Sylva – Swain entered last Friday’s showdown, with Smoky Mountain, in search of their 1st win of the season and hoping to figure out who they are as a team. When the night ended on the shinny new turf found a big time answer to question number 2, but we’re denied their first win of the season.
The two teams saved their best fireworks for the 4th quarter. Entering the final quarter the Mustangs had a 15-6 lead, but that was essentially just the start of the show.
Swain opened the 4th quarter by moving the ball 75 yards in 6 plays to get back to within 15-13. Junior Seth Parker made a juggling acrobatic catch, from a pass by Brodie Bowman, and then out ran the defense for a 49 yard Maroon Devil touchdown to cap the drive.
Following a Smoky stalled drive that resulted in a punt, the Maroon Devils drove all the way to the Smoky 8 yard line looking to take the lead. But Smoky broke the hearts of the Devils faithful by falling on a Maroon Devil fumble. Then the Mustangs proceeded to drive the ball 92 yards on only 6 plays. Smoky culminated the drive with Matthew Ridley 6 yard touchdown run,his 2nd of the game. The extra point put the Mustangs ahead 21-13, and looked every bit like they had put the Devils away for good.
The Mustang touchdown combined with injuries to experienced players, should have been enough excuse or reason for the young Maroon Devil squad to have given in the Mustangs.
But, as mentioned earlier, the Maroon Devils were seeking to find out who they are as a team. And what followed was something magical, something, well, for lack of a better word, something special.
With only 1:21 remaining in the game, the Maroon Devil’s young and unproven team proceeded to march 59 yards on 9 plays.
Junior quarterback Brodie Bowman scampered 15 yards and dove across the goal line with no time remaining on the clock. The Bowman run left the Devils a two-point conversion shy of tying the game.
In the end, the Devils two point attempt fell just short. But their effort was everything, everything the Maroon Nation has come to look for in a Maroon Devil team. Heart, determination, and a never quit attitude.
Brodie Bowman turned in a career night finishing 12 of 19 for 258 yards and a touchdown, Bowman added another score on the ground. Seth Parker added a career night of his own with 6 catches for 165 yards and a score.
Joining Bowman and Parker was kicker Holden Petty. Petty made good on two field goals, one of 30 yards and one of 21 yards, and an extra point.
On defense Dawson Lowe paced Swain with 11 tackles, while Wren Gunter had 6.
While there was plenty for the Devil’s and their coaches to focus on, two red zone fumbles and being gashed for 315 yards on the ground by Smoky’s Matthew Ridley, there was also plenty to build on for these Devils.