In a thrilling Smoky Mountain Conference matchup, the Hayesville Yellow Jackets secured a 12-7 victory over the Swain County Maroon Devils on Friday night, snapping a three-game losing streak and improving to 2-5 on the season.
The game was tightly contested throughout, with the Jackets striking first late in the second quarter when running back Trey Graves found the end zone on a 9-yard run.
However, Swain County's defense held strong on the two-point conversion attempt, leaving Hayesville with a 6-0 halftime lead.
The Maroon Devils, still searching for their first win of the season, battled back in the fourth quarter. With 11:23 left in the game, Swain County quarterback Rocky Barker tied the score with a 10-yard touchdown run, followed by a successful extra point from Brendon Lanning to put the Maroon Devils ahead 7-6.
Hayesville responded just minutes later, as quarterback Lance Coker connected with wide receiver Michael Mauney for a stunning 66-yard touchdown pass with 9:58 remaining, silencing the Bryson City crowd. The Jackets' attempt for a two-point conversion failed, but the 12-7 lead held as the defense stepped up to shut down Swain County for the rest of the game.
With the win, Hayesville heads into their next matchup against the Cherokee Braves (4-3) with renewed confidence. Cherokee is coming off a dominant 27-0 victory over Andrews and will pose a tough challenge for the Jackets on Friday, October 18.
The Swain County Maroon Devils, still seeking their first win of the season, drop to 0-6. They’ll travel to face the Murphy Bulldogs (6-1), who are fresh off a hard-fought 14-7 win over Robbinsville.
For Hayesville, the victory was a morale booster, showcasing their resilience and ability to execute big plays when it mattered most.
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