Swain County’s Josh Collins – The Rumpelstiltskin Turns Three Runs into Touchdown Gold in the Fourth Quarter and has 265 Yards Rushing

By Brandon Stephens

(Bryson City) – – Swain County’s Maroon Devils (8-0, 3-0) are undefeated after a 37-to-13 win over the Murphy Bulldogs (5-3,1-2).  Murphy and Swain battled diligently through three quarters of football in the rain in what would appear to be a close football game.  Fans were settled to see a similar second half as Swain County led 14-to-7 at the break.  There was no scoring in the third quarter.  The rain picked up and so did the Swain County offensive threat.

The Maroon Machine is difficult to stop when fueled by the running power from Josh Collins.  Collins cleared 265 yards of rushing and three touchdowns to put the Bulldogs away all in the fourth quarter.  Collins had touchdowns of 53-yards, 41-yards, and 48-yards, all in a 4-minute time span to seal the eighth win of the season and to stop the Murphy five game winning streak over the Maroon Devils.  You may not have known his name earlier.  It’s not Rumpelstiltskin.  But Josh Collins, who turned some Bryson City fescue and zoysia into gold before fans eyes Friday night.

The Game

The game is not an easy pathway as the rain started right at the kick-off.  Swain won the opening coin toss and elected to take the ball to begin the second half.  Murphy took the opening kick and marched the ball to Touchdown Town 65 yards in 9 plays using 4:13 of clock on a 1-yard Hunter Stalcup run and a Will Joyner Point After Touchdown (PAT) field goal.  The touchdown was set up by a series of key Bulldog offensive plays.  From the Swain 39 Murphy Quarterback Brady Grant hit Hunter Stalcup for a 16-yard screen pass; followed by a 10-yard Cameron Clem rush.  Stalcup narrowly missed the end zone on a 12-yard carry to the Swain County 1-yard line and was tackled by a team of Maroon Devils, led by Drew Cody.  Swain County and Murphy traded possessions on punts to wind down the First Quarter.  Swain County ended the First Quarter holding the ball only 9.3 seconds to resume play in the Second Quarter.

The Maroon Devils are postured to make the first touchdown marching against the Bulldogs from their own 24 yard-line.  Collins carries the ball six times to help Swain County move the ball with a beginning carry of 23 yards.  Posted at the Murphy 10 yard-line, the Bulldogs are hit with an offside penalty that moves the ball to the five.  Josiah Glaspie hits Touchdown Town with a five-yard carry at 8:11 to go in the Second Quarter.  The Maroon Devils fail to get a 2-Point conversion.  Murphy moves the football with some ease into Swain County territory but lose the football on a fumble.  Swain is forced to punt after failing to gain a first down.  Murphy works with multiple runners and a pass to Ryan Payne to get a fourth down.  The Bulldogs punt after coming up fourth down and ten yards to go on the Swain County 48.  The Maroon Devils work with various run plays to Josiah Glaspie before opening a series of passes, which finally finds Keyanthae Graham on 21-yard pick up to the Murphy 20.  From the Murphy 2 yard-line Josiah Glaspie makes the final touchdown of the half.  Reece Winchester runs to the end zone for a 2-Point conversion. Swain Conty 14 Murphy 7 at Halftime.

The Third Quarter gives Murphy two possessions and Swain County two possessions.  Swain County holds the ball the longest after Murphy has its first possession and loses the ball on its second fumble.  Swain County looked like it may strike six points again after 12 plays and turning the ball over on downs.  Murphy melts the rest of the Third Quarter clock using 9 plays.

Murphy opens the final quarter with the ball and is unable to make first down after four plays and gives up the possession on the Swain County 38 yard-line.  The Josh Collins feeding frenzy begins.  Collins runs 53 yards from the Swain County 47 yards line on the Maroon Devils fourth play to score and secure the lead.  Reece Winchester runs the 2-Point conversion to make the score Swain County 22 Murphy 7 with 8:32 remaining in the game.  Time becomes a critical factor for Murphy.  On the third play Brady Grant is sacked on the Murphy 32 and the Bulldogs are forced to punt to the Maroon Devils.  Swain County marches to the Murphy 41 yard-line where Josh Collins runs to the end zone for his second touchdown.  Josiah Glaspie carries the 2-Point conversion to make the score Swain County 30 Murphy 7 with 5:35 remaining.  Murphy has the ball four plays and fails to make first down.  The ball is turned over to Swain County at the Bulldogs 48 yard-line.  Murphy is blinded by the Josh Collins light on a 48-yard run on Swain County’s first play from scrimmage.  Junior Kicker Brendon Lanning parks the PAT to make the score Swain County 37 Murphy 7 with 4:31 remaining.  Murphy mounts a final effort, with the game out of reach, from its 35 yard-line to get one more touchdown.  The Bulldogs reach the Swain County 2 yard-line to allow Brady Grant to launch a pass to Trenton Russell with 1:24 remaining.  Murphy attempts to hit Zach Skogen for a 2-Point conversion that is no good.  The final score is Swain County 37 Murphy 13.

Take Aways

Fans and members of the media thought this game might be slowed a bit by the rain.  It didn’t stop either side from playing tremendous football and going to the air for 18 passes that netted 102 of the 602 yards of total offense posted by either side (17% of the offense).  Murphy posted 211 yards of total offense, led by Hunter Stalcup (68 yards on 19 carries).  Swain County had 391 yards, led by Josh Collins (265 yards on 25 carries).  Murphy’s Brady Grant led passing with 6 of 11 passes completed for 68 yards.  Swain County’s Reece Winchester completed 2 of 7 passes for 34 yards.  Murphy defense was led by Camden Breazeale with 7 solo tackles and Brody Orton with 6.  Swain County posted Nse Uffort with 6 solo tackles and Lucas Sutton with 5.  Leland Lequire, Josh Collins, and Lucas Sutton had a sack on quarterback each.  Swain County defense stopped the Murphy attack in the fourth quarter and opened the Josh Collins scoring streak to seal the game.

Swain County turns a fall day into winter by usher in a snowman . . . 8, for 8-and-Oh on the season to the pleasure of Maroon Devil Head Coach Sherman Holt.

Next Games

Swain County will host the Cherokee Braves this coming week in Bryson City.  Cherokee (5-3, 1-2) was shutout 17-to-nothing by Hayesville (5-3, 1-2) Friday night.  Several of the Cherokee Braves were out due to injuries and will be mending to come back to face the Maroon Devils.  Murphy will travel to Andrews (4-4, 0-3) to face the Wildcats.  Andrews lost 36-to-19 to the Robbinsville Black Knights (7-1, 3-0).  Andrews has recently seen the return of Junior Quarterback Everett Tatham.  Stay in touch with Team FYN Sports for more details on these games and more. Tune into Inside the Smoky Mountain Conference (SMC) with Jake West and Brandon Stephens on Thursday night at 8PM and more preview details.

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