JV Jackets erupt for 64 points in season opener

  • Kendra Coker • Photo Hayesville JV quarterback Peyton McGaha, 1, follows blockers Brendon Collins and Will Brown (56) up the middle for a big gain against Madison.
    Kendra Coker • Photo Hayesville JV quarterback Peyton McGaha, 1, follows blockers Brendon Collins and Will Brown (56) up the middle for a big gain against Madison.

    By Gary Corsair

    Staff Writer

     

    Coach Brett Graves expected big things from this year’s junior varsity Yellow Jackets, but he never imagined the boys would explode for 64 points in the first game.

    Ah, the joy of coaching overachievers.

    “As a coach you go into every game expecting to win, but not to that extent,” Coach Graves said with a smile after the junior varsity Jackets dismantled Madison, 64-22, last Thursday.

    Hayesville zipped to a 22-6 first-quarter lead and upped the lead to 43-6 by halftime as an experienced squad dominated the line of scrimmage.

    “I have to start with our experienced offensive line,” Graves said. “I have had these kids for three years on JV. We pulled them up from seventh grade. These guys have been with me so long they remember being small fish in a barrel.”

    The line of center Mason Buckner, guards E.J. Abrams and Damian Soto and tackles Will Brown and Brendon Collins created holes all night long.

    Tre Graves, Ben Bethel and Peyton McGaha were the main beneficiaries.

    Graves romped for three rushing touchdowns, added a kickoff return for a touchdown and also picked off a pass and took it to the bank. McGaha and Bethel also ran for two touchdowns apiece.

    Hayesville’s JV coach also praised picker Raul Rivera-Prieto for booting 3-of-3 point-after attempts. Brayden Thompson’s play at strong safety also caught his coach’s eye. “He came up and made a lot of tackles,” Coach Graves said.

    All 31 Yellow Jackets contributed. Every player got significant reps. Hayesville substituted freely after the first quarter.

    “It was a team win. They got after it when they needed to. They did great,” Coach Graves remarked. “We wanted these guys to get experience and that’s what we got.”

    Coach Graves expects to get a better idea of how good the JV Jackets are this Thursday when Owen visits for a 6 p.m. meeting. Owen opened the season with a 30-0 blanking of Andrews.

    “Owen is a Smoky Mountain Conference football team, they’re just not playing in the Smoky Mountain Conference. They play smash-mouth football,” Coach Graves said.