By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
Six Yellow Jackets carried the football into the end zone Thursday as Hayesville’s JV walloped visiting Rosman, 52-6.
The jacked-up Jackets who scored more than 100 points in their last two games and gained 324 yards on the ground against Rosman hope to again display firepower in their season-finale at Murphy on Thursday.
“It was another good game for this team,” Hayesville Head Coach Chad McClure stated. “It’s a good little group. We’re excited to see how they develop in the future.”
Last week, Hayesville scored three touchdowns, all in spectacular fashion in the first 8:30 of the game.
Hayesville got on the scoreboard on its second play from scrimmage after Carson Finn zipped around right end for 19 yards. Brett Hanna then exploded around the opposite end for a 41-yard sprint to pay-dirt. Hanna’s extra-point kick put the Jackets in the driver’s seat, 7-0.
Hayesville reclaimed the ball on a 13-yard punt by the Tigers after the Jackets defense forced the visitors to retreat 14 yards in three plays. Grayson Marr promptly blew through left guard and high-tailed it 23 yards into the end zone on first-and-10.
Jake Frentz set the table for the third touchdown by recovering a Rosman fumble with 1:57 on the first-quarter clock. On the next play, Caden McClure tsunamied up the middle, straight-armed and/or ran over half of Rosman’s defenders and romped 71 yards for a touchdown.
Hayesville expanded its 19-0 lead with two more dramatic scores in the second quarter.
First, ‘Cool Hand’ Luke Buckner scampered for 13 yards. Next, McClure rocketed 35 yards into the end zone.
The Jackets extended their lead to 32-0 when Buckner connected with Ethan Beechum, who willed himself across the goal line for a 31-yard reception. Hanna’s kick made the score 32-0 going into the intermission.
Rosman finally got on the board with a long touchdown pass, only to see Hayesville counter punch five plays later when ‘Hopalong’ Hanna jetted 45 yards around right end. Finn’s two-pointer extended the Tigers’ embarrassment to 40-6.
The carnage continued when Rosman coughed up the football on the kickoff when E.J. Hughes’ tackle jarred the ball loose and ‘Marvelous’ Marr recovered the ball. Two plays later, Finn scored. Hayesville 46, Rosman 6.
Back-up quarter Brady Gerdes started Hayesville’s next drive with an 11-yard keeper and ended the march on a 9-yard touchdown.
Hayesville’s defense was led by Devin Ramey, who made eight tackles. Buckner had seven take downs. Marr and Finn had five each.
Hayesville improved to 4-2 overall and 3-2 in the conference