Watauga Pioneers Advance to State Championship Game with Thrilling 43-42 Victory Over Northern Guilford

Last Updated on December 6, 2025 9:00 pm

In a game that will be remembered for generations, the Watauga High School Pioneers defeated Northern Guilford 43-42 on Friday night at Jack Groce Stadium, punching their ticket to the NCHSAA 6A State Championship Game for the first time in 47 years.

Northern Guilford's field goal attempt as time expired sailed wide, preserving the one-point victory and sending the Pioneers to Chapel Hill for a shot at the state title.

The Pioneers will face Middle Creek on Friday, December 13th at 4:00 PM at Kenan Stadium at the University of North Carolina. It will be Watauga's first appearance in a state championship game since 1978, when the Pioneers won it all.

The game was a back-and-forth battle from start to finish, with neither team able to pull away.

FIRST QUARTER: PIONEERS STRIKE EARLY

Watauga jumped out to an early lead with a 21-yard touchdown pass, taking a 7-0 advantage after the PAT. Northern Guilford answered quickly with a 1-yard touchdown run to tie the game 7-7.

The Pioneers responded with a 47-yard touchdown pass, though the PAT attempt failed, giving Watauga a 13-7 lead. Moments later, Watauga's defense came up with a game-changing play – an interception returned for a touchdown. The PAT was good, pushing the lead to 20-7.

Before the quarter ended, Watauga added another score to take a commanding 27-7 lead with 6:50 remaining in the first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER: NIGHTHAWKS BATTLE BACK

Northern Guilford refused to fold, mounting a comeback in the second quarter. A 70-yard pass and run for a touchdown, followed by a successful PAT, cut the deficit to 27-14.

The Nighthawks struck again with a 35-yard rushing touchdown and another good PAT, pulling within six points at 27-21 heading into halftime.

THIRD QUARTER: LEAD CHANGES HANDS

Northern Guilford's momentum carried into the second half. The Nighthawks scored in just two plays with 11:32 left in the third quarter, and the PAT gave them their first lead of the game, 28-27.

Watauga answered immediately with a 5-yard touchdown run. The Pioneers went for two and converted, retaking the lead 35-28 with 7:55 remaining in the third quarter.

Northern Guilford responded with a 5-play drive capped by a short touchdown run. The PAT tied the game at 35-35 with 5:23 left in the third quarter.

The score remained tied at 35-35 heading into the fourth quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER: DRAMA TO THE FINAL SECOND

Northern Guilford took the lead early in the fourth quarter with a 1-yard rushing touchdown. The PAT was good, giving the Nighthawks a 42-35 advantage with 3:37 remaining.

Facing their biggest challenge of the season, the Pioneers began a crucial drive. A 15-yard roughing the passer penalty against Northern Guilford at the 3:21 mark kept the drive alive. Despite a Watauga penalty that gave some yards back, the Pioneers battled to a first down at the Northern Guilford 14-yard line with 2:50 to play.

Watauga moved the ball to the 6-yard line, but a loss of two yards set up a critical 3rd down and 3 from the 8-yard line with approximately one minute remaining.

The Pioneers converted with a 3-yard touchdown catch with 47 seconds left on the clock. Rather than kick the extra point to tie, Watauga went for two – and the conversion was good, giving the Pioneers a 43-42 lead with 37 seconds remaining.

Northern Guilford took over at their own end zone with 37 seconds and no timeouts remaining. A 5-yard completion moved the chains, and with 31 seconds left, another pass play brought the ball inside the Watauga 40-yard line.

With 22 seconds remaining, Northern Guilford completed another pass to the Watauga 28-yard line, setting up first and 10. One more completion moved the ball inside the Watauga 25 with 11.9 seconds left, and Northern Guilford called timeout.

After one final play moved the ball closer, just 5.7 seconds remained when Northern Guilford's field goal unit took the field. The kick sailed wide, and the Pioneers erupted in celebration.