SYLVA, WNC – The threat of lightning delayed the start of Friday’s non-conference matchup with Smoky Mountain for approximately 45 minutes. Once the game started the Devils used a thunder and lightning offense to pound out 497 total yards and seven touchdowns. Swain totally dominated the game from start to finish to record their 5th straight win over Smoky Mountain, this time by the score of 48-6.
Matthew Maennle and Greg Tisho gave the Mustang faithful a precursor of what they were in for when the duo hooked up for the first touchdown of the game on the first offensive play of the game. Maennle took a reverse handoff from quarterback Raymius Smith, then deftly pulled up and threw a strike to a wide up Tisho for a 73 yard touchdown pass. Swain would miss the extra point giving them a 6-0 lead.
For the remainder of the half the Devils offense went to work putting together workman like drives of seven, eight, and 12 plays. Two of those drives were capped off by touchdown runs from senior running back Garrett Lane. Lane’s first covered four yards and the second was a 35 yard scamper.
Swain’s other first half touchdowns came on a Raymius Smith passes. First Smith found Greg Tisho for a nine yard strike. Later he hooked up with Matthew Maennle for a 20 yard touchdown.
Swain took a 34-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. In the second half Blake Wright and Sean Webb added two more touchdown runs for the final margin. Colyn Petty connected on six extra point attempts.
On the whole it was hard to tell which was more impressive, a Maroon Devils offense that was equally devastating on the ground and through the air amassing a 497 yards of total offense. Or a stingy Devils defense that allowed only 116 yards of total offense from the Mustangs, much of that coming long after the starters had taken a seat for the Devils.
Raymius Smith paced the Maroon Devil offense with 74 yards rushing to go along with an impressive 8 of 14 for 163 yards through the air. Matthew Maennle had six catches for 145 yards and a touchdown, he also threw for another touchdown.
Greg Tisho had three catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns.
This week the Devils will return home as they host Gatlinburg-Pittman High School from Tennessee. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 from Swain County Memorial Stadium.