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Mustangs will meet Knights in homecoming game Friday
Smoky Mountain will meet North Henderson in its homecoming football game at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Carr Hooper Stadium/Babe Howell Field.
Both teams are 0-2 in the Western Athletic Conference and looking to escape the league basement.
This will be the first time the schools have played in football.
“They’re a lot like us,” Coach Tim Hawkins said. “They play tough in every game I’ve watched on film. They got after Pisgah early, but as the game went along they wore down a little bit.”
The Mustangs are 1-7 but are looking to win their homecoming game for a second straight season.
“It would be a big win for our kids to get a conference win and go into the last two games with hopes of it meaning something,” Hawkins said.
North quarterback Randy Cox is a good athlete who throws the ball well, according to Hawkins.
Daniel Henninger is a threat running and catching the ball for the Knights in their wing bone offense, which also shows some wishbone and wing T formations.
Middle linebacker Bryan Lamb is a standout for Coach Luke Manuel’s 62 defense, a formation not often seen.
“They get a lot of people up to the football,” Hawkins said. “We’re going to have to be able to throw it some to back them up a little.”
North brings a 4-4 record into the game. The teams have had two common opponents. The Knights lost to East Henderson (35-13) a week before the Eagles defeated SM (37-12). The Mustangs opened the year with a loss (21-0) to Hendersonville, but the Knights beat the Bearcats (34-13).
North also has wins over Highland Tech (51-26), Rosman (20-0) and Chase (26-12). Other losses have been to Polk (21-7), Erwin (42-15) and Pisgah (46-14).
The Mustangs trailed East 13-12 early in the second half Friday before giving up two long touchdowns on consecutive plays.
“We did the same thing we’ve been doing all year,” Hawkins said. “We played some good football at times and had some good things happen to us, but we gave up some quick, big plays. That was something we knew we couldn’t do.”
For the most part, the coach was pleased with the first half.
“In the first half, other than the fumble early and the blocked punt, we had our best half of the year,” he said. “Those things gave them their scores.”
Grant Schallock kicked a pair of field goals and did an excellent job getting a punt off when a snap sailed over his head.
“If we could ever keep a game close, Grant would give us an advantage,” the coach said. “I was hoping that would happen last week.”
Cory Siler had 73 rushing yards.
“Cory was running well until he had his knee swell up on him real bad,” Hawkins said. “I was pleased with our passing game at times with Matt Hawkins throwing to Jared Deitz and Tyler Clarke.
As of Tuesday morning, Siler was listed as questionable for Friday.
“If he can’t go, that would hurt us,” the coach said. “Nick Zoda and Zack Watson would have to run tailback. Cory’s knee has done this before, and it’s always gone down.”
Quarterback Tyson Crawford, who has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury, is expected to play, although Coach Hawkins said he did not know in what capacity Crawford would be used.
Singled out for their defense were Ethan Crowe (eight solo tackles, two assists), Daniel Buchanan (seven solos, one assist, one interception and one fumble recovery) and Zoda (eight solos, one assist).
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