Mountaineers now 1-1, eye matchup at 4A Watauga
Junior receiver Dalton Hollifield (21) makes a move in the open field at Lake Norman and attempts to gain yards. Hollifield caught a pair of passes as Mitchell was edged 15-12 at 4A Lake Norman on Friday, Aug. 27. Mitchell is scheduled to play at Watauga in Week 3. (Jennifer Enos/Statesville Record & Landmark)
MOORESVILLE — The Mitchell High varsity football team was edged 15-12 at 4A Lake Norman High on Friday, Aug. 27 in a non-conference game added late in the week after Mitchell’s originally scheduled Week 2 opponent, McDowell, faced COVID concerns and was forced to cancel the game.
The Mountaineers (1-1) fell behind early but took the lead in the third quarter. Lake Norman (2-0) responded with a touchdown and took a lead it did not relinquish.
After a scoreless opening quarter, Lake Norman jumped out to an 8-0 lead early in the second quarter on a 5-yard run from Caleb Douthit and subsequent 2-point conversion.
Mitchell responded late in the quarter with a 3-yard run from senior running back Carter Hoyle. The 2-point try was unsuccessful and Lake Norman led 8-6 at halftime.
The Mountaineers scored on their first drive of the second half when junior quarterback Ty Turbyfill capped off the opening drive with a 24-yard touchdown scamper to put the visitors up 12-8 after another unsuccessful 2-point try.
The Wildcats jumped back out in front just five minutes later when Douthit scored again, this time from 4 yards out. The hosts tightened up their defense and held on to win 15-12.
Turbyfill was Mitchell’s leading rusher with 26 carries for 155 yards and a touchdown.
Hoyle ran 10 times for 26 yards and a score and sophomore Chase Duncan ran three times for 10 yards.
Turbyfill completed 4 of 7 passes for 41 yards, including a 25-yard connection with senior Ethan Willis, who registered the team lead with 25 receiving yards. Dalton Hollifield caught a pair of passes for 10 yards and returned two kicks for 39 yards.
Willis paced the Mitchell defense with seven tackles. Jackson Foxx, Hoyle and Xander Gardner tallied five tackles each.
The Mitchell defense limited Lake Norman to just six passing yards.
The Wildcats did most of their damage on the ground where they rushed for 300 yards on 39 attempts.
Mitchell is scheduled to play at 4A Watauga in Week 3. At this time, kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 3 in Boone.
Watauga opened the season by blanking T.C. Roberson but was shut out by Maiden (2-0) in Week 2.
Check the News-Journal website and Facebook page for any news regarding schedule changes as the season continues.
Due to Labor Day deadlines, the Week 3 recap of Mitchell football will be online only.