HobbsDailyReport.com
TOUGH PLACE TO PLAY
When Alexander Central High plays at Freedom next Friday night for the Northwestern 3A-4A lead, it will be trying to end a long draught in Morganton. In records dating back to 1985, Freedom is 13-0 against the Cougars at home:
Year Score
1986 Freedom 21, Alex Central 7
1988 Freedom 33, Alex Central 0
1990 Freedom 28, Alex Central 0
1992 Freedom 38, Alex Central 15
1994 Freedom 10, Alex Central 7
1996 Freedom 21, Alex Central 14
1998 Freedom 28, Alex Central 7
2000 Freedom 52, Alex Central 6
2002 Freedom 37, Alex Central 0
2004 Freedom 33, Alex Central 7
2006 Freedom 21, Alex Central 7
2008 Freedom 17, Alex Central 7
2012 Freedom 47, Alex Central 14
SOURCE: HobbsDailyReport.com research/files.
TAYLORSVILLE – Quarterback Gunnar Anderson’s fifth touchdown pass of the season came in the final 90 seconds Friday night and kept Alexander Central High unbeaten through six football games this season.
Anderson hit Kendall Flowers for a score for the second time this season — with one minute, 27 seconds to play — to lift the Cougars past visiting Watauga 38-33.
ALEX CENTRAL 38
WATAUGA 33
The victory sets up a trip to Morganton next Friday at 7:30 p.m., where Alexander Central (6-0, 2-0) meets Freedom (5-1, 2-0) for the Northwestern 3A-4A lead.
Freedom is 13-0 at home against Alexander Central in their games since 1985, and the Cougars’ only wins in their 26-game series (four) have all been in Taylorsville.
The battle with Watauga (5-1, 1-1), as anticipated, was fierce but Alexander Central’s offense generated 428 yards to win.
Anderson completed 11 of 13 passes for 171 yards and two scores to lead the Cougars, who also got 20 rushes for 127 yards and a rushing TD from Devon Weiss.
Anderson finished with 239 yards of total offense for Alexander Central and unofficially has 1,059 this season.
The Pioneers countered with 271 yards and the bulk of their offense came from the throwing of quarterback Anderson Castle (14 of 20, 172 yards).
Tied 6-all after one quarter, there were five scores in the second quarter, and Alexander Central had a 26-19 edge at the half.
Alexander Central opened a lead to 20-6 with the first two scores of the second quarter, a 6-yard run by Steven Montgomery and a 38-yard run by Bryson Godfrey.
Watauga got within 20-13 on a 13-yard TD pass from Castle to Phillip Sukis before the Cougars scored again on a 29-yard run by Weiss.
Thirty seconds later, Watauga scored on a 27-yard run by Jaden Bond.
Anderson’s 3-yard TD run was the only score of the third quarter, extending the Cougars’ lead to 32-19, and then Watauga scored twice in a span of about five minutes to go up 33-32.
With 7:46 to play, Castle ran 20 yards for a TD and Justin Simmons had a PAT. When Bryce Satterfield, back after missing last week’s game with an injury, scored on a 4-yard run with 2:37 to play, it was tied at 32. Another Simmons PAT gave the Pioneers the lead.
Anderson’s 46-yard scoring throw to Flowers won it. They had not had a scoring pass play together since a 33-yard pass in a victory over North Iredell earlier in the season.
Lyndon Strickland had 10 tackles, Jordan Brown had nine and Tevin Clark had six to lead a Cougars defense that limited Watauga to 25 rushes for 99 yards. Brown had two tackles for lost yardage.
Alex McConnell’s 10 tackles led Watauga with Zach West and Ben Critcher each adding eight.
The only turnover of the game was a lost fumble by Watauga.
Anderson finished with 239 yards of total offense for Alexander Central and unofficially has 1,059 this season.
While the Cougars are battling for the league lead next Friday in Morganton, the Pioneers need a home victory over Hickory to stay in at least second place. Watauga shares second with Hickory, St. Stephens and West Caldwell.