Murphy Bulldogs Are Smoky Mountain Conference Champions After 35-to-6 Win Over Cherokee

Murphy Bulldogs First SMC Championship in Six Years

By Brandon Stephens

(Murphy) – – Murphy … You tha Man Now Dog!  The Murphy Bulldogs (9-and-1, 5-and-0) are the 2024 Smoky Mountain Conference (SMC) Champions after defeating the Cherokee Braves (6-and-4, 3-and-2, 3rd in SMC) 35-to-6.  The win came with a post-game baptism for Murphy Head Coach Joseph Watson from the Bulldogs who netted 323 yards of total offense and five touchdowns.  The game is the most fluid offensive operation on the season.  Junior quarterback Brady Grant completed nine of 16 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns.  Murphy moved the ball efficiently on the ground with 178 rushing yards.

Murphy and Cherokee had a slow start offensively that was matched with tough and hard-hitting defense.  After a couple of offensive possessions, the Bulldogs demonstrated its capability to move the ball.  Grant sprinted into Touchdown Town on a 10-yard carry to get the scoring going with 4:36 remaining in the first quarter.  Not wasting time, Sophomore running back Cameron Clem took the ball back into the end zone about two minutes later.  Finishing out the quarter, Grant hit Senior running back Will Shore for another six points.  Junior kicker Jerry Bui made all three point-after-touchdown (PAT) field goals.

Dominating with a 21-to-0 leading starting the second quarter, Murphy went back to the air with Grant to find Senior tight end Kenyon Nichols in the end zone at 9:15 remaining in the half.  The Bulldogs failed to get a two-point conversion to end the first half 27-to-0.  The Bulldogs were fired up coming back to the field after the halftime break loading up another Grant pass for a 21-yard touchdown reception by Shore.  Clem scored the two-point conversion to end the Murphy scoring.  Cherokee is determined not to be shutout by launching steady ball movement by Seniors Luke Smith and Brandon Santiago.  The Braves connected with Junior wide receiver Javin Garcia for their lone score.  Shore says the game is a hard-fought meeting with the Braves, but an awesome game to finish the regular season.

The words “Dog Fight” is a common expression Murphy players used to describe the game with Cherokee.  Grant says the SMC Championship is posted and now the new season, State 1-A play-offs preparation is the focus for the coming two weeks.

Murphy’s defense stopped the Cherokee Braves to only allow 133 yards of total offense and eight first downs.  Cherokee did not cross the 50 yard line until late in the game.  Murphy picked off Cherokee twice and had several quarterback hurries.  Junior lineman Landen Lape made note how tough the game was and the good work the defense worked.

Murphy Head Football Coach Joseph Watson could have made the House of Pain music video “Jump Around” after the game.  Excited with the win and SMC Championship comes the moment of being able to post a “24” on the board below the scoreboard at Bob Hendrix Stadium/David Gentry Field.  Watson says the Bulldogs did great work.

The next opponents for the Murphy Bulldogs and the Cherokee Braves will be decided in a couple of weeks.  The coming week will be an idle week for both teams.  The North Carolina High School Athletic Association delayed the play offs to allow teams affected by hurricane Helene to make up games.  The final rankings may change slightly with the coming week being a make-up week for lost games.  One such game will the Robbinsville Black Knights and the Swain County Maroon Devils, which will be played in Bryson City.  Other teams that may make impact to the RPI and standings will be Mountain Heritage, a team that has had very few games in the hard hit area by the storm.  The Bulldogs and Cherokee, at press time, will have the week off before the state play offs begin.  Stay connected to Team FYN Sports for more details.

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