Smoky Mountain's Ben Robinson (3) tackles
Hayesville's Bryan Cook during Friday's 39-30 victory. Moving
in to help is David Harper (18). - Herald photo by Nick Breedlove
David Kelley gained 147 yards in 15 carries and
scored three touchdowns Friday leading Smoky Mountain to a 39-30
non-conference victory over Hayesville at Carr Hooper Stadium/Babe
Howell Field.
The game was a typical shootout between the two teams. The Yellow
Jackets were trying to make it four straight years in the series
of a team coming from behind in the fourth quarter. They were
threatening to do just that in the final minute when Ben Robinson
picked off a pass and returned it 75 yards for the clinching
touchdown.
The Mustangs (1-1) won despite being outgained 426-294. The
Jackets also had more first downs, 22-14. However, Hayesville
committed four turnovers while SM was turnover free.
Nathan Medlin completed seven of 17 passes for 107 yards and
two TDs. Ollin Dunford had four receptions totaling 59 yards.
Robinson picked up 30 yards in 10 rushes to go with his interception
and a fumble recovery.
Jacket quarterback Taylor Baker had an outstanding game as he
completed 14 of 26 passes for 219 yards and carried 13 times
for 91 yards. He passed for two TDs and ran for two more. Teammate
Bryan Cook was also a double threat as he caught six passes
for 101 yards and carried 14 times for 42 yards. Jarrod Penland
added 64 yards on the ground in 16 attempts.
Smoky Mountain quarterback Nathan Medlin
gets off a pass behind the blocking of his offensive line in
Friday's 39-30 victory over Hayesville. - Herald photo by
Nick Breedlove
For the second straight home game, there was
a delay midway through the second quarter. A brief power failure
in the area caused the stadium lights to go out. It takes several
minutes for the lights to come back on, and played was stopped
for almost 20 minutes.
Two weeks earlier, lightning along with a problem with the lights
caused the opener with Pisgah to be cancelled.
The Jackets were leading 7-0 when the lights went out thanks
to a pair of fourth-down conversions on their first possession.
Penland picked up 10 yards on the first play after a punt to
launch the 74-yard drive in 12 plays. The highlight was a 44-yard
pass from Baker to Cook on fourth-and-1 from the Hayesville
43. Facing fourth-and-goal from the 1, Baker scored on a quarterback
sneak then kicked the extra point putting his team up 7-0 with
4:40 left in the first quarter.
Solid drives on SM's next two possession ended on downs deep
in Hayesville territory, and the lights went out moments later.
When play resumed, Robinson recovered Cook's fumble at the Jacket
31. Medlin hit Dunford for 18 yards to the 3, and Kelley scored
from there. The first of three extra points by Michael Tennant
tied the score 7-7 with 4:07 to go in the half.
Travis Stephens blocked Desmond Ledford's punt early in the
second half putting the Mustangs in business at the Hayesville
24. Kelley gained 11 yards on the next play then scored from
the 1 three plays later for a 14-7 advantage with 8:17 remaining
in the third period.
The Mustangs got the ball right back when Zack West recovered
Penland's fumble at the Hayesville 35 on the first play after
the kickoff. Following a pair of penalties, Medlin hit Kelley
for 36 yards then found Patrick Orth on an 8-yard TD pass making
it 21-7 with 6:35 to play in the third stanza.
A penalty nullified Cook's kickoff return for a TD, but the
Jackets scored anyway by driving 74 yards in eight plays. Baker
had an 18-yard run and completed a 13-yard pass to Clay Woody.
Penland gained 12 yards before Baker scampered in from 14 yards
out. Hayesville faked a kick, and Cook passed to Woody for the
conversion cutting the gap to 21-15 with 3:35 left in the third
quarter.
The Mustangs took just four plays to cover 54 yards with Kelley
doing most of the damage. He had a 24-yard run then scored from
22 yards out with 1:28 to go in the third period. Tennant missed
the PAT leaving the score 27-15.
With both teams moving the ball almost at will, the Jackets
needed seven plays to march 65 yards and overcame a penalty
in the process. Baker completed passes of 21 and 26 yards to
Cook then hit Woody on a 15-yard scoring strike. Baker's PAT
narrowed the deficit to 27-22 with 10:23 left in the game.
Kelley's 27-yard kickoff return plus a penalty gave SM good
field position at the Hayesville 43. Medlin found Dunford on
passes of 21 and 11 yards, with the latter going for a score.
The conversion pass failed leaving SM on top 33-22 with 8:54
on the clock.
Hayesville countered by going 80 yards in six plays. Baker had
a 17-yard run then unloaded a 45-yard scoring strike to Sam
Clement. Penland ran for the conversion cutting the gap to 33-30
at the 6:11 mark.
The Mustangs reached the Jacket 27 before yielding possession
on downs with 4:19 to play.
On fourth-and-6 from the SM 30, Robinson stepped in front of
Baker's pass and galloped 75 yards down the left sideline for
a 39-30 lead with 47.3 seconds on the clock. A conversion run
failed.
Dunford sealed the win by picking off Baker's pass on the first
play after the kickoff.
H'ville SM
22 First Downs 14
45-207 Rushes-Yds. 30-188
14-26-2 Passing 7-17-0
219 Passing Yds. 106
3-20.3 Punts-Avg. 2-45.5
4-2 Fumbles-Lost 0-0
10-85 Penalties-Yds. 3-15
H'ville 7 0 8 15 30
SM 0 7 20 12 39
