On a wet Monday evening in Newland, the Avery junior varsity football team fell 26-0 to Cloudland in the first regular season football game played on the new synthetic surface at MacDonald Stadium.Cloudland got on the board first when quarterback Seth Miller carried the football across the goal line for a 6-0 advantage. Avery's first possession resulted in a three-and-out, and the subsequent punt attempt was blocked, giving the Landers prime field position at the Avery 14.
On fourth and goal, Miller scored his second touchdown, a one-yard sneak to put Cloudland ahead 12-0.
Avery fortunes went from bad to worse as an option pitch play during Avery's next drive was fumbled. Cloudland defender Matt Cole scooped up the football and scampered 17 yards for another Lander score, making the score 18-0. The Landers converted the two-point conversion attempt to lead 20-0 at the end of the first quarter of play.
The Big Red struggled to move the football against a stingy Cloudland defense, as the Vikings' third possession resulted in a turnover on downs at the Avery 7-yard line. Avery's defense showed great pride in stopping the Landers on a fourth and goal attempt to get the ball back in the hands of the offense.
Avery finally moved the football with efficiency on its next drive, as the team benefitted from a long run by Trent Mitchell as well as a personal foul facemask and a defensive pass interference play to move the pigskin near midfield. An Alex Villanueva run moved the Vikings to the Landers 40, then a long pass connection from Villanueva to wide receiver Kenny Hicks brought the Big Red onto the Cloudland end zone's doorstep, setting up at the Cloudland 7 late in the half. On this occasion it was the Cloudland defense that dug in, pushing Avery back on a pair of runs, then sacking Villanueva on fourth and goal at the ten yard line to turn the Vikings away without points and preserve a 20-0 Landers halftime advantage.
Avery faced a greater hill to climb as starting QB Villanueva did not start the second half due to injury. Backup Trent Mitchell moved Avery to near midfield, but a high snap over the quarterback's head was recovered by Cloudland for another turnover. The Landers quickly returned the favor on its first play from scrimmage, as a Miller pass attempt was intercepted by Avery's Mitchell.
The Vikings were forced to punt back to Cloudland, and the Landers again gave the ball back to Avery as Hunter Shields intercepted a Tyler Shell pass attempt around the Avery 15 yards line. However, in a common theme throughout the evening due to conditions, the Vikings committed a fumble on its ensuing possession. Cloudland's Casey Pritchard scooped up the loose football and rumbled 15 yards for another Landers defensive score and provide for the final margin of victory.
Avery's JV squad will look to regroup when it hosts Watauga on September 4th.
