The Pioneers won last season’s battle by the final score of 31-14 and have captured three of the past five meetings between the two squads.
Scouting the Pioneers:
The Watauga Pioneers are members of the Northwestern 4A Conference and are coached by Tim Pruitt. Pruitt is in his first season at Watauga, having previously coached at West Wilkes High School and taking over for former coach Adrian Snow who returned to coach his alma mater in Forsythe County following last season.
Although Pruitt’s clubs in Wilkes County were best known for a bruising running game, the coach decided to keep many of the elements of Watauga’s spread offense intact which have netted the team back-to-back state semifinal playoff appearances the past two seasons.
The Pioneers were 11-4 a season ago and return six offensive and defensive starters from one of the most successful teams in school history, including three all-conference performers in senior WR/DB Baine Martin (18 receptions, 514 yards receiving, 6 TD last season), senior WR/DB Jake Wallace (10 receptions, 232 yards, 2 TD last season), and senior WR/DB Cam Steury (22 receptions, 386 yards, 3 TD last season). Gone from this year’s club is current Wofford College running back Eric Britenstein, who rushed for 2,297 yards and 28 touchdowns as a senior in 2007.
A number of other players with experience step in to fill holes left by last year’s graduates, including junior quarterback Devan Corum, and senior WR Ryan Campbell. The leading tackler returning on defense for Watauga is Logan Smith, a 6’0” 185 lb. Linebacker who registered 137 tackles a season ago, good for third on the team overall, while Martin led the team with four interceptions in 2007.
The Low Down:
It is difficult to believe that the two teams entering Friday night’s tussle are winless on the season. In recent years, the squads have entered the game with undefeated records, high-octane offenses, and stifling defenses. However, thus far in 2008, the defenses have given up an average of 40 points per game.
With a bye week so early in the season, the Pioneers have had two weeks to fix what ailed them in their opening week blowout loss against Davie County, while Avery failed to show significant improvement last week in its second consecutive loss on the year. Each year the two rivals seem to bring out the best in one another on the field, with neither team wanting the distinction of having lost the game and bucket trophy.
Watauga got off to a rapid start in taking an early lead in their game with Davie County, but the defense gave up too many big plays. Avery meanwhile has had a hard time stopping the run on defense.
The good news for the Big Red this week is that they will not have to see Eric Britenstein. The talented running back torched the Vikings with over 200 yards in each of the past two meetings.
Friday night’s contest will be won or lost at the line of scrimmage, with the team that is best able to run the football having a sizable advantage.
By the Numbers:
5- turnovers forced by the Avery defense in last week’s game against Robbinsville.
14- number of days between Watauga’s loss to Davie County and this week’s matchup with the Vikings.
43 – yards passing by Avery QB Adam Pate in last week’s loss to the Black Knights.
83- yards gained by leading rusher Baine Martin in Watauga’s opening week loss to Davie County.
244- yards rushing by Eric Britenstein against the Vikings in last year’s Watauga win.
260- yards in total offense gained by the Vikings in last year’s 31-14 loss to the Pioneers.
276 – yards rushing surrendered by the Watauga defense in its game two weeks ago at Davie County.
314- rushing yards gained by Robbinsville in last week’s game against Avery.
Read next week’s edition of the Avery Journal-Times for a full recap of this week’s Bucket Battle with Watauga.
