HobbsDailyReport.com
BOONE – Watauga High’s defense stepped up Friday night, limiting visiting Asheville to only field goals, as the Pioneers won 21-9 in a first-round state 3AA football playoff game.
No. 8 WATAUGA 21
No. 9 ASHEVILLE 9
Eight-seeded Watauga (10-2), reaching 10 wins for the first time since 2007, earned a second-round game next Friday at top-seeded Mount Tabor (10-2).
Mount Tabor advanced Friday at home, winning 34-6 over No. 16 Ashbrook.
The Pioneers held the ninth-seeded Cougars to 239 yards of total offense and checked Asheville quarterback Three Hiller on 16 of 33 passing for 147 yards, The Watauga Democrat reported.
The Democrat’s game story said Asheville got only 92 rushing yards on 20 carries, 88 of those on 18 carries by Tristen McAfee.
Asheville’s only scoring, though, was on field goals of 25, 23 and 38 yards by Holland West.
The Pioneers countered with three scoring runs by quarterback Anderson Castle, one in the opening quarter and two in the closing quarter.
Watauga went up 14-9 with 10 minutes, 43 seconds to play on a 10-yard run by Castle that capped a 70-yard drive, The Democrat reported.
Running back Ben Critcher led the rushing for Watauga — which played without injured running back Bryce Satterfield with 71 yards on 14 carries.
Asheville finished 7-5.
Watauga, in the postseason for the seventh straight season and 16th time since winning a state 3A title in 1978, picked up career win No. 93 for head coach Ryan Habich (43-18 at Watauga, fifth season).