Joseph Stapleton hauls in an 8-yard touchdown pass from Nathan
Medlin early in the fourth quarter of Smoky Mountain's 43-14
victory over North Buncombe Friday. - Herald photo by Mark
Haskett
Smoky Mountain scored on three straight possessions
in each half Friday while rolling past North Bunombe 43-14 in
Mountain Athletic Conference football action at Carr Hooper
Stadium/Babe Howell Field.
David Kelley carried 16 times for 128 yards and two touchdowns.
Ben Robinson gained 98 yards and scored once in nine carries.
Nathan Medlin completed eight of 15 passes for 92 yards and
two TDs. Ollin Dunford had five receptions for 62 yards and
a score.
About the only downside was the Mustangs (2-2, 1-1) set school
records by being penalized 14 times for 120 yards.
The game started with an exchange of punts, and Dunford's 11-yard
return gave SM good field position at the North 39. Robinson's
26-yard run and a 27-yard pass from Medlin to Dunford helped
the Mustangs overcome three penalties. Kelley scored from the
1, and Michael Tennant kicked the first of his four extra points
for a 7-0 lead with 6:49 left in the first quarter.
Smoky Mountain's Jonathan Tanner (50), John Raby (58) and
Patrick Orth (8) converge to stop a North Buncombe player in
Friday's 43-14 victory. - Herald photo by Mark Haskett
One play after North's Daniel Waymont was just
short on a 54-yard field goal try, Kelley ripped off a 57-yard
run. Four plays later, he scored from the 6. A high snap on
the extra point led to Dunford's conversion pass to Travis Stephens
and a 15-0 margin with 1:44 to go in the opening period.
A 12-yard run by Justin Spormann along with a personal foul
penalty helped the Black Hawks move from their 28 to the SM
45. Glen Rice then hit Jake Rice with a 45-yard scoring strike
on the first play of the second period. Waymont's PAT cut the
gap to 14-7.
Brian McFalls recovered an onside kick at the Mustang 45. Medlin's
17-yard pass to Patrick Orth and Kelley's 13-yard run highlighted
the 10-play drive. Robinson scored from the 1 upping the lead
to 22-7 with 7:45 to play in the half.
Medlin picked off Glen Rice's pass at the Hawk 49, but North
got the ball back when Spormann intercepted Medlin's aerial
at the Hawk 25.
A 35-yard run by Spormann put Waymont in position to attempt
a 55-yard field goal, which was short as time expired in the
half.
Following a short punt, SM started at the North 32 early in
the second half. Medlin's 11-yard pass to Dunford and Kelley's
14-yard run helped overcome a sack. Medlin then passed 8 yards
to Dunford for a TD and a 29-7 advantage with 8:44 to go in
the third stanza.
The Hawks drove to the SM 25 before being stopped on downs.
Runs of 22 yards by Kelley and 37 yards by Robinson sparked
a seven-play march. Joseph Stapleton caught an 8-yard TD pass
from Medlin for a 36-7 lead with 11:50 left in the game.
Stapleton recovered Billy Sargent's fumble at the SM 47, but
the Mustangs were forced to punt.
They got the ball back when Matt Gibson picked off Glen Rice's
pass and returned it 29 yards to the Hawk 32.
Corey Siler ripped off a 30-yard run, and Matt Ogden scored
from a yard out. Chris Wofford kicked the PAT making it 43-7
with 4:53 on the clock.
Spormann took a handoff on the kickoff and raced 73 yards to
the end zone at the 4:42 mark. Waymont's PAT concluded the scoring
at 43-14.
North's final possession ended when Josh Nations recovered Rice's
fumble at the Hawk 34.
NB SM
19 First Downs 15
50-120 Rushes-Yds. 37-264
5-18-2 Passing 8-15-1
87 Passing Yds. 92
2-24.0 Punts-Avg. 3-40.7
3-2 Fumbles-Lost 0-0
8-47 Penalties-Yds. 14-120
NB 0 7 0 7 14
SM 15 7 7 14 43
