Gary Corsair • Clay County Progress Senior Taylor McClure, No. 20, leads the Yellow Jackets in rushing yardage, touchdowns and tackles.
By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
Sixteen years of embarrassment at the paws of the Murphy Bulldogs ended last year when Hayesville came within 7 points of tying, 21-14, the perennial Smoky Mountain Conference bullies.
Friday night in Murphy, the Yellow Jackets won’t be content to settle for almost.
“We’re excited to get the conference slate started and see how we measure up,” Hayesville Coach Chad McClure said. “Murphy is one of the toughest teams in the toughest 1A conference in the state. It will be a good challenge for us. It’s not going to be an easy task, but our kids are confident.”
A challenge, yes. Not an insurmountable one.
Hayesville actually has a shot at beating it’s nemesis, a school that has scored no less than 49 points — and 60 plus four times — in 15 consecutive victories over the Yellow Jackets. The average score from 2007-’21: Murphy 44.9, Hayesville 12.9.
That was then, this is now.
The last Hayesville team to beat Murphy, 38-37, – the 2006 Yellow Jackets – were 2-3 in the first half of that season. This year’s Yellow Jackets are 4-1.
This year’s model averages 40 points and 261 yards rushing per game, boasts three running backs, with 25 or more carries, who each average at least 7 yards per carry and a defense that held two opponents to 6 points or less.
Friday night will not be a romp at the dog park for the Bulldogs, also 4-1. Ditto for Hayesville.
“It’s our biggest game up to this point,” McClure said. “They are very good offensively. They have a strong running game led by Hunter Stalcup, who rushed for 2,000 yards last year. They can throw. They are very good at what they do. We have to keep them from making big plays.”
An improved defensive line, capable secondary and maniacal linebackers Taylor McClure and Tre Graves are Hayesville’s main anecdote to bigplayitis.
McClure leads the team with 25 tackles. Graves is second with 21. Lineman Lane O’Dell is tops in sacks with 2.5. Michael Mauney has a team-high two interceptions, which he returned for 71 yards, and is third in tackles with 16. E.J. Abrams is next with 15 tackles.
McClure and Graves are also dynamite on offense. TnT has romped for 707 yards and 14 touchdowns. Slotbacks Mauney, Cole Vining, Seth Leek, Slade Crouch and Jacob Jones have also galloped for touchdowns. Hayesville can pass — quarterbacks Tate Roberts, one touchdown passing, one rushing and Peyton Mcgaha have completed more than 50 percent of their aerials.
Another scoring threat is kicker Isaac Chandler, who has nailed 37-of-37 point-after kicks and three field goals, including a 44-yarder.
“Offensively, we’re going to have to establish our running game and then our passing game,” McClure said. “We have to move the chains. Hopefully we’ll have some long, sustained drives.”
This could be Hayesville’s year to kennel the Bulldogs. Even the schedule seems to favor the Yellow Jackets. Hayesville enjoyed a bye last week while Murphy played.
“We’re rested up and healed up,” McClure remarked. “We had a good off-week. We worked on some things and we’ll work on some more this week.”
The Yellow Jackets will be ready when kickoff rolls around. Their coach is hoping the 12th man will show up.
“I hope the fans will come out. We need them. It’s a tough place to play,” McClure concluded.
Hayesville, 4-1, at Murphy, 4-1, kickoff at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29.