By David Rogers BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — You just never know who you are going to run into along Main Street in Blowing Rock…
Growing up in Gastonia, Richard Bryant didn’t get to the High Country.
“Well, my father might have brought us up to Tweetsie once,” he admitted recently, when we ran into him at Bald Guy Coffee, across the courtyard from The Martin House.
Richard Bryant is CEO and Chairman of Capital Investment Companies. Photographic image by David Rogers
Bryant was pushed eastwardly as a young man, graduating from North Carolina State University and not long afterward, in 1984, he founded Capital Investment Companies with his friend, Bobby Edgerton.
“I remember making the decision to get into the stock market business with the Dow Jones Industrial Average at about 770. Everybody thought I was crazy. That was about as high as the Dow Industrials had ever been and it didn’t seem to be a particularly vibrant market environment. Looking back, with the Dow now at about 35,000, it was probably the perfect time to be a financial services entrepreneur and launching a business.”
Today, almost 40 years later, Bryant still serves as CEO and Chairman of Capital Investment Companies, based in Raleigh, with more than $7 billion under management and affiliate operations in asset management as a registered investment advisory firm; a broker dealer widely regarded as one of the largest independent firms between Atlanta and Washington, D.C.; an insurance arm; mortgages; and community bank and trust advisory services, among other services.
Richard Bryant is CEO and Chairman of Capital Investment Companies. Photographic image by David Rogers
And yet, all these years building his business in Raleigh, he had rarely ventured north of Gastonia in the western part of North Carolina.
Until this year.
“My wife and I have had a place along the coast, in Atlantic Beach, for several years now and that is where we spend most of our down time,” said Bryant. “Well, I have an assistant with connections to the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show and she suggested we spend some time in Blowing Rock this year.”
“So, we did.” Bryant added. “We rented the Penthouse on Main Street back in August and just fell in love with Blowing Rock, how easy it is to walk everywhere and the variety of restaurants in the area.”
But that was not the end of Bryant’s introductory love affair.
“Every year, we bring all of our brokers and associates together in one place for an annual conference,” Bryant recalled. “We’ve done North Myrtle Beach a few times and this year we were supposed to go to Pinehurst. For a variety of reasons, that didn’t work out so instead we booked the Grove Park Inn in Asheville for over 200 of us.
“At the same time,” Bryant added, “my wife and I decided to rent a house in Blowing Rock for a month around our conference. It has just been such a magical time. I never gave much thought to the changing seasons and the leaves, but it has been a beautiful time to be up here.”
But being a self-professed “foodie” and walkaholic, it turns out, are not the only draws for Bryant to Blowing Rock. Being in business all around the state for 40 years, he has gotten to meet a lot of people and make a lot of friends in all parts of North Carolina. Walking around town this past month, he ran into a bunch of them. It turns out, Blowing Rock is a “mecca” of sorts for Richard Bryant’s universe.
“Everywhere I turn, there is someone I know, a friend of a friend, or some other kind of connection. We were walking around Broyhill Lake and who did we run into but my nephew and his kids! Neither of us had any idea the other was here,” said Bryant.
Undoubtedly, Bryant and his family will be coming back more frequently now that they have experienced Blowing Rock up close and personal.
“I think I prefer the cold of the mountains to the heat of the beach,” Bryant smiled. “I may be at the younger end of the age spectrum in Blowing Rock — but I like it here.”
By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — You just never know who you are going to run into along Main Street in Blowing Rock.
Tim Cockerham sells tractors, as well as landscaping and construction equipment. His company owns several retail outlets around the region. His customers include farmers, landscapers and contractors.
Tim Cockerham. Photographic image by David Rogers
“My family has been in the tractor business for about 65 years. Growing up in Charlotte, it was not unusual for us to go to the mountains or to the coast,” said Cockerham. “Several years ago, my wife and I came to Blowing Rock for a wedding at Chetola. We had an opportunity to walk around a bit and just fell in love with this town. You have just about everything here. If you want to hunt or fish, you can hunt or fish. If you want to sit on a porch, you can do that, too. It is a foodie’s paradise, there are so many great restaurants. Between here and West Jefferson is some of the best horse country in the nation and Blowing Rock has a great horse show every summer.”
For Cockerham and his family, Blowing Rock has become a periodic destination.
“I have a farm up in Surry County, near where my son lives. It is not unusual for him to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway down to Blowing Rock just to have lunch,” Cockerham added. “He loves it here. It takes a little over an hour to get here on the Parkway.”
Tim Cockerham. Photographic image by David Rogers
As a successful businessman with an outsider’s viewpoint, Cockerham is quick to hand out compliments.
“I commend the Town of Blowing Rock,” said the North Carolina native. “Growth has its challenges but they seem to be doing it right. People are still coming, again and again.”
Cockerham, who has helped navigate his company’s growth through several changes over the years, offered some insights about growth.
Tim Cockerham. Photographic image by David Rogers
“I’ve heard the rumblings about people who want to shut down growth in Blowing Rock. They found it, so now they want to raise the drawbridge and not let anyone else in. But if you are not growing with the forces of changing market dynamics, you become stagnant and eventually are left behind,” said Cockerham. “You are not going to stop Blowing Rock from growing. It is paradise. It is a year ‘round place. You have an eclectic group of locals, an eclectic group of visitors. There are a lot of opportunities for people that live here year ‘round.”
Cockerham did see one deficiency in paradise.
“The only negative I see in Blowing Rock is you need a hardware store!” he said, with a smile. “If I had that expertise, I would be all over it. You need a bolt, a hammer, this or that as you are piddling around the house, you really don’t want to go all the way to Lowe’s in Boone. I am an advocate of buying local!”
By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — Urging veterans to continue serving even after their active duty comes to an end, Rick Cantwell, Chairman of the Patriot Military Family Foundation addressed the assemblage of an estimated 40 Blowing Rock community members, including a number of veterans from all service branches, at the American Legion Building on Nov. 11.
American Legion Post 256 Commander Albert Yount opened the proceedings a little after 11 a.m., introducing St. Mary of the Hills choir member Margaret Holder to sing the National Anthem.
Wayne Mihelich, Vice Commander of the North Carolina American Legion organization was on hand for the Nov. 11 Veterans Day ceremony in Blowing Rock. Photographic image by David Rogers
Yount then brought recently re-elected Mayor Charlie Sellers to the podium for some welcoming remarks. In addition to praising those assembled for their attendance in honoring veterans, Sellers also took the opportunity to address a concern.
“I hope we can get past the divisiveness that led up to this week’s election,” said Sellers. “We are one Blowing Rock.”
Wayne Mihelich, Vice Commander of North Carolina’s American Legion organization, stressed the importance of American Legion membership for those leaving active military duty, including a role for spouses in the American Legion Auxiliary.
Local resident George Wilcox was responsible for bringing this year’s keynote speaker to Blowing Rock and introduced Richard Cantwell, Chairman of the Patriot Military Family Foundation that he founded with retired Major General Chuck Swannock, a previous keynote speaker honoring veterans in Blowing Rock.
Rick Cantwell of the Patriot Military Family Foundation addresses the audience on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, at the American Legion Building in Blowing Rock. Photographic image by David Rogers
Cantwell praised the many organizations that serve the needs of military veterans, suggesting that his organization fills what he described as a “gap” in the treatment of post-traumatic syndrome suffered by many returning veterans as they try and re-engage their lives in society.
One of the Patriot Military Family Foundation’s initiative is matching veterans with specially trained service dogs, which provide a measure of both companionship and protection. He described how even veterans who were skeptical of the benefit of a service dog became believers.
Richard Cantwell on Nov. 11 at the American Legion Building in Blowing Rock. Photographic image by David Rogers
Cantwell said the Foundation now has some eight breeders to supply an ongoing supply of dogs, but not just any dog will do. Working with other agencies, the Foundation provides dogs that specifically match the needs of an individual veteran.
The Foundation also works closely with a medical professional in Chicago who has developed a highly successful protocol for treating PTSD patients.
“We were at first dubious, but I sent the fellow 20 PTSD veterans and he had a 100 percent success rate,” said Cantwell.
In closing, Cantwell urged the audience members to help identify the needs of veterans in the community and work with the American Legion and his foundation to find solutions.
By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — If anyone ever wondered whether Blowing Rock has ever been a “fun” town, you don’t to look any further than the Blowing Rock Historical Society’s exhibit, “Nightlife in Blowing Rock,” currently on display at Edgewood Cottage.
Photo by David Rogers of graphic by Blowing Rock Historical Society. Click image to enlarge.
For a second year in a row, Edgewood Cottage has been converted into an off-season museum. For several years now, the former studio of acclaimed North Carolina artist Elliott Daingerfield has been used in the summer as the home of Artists in Residence, the popular, multi-week series featuring some of the best artists in different mediums that the region has to offer.
“Last year we came to the conclusion that we were wasting this beautiful asset we have in Edgewood Cottage when Artists in Residence had come and gone, ” Tom O’Brien, president of the Blowing Rock Historical Society explained to Blowing Rock News. “So we came up with the idea of utilizing the space as a museum with a different theme each year.”
For 2023-24, they came upon a theme that is sure to intrigue residents and visitors alike.
“A lot of people don’t realize that Blowing Rock had a bit of a rowdy reputation in the 1930s, 1940s, and all the way up to the end of the century, really,” said O’Brien. “And it is all tied to alcohol because so many of the areas around it were considered ‘dry.’ Just about the only place you could get liquor by the drink was in one of our bars or restaurants. And that also spurred a lot of entrepreneurs to be creative. It probably couldn’t be built or operated today, but P.B. Scott’s was incredible in its abilities to book some of the time’s most popular acts and bring them to Blowing Rock. It was only open from 1976 to 1983, but brought in musicians that included Leon Russell, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Earl Scruggs, John Prine, Doc and Merle Watson, Don McLean, Marshall Tucker, Muddy Waters, Hank Williams, Jr., and the Allman Brothers, attracting massive crowds.”
O’Brien noted other historical stories, too.
“Our understanding is that the very first Hard Rock Cafe was launched in Blowing Rock,” said O’Brien. “It didn’t last long before the partnership ended and the brand was taken away to London and Chicago. Then you have Antlers Bar, which is now part of Bistro Roca. It is believed to be the longest running bar in North Carolina.”
The Edgewood Cottage museum is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to sign the guest book before wandering through the various poster displays telling the story of Blowing Rock’s “nightlife” history.
By David Rogers. ATLANTA, Ga. — Dominating Georgia State has become an autumn tradition for Appalachian State football. On Nov. 11, the Mountaineers upheld the tradition with conviction, 42-14 — and the game wasn’t even that close.
App State has five running backs on the team’s depth chart and all of them saw action against the Panthers. Three scored touchdowns, including Nate Noel, Kanye Roberts and Watauga High School alum Anderson Castle, who showed no signs of the pre-season foot injury that kept him off the field for the first several weeks of the 2023 campaign.
Kaedin Robinson catches TD pass for App State at Georgia State on Nov. 11. Photo courtesy of App State Sports
Noel is also rounding into form after being sidelined midseason. On a 61-yard romp through perimeter defenders then racing down the left sideline, the junior from Miami, Fla. looked a lot like the running back who was among the nation’s leading rushers through the first few weeks of the 2023 season.
Inserted in the third quarter, Castle punched a path through the line of scrimmage for a 9-yard TD run, twisting to break a tackle before surging into the end zone.
Roberts accounted for the Mountaineers’ final scoring with a 20-yard rush to paydirt early in the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, “Joey California” (quarterback Joey Aguilar) was having his way with the Panthers’ defense. He threw for two TDs in the first half, a 44-yard sizzler to Makai Jackson at the beginning of the second quarter, and then a 3-yarder to Kaedin Robinson midway through the second stanza.
With App State getting the ball to start the second half, the Aguilar and the Mountaineers wasted no time. Aguilar threw a perfect strike to wide receiver Dalton Stroman crossing from left to right over the middle, the big redshirt sophomore from Rockingham breaking free from a would-be tackler before sprinting to the end zone for what went into the history books as a 77-yard passing TD. And it came on the first play from scrimmage to open the second half.
Aguilar finished the day having completed 14 of 21 pass attempts, including three TDs vs. just one interception. Yet again the Mountaineers rolled up more than 500 yards of total offense (509), perfectly balanced between rushing (254 yards) and passing (255).
As good as the Mountaineer offense was, perhaps the real stars of this game were members of the defensive unit, which held the Panthers to just 260 yards of total offense. Most of that came in the fourth quarter when the game was already out of hand. App State linebacker Andrew Parker had a big day with 14 total tackles, including 2 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry. Defensive back T. Alan Yowe hauled in an interception.
Early in the game, Georgia State appeared to be in control when the Panthers manufactured a 20-play drive that advanced the ball from their own 35 yard line to the Mountaineer 4-yard line, but the scoring effort was foiled when GSU quarterback Darren Grainger looked to run left on a keeper, but lost control on a forced fumble credited to APP’s Trevor Moffitt and the ball was recovered by Parker at the 8-yard line.
Georgia State never again really threatened until its two fourth quarter TDs when the game was already out of reach.
Joey Aguilar hands off to running back Nate Noel at Georgia State on Nov. 11. Photo courtesy of App State Sports
“Our guys came out ready to go,” starting center and team captain Isaiah Helms said afterwards. “We brought the energy and played complementary football all the way around (offense, defense, and special teams).”
With its sixth win of the season, App State is now bowl-eligible. There is still a small probability that the Mountaineers can represent the Sun Belt Conference’s East Division in the conference’s Championship game. It would require them to defeat both James Madison and Georgia Southern in the final two regular season games and, in all probability, see Coastal Carolina to lose its game against James Madison in those teams’ regular season finale.
James Madison is so far undefeated, but remains ineligible to play in the conference championship game per the requirements of its joining the conference two years ago.
SUN BELT CONFERENCE SCORES ON THE WEEKEND
Appalachian State 42, @Georgia State 14
@Liberty 38, Old Dominion 10
@James Madison 44, UConn 6
Troy 45, @Louisiana-Monroe 14
@Coastal Carolina 31, Texas State 23
@South Alabama 21, Arkansas State 14
@Marshall 38, Georgia Southern 33
POSTGAME NOTES from App State Sports
App State won its third straight game to move to 6-4 and earn bowl eligibility. It’s the eighth time in nine years that the Mountaineers have been bowl eligible since transitioning to the FBS level.
The 28-point margin of victory is the largest against a Sun Belt opponent since a 45-7 win at Troy in 2021. The Mountaineers have won their last three games by an average margin of 20 points. In the team’s four losses this season, the average margin of defeat was 4.8 points.
Interestingly enough, App State scored a touchdown on the first offensive play of the second, third and fourth quarters.
The Mountaineers defeated the Panthers for the 10th time in 10 tries since they became conference opponents in 2014.
App State improved its road record to 2-3 this season. The Mountaineers’ 34 road victories since 2014 are tied with Oklahoma for fifth-most in the FBS over that span. Only Ohio State, Boise State, Clemson and Alabama have more.
App State and Georgia State tied with two turnovers apiece. Under head coach Shawn Clark, the Mountaineers are 17-1 when winning the turnover battle, 6-11 when losing, and 9-4 when they have the same number of turnovers as the opponent.
App State’s 85 wins since 2015 are sixth-most in the FBS behind Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State and Oklahoma.
Earning his first career start was defensive end Kevin Abrams-Verwayne, while DL Jason Hertz, QB David Hernandez and OL Danny Stevens made their Mountaineer debuts.
OFFENSE
App State eclipsed 30 points for the third straight game and the seventh time this season.
The Mountaineers piled up 509 total yards – 254 on the ground and 255 in the air.
Joey Aguilar completed 14 of 21 passes for 255 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. He increased his Sun Belt lead to 26 passing touchdowns, which also ranks top 10 in the country.
Back to 100 percent health, Nate Noel rushed 10 times for 86 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown four plays after the Mountaineer defense ended Georgia State’s 20-play drive with a forced fumble inside the 5-yard line.
During the game, Noel became the eighth player in school history to eclipse 3,000 career rushing yards.
Kanye Roberts tacked on 77 rushing yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown.
After missing the first eight games of the season due to a fall camp injury, in his second game back on the field, Anderson Castle rushed for 26 yards and his first touchdown of the season on a 9-yard burst to open the fourth quarter.
Makai Jackson caught three passes for a season-high 98 yards. His 44-yard touchdown from Aguilar on the first play of the second quarter made it the second straight game Jackson found the end zone.
On the first play of the third quarter, Dalton Stroman hauled in a deep crossing route, made a man miss, and scored a 77-yard touchdown, the longest touchdown catch by a Mountaineer since Christan Horn’s 80-yard reception last year against The Citadel. Stroman finished with three catches for a season-high 93 yards.
Kaedin Robinson had four catches for 29 yards and his team-leading sixth touchdown grab of the season.
DEFENSE
The Mountaineer defense held Georgia State to 260 total yards. The Panthers entered the game averaging 394 per game.
App State pitched a shutout until the Panthers first scored with 11:57 left in the fourth quarter.
App State’s defense forced eight 3-and-outs and nine Panther punts.
GSU quarterback Darren Grainger entered the game averaging 269.1 yards of total offense (seventh-most among Sun Belt quarterbacks). App State held him to 133 (115 passing, 18 rushing).
Andrew Parker Jr. led the way with a career-high 14 tackles (10 solo), with 2.0 TFLs and a fumble recovery. It was his fifth double-digit tackle game of the season.
Trenton Alan Yowe snagged his first App State interception, while also posting a season-high five tackles, a tackle for loss and two pass breakups.
Trevor Moffit forced a fumble that was recovered by Parker and ended Georgia State’s 20-play first-quarter drive with the Panthers within 5 yards of a touchdown.
By David Rogers. RICHMOND, Va. — Eighteen seconds doesn’t sound like much when you have just won a 13.1 mile, half marathon road race, but to middle distance specialist becoming a marathoner Ryan Ford of Blowing Rock, it makes all the difference in the world — at least for this year.
Ford won the CarMax Richmond Half Marathon on Nov. 11 with a time of 1:03:18, more than two minutes ahead of his ZAP Endurance teammate and No. 2 finisher, Dan Schaeffer (1:05:26). The only problem? He needed to come in at or under 1:03:00 to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon on Feb. 3, in Orlando, Fla.
Schaeffer, explained ZAP Endurance Pete Rea, is a shorter distance race specialist, usually focusing on the mile up to 5,000 and 10,000 meters. On this day, he “paced” his teammate and friend for the first 10 miles before telling Ford, “Go get ’em!” and easing off the pace. Remarkably, he still finished No. 2, just ahead of a trio of other runners completing the course under 1:06. The next athletes to finish were 1:08+, more than five minutes behind Ford and three minutes after Schaffer.
So while Ford and Schaffer might go to Orlando to support their six ZAP Endurance teammates who have qualified, they won’t be competing.
Blowing Rock will still be well represented by three ZAP Endurance men and three ZAP Endurance women. The men include Tyler Pennel, who finished fifth in the 2016 Los Angeles-hosted Olympic Trials; Andrew Colley, who in October’s Chicago Marathon established a new ZAP Endurance club record; and Josh Izewski, who had the previous ZAP club record and in July was the top U.S. finisher in the Gold Coast Marathon, in Australia.
On the women’s side, Tristin Van Ord (set a club record at Chicago, too); Annemarie Tuxbury and Whitney Macon have all qualified for the Orlando marathon trials in February.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Not to take anything away from the Watauga Pioneers’ gridiron exploits of yesteryear, but the Round 2 playoff win, 20-14, over Mallard Creek on Nov. 10 was improbable at worst — and may well be recorded as the biggest upset in Watauga program history.
In the state playoffs, seedings can be misleading. A more urban or even suburban oriented conference could have as many as four strong programs qualify for the playoffs, with little difference between the four in terms of team strength. But because those teams might have finished in second, third or fourth place within their conference, they end up getting a lower seed in the playoff bracket. Arguably, they have a tougher path to a state title.
Mallard Creek, which finished second in the 3A/4A Queen City Conference behind Hough High School of Cornelius, had a couple of tough, non-conference, out of state losses, including a narrow, 3-point loss (10-7) to nationally ranked Buford, Ga. When all was said and done, the net result was a No. 18 seed in the North Carolina 4A West bracket.
Maddox Greene turns upfield for what turned out to be a 61-yard TD run on Nov. 10 vs. Mallard Creek. Photo by David Rogers
Meanwhile, Watauga had arguably an easier schedule, even if facing some formidable non-conference opponents in A C Reynolds, Maiden and North Davidson. Going undefeated led to a favorable RPI rating and, ultimately, to the No. 2 seed in the 4A West bracket.
Without question, the home field advantage of being a No. 2 seed was at play on Nov. 10, because the Pioneers came into the game vs. the Mavericks as decisive underdogs. At least one North Carolina high school football prognosticator had Mallard Creek winning by as many as 40 points.
And the Mavericks looked like they should have been favorites, too. Top to bottom of the roster, they were bigger. Top to bottom of the roster, they seemed more athletic. Top to bottom of the roster, they looked fit and fast.
That the Mavericks had speed to spare was clearly evident. Three of the four members of last spring’s sprint relay teams that broke North Carolina state records in the 4×100 and 4×200 relays are on this year’s football team, including Benjamin Black, a senior advertised as having run the 40-yard dash in 4.3 seconds; as well as junior running back Curtis Clark and versatile junior wide receiver/running back Christian Dixon.
And that is just a sampling of Mallard Creek’s speed. Get one of those guys in space with the ball, and they are as dangerous a scoring threat as anyone in high school football.
And yet, Mallard Creek’s offense was not even Watauga head coach Ryan Habich’s biggest concern.
“Mallard Creek has probably the best defense in the state,” said Habich. “They are hard to block with their size and athleticism. We knew we were going to have to take some shots.”
Certainly Mallard Creek’s defensive braintrust did their homework on Watauga’s use of the B-back, which was sophomore Everett Gryder’s role until he got hurt three weeks ago. So up steps sophomore Matthew Leon, who last week rambled for more than 200 yards, rushing the football.
On Nov. 10, the big and physical Mallard Creek defensive line was ready, effectively containing Leon, limiting him to just 18 yards on 17 carries.
Stopping Leon was a good start, but what Mallard Creek doesn’t have is Watauga junior quarterback Maddox Greene, who seems to get better and better with each season and each game. Greene accounted for 278 yards of total offense in this one and was involved in all three Pioneer touchdowns. He completed nine of 14 passes for 157 yards and two TDs, with no interceptions. He also carried the ball 22 times for 121 yards, including the game’s first score, a 42 yard scamper by Greene emerging off of left tackle and maneuvering into the Maverick secondary where he outran all defenders.
Jackson Pryor goes up for game-winning TD catch with 1:30 left in the game vs. Mallard Creek on Nov. 10. Photo by Garner Dewey for High Country Sports
After Mallard Creek tied things up when Black showed off his speed on 17-yard TD run around the left side, Watauga’s Greene hurled a 20-yard TD pass to tight end Morgan Henry early in the second quarter to reclaim the lead, 14-7, Henry finding himself wide open when gathering in the ball as he stepped into the end zone.
With both teams finding advancement of the ball challenging for what remained of the first half, the only drama came when the Pioneers’ senior linebacker/wide receiver Jackson Pryor blocked a Mallard Creek field goal attempt.
Late in the third quarter, Mallard Creek seemed to find the formula for getting their speedy playmakers in space with the ball when junior quarterback Evan Rambert connected with the lightening-fast Black for a 42-yard TD, tying things up at 14-14 with the successful PAT.
Setting up for a dramatic finish
On Watauga’s next offensive possession, a promising drive from their own 32 took the ball into the red zone, highlighted by a swing pass from Greene to Evan Burroughs on the left side. The sophomore sprinted down to near the 10-yard line, but that is where the drive stalled, ending on fourth down when Greene passed to a wide open Trathan Gragg on the left side of the end zone, the ball thrown a little high and the junior tight end unable to bring it in for the TD.
Mallard Creek took possession at their own 7-yard line, but couldn’t get past midfield before the stingy Pioneer defense forced the Mavericks to punt as the game turned the corner into the fourth and final period.
What followed was perhaps Watauga’s most masterful demonstration of clock management. After taking possession with just under 12 minutes remaining in the game, used 17 plays to get the ball to the Maverick 16 yard line and take all but a minute and 30 seconds off the game clock. The drive included a couple of fourth down conversions where failure to convert would have given the ball back to Mallard Creek with good field position. Taking one of those “shots” Habich said they needed in order to get past the Maverick defense, Greene found Pryor in the end zone along the right side for the go-ahead TD.
With Watauga ahead and 1:30 left to play, the drama was just beginning because Jack Wilson’s PAT kick was blocked. If the Panthers could get down the field and scored a TD they would tie it, but a made PAT would win the game for them.
As masterful in clock management as Watauga was on that final drive, they almost left too much time on the clock. Taking possession on their own 30-yard line, the Rambert-led Mallard Creek offense quickly got the ball into Pioneer territory when the junior QB hit Black along the left side for a 32-yard gain. He was good two more times on passes of seven and 15 yards, getting deeper into Watauga territory.
Mallard Creek’s aim to steal victory in the last seconds was foiled on two brilliant defensive plays by the Pioneers. First, was quarterback pressure by blitzing senior linebacker Morgan Henry that resulted in an incomplete Rambert pass. Then, on the very next play Maddox Greene playing in the defensive backfield broke up another Rambert pass in the end zone. Then, with time running out, when Rambert’s last pass of the evening fluttered incomplete in the right flat, a jubilant Watauga sideline raced onto the field and the home grandstands erupted into a roar.
It has been a long time since Watauga has gotten past the second round of the state playoffs at any classification level, but now the Pioneers will host No. 23-seeded Independence (Charlotte) in the third round game at Jack Groce Stadium. Charlotte-based Independence upset No. 7 East Forsyth in Round 2, 34-28.
The Patriots completed their Southwestern 4A Conference schedule 5-1 (9-3 overall), behind No. 6 seeded Butler, which the winner of the Pioneers and Patriots might face the following week if the Bulldogs can get past their Round 3 matchup vs. No. 19 Mount Tabor. Just to show how strong the Southwestern 4A Conference is, three conference members (Butler, Independence and Charlotte Catholic) are among the eight remaining teams in the 4A West third round.
NCHSAA 4A West Scores
@No. 1 Weddington 14, No. 16 Chambers 10
No. 24 Charlotte Catholic 24, @No. 8 T. C. Roberson 21
By Zach Smith. BOONE, N.C.- It was perfect weather for playoff football in Boone Friday night (Nov. 10) and Watauga football put on a show, stunning Mallard Creek, 20-14.
Mallard Creek may have been the No. 18 seed, but the Mavericks were heavily favored coming to the High Country. Mallard Creek finished second in their conference, which includes teams such as Hough and Chambers, two teams who made their own way into the second round of the NCHSAA 4A playoffs. Early in the season, the Mavericks held Buford (GA), the current No. 16 team in the nation according to MaxPreps, to just 10 points. Watauga didn’t let any of this phase them, and played near-perfect football to move on to the third round of the playoffs.
In terms of starts, the Pioneers came out swinging. Head Coach Ryan Habich made the risky decision to go for it on fourth down on the opening drive of the game with the ball spotted at the Mallard Creek 42 yard line, and junior quarterback Maddox Greene did what he’s done all season- create magic. Greene sold the option and took the ball himself to the end zone, earning a crucial seven points in what proved to be a tight, defensive matchup. Greene went on to earn 278 total yards in the game, accounting for all three Watauga touchdowns.
Later in the game, Greene found an open Morgan Henry for a 20-yard strike after a fake end-around to Evan Burroughs, which regained the lead for Watauga after an earlier Mallard Creek touchdown. The Pioneers would hold on to their seven-point lead into halftime.
Mallard Creek struck first in the third quarter, tying the game back up. The 14-14 score held until late in the fourth quarter. With just over 90 seconds remaining, Greene found senior tight end Jackson Pryor, who made an impressive catch over the Mallard Creek defensive back, delivering the decisive blow to the Mavericks. Mallard Creek would attempt to piece together a game-winning drive, but the final pass fell to the ground as the clock hit zero, and Jack Groce Stadium erupted with cheers.
Habich was elated following the game, reminding his players of how big of a win this was for the team. He went over his gameplan post-game.
“We knew it was gonna be very difficult,” Habich said. “We had to take some shots, we had to get some quick plays and score like that.”
Habich also explained how daunting the task at hand was for the Pioneers.
“It was tough,” Habich said. “I mean, blocking those guys was tough, how athletic they were. That was like a college defense we were going against.”
Greene reiterated how tough of a defense Watauga was up against and how he, along with the rest of the offense, adapted.
“They had a great defense, we knew that coming in,” Greene said. “When they started taking Matthew [Leon], we just knew that we had to get four to five yards per play. Keep doing that, keep moving the ball slowly.”
Habich was also sure to credit his defense for holding Mallard Creek to just 14 points.
“Our defense did a tremendous job of not giving up the big play,” Habich said. “We knew they were a defensive team, but they have such good athletes, Division I talent out there. To win in the playoffs, you gotta play complimentary football, and that’s what we’re about here at Watauga. Offense, defense and special teams all playing well.”
Habich made it clear that this was not just one of the biggest wins in Watauga’s season, but in the entire state.
“This might be the biggest upset in North Carolina in a long time,” Habich said. “We shocked a lot of people in the state of North Carolina tonight.”
Watauga’s next matchup is against Independence, a team that Mallard Creek defeated in the first week of the season. The game will be back at Jack Groce Stadium and kickoff is set for 7:00p.m..
By Zach Smith. BOONE, N.C. — Why wouldn’t a Pioneer football fan want to relive Friday Night Lights for Round 2 of the NCHSAA state playoffs — and savor the moment?
Team leaders entering the game
#2 Watauga
QB/DB #4 Maddox Greene (Jr)
RB #20 Matthew Leon (So)
WB/DB #12 Evan Burroughs (So)
TE/LB #9 Jackson Pryor (Sr)
TE/WB/LB #14 Morgan Henry (Sr.)
OL/DL #59 Eli Greene (Sr.)
#18 Mallard Creek
QB #12 Evan Rambert (Jr)
RB #4 Khalil Ali (Sr)
WR/DB #2 Benjamin Black (Sr)
Play by Play
Mallard Creek wins toss, elects to kick
Watauga ball at their own 49
45-yard kick return by Evan Burroughs
Leon carries for no gain
Penalty: Offsides against Mallard Creek, 2nd and 5 at Mallard Creek 46
Greene carries left for 4 yards
Leon carries for no gain
TOUCHDOWN WATAUGA
#4 Maddox Greene 42-yard rush (1)
#41 Jack Wilson PAT is good
Watauga 7 Mallard Creek 0
Penalty: Offsides against Watauga, Watauga to kickoff from their own 35
Mallard Creek ball at their own 32
Dixon carries for loss of 1 yard
Dixon carries left for 1 yard
Dixon carries up the middle for 9 yards
Dixon carries up the middle for 2 yards
Dixon carries up the middle for 1 yard
Khalil Ali carries right for 3 yards
Caleb Knight carries left for 3 yards
Mallard Creek Punts
Watauga ball at their own 21
Penalty: Holding against Watauga, 1st and 19 at their own 12
Leon carries right for 1 yard
Greene sacked for loss of 4 yards
Greene pass incomplete
Watauga punts
Mallard Creek ball at their own 43
Ali carries left for 8 yards
Ali carries left for 23 yards
Dixon carries left for no gain
Penalty: Holding against Mallard Creek, 2nd and 20 at Watauga 36
Ali carries for loss of 1 yard
Timeout Mallard Creek (1)
TOUCHDOWN MALLARD CREEK
#2 Benjamin Black 37-yard rush (1)
#10 PAT is good
Watauga 7 Mallard Creek 7
Watauga ball at their own 30
Greene carries up the middle for 3 yards
Greene tackled for loss of 1 yard
Greene pass complete right to Morgan Henry for 23 yards
Leon carries up the middle for 2 yards
Greene scrambles right for 3 yards
2nd Quarter
Watauga ball, 3rd and 5 at Mallard Creek 40
Greene carries left for 3 yards
Timeout Watauga (1)
Greene carries up the middle for 5 yards
Greene pass complete left to Burroughs for 5 yards
Leon carries up the middle for 7 yards
TOUCHDOWN WATAUGA
#4 Maddox Greene 20-yard pass (1) to #14 Morgan Henry (1)
#41 Jack Wilson PAT is good
Watauga 14 Mallard Creek 7
Mallard Creek ball at their own 44
Knight carries right for18 yards
Dixon carries right for 16 yards
Dixon tackled for loss of 1 yard
Knight carries left for 5 yards
Dixon carries up the middle for 2 yards
Knight pass complete right to #9 for 4 yards
Dixon carries left for 7 yards
Dixon tackled for loss of 3 yards
Dixon fumbles, recovers for loss of 4 yards
TURNOVER!
Mallard Creek FG attempt blocked by #9 Jackson Pryor
Watauga ball at their own 8
Greene carries right for 5 yards
Leon tackled for loss of 1 yard
Greene carries left for 9 yards
Greene carries right for 3 yards
Leon carries for no gain
Greene carries up the middle for 6 yards
Greene carries up the middle for 1 yard
Leon carries left for 3 yards
Leon tackled for loss of 2 yards
Greene tackled for loss of 2 yards
Timeout Mallard Creek (2)
Watauga punts
Mallard Creek ball at Watauga 49
Timeout Mallard Creek (3)
Knight scrambles for 3 yards
SECOND HALF
Penalty: Holding against Mallard Creek, 1st and 10 at Watauga 16
Black pass incomplete
Ben Gosky with the pass breakup
Dixon carries up the middle for 8 yards
Dixon tackled for loss of 1 yard
Trathan Gragg with the TFL
Dixon carries for no gain
Gragg with the tackle
Turnover on downs
Watauga ball at their own 8
Leon carries up the middle for 1 yard
Greene carries right for 5 yards
Greene carries right for 4 yards
Leon carries for no gain
Leon tackled for loss of 4 yards
Penalty: Holding against Watauga, 3rd and 21 at their own 6
Greene pass incomplete
Watauga punts
Mallard Creek ball at Watauga 49
Nassor Ashenafi carries left for 6 yards
Ashenafi carries up the middle for 1 yard
TOUCHDOWN MALLARD CREEK
#12 Evan Rambert 42-yard pass (1) to #2 Benjamin Black (1)
#10 PAT is good
Watauga 14 Mallard Creek 14
Watauga ball at their own 32
Greene carries right for 10 yards
Leon carries for no gain
Greene pass complete left to Burroughs for 48 yards
Burroughs carries right for loss of 4 yards
Timeout Watauga (1)
Greene pass incomplete
Greene pass complete left to Burroughs for 7 yards
Greene pass incomplete
Turnover on downs
Mallard Creek ball at their own 7
Rambert pass complete left for 17 yards
Dixon carries right for 2 yards
Dixon carries left for 7 yards
Ali carries left for 4 yards
Dixon tackled for loss of 1 yard
Rambert pass complete right to Black for 13 yards
Penalty: Holding against Mallard Creek, 1st and 20 at their own 39
Rambert pass complete right to White for 8 yards
Ashenafi tackled for loss of 2 yards
Rambert pass complete right to Black for 7 yards
Mallard Creek punts
Watauga ball at their own 11
Leon carries up the middle for 4 yards
Greene carries up the middle for 3 yards
Greene carries left for 7 yards
Greene scrambles for no gain
Greene pass complete right to Pryor for 13 yards
Leon carries up the middle for 3 yards
Leon carries up the middle for 7 yards
Greene tackled for loss of 1 yard
Greene carries left for 4 yards
Burroughs pass complete left to Greene for loss of 3 yards
Greene pass complete left to Burroughs for 7 yards
Greene pass complete right to Pryor for 18 yards
Greene carries left for 3 yards
Greene carries left for 5 yards
Leon carries up the middle for 6 yards
Leon tackled for loss of 2 yards
Timeout Mallard Creek (1)
TOUCHDOWN WATAUGA
#4 Maddox Greene 16-yard pass (2) to #9 Jackson Pryor (1)
By David Rogers. ROAN MOUNTAIN, Tenn. — By the end of the first quarter on Nov. 9, one might have guessed that the host Cloudland middle school boys basketball team would leverage a 9-2 score into a runaway victory over Watauga District. That’s not the way it turned out, though, as the visiting Wolverines used aggressive defense and scoring leadership from Lucas Cash, Chase McInturff and Brycen Scheffler to rally past the Highlanders, 33-23.
McInturff really got things going for Watauga in the second period with two 3-pointers and a couple of free throws to score all of his 8 points for the game in that frame. Cash, however, was the offensive driver for the full course of the contest, with a game-high 14 points. Scheffler was the big man underneath the basket, collecting rebounds and adding 6 points on the night.
Watauga “won” the second quarter, 16-6, then tightened the defensive effort and only allowed Cloudland to score eight more points in the second half.
Cloudland girls dominate, 27-21
Size frequently matters in basketball and in the case of Cloudland vs. the Watauga middle school girls, it certainly made a difference.
After a second half steal in the far court, Caroline Durham (10 raced down to try and convert a layup on Nov. 9 at Cloudland. Photo by David Rogers
In the first quarter, Cloudland controlled the boards early and got a pair of three-pointers from Abnella Jones to get a head start, but with aggressive defense the Wolverine girls battled back to tie the score at 10-10 by the end of the first period. Neither team was able to score in the second quarter, but in the second half the looming size and athleticism of the Cloudland girls took their toll, outscoring Watauga 17-11 in the third period.
Watauga was led in the scoring department by Charlie Mattox (10 points), Caroline Durham (4), Quinn Haines (4) and Kate Moore (3).
SCHOOL TEAM SCORES
The school-specific teams were active on Nov. 9, too.
