Bryson City – The Maroon Devils notched their 20th straight home playoff win this past Friday with a 40-13 win over Hayesville. Swain ran out to a 27-0 halftime lead and never looked back in taking their second win of the season over the Jackets.
Taking the opening kickoff the Maroon Devils marched 67 yards on 9 plays to score on a Gabe Lillard 4 yard run. The point after failed leaving the score 6-0.
The Swain defense, which was stingy all night, struck the next blow for the Devils. Hayesville mounted a drive, but sophomore Josh Collins stepped in front of a Yellow Jacket pass and raced 78 yards for a lighting quick Maroon Devil touchdown. Gavin Lanning made good on the extra point to put Swain in front 13-0.
Points came fast and furious after the defensive touchdown. Gabe Lillard Donnavin Groenewold with a 17 yard touchdown pass. The Lanning to Groenewold strike capped an 11 play 71 yard drive. Lillard would strike again with 10 seconds remaining before the half, he found Cooper Hyatt for a 20 yard touchdown pass. Hyatt made, what is becoming his trademark, another sensational catch in the endzone for the score. Lanning made good on both extra points to give the Devils a 27-0 lead going into the locker room at the half.
Lillard added another touchdown on the ground, this time from 16 yards out. The Lillard run capped a 6 play 62 yard drive and left the Devils on top 34-0.
Dawson Fuller closed the scoring for Swain with a 16 yard run of his own with 2:39 left in the game.
Gabe Lillard was 5 of 7 for 79 yards through the air with a pair of touchdown passes. On the ground Lillard added 66 yards on 11 carries and 2 rushing touchdowns. Carson Taylor had 54 yards on 7 carries. Groenewold and Hyatt had a pair of catches each, and each caught a touchdown pass.
On defense the Devils had 3 interceptions by Josh Collins, Gabe Lillard and Nathan Bogdanowicz. Carson Taylor and Lucas Sutton each had 13 tackles.
Swain will travel to Mitchell this Friday for the 2nd round of the NCHSAA 1A Playoffs.