographic image by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
While the game plan favored passing the ball to take advantage of Keller’s skills and his receivers’ overall speed and athleticism, Watauga also fared well running the football. Matthew Leon carried the ball only twice, but for a total of 50 yards and scored a TD on each carry. Everett Gryder carried the ball seven times for just 13 yards — but punched and plowed through the line of scrimmage for two TDs on the night.
Not left out of the scoring barrage was Bowen Mayo, who had two catches for 21 yards and a single carry for five yards into the end zone.
There were smiles aplenty, before and after Watauga’s 56-0 Homecoming win over South Caldwell on Oct. 10. Photographic image by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
A key metric in the evening’s lopsided win was five turnovers committed by South Caldwell, those drive-killing, self-inflicted wounds. Watauga defensive lineman Brady Lindenmuth, defensive back Kyle Williams and linebacker John Wilson Mills all registered fumble recoveries. Peays and Burroughs both poached South Caldwell passes for interceptions. In addition to his fumble recovery, Mills was the team’s leading tackler on defense, while Crue Stoddard was in on at least three tackles and recorded a QBH (quarterback hurry).
Placekicker Miller Hankins remains perfect on the season in PAT attempts, including 8-for-8 on Oct. 10 against the Spartans.
Head coach Ryan Habich and QB Cade Keller presented Braxton Clark with the Homecoming game ball. Photographic image by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
A poignant moment came for the Pioneers after the game, when Habich and Keller presented the Homecoming game ball to Braxton Clark, the son of former App State head football coach Shawn Clark, who suddenly passed away recently. Before moving to Florida with his family, where Coach Clark was offensive line coach for the University of Central Florida, Braxton had served as a ball boy for the Pioneers varsity football team.
Next up for the Pioneers is another Northwestern Conference test, this one in Taylorsville against Alexander Central on Oct. 17, which defeated the conference’s only 7A classification team on Oct. 10, 30-28. All other NWC teams, including Watauga, are 6A classification schools. The Cougars are 2-5 overall, 1-1 in conference. Their losses have been against stiff competition in Newton-Conover, Hickory, Statesville, South Iredell and St. Stephens.
Cade Keller (10) passes while Matthew Leon (14), Brady Lindenmuth (56) and other Pioneers provide protection on Oct. 10 during the Homecoming game vs. longtime Northwestern Conference rival, South Caldwell. Photographic image by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Now 7-0 overall and 2-0 in conference action, Watauga came into the Oct. 10 contest ranked by MaxPreps as the No. 13 school among all classifications and No. 1 in North Carolina’s 6A classification. Before its win over McDowell, Alexander Central was ranked No. 41 out of 57 6A classification schools.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Quarter
Watauga PASS – Evan Burroughs 39 yards from Cade Keller, Miller Hankins PAT is good, 7-0
Watauga RUN – Matthew Leon from 2 yards out, Miller Hankins PAT is good, 14-0
Watauga RUN – Everett Gryder from 2 yards out, Miller Hankins PAT is good, 21-0
2nd Quarter
Watauga PASS – Evan Burroughs 73 yards from Cade Keller, Miller Hankins PAT is good, 28-0
Watauga RUN – Matthew Leon 44 yards, Miller Hankins PAT is good, 35-0
Watauga RUN – Everett Gryder 2 yards, Miller Hankins PAT is good, 42-0
Watauga PASS – Evan Burroughs 49 yards from Cade Keller, Miller Hankins PAT is good, 49-0
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter
Watauga RUN – Bowen Mayo 5 yards, Miller Hankins PAT is good, 56-0
BONUS PHOTOS (Click on any image for larger version and Slide Show Mode)
All photographic images by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports.
Head coach Ryan Habich and QB Cade Keller presented Braxton Clark with the Homecoming game ball. Photographic image by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Cade Keller prepares to launch a pass deep downfield against South Caldwell. Photographic image by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Watayga’s Bowen Mayo (8) has emerged as yet another key playmaker for the Pioneers. Photographic image by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Cade Keller (10) passes while Matthew Leon (14) provides protection on Oct. 10 during the Homecoming game vs. longtime Northwestern Conference rival, South Caldwell. Photographic image by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
There were smiles aplenty, before and after Watauga’s 56-0 Homecoming win over South Caldwell on Oct. 10. Photographic image by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Lest we forget the occasion, Athena Elliott and Silas Powell were named the 2025 Watauga High School Homecoming Queen and King. Photographic image by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
By Layne McNary. Mt. Pleasant, Mich. — The App State field hockey team took down MAC opponent Central Michigan 4-0 on Oct. 10.
Sophia Baxter, Samantha Connors and Kate Richardson all found the back of the cage in the contest, with all goals coming in the second half.
Lise Boekaar had a historic day, tallying her 32nd career assist on the game-winning goal from Connors, moving her atop the all-time list in App State history.
How it Happened
1st Quarter: The Mountaineers (9-3, 4-1 MAC) controlled a majority of possession in the opening period, tallying one shot on goal and a penalty corner, but failed to find the back of the cage.
2nd Quarter: App State turned up the intensity in the second, tallying seven shots on goal and six penalty corners in the period. The Mountaineers outshot Central Michigan (7-5, 2-3 MAC) nine to one but could not find the back of the cage, going into the halftime break tied at zero.
3rd Quarter: The Mountaineers broke the scoreless draw early out of the halftime break, with Connors scoring her first goal of the season off Boekaar’s pass. Richardson shortly followed, scoring her first goal of the game and fourth of the season, assisted by Kassie Paul. App State outshot Central Michigan seven to zero, earning two corners in the period.
4th Quarter: It was more of the same for the Mountaineers to close out the game, adding two more goals to the total. Richardson scored her second of the game early in the fourth, assisted by Bridget Donovan for her fifth goal of the season. Baxter scored her ninth of the season to push the Mountaineer lead to four in the team’s third shutout of the season.
Up Next
The Mountaineers will stay in Michigan to take on Michigan State on Sunday. First touch at Ralph Young Field in East Lansing, Mich. is slated for noon, streaming on Big Ten Network.
