Pioneers light up Ashe

By Steve Behr

sports@wataugademocrat.com

During Watauga’s run through its non-conference schedule, one thing has stayed constant: Eric Breitenstein knows where the end zone is.

The talented junior running back scored touchdown runs of 3, 21 and 52 yards and also returned an interception off a botched punt 52 yards for a score to lift Watauga to a 28-7 win over Ashe County at Jack Groce Stadium Friday night.

Breitenstein finished with 233 yards rushing, the same amount he gained a week earlier in a win over Wilkes Central. He has 17 touchdowns this season, 14 of them rushing.

“I can’t say enough about our kids,” Pioneers coach Adrian Snow said. “I’m so proud of them. They’ve done everything I ask them to do. They’ve told me I’ve got to relax a bit, but I’ve got to keep them sharp.”

Watauga also improved its record to 5-0 heading into the beginning of its Northwestern 4-A Conference schedule. The Pioneers host South Caldwell in the second of a three-game homestand. Freedom invades Watauga the following week.

“You set goals to accomplish them and we did it no problem,” said offensive tackle Will Davis. “Everybody who has played has been stepping up. The whole team has come together and has played extremely well.”

As in other games this year, Watauga got off to a slow start against Ashe County. The Huskies (3-1) drove the ball from their own 10 to the Watauga 31,  but could not stick the ball in the end zone.

Watauga had no such problem, driving 69 yards, 66 of them on a Breitenstein run, before he went the final three yards for the touchdown. Breitenstein had 101 yards by halftime on 10 carries.

A big play by the Watauga special teams helped turn the momentum toward the Pioneers’ direction.

Ashe County quarterback Ethan Goodman, who doubles as the team’s punter, fielded a low snap on a fourth down and rolled to his left instead of kicking the ball away.

Goodman’s pass was intercepted by Breitenstein, who raced 53 yards for a touchdown, giving the Pioneers a 13-0 lead with 9:32 left in the third quarter. Five minutes later, Breitenstein capped a nine-play, 70-yard drive with a 21-yard touchdown run to give Watauga a 21-0 lead.

“Coach was freaking out on the sidelines, he’s yelling us to get back and play it safe,” Breitenstein said. “I saw Goodman’s eyes go straight at that guy and I knew he was going to throw it. He kind of lofted it up there and it gave me time to pick it off.”

Ashe County struck back with a 65-yard touchdown pass from Goodman to Dakota Price, who got behind the Watauga secondary on a post pattern. However, it was the only big pass play the Pioneers gave up. Goodman completed just 4 of 16 attempts for 86 yards.

“We were getting whipped up front,” said Ashe coach Bill Strong. “We were not running the ball well, so I thought we’d try something else. We just didn’t get much going offensively.”

Breitenstein scored his final touchdown after a penalty had called back a 43-yard scoring run the previous play.

“I was a little tired after the second touchdown,” Breitenstein said.

Overall, Watauga outgained the Huskies 364-176 yards despite running 15 fewer plays. The Huskies kept the ball 10 minutes more than the Pioneers.

Watauga quarterback Blake Beason hit 6 of 8  passes for 76 yards. Baine Martin grabbed three passes for 34 yards while Breitenstein had two receptions for 16 yards

Derek Smith hauled in one for 27 and Caleb Martin caught one for 26 yards.

Watauga 28, Ashe County 7

Ashe County                     0 0   7 0 —   7

Watauga                            7 0 14 7 — 28

Scoring summary

W—Beitenstein 3 run (Kostis kick)

W—Breitenstein 53 interception return (Kick failed)

W—Breitenstein 21 run (Chiarolanzio run)

A—Price 65 pass from Goodman (Price kick)

W—Breitenstein 52 run (Kostis kick)

Ashe County                              Watauga

13                   First downs                   14

44-90              Rushes-yards           33-261

86                   Passing yards                103

4-16-1              Passes                     7-12-0

0                    Return yards                    59

5-31.0              Punts-avg.               4-26.8

2-10               Penalties-yards           9-105

1-0                 Fumbles-lost                 3-2

Individuals

Rushing: Ashe County—Carpenter 9-40, Grubb 9-26, Davis 7-18, Goodman 18-3; Watauga—Breitenstein 21-233, Chiarolanzio 7-24,  Hodges 2-12, Beason 3-(-8).

Passing: Ashe County—Goodman 4-16-1 86; Watauga—Beason 7-10-0 76, Chiarolanzio 0-2-0 0.

Receiving: Ashe County—Davis 2-19, Price 1-65, Carpenter 1-2; Watauga—B. Martin 3-34, Breitenstein 2-16, Smith 1-27, C. Martin 1-26.