Alexander Central hasn't had much luck against Watauga recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Cougars will host the Pioneers at 7:30 p.m. Both come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
While Alexander Central's win against McDowell wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Cougars sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 30-28 victory over the Titans on Friday. The Cougars haven't had any issues with the Titans recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive win against them.
Alexander Central's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Jaquis Parks, who rushed for 69 yards and one score on only six carries. Parks also put in work on the defensive side of the ball, forcing one fumble, making eight total tackles (0.5 for loss), and defending one pass. Jeremiah Whitaker was another key rusher, rushing for 110 yards on only 14 carries.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Alexander Central was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 322 rushing yards. They are 2-1 when they've run for more than 200 yards.
Special teams also deserves some recognition, posting 12 points in total. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Whitaker, who ran a kickoff back for a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Watauga never let their opponents score on Friday. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat South Caldwell 56-0. Fans of the Pioneers have seen this all before: every one of the games they've played this season has ended in a blowout of 20+ points.
Watauga's win came from a few key players Alexander Central will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Cade Keller, who threw for 311 yards and three TDs while completing 94.1% of his passes. Those 311 passing yards gave him a new career-high. Matthew Leon helped Keller out on the ground, rushing for 53 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Watauga didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Evan Burroughs and Nyle Peays.
Watauga's win bumped their record up to 7-0. As for Alexander Central, the victory was their first on the road , bumping their record up to 2-5.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. Alexander Central has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 216.1 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Watauga struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 224.4 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Alexander Central was dealt a bruising 49-21 loss at the hands of Watauga in their previous meeting back in October of 2024. That contest was all but decided by halftime, at which point the Cougars were down 28-7.
