CHAMPIONS! Pioneers Win First State Title in 47 Years

The number 47 will forever be etched in Watauga football history.

Forty-seven years after their last state championship, the Pioneers scored 47 points to defeat Middle Creek 47-25 in the NCHSAA 6A State Championship at Kenan Stadium on Friday — just one week after winning their semifinal with 47 seconds remaining.

The victory caps a perfect 15-0 season for Watauga, the program's first state title since 1978, and head coach Ryan Habich's first championship.

Burroughs Puts on a Show

Senior Evan Burroughs delivered a performance for the ages, accounting for five total touchdowns while picking off two passes on defense.

Burroughs opened the scoring with a 68-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Cade Keller, answering Middle Creek's opening touchdown drive. Minutes later, he jumped a passing route and returned an interception 45 yards for a pick-six, giving Watauga its first lead at 12-7.

He added two more rushing touchdowns — including a 25-yarder in the second quarter — as the Pioneers built a commanding 33-10 halftime lead.

Fast Start Sets the Tone

The first quarter was a back-and-forth shootout that ended with Watauga ahead 19-10. After Middle Creek opened with a touchdown and later added a 26-yard field goal, the Pioneers answered with Matthew Leon's 1-yard touchdown run with just six seconds left in the quarter.

Watauga's defense clamped down in the second quarter, holding the Mustangs scoreless while the offense added two more touchdowns to take a 33-10 lead into the break.

Halftime stats showed Watauga's dominance: the Pioneers led in total yards 291-211 (212 passing, 79 rushing) while winning the turnover battle 2-1.

Second Half: Weathering the Storm

Watauga opened the third quarter with a methodical drive that consumed more than five minutes, capped by another Burroughs touchdown run. The two-point conversion pushed the lead to 41-10.

Middle Creek refused to go away, scoring touchdowns late in the third quarter and early in the fourth to cut the deficit to 41-25 with 10:26 remaining. The Mustangs recovered a fumble in Watauga territory and drove to the 5-yard line, threatening to make it a one-score game.

But the Pioneer defense rose to the occasion, stuffing Middle Creek on fourth down at the 5-yard line with 7:23 left — the biggest defensive stand of the season.

Sealing the Championship

Watauga's offense took over and embarked on a 95-yard drive that chewed 6:40 off the clock, converting a crucial third-down play to keep the chains moving.

Keller put the finishing touch on the historic victory with a 51-yard touchdown pass to Nyle Peays with just 43 seconds remaining, pushing the final score to 47-25 and sending the Watauga faithful into celebration.

A Perfect Ending

The championship completes a remarkable journey for a program that had reached three state semifinals since their 1978 title but couldn't break through until now.

For the seniors who delivered this title, including Burroughs and Keller, they leave Watauga having accomplished something no Pioneer team had done in nearly half a century — bringing a state championship back to the High Country.

Final: Watauga 47, Middle Creek 25

Scoring Summary

First Quarter
MC — Spencer 1-yard TD run (PAT good), 9:00 — MC 7, WAT 0
WAT — Burroughs 68-yard TD rec from Keller (PAT missed), 7:57 — MC 7, WAT 6
WAT — Burroughs 45-yard interception return (2-pt failed), 6:30 — WAT 12, MC 7
MC — Ladue 26-yard FG, 2:17 — WAT 12, MC 10
WAT — Leon 1-yard TD run (PAT good), 0:06 — WAT 19, MC 10

Second Quarter
WAT — Short TD pass (PAT good), 9:38 — WAT 26, MC 10
WAT — Burroughs 25-yard TD run (PAT good), 3:31 — WAT 33, MC 10

Third Quarter
WAT — Burroughs TD run (2-pt good), 6:51 — WAT 41, MC 10
MC — Jobe 10-yard TD run (PAT good), 1:06 — WAT 41, MC 17

Fourth Quarter
MC — Bocciardi 10-yard TD rec from Sevilla (2-pt good), 10:26 — WAT 41, MC 25
WAT — Peays 51-yard TD rec from Keller, 0:43 — WAT 47, MC 25