Hayesville improves to 6-3 with home win
The Hayesville Yellow Jackets exited their tunnel and ran to a soggy field at Frank R. Long stadium Friday, Oct. 25. The game against Cherokee was delayed slightly due to a traffic back-up which slowed the Braves' trip. Hayesville entered the game looking for win number six which would guarantee a winning regular season record and the Braves were hoping to play spoiler.
With rain falling, the opening kick came at 7:45 p.m. from the foot of Jacket kicker Kylan Bunch. A high snap on the first play of scrimmage led to a turnover and set Hayesville up at Cherokee’s 13 yard line. A direct snap to Blake McClure started the drive and McClure made the most of it with a touchdown. Bunch made the PAT and with 10:58 left in the first quarter, the Jackets led 7-0. Hayesville's defense put points on the board with 4:38 left in the quarter when Hayden McClure ran an interception back 32 yards for the score. Bunch’s PAT made the score 14-0 with Hayesville leading.
The Jackets opened the second quarter with Kyle Lunsford pounding in a one yard touchdown with 10:56 left in the half. A PAT made the lead 21-0. Cherokee answered with a 37-yard passing touchdown with 10:38 on the clock and closed the gap to 21-7. Fumbles started to plague both teams which stalled drives on each end of the field. Cherokee brought their fans to their feet with an interception with 40 seconds left before the half. Hayesville’s defense rose to the challenge and kept the Braves from closing in and took the 21-7 lead into the locker room.
By the third quarter the rain had morphed into a heavy mist. Hayesville received the kick and on the first play from scrimmage Blake McClure took it to the house for an 80-yard touchdown and Bunch nailed the kick to make the Jackets’ lead 28-7. On Hayesville’s next possession Blake McClure broke for a 55-yard touchdown at the 9:22 mark and the Jackets’ increased their lead to 35-7. With 7:36 still to play in the third, Hayden McClure broke free with a quarterback keeper and went 78 yards for the score. Bunch’s extra point was good and Hayesville’s lead grew to 42-7. Cherokee refused to quit and scored with 1:59 on the clock but missed the PAT which made the score 42-13. With 45 seconds left in the quarter Lunsford snagged a pass for a 21-yard touchdown and the Jackets’ led 49-13 as the quarter ended.
Cherokee found the end zone with 7:57 left to play to cut into Hayesville’s lead 49-20. The Braves struck again with 1:31 left in the game and closed the gap to 49-27. That would be the final score of the game, giving Hayesville their sixth win of the season.