Mitchell’s Gage Young makes a tackle on an Avery player to prevent a touchdown during a 49-11 rout in Newland. Young also sparked the Mountaineer offense in the road win. (Kelli Blackburn/Intern)
The Mitchell High varsity football team started fast and never looked back in a 49-11 rout at Avery High on Friday, Oct. 28 in the regular season finale.
The Mountaineers close the regular season 7-3 overall and 5-1 in the Western Highlands Conference. The team enters the 1A state playoffs as an 11-seed and will host South Davidson (4-6) in the first round.
The winner of that playoff game will advance to face the winner of WHC champ Draughn and Union Academy. Mitchell lost to Draughn in the regular season.
Mitchell’s Ty Turybfill got the team going early in the win at Avery. He tossed 2 first-quarter touchdown passes to Dalton Hollifield and Gage Young to put the visitors up 14-0.
Avery added a field goal to trim the lead to 14-3 but Chad Giarrusso answered right back with a 7-yard rushing touchdown that put Mitchell up 21-3 after one quarter.
Young had a 13-yard rushing touchdown and Turbyfill hit Joe Conley for a passing touchdown in the second quarter and the Mountaineers led 35-3 at halftime.
Young ran for another score in the second half and Turbyfill tossed his final touchdown pass of the night to Marley McCourry to extend the lead to 49-3.
Avery added a late touchdown on a run by Will Stafford. A successful 2-point try made the final score 49-11.
Mitchell out-gained Avery 469-220, including 220-56 through the air. Turbyfill completed 10-of-14 passes for 220 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Giarrusso was the game’s leading rusher with 11 carries for 111 yards and a touchdown. Young carried 9 times for 68 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Dalton Hollifield caught 4 passes for 72 yards. Conley had 3 receptions for 71 yards.
Cameron Cook, Enrique Huaroco, Jacob Ledford and Cole Young had 4 tackles each. Jordan Riddle had a sack.