We are live at MacDonald Stadium in Newland this evening for high school scrimmage action involving the Avery Vikings, as well as Mitchell, West Caldwell, West Lincoln, and Happy Valley (TN) High School.Avery sits out to begin the proceedings, and the Mountaineers of Mitchell are in action against Happy Valley (TN) in ten-minute periods, with each team scoring as many times as possible from the opponent's 40-yard line over that span.
Mitchell scored on its first possession on an option run by QB Troy Self from about 30 yards out. It was the only score for the Mountaineers in their ten-minute series. Happy Valley scored on a pair of long touchdown runs by two tailbacks. Mitchell forced a turnover during another series, then held the Warriors out of the end zone to close the session.
Avery is preparing to take the field next against its first opponent of the evening. Updates to come...
6:30 PM - Mitchell tangles with West Caldwell while Avery will be on defense to begin against West Lincoln. Action will be fast and furious so we will try to keep updating with action from both teams
West Lincoln scores once on Avery in the ten minute series, while Mitchell allows one score to West Caldwell. The Vikings and Mountaineers will each take a crack on offense coming up momentarily against West Lincoln and West Caldwell, respectively.
7:00 pm - Avery scores twice on its offensive series, while Mitchell scores twice on West Caldwell. Avery and Mitchell both get the best of their respective opponents by identical 2-1 scores. Avery will scrum next with Happy Valley, while Mitchell takes on West Lincoln.
7:15 pm - West Lincoln gets one touchdown in the ten minute offensive span, while Happy Valley scores on a run on the final play of its series against the Viking defense. Avery and Mitchell take the offense after a short break to try their hands against Happy Valley and West Lincoln.
7:30 PM - Mitchell scores twice on the West Lincoln defense to win its series 2-1, while Avery scores on one series and turns the football over on another to finish its series with Happy Valley tied at 1 touchdown apiece.
Teams are taking a short break before starting back up with another series. Great weather in Newland and good work for these teams as they prepare for the opening week of the high school football season just eight days from tonight. The Vikings will be scrimmaging again tomorrow in a full one quarter scrimmage at Hampton (TN) High School.
Avery will tangle with West Caldwell next, while Happy Valley takes on West Lincoln. Avery works on defense for the first ten minute series.
7:40 PM- As soon as I say the weather is good...storm clouds begin moving in and the skies have started darkening. West Caldwell scored once on the Avery defense during its 10-minute session. The Avery offense will take the field and look to pick up a score or two. The connection of Villanueva to Gonzalez has been successful this evening, while running back Colton Blackburn has also ran the ball well.
On the Mitchell side, running back Shawn Jackson may be the most impressive player on the field today. He has broken a long 35 yard score and also picked up other touchdowns during the scrimmage today. Vikings offense up next...
7:55 pm - Lightning has forced the stoppage of play just at the conclusion of the 10 minute offense session. Villanueva connected on a pretty fade pattern into the left corner of the end zone for Avery's lone score. The Vikings did commit another turnover with an interception, however, and also fumbled a football inside the ten yard line. Avery and West conclude with a 1-1 tie.
Avery is still scheduled to play its final game against Mitchell, but rain and lightning may cancel the remainder of the event. Final word on the remainder of the festivities to come.
After a lengthy weather delay, the Vikings and West Caldwell rode out the storm and waqs able to play one final scrimmage with two 15-minute intervals. Both the varsity and junior varsity teams squared off and got in extra work to prepare for next week's regular season kickoff.
The Vikings take on Hampton Friday afternoon, then will again hit the practice field going into next week's opening contest against Robbinsville.
