Jackets to play
Jamboree in
Chattanooga
Gary Corsair • Clay County Progress Senior Peyton McGaha uncorks a long pass during a recent practice. McGaha and Lance Coker are competing for the first-string quarterback job.
By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
It’s unclear who will be under center when Hayesville begins its football season next Friday.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing.
“We got a quarterback battle right now. That’s good,” Hayesville Head Coach Chad McClure says. “Right now we have two quarterbacks who we think can do the job. Both are competing,”
Junior Lance Coker and senior Peyton McGaha both took snaps in a preseason scrimmage at Smoky Mountain last Friday. Both did “a good job” according to McClure.
McClure is confident both QBs will again be on their game this Friday when Hayesville plays the nightcap in an eight-team jamboree at Chattanooga’s Finley Stadium. Hayesville lines up against South Pittsburg at 9:30 p.m.
Don’t be surprised if the friendly competition between Coker and McGaha continues into the season, possibly throughout the entire year. They may even share the position.
Coker is the incumbent, sort of. The 6-foot-4 junior gained valuable experience but struggled in seven games: 20 completions, six interceptions, two touchdowns in 59 attempts after Tate Roberts suffered a shoulder injury.
McGaha is the contender, for now. The 6-foot-2 senior threw 10 passes and completed four without a touchdown or an interception as a sophomore Yellow Jacket, but sat out last year with an injury after transferring to Towns County.
“Both can play,” McClure said. “Peyton came back this year and he’s been cleared to play. Lance worked really hard this summer. This summer is the best he’s ever had.”
Just to make things extra interesting, there’s a third candidate.
“We’ve got a young one, Crow Collins, who we are working with as well. It’s good to have three,” McClure says.
Quarterback isn’t the only three-deep position. Hayesville has more depth than usual.
“About 35 varsity, right at 30 JVs,” McClure says.
The abundance of bodies has McClure and his assistants shuffling their deck. Scrimmages provide the chance to experiment.
“Friday will be another good evaluation, a chance to move some people around and try them in different positions. “We have some kids we’ve been rotating between different positions,” McClure stated.
One position they won’t fool with is H-back. That job belongs to Tre Graves, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards a year ago.
There will be a JV scrimmage game at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14. Hayesville will host Andrews.