For the first time in recent memory, both the Avery Middle School Panthers and the Cranberry Middle School Wildcats football teams opened Toe River Conference action with victories. Both squads bounced back from losses last week and earned their wins impressively away from home.Avery Middle School football traveled to East Yancey for the opening of the Toe River Conference season last Tuesday night. Avery Middle had not defeated East Yancey since 2002, and East Yancey looked poised to keep the streak intact, scoring on a 90-yard touchdown run on its second offensive possession to lead 6-0. Avery stopped the two-point conversion.
Later in the period, Avery running back Tre Jackson broke loose for a 50 yard touchdown run to tie the score at 6-6 after one period.
In the second quarter, Avery quarterback Austin Phillips completed a long fly pattern pass to wide receiver Kobe Pittman, giving the visiting Panthers a first down in East territory.
Later in the drive, Jackson again carried the football, this time around the left end for 25 yards to put Avery inside the five-yard line. Wade Smith capped the drive when he weaved his way and dove over from three yards out to give Avery its first lead of the game at 12-6.
Avery quarterback Austin Phillips was successful in earning the two-point conversion when he sprinted around the left side, giving Avery a 14-6 lead.
Late in the first half, East Yancey scored on a quarterback run around right end, but the two-point conversion pass was intercepted by Jackson, keeping Avery in front 14-12 at intermission.
The second half was a showcase for both defenses, as they buckled down to refuse either squad’s offenses to cross the goal line.
East Yancey managed one offensive series that neared the Avery red zone, but the drive was turned away when Avery's Wade Smith intercepted an East pass attempt and returned it beyond midfield.
The drive was the closest East would get to the end zone for the rest of the game. Avery attempted to hold the ball late in the fourth period, but had to give East the football via punt one final time. Avery punter Luke Crowe forced East to start its final possession deep in its own territory, and from there, Avery forced a four-and-out with defensive plays from Kobe Pittman and an Andy Hughes quarterback sack to seal its victory.The win was Avery’s first over East Yancey since 2002, and Coach Donnie Johnson was proud of his team’s effort and ability to bounce back to win after suffering a loss the previous week.
“It's really a whole team effort we turned in against East Yancey. We had some statistical leaders in different areas that stood out, but our overall effort on the line helped our players excel in their own areas,” Avery head coach Donnie Johnson said after the win. “We really had tremendous effort all over the field. The second half we were just extremely focused, and every kid did their job, played hard and finished the game.”
Although the win was a milestone, the team still believes it is only a step in a season-long journey to a title.
“This win was huge for our program and this was a step in the right direction. The road to the Championship has lead through Yancey County the past few years. The past five years either East Yancey or Cane River has been there in the Tri-County Bowl,” Coach Johnson added. “We feel really good about our team right now but we still have a lot of work to do. We are improving every week, and win or lose that's what you want to see as a coach. We just have to continue to get better.”
While Avery took care of business on the road, the Cranberry Middle School was doing the same thing during its road trip to take on Bowman.
On the game’s first play, the Wildcats were forced to play without the services of one of its more talented players in Tyler Pittman. The team’s leading rusher a season ago, Pittman suffered a collar bone injury on the play and was lost for the game.
Despite the loss on the field, the Wildcats rallied together and showed great heart in picking up a 26-20 win over the Bulldogs in Bakersville.
Avery defeated Bowman 30-20 this past Tuesday evening at MacDonald Stadium, while Cranberry traveled to Burnsville to take on Cane River, falling by a final score of 40-8. Recaps from this week’s action can be found in next week’s The Avery Journal-Times.
