This week gives us the 48th installment of the High Country showdown. The oldest rivalry in the WHC, this one goes way back to the 20's when it was Cranberry High and Harris High. Historically played as the season finale, this heated rivalry has given us snow, wind, rain, blood, broken bones, and broken dreams. Mitchell has had the upper hand the last few years, but Avery has been much better this year. With 1st place seeding on the line, and a cold and snowy forecast for friday night, can the Vikings make a game of it, or will Mitchell defend it's home turf?
Here are some fun and interesting facts behind the Old North Rivals. History is a little fuzzy, and there's no need in getting into the Cranberry/Harris stuff, so we will start in 1975, which is the year that Harris and Bowman consolidated to form Mitchell. Cranberry and Newland Consolidated in 1968 to form Avery.
The 2 played their first game on sept. 5th, 1975. It was Mitchell's first game ever. Neither team could advance the ball on the other, and the coaches conceded a tie at the end of regulation, 0-0. A game that would set the precedence for the next 45 years.
After the initial game, Avery would go on a 5 game win streak, their longest ever, along with 2 other 5 win streaks.
Mitchell got their first win in 1981, at home. 1982 the Mountaineers won their first game in Newland.
The 80's were good to Mitchell, in 1984, the Mountaineers went on a 7 win streak that strected all the way to 1990. In all, Mitchell was 8-2 in the decade, and 8-6-1 overall.
The 90's were a seesaw affair, that saw the teams win back and forth, oddly enough on each other's field.
In 1998, Avery finally broke the chains, and won their first home game against Mitchell since 1980. A span of 18 years!
The home victory sparked the Vikings on a 5 game winning streak.
The 90's belonged to the Vikings, they finished the decade 6-5, with Mitchell clinging on to a 13-12-1 lead overall.
Entering into the new millennium, Avery was riding a win streak, that went until 2002, when Mitchell stole one in Newland. Victory was short lived for Mitchell however, as Avery went on yet another 5 game winning streak.
They closed out the decade winning one apiece, Mitchell in 2008, and Avery in 2009. Avery dominated the 00's, going 8-2, and grabbing the overall lead, 20-14-1.
In 2010, the rivalry came to a pinnacle, with Avery having high hopes of a State Championship, while Mitchell was just trying to finish their season after a devistating accident at the start of the season.
The infamous Snow Bowl. Temps hovering around 20, with a howling wind. Snow started falling right at kickoff, combined with the wind, the length of the game was played in an almost complete white-out blizzard. Fans couldn't see the game, coaches couldn't see the game, the refs couldn't see the game, even the players had no clue what was happening half the time. Mitchell fought hard, but fell to the Vikings, 14-7.
Enter the playoffs. Avery with a #1 seed, steamrolled over Bessemer City and Swain, while Mitchell as a #15 seed got thru Cherryville and West Wilkes to set up the biggest game to date. Avery naturally getting home field, Newland was bitter cold. With temps hovering around 0, and a cruel breeze blowing some 40 or so MPH, comfort was non exsistant. Nonetheless, fans came out in droves to support their teams, and in the surprise of the 1a world, Mitchell completely dominated the Vikings 47-22.
In 2011, the two met twice in the regular season, with Mitchell winning both.
In 2012, they met twice yet again, with Avery returning the favor, winning both.
2014 saw the last competitive game in the series with Mitchell coming out of an ugly, heated, back and forth affair, 28-23.
From 2015 until the present, Mitchell has completely dominated Avery winning by an average score of 52-7. Mitchell has owned the 2010's going 9-3, and tying the series up at 23-23-1.
Mitchell owns the longest win streak of 7, 1984-1990
There have been 25 games won by a touchdown or less
There have been 13 games won by 3 points or less including a 7 game span from 91-97
There have been 4 won by a single point
Mitchell has shut out the Vikings 5 times
Avery has shut the Mountaineers out 3 times
The largest margin of victory for the Mountaineers came in 2017, 56-0
The Vikings largest victory was in 1999, 34-6
The most combined point scored was in 2009, Avery won 42-39
Mitchell has won twice in a season 2 times, 1994 and 2011
Avery has won twice in a season once, in 2012.
Mitchel owns the lone playoff matchup in 2010.
Here are some fun and interesting facts behind the Old North Rivals. History is a little fuzzy, and there's no need in getting into the Cranberry/Harris stuff, so we will start in 1975, which is the year that Harris and Bowman consolidated to form Mitchell. Cranberry and Newland Consolidated in 1968 to form Avery.
The 2 played their first game on sept. 5th, 1975. It was Mitchell's first game ever. Neither team could advance the ball on the other, and the coaches conceded a tie at the end of regulation, 0-0. A game that would set the precedence for the next 45 years.
After the initial game, Avery would go on a 5 game win streak, their longest ever, along with 2 other 5 win streaks.
Mitchell got their first win in 1981, at home. 1982 the Mountaineers won their first game in Newland.
The 80's were good to Mitchell, in 1984, the Mountaineers went on a 7 win streak that strected all the way to 1990. In all, Mitchell was 8-2 in the decade, and 8-6-1 overall.
The 90's were a seesaw affair, that saw the teams win back and forth, oddly enough on each other's field.
In 1998, Avery finally broke the chains, and won their first home game against Mitchell since 1980. A span of 18 years!
The home victory sparked the Vikings on a 5 game winning streak.
The 90's belonged to the Vikings, they finished the decade 6-5, with Mitchell clinging on to a 13-12-1 lead overall.
Entering into the new millennium, Avery was riding a win streak, that went until 2002, when Mitchell stole one in Newland. Victory was short lived for Mitchell however, as Avery went on yet another 5 game winning streak.
They closed out the decade winning one apiece, Mitchell in 2008, and Avery in 2009. Avery dominated the 00's, going 8-2, and grabbing the overall lead, 20-14-1.
In 2010, the rivalry came to a pinnacle, with Avery having high hopes of a State Championship, while Mitchell was just trying to finish their season after a devistating accident at the start of the season.
The infamous Snow Bowl. Temps hovering around 20, with a howling wind. Snow started falling right at kickoff, combined with the wind, the length of the game was played in an almost complete white-out blizzard. Fans couldn't see the game, coaches couldn't see the game, the refs couldn't see the game, even the players had no clue what was happening half the time. Mitchell fought hard, but fell to the Vikings, 14-7.
Enter the playoffs. Avery with a #1 seed, steamrolled over Bessemer City and Swain, while Mitchell as a #15 seed got thru Cherryville and West Wilkes to set up the biggest game to date. Avery naturally getting home field, Newland was bitter cold. With temps hovering around 0, and a cruel breeze blowing some 40 or so MPH, comfort was non exsistant. Nonetheless, fans came out in droves to support their teams, and in the surprise of the 1a world, Mitchell completely dominated the Vikings 47-22.
In 2011, the two met twice in the regular season, with Mitchell winning both.
In 2012, they met twice yet again, with Avery returning the favor, winning both.
2014 saw the last competitive game in the series with Mitchell coming out of an ugly, heated, back and forth affair, 28-23.
From 2015 until the present, Mitchell has completely dominated Avery winning by an average score of 52-7. Mitchell has owned the 2010's going 9-3, and tying the series up at 23-23-1.
Mitchell owns the longest win streak of 7, 1984-1990
There have been 25 games won by a touchdown or less
There have been 13 games won by 3 points or less including a 7 game span from 91-97
There have been 4 won by a single point
Mitchell has shut out the Vikings 5 times
Avery has shut the Mountaineers out 3 times
The largest margin of victory for the Mountaineers came in 2017, 56-0
The Vikings largest victory was in 1999, 34-6
The most combined point scored was in 2009, Avery won 42-39
Mitchell has won twice in a season 2 times, 1994 and 2011
Avery has won twice in a season once, in 2012.
Mitchel owns the lone playoff matchup in 2010.
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