CHAPEL HILL – Watauga High School capped an undefeated season with a 47-25 victory over Middle Creek High School in the NCHSAA 6 State Championship game Friday at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. The Pioneers finished 15-0 while Middle Creek ended its season at 11-3.
Evan Burroughs earned every bit of his game MVP award, delivering a record-setting performance for Watauga, accounting for five touchdowns in multiple ways. The junior recorded three rushing touchdowns, caught a 68-yard touchdown pass, and returned an interception 54 yards for a score. Burroughs finished with 46 rushing yards on seven carries, 149 receiving yards on 14 catches, and two interceptions on defense. His all-purpose total of 266 yards set the tone for a Watauga offense that accumulated 471 total yards.
Middle Creek opened the scoring with an eight-play, 73-yard drive that consumed nearly three minutes. Jayden Spencer capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown run, and Ben Ladue's extra point gave the Mustangs a 7-0 lead. However, Watauga responded immediately with a three-play, 83-yard drive that took just over a minute. Cade Keller connected with Burroughs for a 68-yard touchdown pass, though the extra point attempt failed.
The game shifted dramatically in the first quarter when Burroughs intercepted a Lex Sevilla pass at the Watauga 46-yard line and returned it 54 yards for a touchdown at the 6:30 mark. The pick-six gave Watauga a 12-7 lead and marked the beginning of Middle Creek's struggles with ball security. The Mustangs threw two interceptions and fumbled three times, though they recovered all three fumbles.
After Burroughs' interception return, Middle Creek managed a 10-play, 56-yard drive that resulted in a 19-yard field goal by Ladue, cutting Watauga's lead to 12-10 with 2:17 remaining in the first quarter. Watauga answered with an eight-play, 66-yard drive, with Matthew Leon punching in a one-yard touchdown run with six seconds left in the quarter. Miller Hankins' extra point extended the lead to 19-10.
The second quarter belonged entirely to Watauga. The Pioneers scored twice in the period, with Burroughs rushing for touchdown runs of three and 25 yards. The second scoring drive covered 67 yards in eight plays and showcased the balance of Watauga's offense. Keller completed nine of 11 passes for 69 yards in the quarter, while the running game added 63 yards. Watauga took a commanding 33-10 lead into halftime.
Both quarterbacks were named their team’s most outstanding offensive players. Watauga’s Cade Keller finished the game with exceptional efficiency, completing 22 of 26 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. His Middle Creek counterpart, Lex Sevilla, completed 21 of 30 passes for 257 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions while also being sacked once by Brady Lindenmuth.
Watauga opened the second half with a methodical nine-play, 75-yard drive that consumed more than eight minutes. The drive featured a 46-yard run by Leon and ended with Burroughs' third rushing touchdown, a seven-yard run. Leon converted the two-point attempt after a Middle Creek penalty moved the ball closer, extending Watauga's lead to 41-10.
Middle Creek showed resilience in the third quarter, assembling a six-play, 51-yard scoring drive. Ezra Jobe capped the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run, and Ladue's extra point made it 41-17 with 1:06 left in the third quarter.
The Mustangs continued their momentum early in the fourth quarter. After recovering a Keller fumble at the Watauga 23-yard line, Middle Creek drove to the Watauga five-yard line but turned the ball over on downs. On the next possession following a punt, Middle Creek put together a six-play, 69-yard drive in just 82 seconds. Sevilla hit Nicolas Bocciardi for a 10-yard touchdown pass, and Nicholas Belcher caught the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 41-25 with 10:26 remaining.
However, Watauga responded with a game-sealing 12-play, 95-yard drive that took nearly seven minutes off the clock. The drive featured strong running from Leon and Burroughs before Keller found Nyle Peays for a 51-yard touchdown pass with 43 seconds remaining, effectively ended Middle Creek's comeback hopes.
Leon led Watauga's ground game with 78 yards on 12 carries, while Keller added 41 yards on five attempts. For Middle Creek, Spencer rushed 17 times for 53 yards and one touchdown, while Sevilla added 51 yards on nine carries.
Bocciardi was Middle Creek's leading receiver with seven catches for 141 yards and one touchdown. Tracy Harrington Jr. added nine receptions for 79 yards. For Watauga, Burroughs was the primary target with 14 catches, while Peays contributed two receptions for 82 yards.
John Wilson Mills led Watauga's defense with 13 total tackles (10 solo, three assists) and was named the team’s most outstanding defensive player, while Cody Wicker paced Middle Creek with 11 total tackles (six solo, five assists).
The victory gave Watauga its first state championship since the program's previous title, while Middle Creek fell short in its attempt to add another championship to its trophy case.
Top Performers
Evan Burroughs, Watauga
- 14 receptions, 149 yards, 1 TD
- 7 rushes, 46 yards, 3 TDs
- 2 interceptions, 54 return yards, 1 TD
- 266 all-purpose yards
Cade Keller, Watauga
- 22-of-26 passing, 277 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
- 5 rushes, 41 yards
Nicolas Bocciardi, Middle Creek
- 7 receptions, 141 yards, 1 TD
Lex Sevilla, Middle Creek
- 21-of-30 passing, 257 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
- 9 rushes, 51 yards
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