Kobe Toineeta scores on this 20 yard pass from Trent Wright.
Bryson City – Raider owner Al Davis used to say “Just win baby”. Friday’s win by the Maroon Devils was one that, perhaps only, Al Davis could love. In a game that featured 11 combined turnovers and a whopping 193 of combined penalty yardage the Devils took a 28-14 win to advance to the 3rd round of the NCHSAA 1AA Playoffs.
Jordan Cody put the Maroon Devils in the lead, before the Swain offense had even taken a snap. Cody snatched an Avery punt and raced 81 yards for the first score of the game. The 81 yard punt return is a modern day school record. Cooper Reinert kicked the extra point to give Swain a 7-0 lead with 9:32 left in the first quarter.
Following an Avery touchdown, which tied the game just as the 2nd quarter opened, the Devils answered and took the lead for good. Spencer McCoy scored on a 12 yard run with 4:06 left in the 2nd quarter. Just before the half, Trent Wright hit Kobe Toineeta for a 20 yard touchdown pass. Following Reinert’s two extra points the Devils lead 21-7 at the half.
Avery scored as the third period opened to cut the lead to 21-14. Late in the third period the Maroon Devils defense got on the scoreboard. Angel Bowers scooped up an Avery fumble and raced to the endzone from 7 yards out. Reinert again booted putting the Devils up 28-14.
Quarterback Trent Wright turns up field for a big gain in the Devils win
Swain lost 5 fumbles on the night, while the Vikings lost 3, to go along with 3 interceptions. The Maroon Devils tallied 108 penalty yards, more than enough to stifle any kind of offensive flow they could manage on the night.
Spencer McCoy paced the Devils with 48 yards rushing on 6 attempts, Chris Miller added 43 yards on 10 carries as Swain finished with 176 yards rushing.
With the win the Maroon Devils advance to play #3 seed Whiteville.