By Gary Corsair
Staff Writer
The adage “What doesn’t kill you will make you stronger” clearly applies to the Hayesville Yellow Jackets, who are very much alive and looking stronger than ever entering the NCHSAA Class 1-A Football Playoffs.
Who cares that Hayesville has won just one of 14 playoff games in the last 15 years? The Yellow Jackets have the home field advantage Friday night against Alleghany, from Sparta, N.C., which just happens to be that one school the Yellow Jackets beat in post-season play (41-15 in 2016).
Can you say, “déjà vu, baby”?
The Yellow Jackets, 5-5, No. 20 in the NCHSAA final Class 1-A RPI rankings, and seeded No. 12 in the playoffs, are enjoying being the favorite for once. Alleghany, 3-7 and No.32 in the RPI rankings, is seeded No. 21.
Advantage Hayesville? Maybe.
“We got some film on them and they’re a decent team,” Hayesville Coach Chad McClure said. “If we play like we’re capable of playing we’ll have a good shot and we should be successful.”
Should be. But Alleghany won’t be a pushover.
“We’ve both played some good competition,” Alleghany Coach Noah Lyon said. “The only games we haven’t been in were against Robbinsville before they had all those injuries, and Mount Airy (9-1). The Robbinsville team we saw on film against Hayesville looked like a different team than we played. We lost some non-conference games early that I believe we would win now.”
No one in the Hayesville locker room is looking past Alleghany; no one is thinking about whether the Yellow Jackets will square off against Christ the King or Avery County in Round 2 on Nov. 14.
One game at a time is the mantra in Yellow Jacket Land.
Hayesville coaches aren’t putting much stock in the fact that Alleghany was unable to score in its final two regular-season games against Starmount (14-0) and Mount Airy (55-0). Alleghany’s final two opponents have a combined record of 16-4.
Hang onto your hats; it could be a wild night at Frank R. Long Memorial Stadium on Friday night.
To prevail, Hayesville will have to contain junior running back Mac Lemasters, who averages 5.9 yards per carry (145 carries for 852 yards) and has scored 11 times on runs and 5 times on pass receptions. Blake Profit is also a concern – he’s gained 703 yards and averages 7.2 yards per carry.
“Mac’s a special player, but Profit is even faster. He can roll,” Coach Lyon said.
Quarterback Nick Rea has passed for 703 yards, with a high-water mark of 192 yards in a 28-21 loss to East Wilkes.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
Playoff
Match-up at-a-glance
Hayesville Yellow Jackets (5-5)
No. 12 seed
Coach: Chad McClure
Roster: 10 seniors, 10 juniors, 10 sophomores, 15 freshmen
Average points scored: 21.1
Team average rushing yards per game: 149.6
Team average passing yards per game: 126.1
Leading scorer: Taylor McClure, 12 TDs
Leading rusher: Taylor McClure, 124/585, 4.7 avg., 58.5 per game
Leading passer: Logan Caldwell, 95/151. 1,258 yards, 14 TDs, 1 Int.
Leading receiver: Avery Leatherwood, 29/358, 35.8 yards per game
Leading kick/punter returner: Michael Mauney, 237 yards
Leading tackler: Taylor McClure, 110
W – Towns County … 13-12
W — Georgia Force … 21-14
W — North Georgia … 48-14
W — Lookout Valley … 43-14
L – Tuscola … 42-14
L – Andrews …. 50-7
L – Murphy … 21-14
W – Swain County … 27-7
L – Cherokee … 28-21
L – Robbinsville … 21-9
Alleghany Trojans (3-7)
No. 21 seed
Coach: Noah Lyon
Roster: 4 seniors, 9 juniors, 8 sophomores, 10 freshmen
Average points scored: 19.3
Team average rushing yards per game: 167
Team average passing yards per game: 69.0
Leading scorer: Mac Lemasters, 16 TDs
Leading rusher: Mac Lemasters, 145/852 yds, 5.9 avg., 85.2 per game
Leading passer: Nick Rea, 51/102, 703 yards, 4 TD, 4 Int.
Leading receiver: Mac Lemasters, 38.5 yards per game
Leading kick/punter returner: Mac Lemasters, 536 yards
Leading tackler: Richard Nuevo, 104
W — Sunny Central … 29-28
L — Grayson County … 20-7
L — North Wilkes … 28-14
L — South Stokes … 46-40
L — Robbinsville … 40-7
W — North Stokes … 35-0
L – East Wilkes … 28-21
W — Elkin … 41-20
L — Starmount … 14-0
L — Mount Airy … 55-0