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Hendersonville blanks SM in year’s first football game
Hendersonville compiled 358 rushing yards and 24 first downs to claim a 21-0 victory over Smoky Mountain last Thursday at Western Carolina’s E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field.
The first high school regular season football game played in North Carolina this year was delayed 30 minutes due to heavy rain and lightning.
Once play began, the Bearcats dominated on the ground. They stopped themselves in the first half with a fumble and penalties and led just 6-0 at intermission after coming up short at the 2 on the final play.
Smoky Mountain’s Billy Ayers (72), J.D. Large (40) and Cory Siler (20) combine to stop a Hendersonville ball carrier in Smoky Mountain’s 21-0 loss last Thursday. Also moving in to help is Josh Jones (84). – Photo by Mark Haskett
Hendersonville put the game away by scoring on consecutive possessions in the second half.
The Bearcats got big games from three members of their backfield. Michael Thompson carried 23 times for 135 yards. Quamaine Landrum added 81 yards in 14 attempts. Quarterback Bo Wynn rushed for 120 yards in 12 tries and completed his only two pass attempts for 32 yards.
The Mustangs had more rushing yards in the first period (43) than they did in the rest of the night combined (34) as they were shut out for the third straight game dating back to last season.
Smoky Mountain quarterback Tyson Crawford picks up yardage in last Thursday’s 21-0 loss to Hendersonville. Also pictured are Ryan Moore (78) and Jake Roper (58). – Photo by Mark Haskett
Cory Siler paced the SM ground game with 38 yards in eight attempts. T.J. Bradley netted 30 yards in five carries.
Tyson Crawford completed four of 15 passes for 34 yards. Jared Jones came off the bench and completed two of five passes for 21 yards.
Matt Hawkins had three receptions for 31 yards.
The Bearcats scored the first time they touched the ball by driving 68 yards in seven plays. Wynn ran for 17, and Landrum gained 27 on consecutive snaps. On fourth-and-2, Wynn scampered 14 yards to paydirt. Andy Bell missed the extra point leaving Hendersonville up 6-0 with 7:28 to go in the first period.
Bradley’s 16-yard gain to midfield on the first play after the kickoff gave the Mustangs their initial first down. They faced second-and-1 after a 9-yard run by Siler, but an illegal procedure penalty helped end the march. Grant Schallock’s punt was downed at the 5 forcing the Bearcats to start from deep in their territory.
They overcame a pair of holding penalties to reach their 49 before Thompson fumbled with C.J. Franks recovering for the Mustangs.
SM had its best scoring chance of the night after Siler gained 4 yards on fourth-and-1 from the 30. Crawford completed a 9-yard pass to Hawkins for a third-and-1 from the 17. The threat ended on the next play when Bradley fumbled with Dominique Whitesides recovering at the 16.
Following an exchange of punts, the Bearcats nearly scored before intermission thanks to consecutive personal foul penalties against SM. Wynn’s 13-yard pass to Steve McGrady resulted in a first-and-goal at the 8 as Hendersonville called its final time out. Rather than passing, the Bearcats tried to catch the Mustangs off guard by handing off to Landrum, but he was stopped at the 2 as the half ended.
Zack Watson recovered Landrum’s fumble early in the second half giving SM possession at its 49. The Mustangs picked up one first down before having to punt.
A 15-yard run by Thompson plus a personal foul penalty set the stage for an 80-yard drive in 12 plays. Landrum went over from a yard out, and Wynn hit Shawn Gossett with a conversion pass for a 14-0 lead with 1:06 to play in the third stanza.
Hendersonville put the game away by driving 50 yards in seven plays. Thompson had a 14-yard gain, and Wynn had a pair of 12-yard runs. Thompson scored from the 9, and Bell’s PAT made it 21-0 with 8:03 to go in the game.
SM’s next two possessions ended when Crawford passes were picked off by Wynn at the 8 and Charles Jewell at the 31.
The Mustangs had one more chance to get on the board after Trinity Blackburn recovered Mike Murphy’s fumble at the SM 41. Jones completed a pair of passes, but the game ended with the Mustangs at the Bearcat 26.
H’ville SM
24 First Downs 6
57-358 Rushes-Yds. 24-77
2-2-0 Passing 6-20-2
32 Passing Yds. 55
2-34.0 Punts-Avg. 5-36.2
6-3 Fumbles-Lost 1-1
6-49 Penalties-Yds. 7-75
H’ville 6 0 8 7 21
SM 0 0 0 0 0
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