Watauga 28
Alexander Central 21
Watauga staged a miracle rally late in the 4th quarter Friday night in Boone and handed Alexander Central a loss that might haunt them, at the very least it crippled their hopes of winning a conference championship.
The Pioners had scored on the opening drive of the game for a 7-0 lead. ACHS got a 15-yard touchdown run from Cameron Lackey with 2:57 remaining in the first quarter to pull even at 7.
Watauga took the lead again on the special teams gaff by the Cougars. The Cougar punter misplayed a snap and the Pioneers pounced on the ball in the end zone. AC pulled even on an 18 yard pass from Luke Hammer to Andrew Bumgarner with 20 seconds in the first half.
Alexander Central would take 21-14 lead with 6:20 in the 3rd quarter on a 29 yard toss from Hammer to Josh Stubbs.
Late in the 4th quarter, Watauga went 78 yards in 11 plays including a crucial 4th and 10 conversion with less than two minutes remaining to keep the drive alive. Jackson Roper scored from 4 yards with 1:42 left to pull the Pioneers to within a point. AC stopped Watauga’s attempt to win the game with a two-point conversion. That’s when things went from bad to worse for the Blue and Gold. It was 21-20 in favor the AC.
Watauga recovered an on-sides kick and quickly scored the winning touchdown on a 44 yard touchdown toss from Maddox Greene to Isiah Shirley, the two-point try was good and with 1:23, it was Watauga 28 Alexander Central 21.
The second special teams melt-down of the night doomed the Cougars on the ensuing kick-off. A shaken ACHS kick-return team failed to field a kick and Watauga recovered it deep in Cougar territory. From that point the Pioneers ran out the clock and sent the shocked visitors home.
The loss drops ACHS to 4-3 and 1-1 in Northwestern Conference play. Watauga is now 5-2 and 2-0 in league play.
Luke Hammer was 3-12 for 53 yards passing but two of the tosses were touchdowns. Cameron Lackey rushed for 74 yards as the Cougars were held to only 133 yards rushing.
ACHS will host South Caldwell next Friday.
Area Scores
Sough Caldwell 20 Freedom 14
Hibriten 38 Ashe County 7
North Iredell at Hickory…ppd till Monday
East Lincoln 57 Foard 0
North Lincoln 26 St Stephems 0
West Iredell at Statesville…ppd till Monday
Bunker Hill at East Burke…ppd Monday
Maiden 46 Bandys 0
Lincolnton 27 West Cadwell 7
West Lincoln 13 Newton Conover 7
RS Central 48 Patton 0
Draughn at Madison County …ppd
Mooresville 42 South Iredell 7
HickoryRidge 27 Lake Norman 0
Wilkes Central at North Wilkes…ppd Monday
North Surry 52 West Wilkes 8
East Wilkes at Alleghany …ppd Monday
Shelby 38 Crest 28
Burns 64 Thomas Jefferson 7
Kings Mountain 17 South Point 7
McDowell 36 Enka 7
Marvin Ridge 28 Cuthbertson 14
Ashbrook 47 North Gaston 20