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Mustangs crush Hayesville for season’s first win
Smoky Mountain picked up its first win of the football season Friday with a 38-10 triumph at Hayesville.
Colton Hunt completed eight of 13 passes for 112 yards and also returned an interception for a touchdown.
Jesse Walker had three receptions totaling 32 yards.
Matt Bryson led the ground game with 76 yards in 19 carries.
Hayesville’s Brett Moody was the game’s leading rusher with 92 yards in 15 attempts.
Smoky Mountain’s Lucas Brooks picks up yardage in Friday’s 38-10 victory at Hayesville. – Herald photo by Cindy Turpin
The Yellow Jackets started the night on a positive note as Tim Shaffer returned the opening kickoff 61 yards to the 19. They were forced to try a field goal, but a bad snap gave the Mustangs (1-2) possession on downs.
SM was stopped for no gain on fourth-and-1 from its 40 giving the ball back to Hayesville.
Shaun Tant was short on a 47-yard field goal try.
Following a punt, Shaffer had a 37-yard run leading to Tant’s 32-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead with 3:18 left in the first quarter.
Logan Buchanan’s 41-yard kickoff return plus a penalty gave the Mustangs possession across midfield at the 46. Hunt passed to Buchanan for 36 yards on the first play then Hunt went around the left side for a 10-yard touchdown run. Matt Dougherty kicked the first of his five extra points for a 7-3 edge with 2:46 to play in the opening period.
SM drove 72 yards in 13 plays after forcing a punt. Key plays were a 13-yard run by Buchanan and Hunt’s 17-yard pass to Michael Morgan to the 2. Following a penalty, Hunt scored on a 9-yard run for a 14-3 advantage with 7:48 to go in the half.
Hunt’s 45-yard kickoff return to start the second half gave SM possession at the Jacket 45. Lucas Brooks picked up 5 yards on fourth-and-2 from the 37, and Bryson followed with a 16-yard gain. The drive stalled at the 3, and Dougherty kicked a 21-yard field goal upping the lead to 17-3 with 5:37 to play in the third stanza.
On the first play after the kickoff, Moody fumbled with Brandon Hyde recovering and returning the ball 7 yards to the Hayesville 19. Morgan’s 13-yard TD run three plays later put the Mustangs up 24-3 with 4:30 left in the third quarter.
SM got the ball back moments later as Hunt recovered Bradley Nuckolls’ fumble and had a 2-yard return to midfield. Buchanan’s 18-yard pass to Walker and Bryson’s 10-yard run led to Bryson going over from a yard out making it 31-3 with 1:34 remaining in the third period.
Hunt’s 55-yard interception return of Zach Stiles’ pass gave the Mustangs a 38-3 lead with 3:04 to go in the game.
The Jackets found the end zone with 1:25 on the clock as Shaffer caught a 33-yard pass from Stiles. Tant added the extra point for the 38-10 final. Moody had runs of 17 and 24 yards to set up the score.
Buchanan was the team’s top tackler as he was in on 11, including nine solos. Three of his tackles went for losses.
SM Hayes.
17 First Downs 9
47-197 Rushes-Yds. 31-149
9-14-0 Passing 4-12-1
130 Passing Yds. 56
3-34.3 Punts-Avg. 3-40.0
0-0 Fumbles-Lost 4-2
6-57 Penalties-Yds. 4-16
SM 7 7 17 7 38
Hayes. 3 0 0 7 10
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