BRYSON CITY, WNC – The defending 1AA State Champions opened the 2012 season last Friday night. Swain played host to a strong East Henderson squad that featured three legitimate division I college football prospects. Friday’s opening contest for both squads turned into a tale of two halves. Swain had to erase a 14-0 halftime deficit to take a hard fought 28-21 win.
The Maroon Devils dug themselves a 14 point hole in the first half. Swain looked nervious and anxious in the first half. Offensively the Devils produced next to nothing, with only one first down and -6 yards rushing to their credit in the game’s first 24 minutes.
East took full advantage scoring their first touchdown with 5:28 remaining in the first quarter. The Eagles mounted a seven play 70 yard drive. East quarterback Seth Owen found tight end Tyler Sexton on a 25 yard touchdown pass to put the Eagles on top 7-0.
The Maroon Devils dodged a bullet in the second quarter. East drove to the Swain 32 before senior Sean Webb intercepted an Eagles pass on the Devils one yard line. One possession later the Eagles took over following an interception of their own on the Swain 35 yard line. Two plays later Logan Jones carried it in from three yards out to give East a 14-0 lead heading into intermission.
After being limited to negative rushing yards in the first half the Devils found some running lanes in the second half. Swain quarterback Raymius Smith broke lose for a 29 yard run on the Devils second possession of the third quarter. The nifty Smith run game the Devils a first down on the East eight yard line. Two plays later Smith found Greg Tisho for a five yard touchdown pass. Colyn Petty hit the extra point to cut the East lead to seven at 14-7.
On the Devils next possession senior running back Garrett Lane had two huge plays that accounted for 41 yard on the Devils 87 yard drive. First Smith hit Lane, on a screen pass, for a 15 yard gain on a third and 11 to go play. Then Lane broke through a hole and ran for 26 yards deep into East territory. Later in the drive the Devils had a first and goal from the East four yard line. Lane took the ball into the endzone but lost possession as he crossed, Matthew Maennle jumped on it for the Devils second score of the night. After Petty’s extra point the Devils tied the score at 14.
On East’s next possession quarterback Seth Owen raced 70 yards to put the Eagles in scoring position down to the Swain 10 yard line. Two plays later Owen carried it in to put East back on top 21-14.
To open the fourth quarter the now red hot Maroon Devil offense continued to roll. A mere three plays into the quarter the Devils tied the game again. This time quarterback Raymius Smith found Greg Tisho open behind the defense for a 64 yard touchdown strike. Petty’s extra point tied the game at 21.
After trading possessions the Devils took over the ball with 6:36 remaining in the game. The Devils marched 74 yards on 7 plays. With 3:50 left in the game Garret Lane scored on a two yard run to give Swain their first lead of the game at 28-21.
Lane finished with a team high 76 yards and a touchdown. Raymius Smith in his first start as a Maroon Devil was 11 for 21 for 136 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for an additional 51 yards. Greg Tisho had six catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns. Matthew Maennle added 147 yards in return yardage.
The Maroon Devils travel to Smoky Mountain this Friday. Smoky fell to Cherokee in their season opener and will be looking for their first win of the season. Kickoff is slated for 7:30.