Murphy Goes 2-2-2 against Asheville, Mitchell, and Pisgah

By Brandon Stephens

(Canton, NC) – – Bleached hair from the 2023 playoffs has faded out the Murphy Bulldogs’ hair and a new group of “Big” Dogs are stepping into leadership for the fall football team.  Murphy’ Bulldogs finished up its summer seven-on-seven scrimmages for the summer.  The first full-pad/full-team scrimmage is coming up on August 16^th at A-C Reynolds high school in Fairview (outside of Asheville).

Pisgah High School is the host of this week’s Seven-On-Seven sponsored and supported by Western North Carolina Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  In addition to Murphy, Asheville, and Mitchell County participated in the scrimmage.  In the early morning, each game was 25 minutes and the late morning short-format games were 20 minutes in a repeat game with each team.

Murphy finished the early morning with two ties (3-to-3) in their games with Pisgah and Mitchell.  Murphy lost 3-to-4 to Asheville.  Through the late morning or short format games, which showed some teams playing substitute players.  Murphy Lost 2-to-1 to Pisgah.  The Bulldogs rolled past Asheville 4-to-1.  Murphy took Mitchell 3-to-1. Through scrimmage games, Murphy had consistent and well-balanced play that shows potential for a good passing game.

Seven-On-Seven scrimmages are unique to most Smoky Mountain Conference teams, especially Murphy, which specializes in run plays out of a Wing-T.  The Bulldogs will showcase Junior Brady Grant at Quarterback with Seniors Adam Cook, Jonah Hedden, Kenyon Nichols, Will Shore, and Junior Ryan Payne and Sophomore Cameron Clem.  Most of the passes Grant threw were to one of these well-seasoned Bulldog leaders.  The only question remaining is, who will replace Will Joyner at Kicker.  We will find out soon.

Junior Quarterback Brady Grant continues to look confident and comfortable guiding the offense.  Grant could sling the ball and hit his target of Shore, Payne, Nichols, Clem, Cook, or Hedden when needed.  The receivers to watch for Murphy may be Ryan Payne, Kenyon Nichols, and Adam Cook.  Cook stepped out of uniform toward the end of the 2023 season for leg and knee injuries.  He appears to be doing well and not missing a step.

Kenyon Nichols will probably be a team leader as a special skilled player this fall.  There are other seniors like Kadence Leatherwood that will be leaders on the line and in the trenches.  For some offense and defense Kenyon Nichols may be a good play maker for the Bulldogs.

The season will start in about a month on August 23^rd in Murphy against the Franklin Panthers.  The week leading up to the first game of the season is in Asheville against the A-C Reynolds Rockets.  Coach Joseph Watson likes the early work and results he saw at the Seven-On-Seven scrimmage.

The 2024 football season is quickly approaching for the Murphy Bulldogs as well as other western North Carolina teams.  Meet the Murphy Bulldogs is scheduled for August 15^th, prior to the first scrimmage.   Stay in touch with Team FYN Sports for more details on Meet the Bulldogs, scrimmages, and seasons games.  Also look for the initial broadcast of This Week in the Smoky Mountain Conference.