STATESVILLE, N.C. -- The Pioneers of Watauga are entering the 2008 season with a renewed sense of confidence and a couple of new faces leading the charge. They headed off to camp at Catawba College to get a jump on the new season.

With their new athletic director, Jeff Link, and new head football coach, Tim Pruitt, they are looking to make some noise in the Northwestern 4-A Conference.

There new found confidence stems from the team finishing one game shy of the state championship game two straight years. They fell last season to Mount Tabor in the NCHSAA Western Regional championship game.

The recent success of the football program combined with Appalachian State's back-to-back-to-back championships has created a lot of buzz in the mountains.

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RAW VIDEO: Watauga Pioneers Looking To Take Next Step To Top This Season

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It almost seems that the football teams winning ways has resonated throughout the school and into other sports. The Pioneers claimed six Northwestern 4-A Conference team championships during 2007-2008 and had four other teams finished in 2nd place in their respective sports.

Coach Pruitt and his staff are excited for the season to get going and have five returning All-Conference players on their side. Their first test will come on August 22 when they travel to Davie County in Mocksville, N.C.

Stay tuned to see if the Pioneers can keep the momentum going and finally make it to their ultimate goal – the state championship game.

Check out my SLIDESHOW and RAW VIDEO of the Pioneers getting ready for the season.