Pioneers host five-team

scrimmage Friday
By Steve Behr
 
They may come from smaller schools, but Watauga’s opponents in its upcoming jamboree have impressive credentials.

Watauga will serve as host to four teams Friday night at Jack Groce Stadium. The Pioneers will host Newton-Conover, Mount Airy, Elkin and Hibriten with the jayvees scrimmaging at 5:15 p.m. and the varsity at 6:30 p.m.

Watauga will scrimmage everybody except Hibriten, who is a fellow member of the Northwestern 3A/4A Conference. The other three teams have solid resumes despite than none of them are larger than 2-AA size.

Newton-Conover enters Jack Groce Stadium as the defending 2-AA state champions, while Mount Airy is the defending 1-A champs. Elkin, though not a defending state champion, is a traditionally powerful 1-A program.

Newton-Conover, who Watauga scrimmaged last year, beat Tarboro 51-28 in the 2-AA state finals. Mount Airy beat Williamston 37-14 in the 1-A championship game.

Watauga goes into 2009 looking to improve on its 5-7 season. The Pioneers went through their 2008 non-conference schedule with a 4-1 record, but struggled after it beat NWC rival Alexander Central by losing five straight games.

Watauga still managed to make the state 4-A playoffs, but was eliminated by Crest in the first round 35-14.

Watauga opens its 2009 season at county border rival Ashe County on Aug. 21. Watauga plays its first home game a week later against Shelby.

The Pioneers put on full pads for the first time last Saturday when they hosted their Midnight Madness event at Jack Groce. The one-and-a-half hour practice capped a night that began with a dinner and a raffle that started at 7:30 p.m.