Waterford’s Gavin Hiener (12) runs with the ball after a catch during a high school football game against Vinton County Friday. (Photo by Mike Morrison)

WATERFORD – After winning nine games a season ago against perhaps the toughest schedule in the area expectations were high for the Waterford Wildcats coming into the 2025 campaign.

In their season opener Friday night at home against Vinton County, the Eric McCutcheon-coached Wildcats lived up to the hype and then some as they rolled to a 50-12 win over the Vikings.

The Wildcats scored all 50 points in the opening half and excelled in every facet of the game to kick off what they hope will be a special season in grand fashion.

“Our kids have had a great camp and were super excited to get things going,” said McCutcheon, beginning his 10th season at the helm of the Wildcats, “They bought in and got stronger and got faster and they are playing for one another and if you have a team that can do that instead of playing for themselves you can have something special.”

The Wildcat defense limited the Vikings to just 37 total yards in the game as they forced a running clock before the first half came to a close.

Waterford’s Trevin Zimmer (10) runs with the ball during a high school football game against Vinton County Friday. (Photo by Mike Morrison)

It took the Wildcats just over a minute to score their first points of the season as junior quarterback Hayden Jones scampered 38 yards for a touchdown on the third Waterford play from scrimmage.

Waterford managed to add the two-point conversion as holder Weston Fairchild was unable to handle a bad snap from center but alertly picked the ball up and ran it into the end zone to increase the Waterford lead to 8-0.

The Vikings answered with what would turn out to be their only significant drive of the game.

Vinton County drove 64-yards on nine plays aided by three Wildcat penalties and got on the board in their first try of the season thanks to an 11-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jase Moore.

The Vikings were unable to convert the two-point conversion allowing Waterford to hang onto the 8-6 lead.

Waterford came up with their second explosive play in as many possessions as Jones connected with a wide-open Fairchild on a 68-yard scoring strike to increase their lead to 15-6.

After the Wildcat defense forced a Vinton County punt on their next possession they would once again put the ball in the end zone in no time at all.

After starting their drive near midfield a pair of runs by Trevin Zimmer and a Viking penalty moved the ball to the 13 yard-line where Jones carried it in for his second touchdown of the opening quarter.

Vinton County went three-and-out once again on their next possession before the ‘Cats responded yet again with an explosive play.

Jones connected with Zimmer on a 36-yard scoring strike to give the Wildcats a 29-6 first quarter lead.

“We were very efficient offensively,” said McCutcheon. “We have a lot of targets on the field and a lot of them made some plays for us tonight.”

After throwing two touchdowns and running for two more in the first quarter alone Jones got in on the act defensively as well when he intercepted a Moore pass on the very first play of the second quarter and returned it 40-yards for yet another Waterford touchdown.

“He just picked up right where he left off last season,” said McCutcheon of Jones who did all of his damage throwing just three passes and rushing the ball just five times. “He’s a special player who makes things happen both offensively and defensively.”

Vinton County showed a little fight of their own when Josh Montgomery returned the ensuing kickoff 85-yards for a touchdown to trim the Wildcat lead to 36-12.

That would be as close as the Vikings would get as the Wildcats got a pair of second quarter rushing touchdowns from Kameron Johnson to open up their lead to 50-12 and force the game into a running clock before the first half had ended.

New rules in 2025 reduced the minutes in a quarter from 12 to eight in the event of a 30-point differential and the second half was over in no time as the Wildcats secured victory number one.

The big lead gave McCutcheon the opportunity to get some valuable experience for his team including Avery Pottmeyer who spelled Jones at quarterback in the second quarter and led the Wildcats to one of their scoring drives.

“I don’t think a ball touched the ground between our two quarterbacks tonight,” said McCutcheon. “It was good to get Avery (Pottmeyer) some experience and he has been having a really good camp for us,” said McCutcheon of Pottmeyer, who completed all five of his pass attempts for 63 yards. “He’s getting better and better and we have confidence in him when we need him.”

Jones and Pottmeyer combined to go a perfect 8-for-8 passing for the Wildcats with seven different receivers getting in on the act.

The Wildcat defense limited Vinton County to just five total rushing yards in the game while junior Finn Pennock also came up with an interception.

“Our coaches did an outstanding job with the game plan this week and we want our kids to play fast, be aggressive and own their gaps,” said McCutcheon. “They executed to perfection tonight.”

Waterford kicker Ryker Hutchins made six extra points in the game and narrowly missed a 37-yard field goal late in the game when his kick bounced off the top of the cross bar.

The Wildcats have a tough schedule once again this season with another tough matchup on the agenda for next week when Caldwell pays a visit.

“They are really aggressive and will come after us so we have got to have a great week of preparation,” said McCutcheon, whose team lost to the Redskins last year 26-14. “We are excited for the opportunity and it will be a fun matchup next Friday night.”