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Sophomore Zeke Glaspie makes a run with the ball at the first round of playoff games at home against Avery last Friday, Nov. 3.
Larry Griffin
lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com
After suffering their first loss of the season the week prior, the Maroon Devils came roaring back Friday and defeated the Avery Vikings in the first round of the NCHSAA playoffs, winning 47-0, with a mad rush of scoring going on in the first two quarters.
The Devils plowed through the game with their first goal scored in the first quarter with 9:46 left on the clock. Quarterback Reece Winchester passed the ball to Keyanthae Graham, who ran 19 yards and scored. Brendan Lanning then successfully implemented a PAT kick, giving the Devils seven points.
The fans didn’t have to wait long for more action – with 5:13 left on the clock, Winchester passed the ball to Corey Stillwell, who got a complete touchdown running eight yards. Another PAT kick by Lanning was successful, and the Devils were up 14 to 0.
But the action didn’t stop there – with 2:15 left on the clock, Glaspie carried the ball 37 yards for a touchdown, and another PAT kick from Lanning succeeded. The Devils ended the quarter 21-0 over the Vikings.
The second quarter saw Swain continuing to make leaps and bounds in scoring – they were able to get another touchdown in under a minute into the quarter, as Zeke Glaspie carried the ball for a touchdown, scoring another six points. Then the PAT kick was once again successful and the Devils’ score shot up to 28 points overall.
With seven minutes to go on the clock, Winchester passed to Graham for another six points touchdown, though a PAT kick from Druw Cody failed. The Devils were up 34-0. Thirty seconds later, James Stroman ran with the ball for a touchdown and scored again, raising the Devils’ score to 40-0 as a PAT kick failed.
With six minutes left on the clock, the Vikings’ Brooks Berry made a run with the ball, but fumbled it. The Devils’ Skeet Cook was able to get it instead and managed to score another touchdown by running five yards. The PAT kick was successful, giving the Devils a 47-0 lead over the Vikings.
That was all the scoring that went on in the game – the final two quarters saw both teams making plays but unable to complete any more touchdowns.
The game was a success, said coach Sherman Holt by email.
“I was very happy with how our team came out very fast offensively and was very efficient and productive,” he wrote. “Defensively we played very well and really got after it and tackled very well. We were able to get some kids in that hadn’t played a lot of snaps throughout the year and was pleased with the effort that our reserves played with. We will continue to get better at fundamental football as we progress into round 2 of the NCHSAA playoffs.”
The Maroon Devils will travel for round 2 to take on Bessemer in Bessmer City, N.C. on Friday. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.