Bryson City – The impossible stretch of games for the Maroon Devils ended Friday night. Swain played the top three teams in the SMC over a span of 8 days, leaving 2 days of prep for 1st place Robbinsville and another 2 days of prep for Cherokee. The after effects were on full display Friday as a clearly mentally fatigued Maroon Devil squad dropped the season finale to rival Cherokee by the score of 36-7.
For a team and program that has long prided itself on its meticulous preparation for games it was painfully obvious that the Devils did not have the normal amount of time for game prep. That combined with a very good Cherokee team was not a good combination.
In extremely wet field conditions the Braves offense finished with 324 yards of total offense, including 256 rushing yards. While the Maroon Devils had 210 yards of total offense, with 180 of that coming on the ground.
Swain shot themselves in the foot to the tune of a season high 15 penalties and 3 fumbles, proving my point of mental fatigue.
Carson Taylor rushed for a team high 10 carries for 63 yards. Gabe Lillard rushed for 43 yards and was 5 of 13 through the air for 30 yards. Donnavin Groenewold had 3 catches while Cooper Hyatt had 2, both receivers finished with 15 yards.
Taylor also tallied a game high 12 tackles on defense, while Connor Driver finished with 7 for the Devils.