AUGUST 27, 2009 ISSUE
“Rip Off the Rear-View Mirror”
Watauga Pioneer Football Begins 2009 Season with 12 Returning Starters and New Focus
From left to right, safety Caleb Watson, running back Devan Sherrill, running back Logan Smith, defensive end Tanner Wilson and defensive end Jordan Pineda are five of the leaders for the Watauga High School Pioneers. Photo by Jason Gilmer
The Watauga Pioneers have no desire to look at their past.
After back-to-back 10-4 seasons and trips to the third round of the playoffs, the Pioneers finished last season 5-7 and lost in the playoff’s opening round.
That losing season, though, isn’t going to be something that members of the football team think about too often.
“At camp, Coach [Tim] Pruitt told us to rip off the rear-view mirror,” wide receiver and linebacker Travis Oliver said. “That’s our slogan. Just forget about the past. This is this year.”
With six starters back on offense and six back on defense, the Pioneers have the experience to better last year’s mark.
On Monday, August 24, in the season opener, the Pioneers rolled past the Ashe County High Huskies 30-0. They host Shelby at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 28, in the first home game.
Expectations were high last year and the Pioneers started the year hot, winning four of their first five games, but cooled off as the weather did.
“Hopefully the expectations are a little lower and we can relax a little more and then go out and have fun,” said Pruitt, who’s in his second season as the head coach.
The team got into the weight room after last year wrapped up and started working toward this season.
But don’t expect them to look too far ahead. While the rear-view mirror is gone, the blinders are on so they just see the next opponent.
“Everybody has been talking around school about [the season],” said Oliver, who caught 26 passes for 189 yards last season. “We’re ready to go. We have to concentrate on one game at a time and that will help us go deep into the playoffs.
“I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people. I think we’re going to have a good year.”
The Pioneers will still be in the spread formation offensively, with quarterback Devan Corum (1,797 passing yards and 11 touchdowns last year) back to lead the attack.
Running backs Baker Stanley, Logan Smith and Caleb Watson will be used in the power rushing game that Pruitt hopes to utilize. It helps that a couple of offensive linemen, led by Jared Pitts, Tanner Wilson and Lance Loveless, saw lots of action last season.
“We’re a pretty diverse offensive group. We’re not a true spread team,” Pruitt said. “We’re going to try to spread people out and run the football out of the shotgun as well as the offset-I formation.”
Oliver, Mo Gore, Trey Kavanaugh and Dakota Johnson will be Corum’s main passing targets.
The defensive front could be the team’s strength, with Wilson, Jordan Pineda, Robbie Sherrill as the anchors up front.
Oliver (outside linebacker), Watson (free safety) and Matt Scott (cornerback) will also help the defensive unit.
“I think we have a really strong defensive team, particularly in our front eight,” Pruitt said.
Must Know Information for 2009 Season
Watauga High School Football Head Coach Tim Pruitt. Photo by Jason Gilmer
Head coach: Tim Pruitt
Assistant coaches: Pete Hardee, Tom Wright, David Kincaid, John Porter, Anthony White, Brad Isaacs, Mike Combs, Cole Faulkner, Davey Diamont, Lee Crawford, Preston Clarke
Returning starters: 6 on offense, 6 on defense
Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: Devan Corum 142-217-13-1,797, 11 TDs
Rushing: Devan Corum 191-417, 8 TDs, Logan Smith 27-90, 1 TD
Receiving: Travis Oliver 26-189, 2 TDs, Dakota Johnson 7-51, Trey Kavanaugh 6-49
Tackles: Logan Smith 119, Jordan Pineda 78, Robbie Sherrill 75, Tanner Wilson 62
Interceptions: Caleb Watson 2
2008 Statistics
Overall record: 5-7
Northwestern 3A/4A record: 2-4
Points scored per game: 15.8
Points allowed per game: 26.0
Rushing yards per game: 95.7
Rushing yards allowed per game: 162.8
Passing yards per game: 155.5
Passing yards allowed per game: 111.3
2009 Schedule
(All games at 7:30 p.m.)
August 21 at Ashe County
August 28 vs. Shelby
September 4 at Avery County
September 11 at West Stokes
September 18 vs. A.C. Reynolds
October 2 vs. South Caldwell
October 9 at Hibriten
October 16 vs. Fred T. Foard (homecoming)
October 23 at Alexander Central
October 30 vs. Hickory (senior night)
November 6 at St. Stephens
2008 Statistics
August 22 at Davie County, 7-41, L
September 5 vs. Avery County, 28-14, W
September 12 at North Surry, 26-22, W
September 19 vs. Ashe County, 27-6, W
September 26 at Alexander Central, 21-7, W
October 3 at Shelby, 6-27, L
October 10 at McDowell, 30-29 OT, W
October 17 vs. East Burke, 13-45, L
October 24 vs. South Caldwell, 0-13, L
October 31 vs. Freedom, 17-24, L
November 7 at A.C. Reynolds, 0-49, L
November 14 at Crest, 14-35 (playoffs), L
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