Watauga stops Purnell Swett 25-14

Rams successful season comes to an end in Boone

Fans braved freezing temperatures to cheer for Rams

Staff Report

The Purnell Swett football team's remarkable season came to an end on Friday night in Boone as Watauga High School gained a hard-fought 25-14 victory. In addition to a winning season, the Purnell Swett team proudly made it through to the third round of the state high school football playoffs.

Two key fumbles in the first half, both cases where a Watauga player was able to pull the football from the arms of the Rams ball carrier, helped give Watauga a 25-8 halftime lead that proved to be insurmountable. Purnell Swett scored a touchdown on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Patrick McCartney to Rosszell Pittman in the fourth quarter, giving their shivering, but enthusiastic, fans hope for another Rams come-from-behind win. However, the Watauga Pioneers were able to keep possession of the football with a bruising ground game that kept the Rams on defense for long stretches of time and helped run down the clock.

Purnell Swett scored a touchdown in the first half on a 15-yard touchdown pass from McCartney to Justin Bullard. The Rams gained a two-point conversion on a "short-snap" and 3-yard run while lined up as if to kick for the extra point.

Although the first half of play put them behind by 17 points, the Rams could take some pride in accomplishing the goal they set for themselves during halftime, to outscore the Pioneers in the second half of the game. In the end, the halftime deficit was more than the Rams were able to overcome.