Nov. 4, 2013. Watauga High School Pioneers were crushed by the Hickory High School Red Tornadoes 27-42 in its last home game of the year at Jack Groce Friday Nov. 1.
After a 0-21 start in the first half, the Pioneers put one touchdown on the board. The Red Tornadoes put two touchdowns up after a pick-six put the score at 0-21. The Pioneers trailed the Red Tornadoes at the end of the first half by two touchdowns after quarterback Aaron Dobbins found wide receiver Cameron Baker for a 47-yard touchdown pass to cap off the first half at 7-21.
“They’re pretty good football team, and they have some really great athletes,” Ryan Habich, WHS head coach, said. “We made mistakes and didn’t play our best game, and Hickory played more disciplined football than us.”
With a quick drive at the beginning of the second half the Pioneers put the score at 14-21 as Zach Williams pounded though the Hickory defensive for a touchdown. In response, Hickory returned the kickoff for a touchdown making the score 14-28.
By the fourth quarter Hickory’s hold was too strong for the Pioneers. Even with Dobbins hitting Baker for two touchdowns, one with a missed PAT. The final score proved the Red Tornadoes victorious.
But the Pioneers (7-3) are looking to Friday and are set to face the conference champs for the past two years, the South Caldwell Spartans (5-5), a team that the Pioneers have not been able to beat for three years.
“We need to work on execution and not making mistakes,” Habich said. “Make sure our kids are doing what they’re doing the right way by matching the physicality of South Caldwell and by making big plays with our offense.”
The game starts at 7:30 on Friday, Nov. 8, from South Caldwell High School in Hudson.
- The Pioneers lost to Hickory Friday night 42-27. Photo By Mark S. Kenna
