Watauga opens NWC slate vs. Spartans

By Steve Behr

sports@wataugademocrat.com

Like last week, Watauga faces an undefeated team. However, the stakes are a bit higher than they were last week.

This Friday, the Pioneers (5-0) host South Caldwell (5-0) in a showdown of undefeated Northwestern 4-A Conference foes. While it can be argued that all games are important, there is more at stake for the Pioneers when they line up against the Spartans Friday night.

For starters, this is the Pioneers’ first game against a team that is in a higher classification than 2-A. Watauga coach Adrian Snow said the Spartans are likely to have more depth than the 2-A teams the Pioneers have outscored 160-61. The Spartans have also beaten the Pioneers the last three years, including 22-0 last year.

“I think they’ve probably got more depth,” Snow said. “They’ve got more people in general. I think they could beat every team we’ve played so far, and they’ve beat a lot of them.”

But Watauga has made a turnaround of its own this year, having won its first five games for the first time since 1981. The Pioneers boast a potent rushing attack led by Eric Breitenstein, who had gained 866 yards, including 233 yards each in wins over Ashe and Wilkes Central.

Breitenstein has scored 14 touchdowns rushing, one receiving, one via a blocked punt return and one after intercepting Ashe punter Ethan Goodman and returning it 53 yards for a score.

Breitenstein reached the end zone three times running the ball against Ashe County, but the Pioneers showed, in their 41-18 victory over Wilkes Central two weeks ago, that they have other weapons. Quarterback Blake Beason has hit 19-of-32 passes for 355 yards, three touchdowns, and has not thrown an interception since the first week of the season.

Watauga’s other quarterback, starter Adam Chiarolanzio, has completed 10 of 21 passes for 114 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Baine Martin leads the Pioneers with 11 receptions for 137 yards. Derek Smith has caught eight passes for 158 yards, an average of 19.9 yards per catch.

“We’ve got to do what we’re going to do,” Snow said. “I don’t want to change. You’ve got to adapt, where it’s creating another blocker with the tight end, or whatever. We’re not going to beat our heads into the wall.”

South Caldwell has its own rushing game, but spreads the wealth a bit. Josh Collins leads the Spartans with 428 yards on 68 carries, while Jimmy Messer has gained 376 yards on 60 carries. Both average 6.3 yards per rush and each has four touchdowns.

 Shane Clawson has 265 yards on 44 carries and Derek Laws has chipped in 80 yards on 21 rushes.

Spartans quarterback Chase Hodges has hit 14 of 21 passes for 194 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Clawson has caught four passes for 52 yards, but the Spartans’ deep threat is Ketjuan Moss, who has two catches for 51 yards and a touchdown.

However, Snow is expecting the Spartans’ offense to line up and play smashmouth football.

“There isn’t anything finesse about this bunch,” Snow said. “We know what they’re going to do and people know what we’re going to do. There’s a difference, you got to stop it, whatever it may be, you’ve got to stop it. They’re talented, they get after it, they’re physical and that’s the way they want to be.”

Snow said the Spartans’ depth at running back makes them a threat.

“You watch them and they have like 100 running backs,” Snow said. “They keep putting them in there. One after the other after the other after the other and they all do a good job.”

Defensively, the Spartans have shut out two opponents, having beaten 3-A Fred T. Foard 10-0 and 2-A Lincolnton 24-0. South Caldwell has also defeated three teams Watauga has beaten, having rolled past West Caldwell 35-9, Hibriten 22-14 and Avery 34-13.

South Caldwell started last year 7-0 and the Spartans had back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1977-78.

“Defensively, they’ve been downright stuffing people,” Snow said. “Next to (A.C.) Reynolds, they’ve got, in the sense of numbers, the best defense in the league in just allowing points.”

Snow said all of the Pioneers are healthy enough to play. Linebacker Tyler Hite returned to the lineup last week after missing two games because of an ankle injury.