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Maroon Devil defensive line prevents the Bulldogs from gaining yards with Ashton Baul on the tackle #58, and Nolan Fisher #74, Aiden Curtis #55, Braylon Aldridge #54 and Josiah Glaspie 13 clearing the Bulldogs line.
Jessica Webb
editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com
The Devils were on the road Friday, Oct. 21 to take on the Murphy Bulldogs, ranked 3rd in the NCHSAA 1A teams. It was a night that kept fans on both sides on edge as the Devils gave the Bulldogs a fight. In the end, Murphy took the 20-14 win.
The Maroon Devils ended the season 3-6 overall and 0-4 in conference.
“I think this is one of the toughest conferences in the state from a physicality standpoint,” Swain Head Coach Sherman Holt told Gary Ayers in The Maroon Devil Coach’s show prior to Friday night’s game.
“If you’re in the SMC ,every week you’ve got to line up, they’re gonna come at you or you’ve got to come at them, and it’s gonna be very physical. You’ve got to stay healthy for one, and just the mental aspect of it to be ready to play a tough, physical game. Our kids have done a real good job of that,” Holt said.
He stressed the need to finish drives, take care of the football and avoid turnovers in advance of the game.
After a seven-yard touchdown run by Cole Laney as time expired in the third quarter gave Murphy a 20-14 lead, the Bulldogs defense held strong in the fourth quarter, keeping Swain County off the scoreboard to preserve the win.
The first quarter ended with Murphy up after Hunter Stalcup made a 43-yard touchdown on the Bulldog’s first offensive play of the night. Josiah Glaspie would answer for the Maroon Devils with a seven-yard touchdown run with eight minutes left in the second quarter to tie the game, only for Stalcup to return the ensuing kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown and put the Bulldogs back in front. Joshua Collins’ 71-yard touchdown run for Swain County tied the game with 6:04 left in the second quarter.
It seemed like the night would see the teams trading off touchdowns as Maroon Devil Josh Collins carried for a touchdown just minutes later and a good kick from Reyes.
The Bulldogs came back on fire in the third quickly getting on the scoreboard with Cole Laney on a handoff touchdown just 1 second in.
The Maroon Devils defense had a strong showing on the night, and both teams remained scoreless in the fourth.
Murphy head coach Joseph Watson said the Maroon Devils did a good job putting a lot of players on the line of scrimmage when Murphy went under center, with their all-conference defensive end Nathan Bogdanowicz causing issues all night. When they did have success, penalties got in the way too.
For the Devils, Josh Collins had 77 rushing yards and 61 passing receiving. Reece Winchester had 34 yards rushing and three completed passes on 64 yards and one interception.
On Friday, Swain (3-6) will travel to take on the Cherokee Braves (2-7).
The Bulldogs will face Andrews-ranked second in NCHSAA 1A at home for the Smoky Mountain Conference title.
Kickoff for both games is at 7:30 p.m.
Cherokee Scout Sportswriter Justin Fitzgerald contributed to this story.