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SM will host Tuscola in homecoming game
Following an open date, Smoky Mountain’s football team will return to action Friday when winless Tuscola visits Carr Hooper Stadium/Babe Howell Field for the 7:30 p.m. homecoming game.
Both teams figure to be hungry for a win. The Mountaineers (0-5) are looking to break into the victory column while the Mustangs (3-2) have dropped two straight and haven’t won since Sept. 1
“We’re getting back into it and getting refocused,” Coach Dale Galloway said of playing after the off week. “It’s a big week with all the (homecoming) activities going on. You hope it’s not a distraction for the kids. Their primary role in the week is their participation in the homecoming game. It’s always fun but nerve wracking.”
Galloway cautioned that Tuscola’s record is misleading.
“They’re not bad at all,” he said. “They will be the biggest team we’ve seen. They played an extremely tough early schedule.”
He compared the Mounties to Murphy, a team that came to Sylva off of two lopsided losses against good teams but left here with a 35-17 win.
“They’ve had tough times this season, but they’ve played very good teams,” Galloway said.
He pointed out that prior to Brevard’s loss Friday to defending state champion Shelby, Tuscola had been the only team to score on the Blue Devils.
“Their defense has been wonderful,” the coach said. “They crowd the line of scrimmage and bring lots of people.”
Coach Mike Sexton’s team uses variations of the 40 defense.
The Mountaineers rely on quarterback Madison Davis and running back Austin Chambers in their spread offense.
“They try to mix it up,” Galloway said. “They’ve had more success throwing than running.”
Tuscola’s losses have been to East Burke (30-10), Brevard (31-7), Pisgah (56-10), Reynolds (48-3) and Erwin (6-0).
“We hope this is not the week they figure it out and put it all together, but that this is the week we figure it out and put it all together,” Galloway said.
Execution will be a key for the Mustangs to win Friday, according to the coach.
“We have to fly around defensively like we did against Franklin,” he said “We need better execution out of our offense. We want to control the clock, the ball and the line of scrimmage like always.”
Tuscola leads the series 10-8 after last year’s 28-0 victory. SM last defeated the Mounties in 2002.
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