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The Swain County Maroon Devils varsity football team takes the field against Hayesville.
Toby Burrell
Maroon Devil Network
Hayesville – The Maroon Devils got back on track this past Friday with an impressive 49-28 win over a very good Hayesville squad. Swain bolted out to a 28-14 halftime lead before building the lead to 49-28. With the win the Devils clinched 3rd place and the automatic playoff bid that comes with it.
The Yellow Jackets Blake McClure came into the game averaging over 100 yards per game and with over 1200 on the season. Swain’s defense limited McClure to one big 62 yard run, other than that McClure had only 10 rushing yards.
It was Damian Lossiah’s night for the Maroon Devils, as the junior quarterback rushed for a season high 137 yards (to lead all rushers) on 18 carries, scoring 4 touchdowns. Ian Brooks added 72 yards on 13 carries and a pair of touchdowns. For the night the Maroon Devils rushed for 305 yards on 53 carries.
Lossiah also accounted for another 144 yards through the air on 6 of 10 passing. Connor Hyatt had 3 catches for 94 yards, while Donnavin Groenewold had 3 catches for 50 yards.
The Maroon Devils defense was impressive, limiting the Jackets to 100 yards rushing and 274 total yards for the night. Nick Millsaps and Chris Singley added a sack each. Overall the Devils won 3rd down, limiting the Jackets to only 2 of 8 on 3rd down conversions.
Now ranked 6th is 1AA, Swain (9-2) will face the 11th ranked team, Union Academy (6-4) in the first round of playoffs at home Friday night.