Murphy keeps the win streak over Smoky Mountain Going

By Brandon Stephens

(Murphy) – – The Murphy Bulldogs (2-1) are still unblemished with their series against the Smoky Mountain Mustangs (1-3) after a 49-to-27 win at Bob Hendrix Stadium/David Gentry Field.  From 2005 through 2014 Murphy went 10-and-0 over Smoky Mountain.  Prior to that decade, Smoky Mountain High (SMH) played Murphy from 1989 through 1996 without a win.  The last time a Jackson County team beat Murphy was in 1983, when Sylva-Webster (a parent school to SMH – Sylva-Webster and Cullowhee High consolidated in 1988 to form SMH) won 34-to-7.

The game had its moments where Smoky Mountain took the momentum and Murphy made its mistakes.  Then Murphy came back with power and vengeance to remain in control of the game with some plays that thrilled fans and on-lookers.  For a moment you could think of Andy Griffith commentating the game … Friends, I seen that evenin’ the awfulest fight that I ever have seen in all my life!  They would run at one -another and kick one- another and throw one another down.  And stomp on one another and grind their feet in one another and I don’t know what-all.  And just as fast as one of ’em would get hurt, they’d take him off and run another one on! (What it Was, Was Football, November 1953).

After the Bulldogs and Mustangs finished “odd man,” Murphy won the toss and deferred to the second half.  The kick-off to Smoky Mountain illustrated the sheer athletic ability of Mustang Senior Wide Receiver Da’Mare Williams.  After the opening kick was made, Williams returned for a 90-yard touchdown run that appeared to suck the wind out of Murphy’s sails.  To match the ace served by Smoky Mountain, Murphy used only two plays to go 60 yards in 29 seconds to the end zone with a pass play from Bulldog Sophomore Quarterback Brady Grant to Kenyon Nichols for a 40-yard touchdown to tie the score.  After regaining the lead, Murphy was able to run from one end of that “cow pasture” without getting knocked down or steppin’ in something, to follow the Griffith monologue.

Get a Big Orange and Let’s Tell You About the Rest

Murphy scored on most possessions leading up to the halftime break.  With 4:15 remaining in the First Quarter, Brady Grant went on a 10-yard run to the end zone to post the second Murphy touchdown.  Will Joyner hit the Point After Touchdown (PAT) field goal. This gave the lead to the Bulldogs who never looked back.  Smoky Mountain marched 68 yards for its next score on eight plays in 2:49 with an Isaiah McNeely 26-yard run.  The Mustangs missed the PAT to trail 14-to-13 with 1:20 remaining in the quarter.  Murphy was efficient with its next possession after Ryan Payne returned the kickoff 60 yards to the Mustang 25 yard-line.  Senior Running Back Hunter Stalcup cruised to Touchdown Town on a 4-yard run and Joyner lifted the PAT through the uprights.  To begin the Second Quarter Murphy led 21-to-13.

Murphy continued to grind their feet into Smoky Mountain with one of its longest possessions.  Taking 4:12 to work out 11 plays for 61 yards that flagged the Bulldogs twice and the Mustangs once, Freshman Cameron Clem floated to the end zone for the fourth touchdown.  Joyner parked the PAT to give Murphy a 28-to13 lead.  Going to the next touchdown, the Bulldog defense did its worst to the Mustangs.  Charlie Graves, Kadence Leatherwood, and Will Joyner sacked Mustang Sophomore Quarterback Kavan Wilson three total times.  Hunter Stalcup also intercepted a Wilson pass and returned the ball for nearly 40 yards.  The half looked like it would safely end and spiraled to Smoky Mountain after the Mustangs blocked a punt from Murphy’s Will Joyner.  Smoky Mountain took over with :35 remaining at the Murphy 21 yard-line.  Wilson lifted a 21-yard pass to Jayce Stillwell for a touchdown.  Da’Mare Williams ran the two-point conversion to make the score Murphy 28 Smoky Mountain 21.  Murphy had one more possession with 30.3 seconds from its 35 yard-line after the kick-off went out of bounds.  Murphy wound run down the clock on four plays in 28 seconds to go 65 yards for a final score with a pass from Grant to Stalcup.  Joyner made good again on the PAT.  The halftime score was Murphy 35 Smoky Mountain 21.

Second Half – Mustang Miscues and Convicts (Referees) Throw the Flag

Murphy is confident starting the second half but mishandled the ball to fumble to Smoky Mountain on the first play out of the break.  Stopping the Mustangs came on another quarterback sack and a Ryan Payne interception.  The Bulldogs wasted no time to go 52 yards in 1:28 on four plays to score on a Brady Grant keeper.  Joyner makes good on the PAT.  Three plays later Smoky Mountain punts back to Murphy.  The Bulldogs keep the ball eight plays before turning it over on downs.  Murphy’s Charlie Graves foils the Mustangs next possession with a sack that backs up Smoky Mountain six yards for a second down and 16 yards to go for a first down.  This Mustang possession ends up in a punt back to Murphy.  The Bulldogs again march down the field in eight plays in 3:33 for 59 yards for touchdown.  This possession penalized Smoky Mountain and Murphy for a face mask and unsportsmanlike conduct call respectively by the officials.  Brady Grant was able to launch a 20-yard pass play to Hunter Stalcup for a touchdown to open the Fourth Quarter.  With 11:54 remaining in the Fourth Quarter, Murphy led 49-to-21.

Smoky Mountain and Murphy would hang on to the ball and melt the clock through the beginning moments of the Fourth Quarter.  The Bulldogs landed a sack on the Smoky Mountain quarterback for the seventh time after allowing Murphy’s Camden Breazeale to jump through the line.  The loss of 11 yards was more than the Mustangs could stand and turned the ball over to Murphy.  The Bulldogs were unable to cross the field using most of their substitutes and punted to the Mustangs.  Smoky Mountain scored a final time without a PAT to end the game Murphy 49 Smoky Mountain 27.

I seen thirty or forty men come a-runnin’ out of one end of a great big out house down there and everybody where I was a-settin’ got up and hollered! And I asked this fella that was a sittin’ beside of me, “Friend, what is it that they’re a-hollerin’ for?” (Griffith)

The Smoky Mountain win for Murphy is a good game to help restore some confidence and fundamental play needed after losing to Commerce (GA) 56-to-13 two weeks ago.  Murphy scored seven touchdowns; three by Hunter Stalcup; two by Brady Grant; one by Cameron Clem; and one by Kenyon Nichols.  Seven of seven PATs were scored by Will Joyner.  Seven sacks on the SMH quarterback, most of which were by Charlie Graves and a host of other Bulldogs.  That’s not a bad night according to Murphy Head Football Coach Joseph Watson.

The Smoky Mountain is not a push over team.  The defense worked diligently to stop the Mustangs offensive attack.  Murphy Junior Linebacker Kadence Leatherwood says the Bulldogs did well but still have a few wrinkles to iron out before Fannin County comes to town this coming week.

Murphy Quarterback Brady Grant is pleased with the Bulldog’s offensive performance.  It was a tough game with Smoky Mountain and the Bulldogs will have a few things to build upon this coming week for Fannin County according to Grant.

Ticket Please

Before the young man comes to get us because it is we don’t have a ticket for this coming week’s game with Fannin County (GA) yet.  The Rebels will be similar with its style of play compared to the Smoky Mountain High Mustangs, which is the spread, pass, and zone run.  Fannin County has been led by Juniors Carson Callihan with nearly 150 yards per game rushing and Junior Quarterback Lawson Sullivan with 120 yards per game.  Sullivan and Callihan have six touchdowns each going into Friday night (September 8, 2023).  Junior Brayden Taylor is a favored receiver for the Rebels.  Murphy fans will not forget the chilling night the Bulldogs lost to Fannin County 56-to-30 last season.  It was a game that went out of control and in the Rebel’s favor early.  It was also the second night where a Bulldog starter, Will Johnson, suffered a season-ending knee injury.  Prior to that game, Senior Ty Laney broke his leg in the South Pittsburg game.  This year, Fannin County may be just as tough.  More details will come this week on Friday night’s game (September 15, 2023).

Helping your draw the connections to “What it Was, Was Football,” I dropped a link to the entire Andy Griffith monologue.  I hope you enjoy the good humor, and it brings a smile to your face the next time you watch these young men fight over a tough little punkin’ and avoid steppin’ in something beyond the reach of a great big outhouse.  So have another big orange and stay connected to Team FYN Sports this week for more Smoky Mountain Conference football.