By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
Hayesville’s JVs didn’t win the war at Swain High School Thursday night, but the Yellow Jackets came away with a valuable piece of intelligence in a 26-8 loss.
“We started moving the ball through the air,” Hayesville Coach Brett Graves said. “I think we completed seven out of 10 in the fourth quarter. We found holes in the defense and there was nothing they could do about it. It was fun once we started rolling with it.”
The highlight of Hayesville’s newly discovered aerial attack came when quarterback Lance Coker connected with Pacey Cable for a 40-yard reception.
That seriously sweet strike set up Hayesville’s only touchdown, an 8-yard carry by Kabe Shaheen. Coker then scooted into the end zone for two points.
Coker finished with 150 yards through the air, which is saying something considering he only threw three times for 13 yards during a frustrating first half that Swain dominated to the tune of 12-0.
“If I knew in the first quarter what I knew in the fourth, it might have made a difference,” Graves said. “We made some adjustments after halftime. We started to figure things out in the third.”
Does that impressive fourth quarter showing mean the Yellow Jackets will be throwing the ball more from now on? “Yes,” Graves emphatically stated.
Hayesville, 1-2, will display its newfound passing prowess at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14 at Cherokee, 3-1.
Who will be catching Coker’s spirals remains to be seen.
Starting wide receiver C.J. Finn, broken foot at Swain, is the latest Yellow Jacket to go on the shelf.
“We’ve had a few injuries. With injuries you have to adjust everything. You have to shift players to different positions,” Graves remarked. “Besides C.J., two more are questionable for this week. The fourth quarter at Swain, it was pretty scarce out there, but we had some kids step up. Everyone played, so that’s good. We’ll see who steps up against Cherokee.”
According to Graves, Crow Collins was one of the Yellow Jackets who stepped up in Bryson City. Crow’s biggest play: forcing a fumble that teammate Landon Cheeks recovered.
Hayesville’s defense played well, especially after Swain went 50 yards to pay dirt in eight plays on the opening drive of the game.
The Yellow Jackets answered with a drive of their own, crossing midfield when Johan Webb gained 9 yards on a fourth-and-2. Hayesville got down to the hosts’ 41, but a fourth-down pass fell incomplete.
After Swain went three-and-out, Hayesville tried again, but had to punt. What a punt it was. With 4:31 left in the half, Coker pulverized the pigskin 52 yards.
Swain started at its own 21 but breached Hayesville’s red zone with a 35-yard run and a 17-yard jaunt that put the Maroon Devils 11 yards away from the end zone with a minute remaining. Hayesville stuffed two consecutive runs, but Swain pushed the ball over the line with :43 on the clock. Swain 12, Hayesville 0.
“That score right before halftime really took the air out of us,” Graves said. “They did that to us a couple of years ago too. It was like d ja vu.”
Swain increased its lead to 20-0 in the third period.
The Yellow Jackets outscored the hosts, 8-6, in the final stanza. It should have been 12 or 14 points, but a turnover in the red zone cost Hayesville a second touchdown.