By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
Expect Hayesville’s Yellow Jackets to establish their identity Friday night after back-to-back beatdowns from faraway gridiron programs.
The Yellow Jackets will surely appreciate playing the long-suffering Enka Jets after beginning the season with “What are we doing here?” games against a Tennessee powerhouse (in a preseason scrimmage) and last week’s 41-0 punchout by Asheville South, winner of three private school state championships in a row.
No phenoms recruited from sea to shining sea this week. No XXXL lineman to crunch normal teenage bodies. No 4.5 speedsters to chase. Enka is one of the most downtrodden prep football teams in North Carolina.
The Jets haven’t had a winning season since 1997, back when Hayesville Head Football Coach Chad McClure was contemplating his junior season at Western Carolina University.
Enka came close last year, finishing 4-4. That’s reason enough to take them seriously.
The Jets dropped their season-opener, 35-7, to North Henderson.
Enka is led by quarterback Logan Trantham, who was 11-of-24 passing for 105 yard and two interceptions in last week’s loss.
The Yellow Jackets have a good chance of securing their first victory when Enka visits Frank R. Long Memorial Stadium. They will prevail if the Black-and-Gold move the ball like they did in their first possession at Asheville South when Hayesville collected 24 yards and two first downs with gains of 6, 6, 7 and 5 yards before the drive fizzled with a fumble the Blues recovered.
Asheville South promptly moved 63 yards to the end zone in five plays and 1:52, pushing the score to 14-0 on a 29-yard touchdown pass and the point-after kick.
That touchdown was nearly as easy as Shiloh Mukendi’s 38-yard jaunt to pay dirt that capped Ashe’s three-play, 72-yard, one-minute march after Hayesville’s game-opening kickoff.
Asheville added two more long touchdowns in the first quarter to push the lead to 35-0 while the Hayesville offense misfired.
The Yellow Jackets trailed 41-0 at the intermission.
“They’re a real good football team,” McClure stated.
The second half wasn’t much better, as Asheville South continued to stuff the run and quarterbacks Lance Coker and Peyton McGaha were repeatedly rushed. Their combined passing: 1-for-11 for -4 yards with one interception.
Fortunately, a running clock kept the final score out of the stratosphere.
Rylan Graves gave the Hayesville faithful reason to cheer when he broke off a 26-yard run to the Asheville 36-yardline in the fourth quarter.
Rylan finished the night with 30 yards on three carries and 62 yards on kick returns.
Big brother Tre Graves rolled for 26 yards on six carries and had returns of 18 and 17 yards.
Kaden Ledford picked up 21 yards on seven carries and Johan Webb had 12 yards on three tries. Webb also lofted punts of 43 and 38 yards.