Watauga has won eight straight games at home, while Northern Guilford has won eight straight on the road, but those streaks won't matter much on Friday. The Pioneers will face off against the Nighthawks at 7:30 p.m. Watauga's defense has only allowed 12.8 points per game this season, so Northern Guilford's offense will have their work cut out for them.
Watauga is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past Sun Valley 31-28. The score was all tied up 21-21 at the break, but the Pioneers were the better team in the second half.
Watauga had a senior duo take command as Cade Keller threw for 242 yards and three touchdowns while completing 73.7% of his passes and Nyle Peays picked up 97 receiving yards and one score.
Meanwhile, Northern Guilford's offense rose to the challenge against a Greenwave defense that boasted an average of only 12.46 points allowed on Friday. The Nighthawks were the clear victors by a 39-14 margin over Ashbrook. The Nighthawks' offense checked out after the first half but had enough points banked to take the game anyway.
Northern Guilford's win came from a few key players Watauga will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Amare Akers, who rushed for 108 yards and a pair of TDs on only 13 carries. He is also on a roll when it comes to rushing touchdowns, as he's now punched in two or more in each of the last three games he's played. Christopher Morrison Jr also helped out with an impressive 93 receiving yards.
Northern Guilford's defense made their presence known, laying out the QB three times. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Noah Smith, Player #84, and Arimeeh Mack, who each picked up one sack apiece.
Watauga's record is now 13-0. As for Northern Guilford, their record now sits at 12-1.
Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Watauga has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 187.1 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Northern Guilford struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 171.1 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other football content.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
