Football games have been rescheduled: varsity plays
Sept. 29
By Gary Corsair
Staff Writer
The Hayesville varsity football team will be facing a mirror image of sorts when the Yellow Jackets resume their season at Andrews on Thursday night.
“Offensively, we are very similar,” Hayesville Coach Chad McClure said. “We both have two real good backs that are used in different formations; as receivers and kick returners. And their quarterback, he’s improved.”
But wait, there’s more.
Both schools are off to terrific starts: Andrews is 5-0; Hayesville 4-1. Both feature high-octane offenses: Andrews averages 49.2 points per game, Hayesville a more modest, but still impressive 27.8.
Both have not one, but two outstanding running backs: Hayesville’s, Kyle Lunsford averages 7.4 per carry and Taylor McClure averages 5.3 and has scored 7 touchdowns; Andrews’ Isaac Weaver averages an astronomical 13.3 yards per carry and 159.3 per game and has 11 touchdowns, while backfield mate Austin Martin averages 7 yards per carry and averaged 141 per game over the last two contests.
Both will throw multiple offensive sets at their opponents, primarily using star running backs McClure, Lunsford (Hayesville) and Isaac Weaver (Andrews) as receivers.
Both team’s quarterbacks are efficient passers who can run: Hayesville’s Scramblin’ Man Logan Caldwell (549 yards in the air, 62-percent completion mark, 8 touchdowns passing, 0 interceptions, 123.5 quarterback rating, 3.4 yards per carry); Andrews’ Donovan Bateman (397 yards in the air, 51-percent accuracy, 5 passing touch downs, 1 interception, 114.5 quarter back rating, 4.2 rushing average).
Both schools waxed patsies without hardly breaking a sweat: Hayesville 48-14 over North Georgia; Andrews 52-6 over North Buncombe and 41-16 over North Georgia, teams with a combined record of 1-10.
Both teams are motivated: Andrews is hungry for its first SMC championship since 1983; Hayesville hasn’t been atop the conference mountain since 2003.
It’s the areas where Andrews is dissimilar that concern Coach McClure and his staff.
Andrews and Hayesville fared differently when they squared off against powerful teams: Andrews rallied from a 21-all at halftime to drop Mitchell (4-2), 44-27; Hayesville, on the other hand, struggled against mighty Tuscola (5-0) and lost 42-14.
Another concern: Andrews has a deeper roster.
Finally, the Wildcats have a reputation for exploding out of the gate, putting their opponent in a hole and keeping them there. Andrews scored 2 touchdowns in the first quarter in four games, and scored 3 touchdowns in the second quarter on three occasions. The Wildcats are averaging 33 points in the first half.
Hayesville will need to play its best game of the season if the Jackets hope to hand Andrews its first loss.
“It’s going to be tough,” Coach McClure said. “We can’t let them get big-play yardage and we have to focus on early downs.”
Hayesville coaches know that the best way to prevent Andrews from lighting up the scoreboard is to hang onto the ball and eat up as much clock as possible.
“The key will be keeping the ball away from them,” Coach McClure said.
That challenge will be difficult since Hayesville’s 6-foot-3 tackle Zek Furby will be kept out of the game due to concussion protocol.
But Andrews isn’t entirely healthy either — seemingly unstoppable Isaac Weaver has a broken hand but will play.
The Yellow Jackets will most certainly need to limit mental and physical errors, avoid penalties, and refrain from committing turnovers, which hasn’t been a problem this year.
“We’re going to have to be smart,” Coach McClure said. “We can’t hurt ourselves with penalties. Andrews is one of the best teams we’ll play.”
Honey From The Hive
• Both coaches are representing their alma mater. Chad McClure was a star running back and a heck of a kicker who still holds the record for longest field goal at HHS. James Phillips played for Andrews before becoming an assistant coach at Swain County.
• Hayesville could sure use Asher Brown this week, but feisty linebacker who was injured in the season-opener is still a few weeks away from suiting up.
• What are the boys and girls at the Asheville Citizen Times smoking? The paper’s latest ranking of top 10 Western North Carolina teams lists undefeated Tuscola at No. 10, below No. 6 Christ School (2-4), No. 7 Mitchell (4-2), and No. 9 Smoky Mountain.
• The Citizens Times also ranked Andrews No. 3 and Robbinsville No. 4 in the its weekly WNC power rankings. Can’t argue with either ranking.
MaxPreps Class 1-A Rankings
1. Eastern Randolph (4-1)
2. ROBBINSVILLE (4-1)
3. Mount Airy (5-1)
4. ANDREWS (5-0)
5. Mitchell (4-2)
6. Thomasville (4-1)
7. Tarboro (5-1)
8. North Rowan (4-2)
9. MURPHY (3-2)
10. SWAIN CO. (3-2)
11. Riverside-Martin (6-0)
12. Starmount (3-2)
13. East Wilkes (5-1)
14. North Moore (5-0)
15. Northampton (5-1)
16. HAYESVILLE (4-1)
17. Draghan (5-1)
18. Christ The King (5-0)
19. Northside-Pinetown (3-2)
20. Rosewood (2-4)