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Brevard defeats Mustangs in game marred by turnovers
Smoky Mountain and Brevard combined for 11 turnovers, but the Blue Devils turned one into a touchdown as they claimed a 13-3 Western Athletic Conference football victory Friday at Brevard.
The Devils turned the ball over six times and were penalized 76 yards. The Mustangs (4-3) committed five turnovers and had 79 yards in penalties.
All of the scoring came in the first quarter.
SM had a slight edge in total yards (202-193) but dominated possession with 68 plays to the Devils’ 42.
Smoky Mountain's Ethan Crowe returns one of his three pass interceptions in Friday's 13-3 loss at Brevard. – Photo by Mark Haskett
Smoky Mountain's Chad Harper picks up yardage during Friday's 13-3 loss at Brevard. – Photo by Jarrett Frazier
Brevard’s Jon Jon Swarn gained 107 yards in 14 carries.
Nick Zoda led the Mustang ground game with 41 yards in 12 attempts.
SM’s Colton Hunt completed seven of 24 passes for 122 yards. Seven different receivers had one reception apiece.
The Devils scored the game’s only offensive touchdown on the opening possession. Swarn had a 35-yard run, and A.J. Zandecki caught a 24-yard pass from Corey Essenberg. Jacob Thompson went over from the 2 with 9:08 remaining in the first period. Zandecki added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
The Mustangs countered by driving from their 35 to the Devil 10 after the kickoff. Jesse Brooks picked up 3 yards to convert a fourth-and-1 near midfield. Hunt completed a 25-yard pass to Jack Cooper leading to Matt Dougherty’s 27-yard field goal cutting the gap to 7-3 with 4:14 to go in the opening stanza.
Casey Essenberg’s 63-yard kickoff return and Swarn’s 22-yard run had Brevard knocking on the door again.
The first of Ethan Crowe’s three interceptions ended the threat at the 3.
The Devils scored anyway two plays later when Matt Pace fell on a fumbled pitchout in the end zone. The PAT was no good leaving Brevard on top 13-3 with 33.8 seconds remaining in the quarter.
A 37-yard pass from Hunt to Jared Jones sparked a drive that ended on downs at the Devil 28.
Andy Potter recovered Swarn’s fumble at the 33 moments later, but the Mustangs gave the ball back when Julian Erwin picked off Hunt’s pass and returned it 37 yards to his 48.
The turnover parade continued the remainder of the half as both teams squandered scoring chances.
Brevard reached the 7 before Casey Essenberg’s fumbled resulted in an 18-yard loss with Potter recovering at the 25.
Aided by a penalty and Hunt passes of 11 yards to John Brown and 15 yards to Matt Bryson, SM drove to the Devil 20 in the final minute of the half. They came up empty again when Erwin picked off Hunt for the second time.
Brevard’s T.J. Raines recovered a fumble of the first play of the second half at the SM 28.
Crowe came through with his second interception of a Corey Essenberg pass two plays later.
Crowe’s third interception in the end zone ended another Devil scoring chance.
Hunt’s 13-yard pass to Brooks and a 5-yard gain on a quarterback sneak to convert a fourth-and-1 keyed a 15 play drive from the SM 20 that ended on downs at the Brevard 25.
The Devils threatened to score again after an exchange of punts, but Jake Brooks recovered Thompson’s fumble in the end zone for a touchback.
The game’s 11th turnover was a Mustang fumble in the closing seconds.
SM’s Roscoe Woodard had seven solo tackles. Jake Brooks was in on nine tackles, and Travis Buchanan had a hand in seven.
SM Brevard
17 First Downs 9
44-80 Rushes-Yds. 36-143
7-24-2 Passing 3-6-3
122 Passing Yds. 50
3-27 Punts-Avg. 2-29
4-3 Fumbles-Lost 3-3
8-79 Penalties-Yds. 9-76
SM 3 0 0 0 3
Brevard 13 0 0 0 13
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