Andrews – For the second straight week the Maroon Devils found themselves squaring off with a top 5 ranked team. The Andrews Wildcats came into the night as the State’s 4th ranked 1A team. Realistically, that is life in the Smoky Mountain Conference. Andrews rode a strong running game to a 33-7 win over the Devils.
For the game the Wildcats outrushed the Devils 240 yards to 40. After a scoreless first quarter the Wildcats became opportunistic in the second quarter.
A defensive interception set the Cats up with ideal field position at the Devils 33 yard line. It took 8 plays but Isaac Weaver took it over from the 4 yard line for the first score of the game.
The Devils answered with a promising drive that took them to the Wildcat 28 yard line. But the drive would stall out as the Maroon Devils turned the ball over on downs. Andrews, on the first play following, threw one of their lone passes on the night covering 61 yards and effectively flipping the field. Austin Martin would carry it over from 3 yards out for the Wildcats second score.
After the kickoff the Devils went three and out, punting the ball back to the Cats, who set up shop on their own 36 yard line. Seven plays later Isaac Weaver would plunge over from the one to put the Wildcats up 21-0.
The real back breaking for the Devils came as the third quarter opened. Swain, after receiving the second half kickoff, was picked off by Donovan Bateman who weaved his way 45 yards for another Wildcat touchdown, and putting Andrews up 27-0 before most folks had returned to their seats following halftime.
On their next possession the Devils went three and out and were forced to punt from their own 12 yard line. Andrews took over at the Swain 49 yard line. It took Andrews 12 plays to find the endzone again, this time on a Austin Martin 1 yard run.
The Maroon Devils lone score would come in the fourth quarter. Swain forced Andrews to punt. The punt was shanked to the right, where Cole Wikle caught it in the air and went untouched for a 35 yard touchdown run. Oliver Reyes knocked home the extra point.
Blake Sain paced a busy Maroon Devils defense with a game high 12 tackles, Josh Collins added 10 tackles and Gabe Lillard had 8. Despite giving up 240 yards rushing the Devil defense did not give up a 100 yards to a rusher, although Andrews had both of their backs averaging over 100 yards per game.