-
Maroon Devil lineman faceoff against Cherokee defenders in the pouring rain
Hannah Styles
hstyles@thesmokymountaintimes.com
It was a rainy, cold day for Maroon Devil fans on Friday, after they suffered a 36-7 loss against Cherokee. Swain had previously played three games in just a week’s time, with a game against Murphy on the 22nd, Robbinsville the 26th, and Cherokee the 29th, that left little recovery time for the team.
Cherokee started off the scoring with 1:22 left in the first quarter bringing the score to 6-0. Early into the second quarter the Braves scored again and with 44 seconds left on the clock in the first half they added another score to the board ending the first half with 20-0. After the half, the teams battled it out in the third quarter and the Devils held the Braves from scoring in the third but in the beginning of the fourth quarter the Braves got another touchdown, followed by another score for 36-0.
With four minutes left on the clock Swain’s Dawson Fuller carried the touchdown followed by a point after kick by Gavin Lanning ending the game with 36-7.
The Devils had 210 yards of total offense. Carson Taylor rushed for a team high 10 carries for 63 yards, followed by Gabe Lillard rushed for 43 yards and was 5 of 13 through the air for 30 yards. Donnavin Groenewold had 3 catches, Cooper Hyatt with 2 and both receivers finished with 15 yards.
The Devil’s will play their first playoff game of the season this Friday, Nov. 5, at home against the Hayesville Yellow Jackets.
The Devils are currently ranked 4-5 and the Yellow Jackets 3-7. In the 1A West Conference Football Standings Swain is ranked 4th, while the Jackets are ranked 6th.