Walker powers Brevard past SM; Justin Hawk passes for 275 yards

Smoky Mountain's Michael Ritchie had a big game Friday with five catches for 105 yards and a touchdown in a 20-13 loss to Brevard.

Justin Hawk threw for 275 yards for the Mustangs (1-4, 4-6), the second highest total in school history. He completed 15 of 20 passes and was intercepted twice.

Darius Bryson hauled in six passes for 123 yards. Michael Ritchie's five receptions totaled 105 yards.

SM kept Shrine Bowl selection Jake Hunter under control. The Blue Devil quarterback completed just three of 11 passes for 40 yards.

The Mustangs were limited to 41 yards on the ground. A big part of that was due to eight Brevard sacks.

Trent Dillard carried 18 times for 44 yards. Josh Carnes added 34 yards in 12 tries.

The Devils scored with less than two minutes elapsed. Any thoughts of the contest turning into a rout quickly evaporated as the Mustangs defense repeatedly turned back Brevard.

The Devils took just five plays to go 80 yards following the opening kickoff. On consecutive plays, Hunter completed a 16-yard pass to Nicky Waters and Walker ran for 40 and 21 yards, the latter for a touchdown. With 10:21 left in the first quarter, Stephen Pressley's extra point gave his team a 7-0 lead.

After forcing another punt, SM used some trickery as Hawk's 20-yard pass to Josh Carnes on a fake punt moved the ball to the Devil 35. On the next play, Waters picked off Hawk's pass in the end zone.

Walker ripped off a 67-yard run to the 13, and Brevard had a second-and-one from the four but failed to convert. SM took over on downs at the five.

A 47-yard pass from Hawk to Bryson carried to the 27, but Hawk fumbled on the next play with Charles Norman recovering at the 29.

The Mustangs found themselves deep in the hole to start the second half, and a short punt gave Brevard possession at the 39. Walker picked up 28 yards then ran for nine more for a second-and-goal at the two. Another goal line stand forced the Devils to settle for Pressley's 21-yard field goal and a 10-0 advantage with 7:31 to play in the third period.

One play after a punt, Walker broke loose for 62 yards to the one. He scored on the next play, and Pressley's PAT made it 17-0 with 23 seconds to go in the third stanza.

Bryson returned the ensuing kickoff 52 yards to the Brevard 43. Dillard picked up 15 yards to start the seven-play march that ended on Justin Roper's 11-yard TD pass to Josh Day. David Leonard's extra point was no good leaving the score 17-6 with 9:31 left in the game.

A 22-yard pass from Hunter to Waters and a 10-yard gain by Walker led to Pressley's 27-yard field goal for a 20-6 lead with 4:29 on the clock.

Two plays after the kickoff, Hawk and Ritchie hooked up on a 73-yard scoring strike. Ritchie caught the ball just past midfield and outraced three defenders to the end zone. Leonard's PAT narrowed the gap to 20-13 at the 3:52 mark.

The Mustangs forced a punt and took over at their 34 with 1:46 remaining. Hawk completed passes of 20 yards to Bryson and 12 yards to Ritchie, but he was sacked on three straight plays to end the threat.

Out of the playoff picture and having nothing to lose, the Mustangs played the game wide open. They were three for three on fourth downs, including the fake punt. "It was more of a confidence builder for the kids," Coach Cameron Brooks said. "If something had backfired, it could have started snowballing. The kids rose to he occasion on those plays."

10

32-309

3-11-0

40

4-28.5

1-0

3-25

First Downs

Rushes-Yds.

Passing

Passing Yds.

Punts-Avg.

Fumbles-Lost

Penalties-Yds.

19

45-41

16-21-2

286

3-30.7

3-1

4-30

Back to Sports: 11/02/00.