V Jackets play big, top Andrews 8-6

  • Gary Corsair • Clay County Progress A swarm of Yellow Jackets led by Johan Webb, No. 2, and Lance Coker, No. 9, squelch an Andrews run. Kabe Shaheen, No. 3, Kaden Ledford, No. 10, and Brett Hanna, No. 8, move in to help shut the door.
    Gary Corsair • Clay County Progress A swarm of Yellow Jackets led by Johan Webb, No. 2, and Lance Coker, No. 9, squelch an Andrews run. Kabe Shaheen, No. 3, Kaden Ledford, No. 10, and Brett Hanna, No. 8, move in to help shut the door.
  • Gary Corsair • Clay County Progress Hayesville defenders Mason Buckner, No. 52, and Kaden Ledford, No. 10, high/low an Andrews ball carrier.
    Gary Corsair • Clay County Progress Hayesville defenders Mason Buckner, No. 52, and Kaden Ledford, No. 10, high/low an Andrews ball carrier.

    By Gary Corsair

    Sports Writer

     

    Hayesville coaches were a bit concerned as Andrews JV lumbered into Frank R. Long Memorial Stadium Thursday, Aug. 17 but the smaller Yellow Jackets proved the adage ‘The bigger they are, the harder they fall.’

    “I’m proud of their effort,” Hayesville Coach Brett Graves said after his Yellow Jackets bested the bigger boys, 8-6. “I told them in the locker room that they were in for a dogfight. They showed up to play.”

    Pacey Cable certainly showed up when Andrews attempted to tie the score with a two-point conversion following a fourth-quarter touchdown with 7:16 on the clock.

    “They ran a sweep and Cable made a great tackle right at the end zone pylon. He left no doubt on that one,” Graves remarked.

    Following Cable’s sensational stop, Hayesville’s offense proved it can take care of the pigskin.

    “We took over and never gave them the ball back,” Graves said.

    Quarterback Lance Coker, 102 yards on 13 carries, led an efficient offense. His longest run, a 41-yarder in the second quarter, set up the Yellow Jackets’ lone touchdown.

    Two plays later, Kaden Ledford romped nine yards to pay dirt to break a scoreless deadlock. Johan Webb followed with a two-point conversion, which proved to be the margin of victory.

    Ledford finished with 75 yards on 16 carries. Webb had 44 yards on four runs. Both benefited from exceptional blocking by guard Landon Cheeks.

    According to Graves, Hayesville’s stingy defense was led by Mason Buckner and Kabe Shaheen.

    “Our defense showed up,” Graves said.

    Hayesville, 1-0, is scheduled to play at Owen High School on Thursday, Aug. 24.