Final score was 57-22
By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
The forecast remains sunny for Hayesville football and the present is pretty doggone bright.
The junior varsity Yellow Jackets, driven by three eighth graders with high school bona fides, gobbled up 412 yards of offense and scored four first-quarter touchdowns in a riotous 57-22 smack-down of Georgia Force Christian at Frank R. Long Memorial Stadium Friday prior to the varsity game.
“Our offense had really a good night,” Hayesville Coach Chad McClure said. “To score that many points, well, we’re excited about this group.”
Much of the offensive excitement was provided by Grayson Marr, who exploded for 176 yards on just seven carries, caught a pass for 21 yards and scored three touchdowns, including a rollicking 88-yard third-quarter romp. Not bad for his
first time playing running back.
“Two of our backs are out so we converted him to running back,” McClure said. “He had a really good game.”
Ditto for Marr’s classmate Caden “Cannonball” McClure. He rambled for 132 yards on just 11 carries and scored three touchdowns and a two-point conversion.
Luke Buckner also starred. He scored two touchdowns and a two-point run and gained 86 yards on nine tries.
Hayesville struck early and often.
Marr had the first momentous play — a 28-yard blast that set up the first touchdown with just 2:45 into the game. Hayesville then faked the point-after, as Brett Hanna ran the ball in for a two-pointer.
Numerous big plays followed.
In the first quarter, Hanna had a 21-yard jaunt and McClure had a 36-yard blast called back due to holding. In the second, Marr bolted for 26 on first-and-19, Hanna had a 45-yard romp called back due to holding and McClure exploded for a 53-yard touchdown. In the third, Marr turned on the jets and raced 88 yards to pay-dirt.
Hayesville led 25-0 after the first quarter, 43-22 at halftime and 57-22 after three.
The defense contributed mightily to the win that evened Hayesville’s record at 2-2.
The Jackets picked off
four passes and applied
constant heat to three different quarterbacks who
completed just 11-of-26 passes.
Kevin Ramey led the defense with seven tackles and Dustin Lockaby had four tackles and picked off two passes. Brock Garrett had six take downs and an interception. Karson Hughes made five tackles. Bronc Woody and Buckner each brought down four Black Knights.
Hayesville scoring
First quarter:
• Marr, ½-yard run; Brett Hanna two-point run - 6:44, Hayesville 8-0.
• Safety. Tackle by Karson Hughes and Devin Ramey - 5:39, Hayesville 10-0.
• McClure, seven-yard run; Gerdes to McClure two-point pass - 4:17, Hayesville 18-0.
• Marr, 10-yard run; Hanna kick - :24, Hayesville 25-0.
Second quarter:
• McClure, 53-yard run; kick failed, Hayesville 31-8.
• Buckner, 11-yard run; kick failed, Hayesville 37-16.
• Marr, 88-yard run; two-point; run failed, Hayesville 43-22.
Third quarter:
• McClure, three-yard run; Buckner two-point run - 6:54, Hayesville 51-22.
• Buckner, 15-yard run; run failed - 3:38, Hayesville 57-22.