By Steve Behrsports@wataugademocrat.com
Last year, things did not go so well for Avery quarterback Alex Villanueva when the Vikings played Watauga.
Villanueva, then a sophomore, tossed three interceptions and Watauga cruised to an easy victory. It was Watauga’s fourth straight win over its border arch-rival and Avery went on to a 5-7 season,
Now a junior, Villanueva seemed to personally make sure that would not happen again.
Playing with the maturity of a senior, Villanueva passed and ran the Vikings to a 28-14 victory over Watauga last Friday at Jack Groce Stadium.
When Villanueva was not scoring touchdown runs of three and five yards, he was passing them. His 24-yard strike to Andy Gonzalez that more or less put the game out of reach looked like a Nolan Ryan fastball that buzzed by two Watauga defenders and right into Gonzalez’s mitts.
“It’s kind of set up to be a short play, but we can run it with the post,” Villanueva said. “I was ready for it and he was in the right moment in the right spot. I threw it there and we got a touchdown.”
Not every pass Villanueva threw reached its target. He tossed two interceptions, one that didn’t seem to be intended for anybody.
But he also made the throws when he had to. He made the plays when asked in key situations.
He also faced a Watauga pass rush that knocked him around on occasion.
On a drive that signaled the beginning of the end, Villanueva led the Vikings 91 yards on 10 plays. He connected on 3-of-4 passes, including a 32-yarder to Hunter Shields, an 11-yarder to Taylor Potter and a 12-yarder to Kody Hughes. Villanueva scored on a 3-yard run to cap the drive and put Avery in front 21-7.
“I just put trust and faith in my defense and my offensive line,” Villanueva said. “They played pretty well. When I had time, everything opened up and we were able to move down the field. Everything worked out well.”
Caleb Watson, one of two Watauga quarterbacks, answered with his best drive of the game, marching the Pioneers 71 yards on 11 plays before scoring on a 1-yard run. Watson, who also led the Pioneers on a good scoring drive in their loss to Shelby, converted a third-and-two with a 10-yarder to Trey Kavanaugh, ran for 16 yards on the next play and 14 more yards two plays later.
He then found Baker Stanley for an 11-yarder before scoring from 1-yard out.
But it was Villanueva who stole the show. He threw for 293 yards passing and shook off the interceptions.
On a drive that signaled the beginning of the end, Villanueva led the Vikings 91 yards on 10 plays. He connected on 3-of-4 passes, including a 32-yarder to Hunter Shields, an 11-yarder to Taylor Potter and a 12-yarder to Kody Hughes. Villanueva scored on a 3-yard run to cap the drive and put Avery in front 21-7.
“I just put trust and faith in my defense and my offensive line,” Villanueva said. “They played pretty well. When I had time, everything opened up and we were able to move down the field. Everything worked out well.”
Caleb Watson, one of two Watauga quarterbacks, answered with his best drive of the game, marching the Pioneers 71 yards on 11 plays before scoring on a 1-yard run. Watson, who also led the Pioneers on a good scoring drive in their loss to Shelby, converted a third-and-two with a 10-yarder to Trey Kavanaugh, ran for 16 yards on the next play and 14 more yards two plays later.
He then found Baker Stanley for an 11-yarder before scoring from 1-yard out.
But it was Villanueva who stole the show. He threw for 293 yards passing and shook off the interceptions.
