CHAPEL HILL — Having an undefeated season paid off for Watauga in the state 3-AA football playoff brackets.

ASHEVILLE — Both Watauga’s and Asheville’s boys’ soccer teams brought their defenses to their third-round state 3-A playoff game at Asheville High Nov. 8.

GAMEWELL — Watauga’s football team left no doubt for anybody watching the Pioneers play at West Caldwell on Nov. 2 which team is the undefeated Northwestern Conference champion and which team hasn’t won a football game all season.

BOONE — The fourth overtime period of the Watauga boys’ soccer team’s second-round state 3-A playoff match against visiting Concord Nov. 6 was winding down to its final seconds.

KERNERSVILLE — Led by Sophia Ritter’s sixth-place finish, Watauga’s girls’ cross-country team took fifth place in the state 3-A girls championships Nov. 3.

BOONE — The Watauga boys’ soccer team didn’t do anything different to visiting Gastonia Hunter Huss than what it’s done to most teams it has played toward the end of this season.

GAMEWELL — Watauga’s football team left no doubt for anybody watching the Pioneers play at West Caldwell on Nov. 2 which team is the undefeated Northwestern Conference champion and which team hasn’t won a football game all season.

BOONE — It’s been 11 years, since 2007 to be exact, that Watauga’s football team has won a Northwestern Conference championship.

HICKORY — Not surprisingly, Watauga’s volleyball team dominated the postseason Northwestern Conference awards much like the Pioneers dominated the NWC.

WAXHAW — One day before Halloween, Watauga’s volleyball team discovered that Marvin Ridge did not use any tricks to advance into the state 3-A semifinals.

Most prep athletic programs are happy if they can get a conference championship in any sport.

BOONE — Watauga is one game away from winning the Northwestern Conference championship outright for the first time since 1980.

BOONE — The Watauga boys’ soccer team and the Hickory boys’ soccer teams have tied for the Northwestern Conference regular-season championship. A tie-breaker played at South Caldwell’s field on Oct. 29 was necessary to determine the Northwestern Conference’s No. 1 seed in the 3-A playoffs.

HICKORY — Watauga’s Magali Turner was named the Northwestern Conference’s Player of the Year in girls’ tennis by the league’s coaches.

BOONE — McMichael volleyball coach Marty Woods used a word to describe Watauga’s offense Oct. 27.

BOONE — It’s been 11 years, 2007 to be exact, since Watauga’s football team has won a Northwestern Conference championship.

BOONE — Watauga’s volleyball team will host McMichael at 4 p.m. Oct. 27 at Lentz-Eggers Gym in the third round of the NCHSAA 3-A state playoffs.

MORGANTON — Watauga’s junior varsity football team claimed a 46-16 victory over Freedom Oct. 25 at Freedom’s stadium. The win gives the Pioneers a 5-3 record.

BOONE — Watauga’s volleyball team might want to calm down a little bit at the start of any future state 3-A matches.

BOONE — There was more at stake for Watauga’s boys’ soccer team in its season finale with visiting West Caldwell than just finishing the season on a winning note.

I ask this question with all seriousness: Has there ever been a better time to be a football fan in the High Country?

BOONE — Watauga’s volleyball team reached the third round of the state 3-A playoffs last year and the third round of the state 4-A playoffs two years ago.

BOONE — It’s been a long time since Watauga’s football team has won a conference championship.

HICKORY — Watauga’s junior varsity football team lost 36-7 to St. Stephens on Oct. 22.

CHAPEL HILL — Watauga’s volleyball team was given the No. 4 seed in the Western 3-A State Tournament bracket.

BOONE — Appalachian State running back Darrynton Evans proved he could cover for the injured Jalin Moore when asked.

MARION — If McDowell’s football team wanted to fly under Watauga’s radar, it didn’t work.

BOONE — Watauga’s junior varsity football team pulled away from visiting McDowell in the second quarter and continued to build to a 34-6 victory on a chilly Oct. 18 night.

ASHEVILLE — The Watauga girls’ tennis team lost 6-0 to host T.C. Roberson in the first round of the state 3-A tournament on Oct. 17.

BOONE — Watauga’s volleyball team has been a model of consistency during the 2018 season.

BOONE — Appalachian State sophomore quarterback Zac Thomas was added to the 2018 Watch List for The Manning Award on Thursday.

BOONE — Watauga’s boys’ soccer team crushed visiting McDowell 10-1 at Jack Groce Stadium Oct. 10, yet Watauga coach Josh Honeycutt felt his Pioneers could have played better.

BOONE — Watauga cross-country runner Sophia Ritter did more than just win the Northwestern Conference girls’ championship race at Watauga’s 5k home course.

BOONE — Watauga football team coach Ryan Habich has a simple, but stern message for the Pioneers Oct. 19.

BOONE — Watauga County has a dynasty when it comes to middle school volleyball.

BOONE — Watauga’s girls’ tennis team returns to the state 3-A playoffs with a tough task of playing at T.C. Roberson in the first round, which begins Oct. 17.

BOONE — Blowing Rock’s volleyball team, seeded third in the Watauga County Middle School Volleyball Tournament, swept past sixth-seeded Bethel 25-10, 25-21 in the first round on Oct. 15.

BOONE — Parkway’s volleyball team opened the 2018 Watauga County Middle School Volleyball Tournament with a 25-13, 25-6 win over No. 8-seeded Valle Crucis at Watauga High School’s Lentz-Eggers Gym Oct. 15.

BOONE — Before the 2018 football season started, Watauga’s football team circled the date Oct. 12 on its calendar with big red, silver and black markers.

BOONE — There was little that could stop the Watauga boys’ soccer team from grabbing a share of first place in the Northwestern Conference on Oct. 10.

BOONE — The Watauga County Middle School Volleyball Tournament was moved to Oct. 15 because of inclement weather that has hit the area.

BOONE — Watauga’s volleyball team had a chance to finish the 2018 regular season unbeaten. Just beat visiting Hickory, and the deed would be done.

TAYLORSVILLE — Watauga’s boys’ soccer team kept its chances for a shot at the Northwestern Conference championship by beating Alexander Central 5-0 at the Cougars’ field Oct. 9.

BOONE — Watauga’s football team would like to win each game it plays. But there is something extra involved when St. Stephens makes the trip to face the Pioneers at Jack Groce Stadium on Oct. 12.

TAYLORSVILLE — Watauga’s volleyball team prepared for its Oct. 10 showdown with Hickory with a win at Alexander Central on Oct. 8.

HICKORY — Watauga’s chances for winning a Northwestern Conference championship improved significantly with its 43-23 victory over Hickory on the Red Tornadoes’ homecoming night Oct. 12.