A Rival Dawg Fight Full of Fumbles and Penalties

By Brandon Stephens

(Murphy) – – It’s not the typical Murphy Bulldogs (7-and-1, 3-and-0) versus the Swain County Maroon Devil (0-and-7, 0-and-3) football game. Murphy continues its winning streak with a 31-to-14 win over Swain County from this past Friday night.  The win keeps Murphy in the number one spot in the Smoky Mountain Conference (SMC) and Swain County in 6^th place.

Offensive possession seemed to bounce like a ping pong match to start the game.  Swain County gave Murphy excellent field position with an on-side kick placing the ball at the Maroon Devil 49 yard-line.  Two plays later, Murphy Junior quarterback Brady Grant threw an interception to Junior defensive back Zeke Glaspie.  Swain suffers a penalty and starts its drive from the Maroon Devil 32 yard-line.  Two plays later Sophomore quarterback Owen Medlin fumbles and Murphy recovers.  Murphy starts a drive, highlighted with a holding penalty (the first of 18), to send Brady Grant to Touchdown Town on a one-yard keeper.  Junior kicker Jerry Bui hits the Point-After-Touchdown (PAT) field goal.  Murphy has the early 7-to-nothing lead over Swain County.

Defense is the responsible for the first Swain County touchdown.  Murphy has possession and Brady Grant launches a pass.  Maroon Devil Senior defensive back Keyanthae Graham steps in front of the pass at the Murphy 32 yard-line and zips to the end zone earning a Pick-6.  Swain County sends Glaspie on the 2-Point conversion carry to take the lead 8-to-7.

Murphy’s next two possessions result in scoring while the next two Swain County possessions result in turnover on downs or a fumble recovered by Murphy lineman Charlie Graves.  Murphy Sophomore running back Cameron Clem scores on a 7-yard touchdown carry.  Jerry Bui parks a 33-yard field goal to make the Halftime score Murphy 17 Swain County 8.

The final Swain County score is made toward the middle of the Third Quarter.  Medlin runs in to the end zone on a 1-yard keeper.  Swain attempts a 2-Point conversion and fails to make the end zone with Zeke Glaspie.

Murphy is wasting no time answering the Swain County touchdown.  From the Bulldog’s 20 yard-line, Senior running back Will Shore runs 80 yards on the first play to Touchdown Town.  Bui makes the PAT.  Murphy’s final score is made on toward the end of the Fourth Quarter.  Brady Grant dials in a 23-yard pass to Senior tight end Kenyon Nichols, much like the same play last week at Robbinsville.

Murphy Head Football Coach Joseph Watson talks to the Bulldogs after the 31-to-14 win over Swain County

Game Chaos

Leading up to this game, Swain County is having its struggles with fumbles and turnovers.  The Maroon Devils have been dealing with some penalties that were costly too.  More than penalties, taking care of the ball has been the issue.  Almost like a photo negative of one another, Murphy has suffered some turnovers on downs and interceptions.  Penalties are the costly part of the game.

The Maroon Devils suffered three fumbles, all lost to Murphy.  Medlin also fired off an interception that was picked by Murphy Sophomore defensive back Aayden Williams.  Swain County finished the game with four penalties for 30 yards.

Based on the tempo and momentum of the game, the final horn should have sounded around 9:15 or 9:30.  Instead the penalty flag flew on Murphy half dozen times in the remaining seven minutes of the fourth quarter.  The Bulldogs were flagged 18 times for 184 yards.  Murphy had its share of interceptions.  Brady Grant threw two interceptions.  Grant says, even though the Bulldogs won the game, there is work to do this week in preparation for the Andrews Wildcat game.

Posting up the penalties, turnover, and interceptions, the Murphy Bulldogs captured the win.  Ryan Payne says it’s the consistent work getting through mistakes to score and staying vigilant on defense helped clinch the win.

Regardless of the injuries and in-game set-backs, Murphy Head Football Coach Joseph Watson says he always expect the best game from Swain County.

Going into this game, Swain County has been down a few players in key positions ranging from quarterback, linebackers, to wide receiver.  Turnovers and fumbles killed opportunities for the Maroon Devils.  Swain County Head Football Coach Sherman Holt says not taking care of the ball was too costly.

Game Stats

Murphy and Swain County meet at the Line

Game statistics reported in this post are taken from Swain County High School, MaxPreps.Com, and compilations of Team FYN Sports.

Murphy

Rushing – 272 yards on 38 plays (7.2 yards per play)

Will Shore – 112 Yards on six carries (Includes 80-yard touchdown carry)

Cameron Clem – 67 yards on 14 carries (Includes 7-yard touchdown carry)

Kadence Leatherwood – 50 yards on 9 carries

Brady Grant – 27 yards on 9 carries (Includes 1-yard touchdown carry)

Ryan Payne – 16 yards on 1 carry

Passing – 159 yards on 11 complete passes (Brady Grant 11 completions on 17 pass plays or 14.5 yards per pass completion, and two interceptions)

Pass Receptions

Will Shore – 61 yards on one reception

Ryan Payne – 33 yards on five receptions

Kenyon Nichols – 28 yards on two receptions (Includes 23 yards touchdown reception)

Cameron Clem – 27 yards on one reception

Kadence Leatherwood – 10 yards on two receptions

Tackles – Defensive tackle leaders for the game included Janthony Gooden (six solo), Kadence Leatherwood (five solo), Chandler (Steve) Nernes (four solo).

Swain County

Rushing – 53 yards on 26 plays (1.9 yards per play)

Zeke Glaspie – 29 yards on seven carries

Owen Medlin – 13 yards on 11 carries (Includes 1-yard touchdown carry)

Rocky Barker – 11 yards on 4 carries

Passing – 82 yards on three complete passes

Owen Medlin – Two completions on nine pass attempts and one interception (23 yards)

Keyanthae Graham – One completion on one attempt (59 yards)

Pass Receptions

Corey Stillwell – 59 yards on one reception

Zeke Glaspie – 15 yards on one reception

Keyanthae Graham – 8 yards on one reception

Tackles – Defensive tackle leaders for the game included Cotton Shuler (eight solo), Nse Uffort (four solo), and Zeke Glaspie (four solo).

Next Games

Murphy will defend its number one spot in the SMC this coming Friday night against the Andrews Wildcats.  Andrews suffered a 28-to-7 loss to the Robbinsville Black Knights (3-and-5, 2-and-1) last Friday.  Robbinsville had a commanding lead going into the final 3 minutes of the game, when the Wildcats scored on a quarterback keeper with Everett Tatham.  Micah Gibson hit the PAT.  This is the first touchdown scored by Andrews in three games since traveling to Calhoun Falls Charter School.  Andrews is 4-and-3 and 1-and-2 in SMC play.  The Wildcats are 4^th in the SMC after Friday’s loss to Robbinsville.  Robbinsville is 2^nd in the SMC.  The Murphy will host the Wildcats at Bob Hendrix Stadium/David Gentry Field Friday night at 7:30 PM.

Swain County will remain on the road to face the Cherokee Braves (5-and-3, 2-and-1).  Cherokee shut out Hayesville (2-and-6, 1-and-2) 22-to-nothing.  Hayesville is 5^th in the SMC.  Cherokee was led in rushing by Senior running back Luke Smith with 60 yards on 10 carries.  Receivers Javin Garcia and Shiloh Owle let the team in receiving yards with 22 and 21 yards respectively.  Quarterback Jonathan Saylor completed eight of 15 passes for 65 yards and one interception.  Touchdowns were score by Saylor and Smith.  Cherokee will host the Swain County Maroon Devils at Ray Kinsland Stadium Friday night at 7:30 PM.

Stay connected this week to Team FYN Sports for information on these games and a review of the SMC on Thursday night.

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