It’s a Star-Spangled Rodeo for More than Stalcup By Brandon Stephens   (Murphy) – – There is a reason a reference is made about Hunter Stalcup being the Rhinestone Cowboy. Stalcup has been rushing the ball so long; singing the same ole song (15 yards per carry and touchdown); he knows every crack in the […]

Nothing Gold Can Stay – Robert Frost Didn’t Know the Bulldogs   By Brandon Stephens   (Murphy) – – The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton) greasers and socs rumble reminds some of us the preparations most high school football teams are making this week for the six-week journey to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) […]

Stalcup Powers the Murphy Offense with Four Touchdowns   By Brandon Stephens   (Cherokee) – – The Murphy (7-3, 3-2) is rolling into the playoffs with a 35-to-12 conference win over the Cherokee Braves (5-5, 1-4) at Ray Kinsland Stadium Friday night (October 27). The Bulldogs were powered by the rush and pass reception skill […]

  Ti-li-v-ni-ga – GATA   By Brandon Stephens   (Cherokee) – – Cherokee Braves Coach Tim Hawkins and Murphy Bulldog Coach Joseph Watson are firing up their teams for the last game of the regular season.  The Bulldogs over the years have had a four lettered mechanism to instill that fired up football-playing spirit, which […]

Stalcup and Rose lead their teams to the End Zone   By Brandon Stephens   (Andrews) – – The streaks are over for Murphy (6-3, 2-2) and continue for Andrews (4-5, 0-4).  Murphy ended the two-game losing streak with a win and the three-game losing streak to Andrews, which dated back to 2021.  Andrews nearly […]

Gotta Win for the Bulldogs and the Wildcats   By Brandon Stephens   (Andrews) – – Gotta Win!  That is the thought of both Murphy (5-3, 1-2) and Andrews Wildcats (4-4, 0-3) this week for various reasons.  Since last season the Andrews found ways to win over Murphy and ended the long winless streak in […]

Swain County’s Josh Collins – The Rumpelstiltskin Turns Three Runs into Touchdown Gold in the Fourth Quarter and has 265 Yards Rushing   By Brandon Stephens   (Bryson City) – – Swain County’s Maroon Devils (8-0, 3-0) are undefeated after a 37-to-13 win over the Murphy Bulldogs (5-3,1-2).  Murphy and Swain battled diligently through three […]

Cuttler Adams Delivers Plays that are Dynomite!   By Brandon Stephens   (Murphy) – – Now people that is a good football game, a common expression you hear as the Murphy (5-2, 1-1) and Robbinsville (6-1, 2-0) game is coming to a close or ended Friday night at Bob Hendrix Stadium/David Gentry Field.  Maybe if […]

Fans Look Forward to a Tough Contest Between the Bulldogs and Yellow Jackets   By Brandon Stephens   (Murphy) – – This Smoky Mountain Conference opener does not present any easy path to the next game.  If it’s anything like the 2022 meeting in Hayesville, fans that go to the game and pay admission will […]

Murphy’s Will Joyner and Will Shore Contribute to Murphy’s Final Non-Conference Win Murphy 51 New Faith Christian Academy 14   By Brandon Stephens   (Murphy) – – Where there is a Murphy “Will” there is a way to make big plays.  Murphy’s Senior Kicker is taking bigger roles and action on the field above and […]

One More Non-Conference Game until Conference Game Begin – Murphy Observes Homecoming   By Brandon Stephens   (Murphy) – – Murphy (3-1) is on a two-game win streak and will work to build its defense and offensive execution this week to prepare for Smoky Mountain Conference (SMC) competition that will start next week.  One more […]

Bulldog Defense Key to 21-to-14 Win – Here Comes the Payne   By Brandon Stephens (Murphy) – – Murphy Free Safety/Wide Receiver Ryan Payne is the cornerstone of the (Murphy) Bulldogs, 3-1, defense that held off the Fannin County (GA) 2-2 in a close 21-to-14 win over the Rebels.  The first half of the game […]

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 […]

TC Roberson’s PJ Deshauters is a Terror on Both Side of the Ball…Smoky Mountain is Next Opponent for Murphy   By Brandon Stephens   (Sylva) – – Dodge trucks are not the only thing that’s Ram tough.  Science says a Ram can hit other animals and objects with a minimum of 800 pounds of force […]