Watauga 34
Alexander Central 20
Taylorsville: It’s not likely you’re going to beat a good football team when you have a lost fumble, two interceptions and go 3 for 6 in the red zone. The Cougars did all of that Friday night and it cost them a chance of beating Watauga.
The visitors had some issues in the first quarter as well including fumbling the ball into the end zone but they managed to jump on top 14-0 after taking advantage of an interception and a fumble. ACHS would score after blocking a punt giving them the ball on the Pioneer 33 yard line. Freshman Sawyer Chapman-Mays capped a 6 play drive with a one-yard plunge for a score. The PAT was mishandled and the Cougars trailed 14-6 at the half.
The Blue and Gold opened the second half with a 13 play drive that covered 60 yards. QB Tanner Moore ran in from 6 for the TD, the try for two failed and it was 14-12 in favor of the vistors from Boone.
Watauga scored the game’s next two touchdowns and were up 27-12 with 10:39 left in the game.
ACHS got a 15-yard scoring toss from Moore to Nate Erkman who out-wrestled the defender for the score. A toss from Tanner Moore to Chad Lasher made it 27-70 with 8:45 remaining.
The Cougars recovered the onside kick but Moore threw a pick and Watauga put the game away with 3:08 left on a two-yard run by QB Maddox Greene
Alexander Central out-gained the visitors 331-304 but the failures in the redzone and the turnovers spelled their doom.
Maddox Greene ran for 115 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns. NC State recruit Isiah Shirly led the Pioneers with 12 tackles.
Sawyer Chapman-Mays carried the ball 23 times for 95 yards and a score. Luke Hammer caught two passes in the first half for 115 yards before leaving the game with an injury. Nate Ekrman and Chad Lasher led the AC defense with 8 tackles each.
Watauga wins their 28th straight conference game and improves to 6-1 and 2-0. The Cougars drop to 3-4 and 1-1.