Bryson City – The Maroon Devils gameplan heading into Friday’s showdown with Cherokee was simple, but extremely effective. Keep the ball away from the potent Braves offense, and when they got the ball limit them to only what they gained, no yards after the catch or rushing. Swain executed their gameplan to perfection, on both fronts, taking a tough 28-0 win, in a game that was stopped due to weather with 10:43 remaining in the 4th quarter.
The senior backfield of Brody Sitton and Derek Fortner combined for a punishing 224 yards on 32 carries. Sitton would finish with a game high 134 yards on 14 carries, while Fortner pounded and bulled his way to 80 yards on 18 carries. Swain threw only 2 passes for the game, both complete. Brodie Bowman hit Jordan Cody for a 4 yard gain, and Kobe Stephenson hit Caleb Woodard for a 59 yard touchdown.
On defense the Devils limited the Braves talented quarterback Tye Mintz to 120 yards passing on 12 of 22 passes. Perhaps more importantly the Devil’s limited Cherokee to only 40 yards rushing. Trae Bradley and Issiah Bradley each had 6 tackles, while Ross Ensley and Clayton Catolster each had 5. Jordan Cody registered an interception.
The stars of the game though were the Devils offensive lineman, who continually controlled the line of scrimmage. Tight ends Caleb Woodard, Chandler Norton, and Kobe Stephenson; Tackles Jake Marr, Corbin Wildcatt, Jonathan White, and William Paul; Guards Craig Cutshaw and Ryan Long and center J.T. Langston, pounded their way to 290 yards of total offense (in 3 quarters), 15 first downs and a 2 to 1 time of possession advantage.