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Mustangs win over Pisgah; clinch spot in state playoffs
Smoky Mountain defeated Pisgah 6-1 on Oct. 26 at Canton in the final soccer game of the regular season.
The win, combined with losses by East Henderson and West Henderson on the same night, clinched the Mustangs (6-3-1, 14-5-2) a spot in the state 2-A soccer playoffs as the second seed from the Western Athletic Conference.
Smoky Mountain’s Jared Jones came off the bench to throw for 67 yards and a touchdown in Friday’s 46-28 loss to West Henderson. – Photo by Mark Haskett
SM was scheduled to play at home at 7 p.m. Wednesday against East Henderson, a wild card playoff entry, in the first round. Results were not known at Herald press time.
Although the Mustangs finished second in the WAC and East was fourth, the Eagles went 1-0-1 against SM this season.
The winner will travel to Wilkes Central for a second-round game Saturday. The tentative starting time is 7 p.m.
“Clinching the playoffs made it a really special night,” Coach Dolphus Brown said.
Smoky Mountain’s Nick Zoda carried the ball only twice, but he was the Mustangs’ leading rusher with 63 yards, including this 43-yard touchdown run, in Friday’s 48-26 loss at West Henderson. Providing blocking is T.J. McCay. – Photo by Mark Haskett
Playing a winless team in the last regular season game provided some challenges for the coaches.
“We had to convince our guys not to be distracted by other things they got caught up into,” he said. “They were wanting to set records for shutouts in a season and in consecutive games. They were also thinking about the East Henderson-Brevard game. We had a real challenge to keep them focused.”
There would be no shutout records set, but J.R. Collins tied the school record for assists in a game with four, all on throw-ins.
“It was nice to see our guys scoring on set pieces,” the coach said.
Coleman Corzine scored the first goal four minutes into the game with Collins and Grant Schallock receiving credit for assists.
“J.R. made a deep throw-in, and Grant flicked it with his head to the far post,” Brown said. “Coleman was just standing there.”
The Bears tied it on Michael Curry’s goal at the 10-minute mark.
“He had it on the right side and took a long shot,” Brown said. “Our keeper was in good position, but the ball hit the edge of the far post and went in.”
The Mustangs took the lead for good at 2-1 two minutes later on a goal by Joey Cox with assists from David Cheatham and Schallock.
“David played the ball from the left side,” the coach said. “Grant received it and shot it as the keeper came out. It was rolling slowly so Joey stepped up and tapped it in.”
SM led 3-1 at halftime after Cox scored off a Collins throw-in with two minutes remaining.
“The throw-in was to the near post,” Brown said. “Joey was about 5 yards out. Nobody was marking him, and he headed it in.”
The Mustangs made it 4-1 three minutes into the second half on Corzine’s goal off of Collins’ throw-in.
“The throw-in was to the far post,” Brown said. “It landed right at Coleman’s foot, and he tapped it in.
The final two goals came late in the game after several players called up from the JVs were inserted into the lineup.
Collins tied the assist record with six minutes left with a throw-in to set up a goal by Cort Smith, one of those up from the JVs.
“Cort set up near post and headed it in,” Brown said.
Schallock scored the final goal off of Smith’s assist with two minutes remaining.
“Cort crossed it into the box,” Brown said. “Grant was near post about 7 yards out and tapped it in.”
SM dominated the action with 23 shots to Pisgah’s four. Brainard Burrus made 12 saves for the Bears. Sterling Brady had two, and Cody Bryson added one for the Mustangs.
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