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Sun Valley @ Watauga

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oldburkeman

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Aug 23, 2025
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I figured id start this one up. W kept talking bout them on an old thread. All good. I hadn't seen Watauga play this year so no intel to give on them cept they're generally tough for some Mtn boys that really compete and turn heads. I respect this program big time and they've had a MANY a year were they were teams home coming opponent but like i have said before, they had athletes even in those dismal years that really all they needed was this type of coach they got now. Cant imagine what they'd been like then if that was the case lol.

Sun Valley- just seeing them play Freedom, they love airing it out and they got speedy WR's. QB is brutal and can take a lick while focusing on the play. Defensive front is scrappy fast and decent size. They was dropping Freedoms run game to 2 or 3 yards a carry and alot of times not even that even with good blocking and a good head of steam. Just my brief observation but I left before the middle of the third quarter cause the writing was on the wall. Not sure how Freedom scored 2 more times after I left maybe it was mercy scores with SV bench in the game or they just started playing really good or something.

Thoughts?
 
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PioneerPride11

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At this point in the playoffs, every team is good. I believe it comes down to execution. Which team can execute their game plan better? I feel like Watauga is going to have longer, methodical drives to keep sun valley off the field. That would be my game plan anyhow.
 
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The Patriot

The Patriot

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I'm inclined to say Sun Valley is the better team, but that might just be recency bias on my part. It won't bother me whichever team wins but I'm also not inclined to drive to Boone this Friday with a projected daytime high below freezing (which means probably in the mid 20s come game time). That MIGHT help the Pioneers, but I also think we generally overstate how much impact the weather has on any game, and especially playoff games.
 
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PioneerPride11

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The Patriot said:
I'm inclined to say Sun Valley is the better team, but that might just be recency bias on my part. It won't bother me whichever team wins but I'm also not inclined to drive to Boone this Friday with a projected daytime high below freezing (which means probably in the mid 20s come game time). That MIGHT help the Pioneers, but I also think we generally overstate how much impact the weather has on any game, and especially playoff games.
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I agree about the weather to an extent. Some teams just can't handle the boone temps, and anyone whose ever been to the new stadium, they built it in a valley which creates a wind tunnel of frigid air. Every tackle makes it feel like your skin is being torn of the bone, not fun. Some teams handle it better than others.

In team comparison, most folks do give the edge to Charlotte or greensboro area schools, and rightfully so. The talent pool is larger. Watauga is still a one school county, which I'm vastly opposed to. I think Watauga is way overdue for a second high school on the west side, but thats a whole different conversation.
 
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Goldendomer10

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I would say for the majority of NC weather the temperature effect is negligible. Obviously, weather ( rain, snow etc) typically favors a run team but temperature probably does little. Twenty degrees playing football isn’t bad at all for those playing. The guys on the sidelines are the ones that feel a difference.
 
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oldburkeman

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PioneerPride11 said:
I agree about the weather to an extent. Some teams just can't handle the boone temps, and anyone whose ever been to the new stadium, they built it in a valley which creates a wind tunnel of frigid air. Every tackle makes it feel like your skin is being torn of the bone, not fun. Some teams handle it better than others.

In team comparison, most folks do give the edge to Charlotte or greensboro area schools, and rightfully so. The talent pool is larger. Watauga is still a one school county, which I'm vastly opposed to. I think Watauga is way overdue for a second high school on the west side, but thats a whole different conversation.
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They need a new school out close to Trade you think? Prob be some small 2A ordeal sorta like Cove Creek all over again. Thats were mom graduated in 60' or 61'. Be in Ashe's conference and Wilkes Co schools
 
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oldburkeman

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I’ll go on a limb and say the Mtn boys. By 6 pts or
Maybe less in a thriller. They’ll stay on the field with the running game being just enough to eat clock, MUST score on those long drives obviously. SV will get more pressure from Watauga D we can hope. Much of those passes will land and will result in TDs it’s gonna happen, I’d play man to man. Watauga D is alittle bit faster on their feet than Freedom, and Zone coverage may not cut it. Faith in a good coach to plan for these guys, it should be good. Bundle up like Ralphies brother from the Christmas Story and game should be bearable and enjoyable to watch
 
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Vik-Val 86

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Any chance of some wind snow up in the Watauga country tonight. That would make it fun.
 
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ShutdownD24 2.0

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Sun Valley is really good. This will be the best team that Watauga has faced all season. I am taking Sun Valley by 10-14pts.
 
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urbelowme2

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Nov 1, 2025
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Watauga gutted it out. Made adjustments and made plays when the chips were down. As an alumnus and having faced Northern Guilford coaching wise before retirement. This will be a war. I saw them beat Reidsville earlier this year after falling behind. They run a spread and the qb and rb can play. It's exciting to say the least. ..I plan to be there and cheer the Pioneers on! 2 and a half hour ride is nothing to have a chance to support them.
 
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oldburkeman

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I was blown away with those pass plays of Watauga. I was expecting tricked up run plays. Tney ran more at the end though. Y’all’s toes still in tack??
 
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urbelowme2

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They use the short passing game to try and help the run game and then mix in the option. They have better speed than it seems like on the outside. The opening kickoff set the tone. The thing that many forget is they were replacing something like 15 starters total. They only ran for 75 yards tonight but they threw for about 260..had turnovers and penalties that were out of character. Sun Valley is the real deal. They were really tough up front and had a running back go for 165 on 37 carries. Northern Guilford has a RB named Acres who is similiar..he can tote the mail
 
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Appvol

Appvol

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urbelowme2 said:
They use the short passing game to try and help the run game and then mix in the option. They have better speed than it seems like on the outside. The opening kickoff set the tone. The thing that many forget is they were replacing something like 15 starters total. They only ran for 75 yards tonight but they threw for about 260..had turnovers and penalties that were out of character. Sun Valley is the real deal. They were really tough up front and had a running back go for 165 on 37 carries. Northern Guilford has a RB named Acres who is similiar..he can tote the mail
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Listening to the radio broadcast they said one kid from Watauga was limited that usually plays RB. He only played Defense last night.
 
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oldburkeman

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I came into this game, bundled up but not sure exactly what to expect seeing how SV went through Freedom like savages last week but hoping Watauga can show our area how its done. No experts picked them to win that I could recall and I expected alot of passing from SV cause they were getting to Freedom with long bombs but they did switch things up it seemed to get Watauga off track. True grit and good game planning got them this game and of course some lucky breaks with some dropped passes from SV wide outs which alot of that was Watauga defense.
 
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PioneerPride11

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oldburkeman said:
I came into this game, bundled up but not sure exactly what to expect seeing how SV went through Freedom like savages last week but hoping Watauga can show our area how its done. No experts picked them to win that I could recall and I expected alot of passing from SV cause they were getting to Freedom with long bombs but they did switch things up it seemed to get Watauga off track. True grit and good game planning got them this game and of course some lucky breaks with some dropped passes from SV wide outs which alot of that was Watauga defense.
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Those dropped passes, that's where the cold weather is an advantage. It alters how the ball works through the air.
 
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urbelowme2

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Appvol said:
Listening to the radio broadcast they said one kid from Watauga was limited that usually plays RB. He only played Defense last night.
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Everett Gryder played defense but not any running back last night. A three year starter at RB who was splitting time with another back.
 
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ShutdownD24 2.0

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PioneerPride11 said:
You know, Watauga is equally as good as these next week teams everyone keeps speaking of.
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Not taking anything away from the Pioneers but It also has helped greatly that Watauga has home field advantage throughout the playoffs, that has been huge. I would add that, high iq players, and excellent coaching by Watauga assist with equaling out the playing field in these big games.
 
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PioneerPride11

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ShutdownD24 2.0 said:
Not taking anything away from the Pioneers but It also has helped greatly that Watauga has home field advantage throughout the playoffs, that has been huge. I would add that, high iq players, and excellent coaching by Watauga assist with equaling out the playing field in these big games.
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That'd be a great assessment, had you not picked SV by 10-14. So, every single week you just predict the visitor to win, and when they dont, you say its because Watauga has home field advantage? Can you elaborate on where you're coming from?
 
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urbelowme2

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ShutdownD24 2.0 said:
Not taking anything away from the Pioneers but It also has helped greatly that Watauga has home field advantage throughout the playoffs, that has been huge. I would add that, high iq players, and excellent coaching by Watauga assist with equaling out the playing field in these big games.
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But you are taking away from it by finding some type of reason that they won. They followed the same criteria as everyone else . As Bobby Bowden once said" if you don't win then get better" I'm not sure where your logic is but as they say..Read it and weep"
 
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oldburkeman

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In a game like Watauga faced with Sun Valley both are good both execute and one can't go on what radio guys say or other experts. I came in knowing it could go either way but hopeful for a good Watauga win and we got that. Be the same thing this friday as I'm sure many will respect North Guilford and a good game plan will be layed out. Just will depend on who executes and takes advantage of any turnovers. Im sure most people will predict NG cause of how they layed on it on Ashbrook. All I got was a score on that game, maybe Ashbrook made alot of mistakes or NG was just that good and AB did the best they can. Thats why we have posts and comment sections to see
 
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The Patriot

The Patriot

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WNCfootball said:
I was really surprised by the NG and Ashbrook score as well. Is NG that good or did Ashbrook just pick a bad night to have a bad night?
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Kings Mountain stuck with N. Guilford for the first half and I thought that would translate over to the Ashbrook game given how the Green Wave beat KM pretty soundly earlier. But you can’t really tell.
 
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oldburkeman

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beamer24 said:
Looks like Ashbrook had alot of turnovers and turnover on downs.
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Well that sucks. Ashbrook has size up front and a growing talented QB. Last I saw Ashbrook in action was against last years GOOD North Lincoln team. Prob the last time NL will be that good or even close but I hope I'm wrong. AB had a young team and a stuborn defense very stuborn. It showed this year. Suprised me still that Ashbrook made it this far cause they didnt beat NW Cabarrus by much at all, didnt do much against rival Huss either but Huss always plays their best against AB. Almost like they were messing with people for a bit then turned it on LOL.

But yeah, for them to hit a brick wall against NG, its gonna be another barn burner in Boone this friday
 
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KW2346

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Any chance game gets moved up or sat possibility of three inches of snow in Boone on Friday.?..i want to go to this game but i ain't trying to get in a wreck lol
 
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PioneerPride11

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KW2346 said:
Any chance game gets moved up or sat possibility of three inches of snow in Boone on Friday.?..i want to go to this game but i ain't trying to get in a wreck lol
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Hope not. That takes away from home field. But for safety reasons, id understand if they do move it up.
 
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