By Gary Corsair
Clay County Progress
Friday’s opening game of the 2023 high school football season between Hayesville and Towns County will feature a contrast in quarterbacks, one seasoned, one green.
Three-year starting quarterback Connor Chastain will lead the Towns County Indians onto their turf at 7:30 p.m. while Tate Roberts will make his first start as a varsity signal caller for the visiting Yellow Jackets.
Advantage Towns County? Not necessarily.
Roberts only took a handful of snaps as Logan Caldwell’s back-up last year, but No. 5 has worked hard to prepare himself and is well on the way to becoming a top-notch quarterback.
“Tate Roberts went to a couple of quarterback camps,” Hayesville Coach Chad McClure said. “He’s inexperienced but Tate is a competitor. He worked extremely hard and he’s almost a perfectionist in a way. If something’s not right he wants to do it again. Early in the season up to this point he’s handled everything we’ve given him. He’s understanding his reads and taking what the defense gives him.”
While fans on both sides cheer their quarterback, defense could take center stage. Both teams return key players and Hayesville’s defense is ahead of the offense at this point.
Advantage Yellow Jackets? Probably.
Hayesville’s defense will again be led by speedy, hard-hitting linebacker Taylor McClure who made 138 tackles and caused three fumbles last year.
McClure and linebacker Dawson Devane are sure to disrupt offenses and havoc-wreaking Lane Odell will again anchor the line. In the defensive backfield Michael Mauney is back to blanket opposing receivers and his first test is likely to come Friday night since Chastain loves to throw the ball to speedy wideout Justin Mosley.
“I’m really excited about our defense,” coach McClure said. “I think it’s got the most speed since I’ve been here.”
On offense, expect the Yellow Jackets to be well grounded. “We’ll try to run the ball a lot more this year. I think we did a better job of that last year. It kept us in some games,” Coach McClure said.
Expect Taylor to again be the focal point as the Division 1 college prospect adds to his career totals of 1,541 yards rushing, 866 yards receiving on 59 catches and 22 touchdowns.
“He’s really stepped up and been a leader for us, I think,” coach McClure said. “He’s had a really good offseason. He’s worked really hard in the weight room.”
Taylor isn’t the only dedicated iron pumper.
“We had around 20 kids who really put in some work between early winter and spring,” Coach McClure said.
Seth Leek, who missed most of last season with a shoulder injury, was one of Hayesville’s most dedicated weightlifters. Leek also sharpened his skills at a football camp at Furman University.
Leek was joined at Furman by Devane, Taylor, Tre Graves and Jacob Jones.
Standout kicker Isaac Chandler improved his already accurate aim at multiple kicking camps. He’s one of 10 seniors who will lead the Yellow Jackets.
A year ago, an extra-point by Chandler was the margin of victory in a 13-12 victory over Towns County.
This year’s clash is sure to be a spirited affair. Many of the Indians faithful are still seething over how Hayesville secured last year’s win with the help of a controversial offensive pass interference call in the waning seconds that erased an apparent Towns County touchdown.