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Mustangs will meet Eagles, Angram here Friday night
After playing the best team in the Western Athletic Conference, Smoky Mountain’s football team will turn its attention to the WAC’s best player Friday when Michael Angram and East Henderson visit Carr Hooper Stadium/Babe Howell Field for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
“He’s probably the most elusive running back I’ve coached against in the five years I’ve been here,” Coach Tim Hawkins said of Angram, Western North Carolina’s leading rusher. “He’s really hard to tackle. You can’t get a clean lick on him.”
The Eagles (1-0, 6-1) have a couple of other threats in the backfield, according to Hawkins, who said Justin Hill and James Olek are both good runners.
He added that the trio operate behind a strong line of scrimmage.
Quarterback Jared Quinn runs Coach Brett Chappell’s offense from a stacked I formation.
End Travis Flynn is a standout of East’s shade 50 defense.
“They move around on defense and get after you pretty good,” Hawkins said. “They may be as physical a team as we’ve played all year.”
The teams have had one common opponent in Hendersonville. East topped the Bearcats 21-6 while SM lost to Hendersonville 21-0.
The Eagles also have wins over Hunter Huss (40-21), Rosman (49-14), Owen (29-0), Chase (55-0) and North Henderson (35-13).
Their lone loss was 16-14 to Roberson. Angram missed part of that game after he was disqualified following a penalty.
East won 28-21 a year ago cutting the Mustangs’ lead in the series to 3-1. Angram had 272 yards and scored three touchdowns.
SM fell to 1-6 with a 35-0 loss Friday at Brevard in the WAC opener. The Blue Devils, the state’s top-ranked 2-A team, scored on their first two scrimmage plays and cruised from there.
“They hit us early with the two big plays,” Hawkins said. “We hurt ourselves by turning the ball over on the first drive.”
The teams played to a scoreless tie after intermission.
“In the second half, we played very good defense,” the coach said. “We also had a good drive but didn’t take advantage of it.”
Although Brevard used mostly reserves in the second half, Hawkins noted his team continued to play hard in a steady rain.
“Even their backups are good players,” he said. “Our defense did some things they were coached to do. The coaches made some adjustments at halftime.”
Billy Ayers and McKinley Davis were singled out for their defense.
Quarterback Tyson Crawford missed the game with a separated shoulder sustained in practice. He is expected to be sidelined this week as well.
Fullback T.J. Bradley also did not play against Brevard due to a sprained ankle. He is questionable for this week.
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