By Travis Dockery
Sports Editor
Looking to turn around their Smoky Mountain Conference losing streak, the Hayesville Yellow Jacket varsity football team welcomed conference foe Swain County Friday, Oct. 15. After a solid start, the Jackets were unable to hold off the high-powered Maroon Devil offense and lost the contest 42-14.
The Jackets went toe-to-toe with Swain in the opening quarter. The Devils were able to find the endzone first with a 23-yard touchdown run, but Hayesville soon answered as quarterback Logan Caldwell pounded a quarterback keeper 10 yards into the end zone. Issac Chandler tacked on the extra point to tie things up at 7-7.
In the second quarter, the wheels came off Hayesville’s wagon of hope. Strong play by the Devils, coupled with penalties on the Jackets, led to Swain holding a 28-7 lead at the halftime horn.
Hayesville’s defense was able to fair somewhat better in the third quarter, limiting the visitors to one touchdown and PAT. Unfortunately, the Yellow Jackets’ offense was stiffled by Swain and failed to add points to the board in the quarter.
With one quarter left and refusing to stop fighting, Hayesville’s offense found success early in the fourth. An offensive drive culmintated in a 1-yard touchdown run by sophomore runningback Taylor McClure. Chandler’s succesful PAT a was the Jackets’ final point of the night and time ran out, giving Swain the 43-14 victory.
“Offensively we did move the ball well at times,” said head coach Chad McClure in his post-game comments. “However, we had two costly turnovers in the first half and probably lost 150 yards of offense with the penalties called against us.”
Caldwell finished the night going 14-22 for 127 yards in the air while running for 60 yards and a touchdown. Taylor McClure had 32 yards on nine carries, a rushing touchdown and 36 yards receiving. Freshman Michael Mauney made an impressive varsity debut with five kickoff returns for 58 yards.
On defense, Taylor McClure led the team with nine tackles followed by Jeremy Graves with seven and Kevin Kleckner and Kyle Lunsford who had six each.
“We have to play smarter and more confidently,” said coach McClure. “If we can take advantage of a few more defensive stops, be more disciplined on the line and cut down on our own turnovers, I feel like we are close to turning the corner and playing to our potential.”
The Jackets have one more shot to prove themselves in front of the their home crowd. Hayesville will host Cherokee at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22. Hayesville holds a 2-6 record while the Braves will come to town at 4-3.