Mitchell juniors Carter Hoyle (22) and Gabe Brandt (21) converge on an Avery runner Friday, April 9 during the regular season finale in Newland. Mitchell won 47-21 to finish the regular season undefeated and now will focus on the 1A state playoffs. (MNJ photo/Cory Spiers)
LEDGER — The Mitchell High varsity football team closed the regular season on a high note by winning 47-21 at Western Highlands Conference rival Avery on Friday, April 9.
The Mountaineers finish the shortened regular season 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the Western Highlands Conference. By virtue of a postgame coin toss, Mitchell wins the Western Highlands Conference regular-season title over Polk, which also finished 3-0 in the conference but its game against Mitchell was canceled earlier in the season due to COVID concerns.
Mitchell is a No. 3 seed in the 1A state playoffs and will open the postseason at home Thursday, April 15 against No. 6 seed Christ the King (Huntersville). Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and the game will also be senior night and homecoming for the Mountaineers.
With a win, Mitchell would play the winner of No. 2-seeded Robbinsville and No. 7-seeded Winston-Salem Prep.
Mitchell will look for postseason success behind sophomore quarterback Ty Turbyfill, who racked up 191 rushing yards with four touchdowns against Avery.
Turbyfill also completed 8-of-10 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown in the road win.
Ty Sparks caught five passes for 81 yards while Harrison Horney had three grabs for 67 yards and a score.
Behind Turbyfill’s strong rushing performance, Carter Hoyle carried six times for 64 yards, Tanner Duncan ran eight times for 33 yards and Ethan Willis registered a pair of carries for 28 yards.
Despite some early turnovers and penalties, Mitchell jumped out to an early 14-0 lead with two rushing touchdowns.
Avery trimmed the lead back to single digits with a touchdown late in the second quarter and Mitchell led 14-7 at halftime.
Turbyfill scored two rushing touchdowns early in the third to restore Mitchell’s double-digit lead.
Mitchell cruised through the rest of the second half, scoring three more touchdowns to keep a distance from the hosts.
Hoyle and Willis each registered 10 tackles. Hoyle and Horney each had a pair of tackles for a loss.
Junior Gabe Brandt recorded Mitchell’s lone interception and junior Conner Buchanan had a fumble recovery.
Senior kicker Cole Woodard was busy, making 5-of-6 point-after tries, punting once for 31 yards and kicking off eight times, including two that went for a touchback.
Follow the News-Journal for updates and photos throughout the course of the state playoffs.