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Mustangs top Swain with strong defensive effort
Smoky Mountain limited Swain to 89 yards on the ground as the Mustangs claimed a 21-8 victory Friday before a capacity crowd at Carr Hooper Stadium/Babe Howell Field.
Now 2-0, the Mustangs have matched their win total from the past two years combined.
SM took advantage of outstanding field position all night with seven of 14 possessions starting either in Maroon Devil territory or within a yard of midfield.
Meanwhile, Swain began half of its 12 possessions inside its 20-yard line.
A big part of the field position success was due to the punting of the Mustangs’ Grant Schallock. He averaged 40.1 yards on seven punts compared to a 26.6-yard average by Swain’s Lindsay Hunt.
Schallock was also three of three on extra points.
Smoky Mountain quarterback Colton Hunt signals for time out after picking up 5 yards to the Swain 3 in the final seconds of the first half Friday. The Mustangs’ scored on the next play en route to a 21-8 victory. – Photo by Mark Haskett
Dillon Dunford made the most of his opportunities as he gained 59 yards and scored a touchdown in six carries. Nick Zoda finished with nine yards in 30 tries while C.J. Franks had 28 yards and a TD in 12 attempts.
The Devils were led by Steven Archer, who carried 10 times for 43 yards. Cory Hipp completed seven of 20 passes for 75 yards.
Schallock’s first punt of the game pinned Swain on its 1 and set the stage for the game’s first score.
Daniel Buchanan recovered Jake Smith’s fumble on the second play at the 2, and Zack Watson took it in from there. Schallock kicked the first of his three extra points for a 7-0 lead with 7:57 to play in the first period.
Swain’s best starting field position of the first half was at the SM 46 after Hunt recovered Franks’ fumble. The defense held and forced a punt.
The Mustangs went to the dressing room with momentum and a 14-0 advantage following Franks’ 3-yard TD run with 28.8 seconds on the clock. The 45-yard drive took nine plays.
SM got a break early in the second half when Jake Brooks recovered Chris Meyer’s fumble at the Devil 39.
The Mustangs didn’t convert the turnover into points, but they got on the board again after an exchange of punts.
Dunford’s 17-yard return put SM in business at the Swain 46. His 26-yard run highlighted the ensuing seven-play drive. Dunford capped the march by scoring from the 2 upping the lead to 21-0 with 11:16 left in the game.
Dunford made his presence felt on the defensive end when he picked off Hipp’s pass at the SM 7 ending a drive that had reached the 23.
Following an exchange of punts, Swain’s Daniel Fisher recovered a fumbled pitchout at the Mustang 40. Archer picked up 11 yards on the first play, and Hipp completed a 23-yard pass to Aaron Smiley to the 2. Hipp scored from the 5 to avert the shutout at the 1:49 mark. A bad snap on the conversion forced the Devils to pass. Chase Sneed hit Hunt for two points accounting for the 21-8 final.
The Mustangs kept the ball on the ground all night with the exception of one pass, a 13-yard completion from Colton Hunt to Watson.
Buchanan and Billy Ayers topped the defense with seven tackles apiece. Roscoe Woodard finished with six tackles.
SM was hurt by 99 yards in penalties.
Swain SM
14 First Downs 9
37-89 Rushes-Yds. 50-157
7-20-1 Passing 1-1-0
75 Passing Yds. 13
7-26.6 Punts-Avg. 7-40.1
3-3 Fumbles-Lost 3-2
6-43 Penalties-Yds. 12-99
Swain 0 0 0 8 8
SM 7 7 0 7 21
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