Hayesville takes 21-14 comeback win
By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
Hayesville’s 21-14 victory over Georgia Force Christian was consummated on the field of battle, but the stunning, come-from-behind thriller was won on the practice field in the six days leading up to the game.
“They did the things we stressed all week, like the importance of playing hard for all four quarters,” Coach Chad McClure remarked. “We’re trying to stress to our kids that they have to prepare every week.”
The Yellow Jackets’ second win in as many games is a testament to not only the scrappy Hayesville players, but also to the instruction and motivation of coaches Chad McClure, Brian Burch, Darren McClure, Frank Leatherwood, Jonathan Hensley, Josh Wooten, Kenneth Dockery and Tyler Ledford.
The coaches taught and the players listened — especially the offensive linemen, who learned new blocking schemes and then taught them to Georgia Force trenchmen who, in many cases, outweighed them.
“We got our running game going,” Coach McClure said in the biggest understatement since NCDOT said, “We’re going to widen Highway 69.”
The Yellow Jackets rushed for 290 yards as Kyle Lunsford, Taylor McClure and Logan Caldwell averaged 7.8 yards per carry.
“I don’t remember the last time we had two backs with more than 100 yards each,” remarked an obviously pleased Chad McClure.
Hayesville didn’t just dominate the ground. The Yellow Jackets had 158 yards through the airwaves, tackled on another 99 via kick returns.
They also accumulated 16 first downs. The most impressive numbers were 21 and 0.
Hayesville actually trailed 14-0 at halftime, but shifted into a higher gear for the final two quarters, tallying 21 points while dropping a goose egg on the shocked visitors.
Here’s another pertinent number: Georgia Force Christian only gained three first downs in the second half and none in the final 8:40 of the game.
Hayesville’s impressive turnaround begs the question, “What was said in the Hayesville locker room during the intermission?”
According to Coach McClure, his words would never be mistaken for Knute Rockne’s famous “win one of the Gipper speech.” McClure’s theme: You can achieve it if you believe it.
The comeback actually began on the final drive of the first half when the Yellow Jackets pushed Blue Knights around like a self-propelled lawn mower.
“At the end of the first half we felt like we were kind of wearing them down,” Coach McClure said. “On that last drive we found some ways to move the ball.”
“Move” is an understatement.
Only 1:06 remained in the half when Hayesville began its final drive 87 yards away from the end zone after receiving the kickoff following Georgia Force’s second touchdown.
On first down, quarterback Caldwell hot-footed his way through the Blue Knights defense for a 48-yard gain. Two plays later, Avery Leatherwood made a diving catch on a 12-yard toss from Caldwell. On the next play – with :21 on the clock – Caldwell zipped a 9-yard pass to Lunsford. Sixty-eight yards in four plays. Unfortunately, the drive ended after two incompletions and a field goal attempt went wide left with :12.
The magnificent march didn’t produce points, but it showed Hayesville’s coaches what they needed to see. They entered the locker room with heads held high, confident that victory was within reach. It was just a matter of making a few adjustments — and making the boys believe.
The coaches succeeded on both counts.
In the second half, while Georgia Force huffed and puffed, the Yellow Jackets ran like a toilet with a leaky flapper.
“We got the momentum and the boys started believing,” Coach McClure said. “And a few turnovers helped.”
The most significant turnover came early in the third quarter after Georgia Force quickly gained two first downs. On first down at Hayesville’s 48, Yellow Jacket Michael Mauney’s interception totally deflated the guests.
The ensuing drive was a thing of beauty. Taylor McClure for 9. Taylor for 6. Taylor for 10. First-and-10 at the Georgia Force 45. The Blue Knights were reeling.
The Yellow Jackets marched on with a 16-yard pass from Caldwell to Leatherwood, followed by a 4-yard carry by Lunsford. On the next play, Caldwell tossed to Lunsford, who muscled his way for a 15-yard gain.
After a carry for zero and an incomplete pass, Hayesville faced third-and-10 at Georgia Force’s 10. A moment of truth, to be sure.
Caldwell, who scrambles better than a Huddle House cook during the breakfast rush, scampered to and fro as Blue Knights pursued, before firing a sinking missile to Leatherwood at the goal line, where he made a great diving catch for the touchdown. Issac Chandler’s kick cut the score to 14-7.
Uncle Mo was in Hayesville's corner the rest of the night.
Mauney, the biggest little football player in western North Carolina, delivered the knockout punch by recovering a fumble on Georgia Force’s second play from scrimmage — a completed pass that would have given the guests a first down.
Hayesville promptly and efficiently moved 45 yards to paydirt, the biggest play being the last. On fourth-and-16, 26 yards away from the golden turf, Caldwell danced while Mauney shook a defender and Caldwell found Mighty Mike in the back of the end zone. Chandler was again true and the score was tied 14-all.
Instead of answering, Georgia Force whimpered, going three-and-out and punting to Hayesville’s 31.
Taylor McClure punished the Blue Knights with consecutive gains of 10, 7 and 5 to advance the rock to midfield, giving the black-and-gold first down with 10:08 remaining in the contest.
On the next play, Lunsford exploded through the line and romped down the sideline, knocking down would-be tacklers right and left as he hauled the ball 48 yards for the game-deciding touchdown. Chandler’s toe extended the lead to 21-14.
The Hayesville defense forced another punt and the Yellow Jackets went on the march again. The good guys moved from their 20 to Georgia Force’s 19 with relative ease and probably could have scored again, but Caldwell wisely used up as much clock as possible before each snap.
As fireworks exploded, students poured onto the field to congratulate the conquering heroes.
For guard Ethan McGuffee, the win was especially sweet. The big junior had held his own after taking over for Seth McCaslin, whose intensity was giving the Blue Knights fits until McCaslin was injured in the second quarter.
“Ethan McGuffee stepped in and did a good job. He hustled and he hasn’t practiced much at guard,” Coach McClure said.
Seth Leek also earned praise for filling McCaslin’s linebacker spot.
Every Yellow Jacket had reason to be proud. The win was a total team effort.
Lunsford, especially had reason to feel warm and fuzzy. He not only broke the 100-yard mark rushing, he caught 5 passes for 58 yards, led his team with 7 tackles, and punished every Blue Knight who tried to wrap him up.
“We had a lot of great performances. Kyle had a really good game, on both offense and defense,” Coach McClure remarked. “It’s probably one of the best comebacks I’ve been involved in. We’re excited. It’s a great win for the program.”
Honey from the Hive
• Coach Chad McClure had high praise for the fans. “I thought the crowd was incredible,” he said.
• McCaslin joins Asher Brown on the injured list. McCaslin is doubtful for this week but will probably suit up for the fourth game of the season, at Lookout Valley. Brown is optimistic he’ll be back by mid-season.
• Friday, Hayesville travels to Canton, Ga. to face North Georgia (0-1), which endured a 70-0 humiliation at the hands of Lanier Christian Academy last week.