Gary Ayers
The Maroon Devil football team learned a lot about itself Saturday at Asheville High school by competing in a four-team scrimmage with much larger schools Davy Crockett High Pioneers, a 5A school from Jonesborough, Tennessee, Watauga High Pioneers, a 4A school from Boone and Asheville High Cougers, a 3A school. But the 1A Devils never backed down against players who were, in many cases, taller and faster.
Swain fans had by far the largest crowd playing at the school that produced the legendary Charlie "Choo-Choo" Justice, one of the greatest players in the history of North Carolina football.
Under a hot August sun on artificial turf the scrimmage lasted two-and-one-half hours complete with officials who threw occasional penalty flags to simulate game-like conditions.
The format went like this: with four teams, two teams started at each 40-yard line so all four teams were in constant play. One school played offense while another team played defense for a 10-play offensive series.
If the offense scored, they took the ball back to the 40 and kept going until the 10-play series was over. There were no first downs and no kicking or punting. After the initial 10-play series, the offensive team switched to defense, sometimes against the same school and sometimes against a different school.
There were frequent hydration breaks as the temperature was hot, but the teams did not stop for very long as the action resumed quickly after hydration.
The Devil offense went to work against Watauga with quarterback Druw Cody scoring over the right side on a QB sneak. Watauga scored via the air for their only score in this series.
Swain played defense on the next series vs. Asheville that saw the Cougars score quickly on the second play. The Maroon Devils adjusted quickly, with Obidiah Darnell crashing through the line for a tackle for a loss in the Asheville backfield while
Trenton Jones had a big interception and a solo tackle in the series before Asheville reached the end zone again on a 35-yard pass play.
The Swain offense went up against the Asheville defense and scored fast with a touchdown pass from Jon Stephenson to James Arch.
Davy Crockett was the next Swain opponent with Maroon Machine running back Zeke Glaspie scoring on an 8-yard rushing play as the Devils' offensive line looked strong most of the day.
Davy Crockett then moved to offense and scored twice through the air on a 35-yard and 10-yard pass play utilizing tall, fast receivers. Keyanthae Graham had a goof pass-break-up for the Swain defense in this series.
Swain's defense then faced the Watauga offense as the Pioneer quarterback scored on a 40-yard run on an option play on the series first play. Druw Cody had a solid solo tackle as the Devil defense gave up a 24-yard rushing touchdown and a 30-yard touchdown pass before switching to offense vs. Watauga.