JV Jackets scare Bulldogs 36-34 in Thursday shoot out

  • Photo • Kendra Coker Teammates Will Brown, No. 56, Peyton McGaha, No. 1 and Tre Graves, No. 6 are often referred to as the “Dynamo Three.”
    Photo • Kendra Coker Teammates Will Brown, No. 56, Peyton McGaha, No. 1 and Tre Graves, No. 6 are often referred to as the “Dynamo Three.”
  • Photo • Kendra Coker Tre Graves gains yardage among a pack of Bulldogs thanks to solid back-up.
    Photo • Kendra Coker Tre Graves gains yardage among a pack of Bulldogs thanks to solid back-up.
  • Photo • Kendra Coker Hayesville’s Lance Coker (9) stands up a Bulldog.
    Photo • Kendra Coker Hayesville’s Lance Coker (9) stands up a Bulldog.

    By Gary Corsair

    Staff Writer

     

    Hayesville’s JV football team didn’t lose to Murphy last week; the Yellow Jackets just ran out of time.

    “It was a heartbreaker,” remarked Hayesville Coach Brett Graves after his boys’ comeback attempt fell short, 36-34.

    The shootout at Murphy resulted in Hayesville’s first loss of the season, but the Black-and-Gold, now 3-1, played like winners.

    “It was great to see the kids battle back,” Coach Graves remarked. “At one point it was 28-14. It was a shootout, that’s for sure.”

    Murphy led 8-0 after the first quarter and added 28 more points before halftime, but Hayesville kept plugging.

    The Yellow Jackets tallied 22 points in the second quarter and added six in the third and six more in the fourth while holding their hosts scoreless in the final two quarters.

    If only there was a fifth quarter.

    Hayesville’s high-octane offense was led by Peyton McGaha, who rushed for 99 yards on 17 carries, scored 3 touchdowns and a 2-point conversion and completed 6-of-8 passes for 60 yards and a touchdown.

    Tre Graves also excelled, gaining 149 yards on 15 carries — an average of 9.3 yards per rush — and returned 3 kickoffs for 122 yards. He also scored a touchdown.

    Other key contributors included Lance Coker — 3 carries for 19 yards, 2 receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown catch; Colton Bruggers — 2 kick returns for 32 yards and Ben Bethel — a 10-yard reception.

    Coach Graves and his boys were understandably disappointed by the outcome, but the Hayesville coach had a positive takeaway. “Coming back like that we know we can play with anybody,” Graves said.

    This week’s opponent isn’t just anybody. Swain County brings a 4-0 record to Hayesville on Thursday. Coach Graves isn’t worried. “We have confidence and a hunger,” he stated.