Smash Mouth Football – Only Shooting Stars Will Break the Mold

By Brandon Stephens

 

(Sylva) – – Friday’s game with Murphy (2-and-1) at Smoky Mountain High (2-and-1) will have a flavor some older football generational fans may recall with the Bulldogs and the Sylva-Webster Golden Eagles.  It was “Smash Mouth Football” then we worried about the touchdown and ringing old victory bells, which Sylva still has.  The Murphy versus Sylva-Webster all-time record has the series in favor of the Golden Eagles 12-to17.  From 1960 through 1984 Sylva-Webster outscored Murphy 16-to-27 (on average).  Once Cullowhee and Sylva-Webster consolidated, the odds have been forever in the Bulldogs favor.  Murphy has led the series 17-to-2 dating back to 1989.  The Bulldogs have been on a 17-game winning streak against the Mustangs during the last three decades.  The average win for Murphy has been 33-to-13 during the Mustang era.  The early days of this series relied heavily on “bustin’ each other in the grill!”

Smoky Mountain is a stronger and well-developed team compared to the team in 2023.  The Mustangs have a deep sense of the tradition that has developed in the past and it’s instilled in new players like Ayden Johnson.   Going into this weekend’s game, Johnson has been able to average 200 yards rushing.  The blip on the radar for Johnson may have been the tough 49-to-7 loss with T-C Roberson.  He will hit the holes on counters and a few jet sweeps that many teams like Cherokee and Swain County found very difficult to defend.  Cherokee had the early lead and watched it evaporate until the end of the game.  Johnson had four rushing touchdowns.  Malachi McNeely will also contribute to the rushing game.  The Mustang quarterback has rushing abilities that have produced good yardage and touchdowns.

Rushing and run plays will be the largest part of the Smoky Mountain scheme.  Don’t overlook Senior quarterback Jarek Jones and the receivers McNeely and senior Jayce Stillwell. The Mustangs have not attempted as many passes as other teams.  Jones has completed 17 of 21 passes for 145 yards for a couple of touchdown tosses (81% completion rate).  The threat of a pass is real, and the Murphy defensive secondary will have to remain vigilant.

The game will be fought and won in the trenches with some smash mouth football play.  Murphy will have to play its assignments and call all linemen and linebackers, Charlie Graves, Janthony Gooden, Landen Lape, Brody Orton, Kadence Leatherwood, and Kenyon Nichols to step up and stay in front of Smoky Mountain’s Ayden Johnson’s carry.  Lineman Landen Lape says the Bulldogs in the trenches will have some work to do.

The Bulldogs celebrated a 36-to-33 win against West Henderson last Friday night.  The Bulldogs witnessed a good come-back game with West Henderson and some increased offensive work from running back Cameron Clem and Will Shore.  The Murphy front line also stepped up to stop the Falcons and protect its offensive strike and scheme.  Team leaders like quarterback Brady Grant says there are some facets of the game that need some obvious work this week to get better and be ready for a talented team like Smoky Mountain.

Jarek Jones and Ayden Johnson may be the highlighted threats to Murphy.  The Smoky Mountain line is bigger and very skilled compared to last year’s team.  Making good run plays depends on protection for the runners by the offensive line.  As an old Sylva-Webster coach would say, “…they (Mustangs) are mobile, hostile, and agile.  They will be bullets not BBs.”  Murphy Coach Joseph Watson is expecting the mountain smash mouth from the Mustangs.

The next factor in this game is homecoming for Smoky Mountain.  Some longer moments at halftime to crown a homecoming queen and the threat of rain is pushing the game up from 7:30 to a 6:30PM kick-off in Sylva at Carr Hooper Stadium/Charles “Babe” Howell Field.  With both teams earning two wins each and suffering lop-sided losses, this is the game to show you’re an all-star.  So, get your game one, go play! Hey now, you’re a football star, get the show on, get paid.  Only shootin’ stars break the mold!  Smash Mouth…

(Words taken from Smash Mouth – All Star – 1999)