Smoky Mountain to open WAC schedule at home against Pisgah

Kickoff time is 7:30 p.m. at Carr Hooper Stadium/Babe Howell Field.

The Bears have dominated the series 10-2 and have won the last six meetings. However, several of the game have been close, including Pisgah's 21-12 overtime victory last season.

"We play Pisgah pretty good," Coach Cameron Brooks said. "Our kids will play hard. They're a very physical football team. They two-platoon. It's going to be tough on our kids going both ways."

The Bears routed West Henderson 69-28 Friday. They erupted for an incredible 43 points in the second period. The score was somewhat misleading as the Pisgah defense contributed three quick touchdowns.

The Bears are 2-2 with a 47-6 rout of North Buncombe as well as losses to Asheville (39-22) and East Henderson (31-14).

The Mustangs (3-2) saw their three-game winning streak end with a 28-27 loss to Avery. The Vikings scored the winning points with less than a minute left. SM owns wins over Swain (21-14), Hayesville (27-25) and Madison (57-6) and lost to Owen (36-21).

"If we get behind early, it could be detrimental to us," Brooks said. "It's a lot different playing the Pisgahs than the Hayesvilles and Madisons and Swains."

The Bears run a shotgun offense, but unlike most teams using that formation they primarily pass. Quarterback Brandon Crawford can throw. Haile Gibson (5-6, 192) is considered a "tough runner" by Brooks.

"They spread you out all over the field," Brooks said.

Pisgah uses a multiple 40 defense.

Brooks said controlling the football and improving in the kicking game will be two keys to the game Friday.

He's looking forward to playing a team with Pisgah's tradition. The game will have extra meaning for him because Pisgah is coached by Woody Fish, who was an assistant at Gardner-Webb when Brooks played there.

"I like it because this is the kind of football I'm accustomed to," he said. "I want to beat the Pisgahs and the Brevards."

Avery rallied for the win Friday in a manner similar to the way the Mustangs defeated Swain and Hayesville.

"It was deja vu but on the other side," Brooks said. "It was disappointing that we couldn't stop them."

He said missed defensive assignments played a big part in the loss. On two Viking touchdowns, SM had two defenders go through the same gap leaving another gap wide open for the score.

"We've got individuals who are not producing," Brooks said. "The disease of non-competitiveness from the second team is hurting us."

The coach was second guessing himself for not going for it on fourth-and-one from the SM 37 with about five minutes left. He called for a punt, and Avery drove for the winning touchdown and two-point conversion.

"Hindsight is 20-20, but that's the only offensive play in five games I might have scratched my head on a little," he said. "We couldn't stop them a bit."

He expressed concern about the Mustangs' inability to hold on to an early lead. They jumped in front 13-0 but trailed 14-13 by the end of the first quarter. That's almost the same thing that happened at Hayesville.

"It's getting where I hate to score early," he said. "I don't know if these kids put it in cruise control or whatever. We moved the football up and down the field. I'm just at a loss for words."

Brooks expressed disappointment with the special teams. He noted SM had an extra point blocked and also missed opportunities to recover some balls when the Vikings had trouble handling kickoffs.

"The best team really won because we couldn't stop Avery," Brooks said. "They whipped us constantly. The two-point conversion looked ridiculous. It looked like we didn't have anybody lined up against them."

Josh Carnes was SM's leading rusher with 105 yards.

"Josh Carnes ran the ball hard," Brooks said. "That's something other teams will have to deal with."

Punter/defensive lineman Joseph Ensley was injured during the game but is expected to be available this week. Defensive lineman Max Saunooke returned to action after being sidelined a few weeks with a knee injury.

Back to Sports: 09/21/00.