The most successful boys soccer season in Hayesville history ended Thursday night in Charlotte, as the Yellow Jackets fell 6-1 to No. 8 Bradford Prep in the second round of the NCHSAA 2A West playoffs. Bradford Prep (13-10-1) struck four times in the first half to take a 4-0 lead into the break, then added two more goals in the second half. Hayesville got on the board after halftime for its lone goal of the night. The loss closes the book on a milestone fall for the Yellow Ja

The Orlando Solar Bears defeated the Atlanta Gladiators 1-0 on Tuesday morning at Kia Center in the Solar Bears’ School Day Game. Orlando netminder Ryan Bednard recorded a 29 save shutout to lift the Solar Bears past the Gladiators in a physical morning matchup. Following their big 5-2 win over the Stingrays at North Charleston Coliseum on Sunday, the Gladiators got up early for a 10:30 AM game in Orlando in their first meeting with the Solar Bears this season. Atlanta entere

(Photo by Scott Terry) By: Chandler Davis Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Communications Young Harris College women's soccer had six student-athletes recognized in the 2026 Conference Carolinas All-Conference selections, highlighted by one First Team selection, four Second Team honorees and one Third Team recipient. The recognition reflects another strong season for the Mountain Lions, who finished fourth in the conference standings and secured a spot in the Confer

Western Carolina sophomore placekicker Bryan McCollum was today named the Southern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after scoring nine points, including the game-winning field goal in Saturday’s 27-26 road win at Furman. McCollum, who also earned the honor on Sept. 21, claimed the third SoCon weekly award of his WCU career after earning the distinction following his collegiate debut at VMI a season ago. The SoCon's weekly honors are selected by the league office

Jaxon Prunty matched the game-high with 18 points and Jaeden Roberts added 17 as Western Carolina twice trimmed a second-half deficit to a single point, but North Carolina used a late surge to fend off the Catamounts 80-72 Monday night in the 2026-27 season opener at the Dean Smith Center. WCU twice closed within a point of the Tar Heels in the second half but could never seize the lead. Prunty sank a jumper in the paint at the 6:18 mark to pull the Catamounts back within t

(Photo by Travis Dockery) Freshman Brady Mendoza tracks down a pass just in time to keep it from a Bulldog defender. Hayesville scored early and late Monday, beating Albemarle 4-2 in the first round of the NCHSAA 2A West boys soccer playoffs at Frank R. Long Memorial Stadium — a record-setting win in the final event held at the stadium before the installation of new turf. The victory was the Yellow Jackets' 13th of the season, breaking the program's single-season wins record

Photo by Jessica Hughes The HHS Yellow Jackets earn the smiles as they clinch a chance at a state championship. From left, Ian Herrada, Jackson Dye, Gage Brown, Parker Hughes, Garrison Boyer, Porter Hood, Evan Burks, Brandon Rivera-Prieto and Eli Cheek. The Hayesville boys cross country team is headed to the state championship, and freshman Makenna Moss is going with them. Hayesville's boys finished fourth in the team standings Saturday, Oct. 31, at the NCHSAA 2A West Regiona

Hayesville's regular season ended in heartbreak Friday, Oct.30, but the Yellow Jackets' season isn't over. Andrews scored in overtime to beat Hayesville 28-21 and close out the regular season, but when the NCHSAA released its playoff brackets Saturday, the Jackets (1-8) landed the No. 22 seed in the 2A West field — and a first-round trip to No. 11 Cherokee on Friday, Nov. 6. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Ray Kinsland Stadium. Friday night's finale at Andrews had plenty of f

Bryan McCollum drilled a 36-yard field goal with four seconds remaining Saturday afternoon as Western Carolina rallied in the closing moments to defeat snakebitten Furman 27-26 in Southern Conference action at Paladin Stadium. After Furman's Nate Chapman connected on his fourth field goal of the day to give the Paladins a 26-24 lead with 1:55 remaining, Catamount quarterback Lex Thomas calmly guided a nine-play, 58-yard drive. The march was sparked by a career-long 31-yard

By Guy Chiarenza Press Release The Atlanta Gladiators defeated the South Carolina Stingrays 5-2 on Sunday afternoon at North Charleston Coliseum. Mike McNamee (2g, 2a), Ben Strinden (1g, 3a) and Austin Roest (1g, 2a) led the way for the Gladiators as they handed the Stingrays their first loss of the season. After a 4-3 overtime loss in Jacksonville on Saturday, the Gladiators continued on to North Charleston for their fourth game of the road trip and the first meeting with th

Hayesville football closes its season Friday, Oct. 30, at Andrews at 7:30 p.m., with both teams hunting their first Smoky Mountain Conference win of the year. The Yellow Jackets (1-7, 0-5 Smoky Mountain Conference) ride a five-game losing streak into the finale after last Friday's 42-12 loss to Murphy. Hayesville has scored 80 points this season while allowing 344. Andrews (0-8, 0-5) sits one spot below Hayesville in the conference standings and is still looking for its first

The ECHL announced on Wednesday that former Gladiators forward and all-time leading goal, assist, and point scorer, Derek Nesbitt, will be inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame as a member of the 2027 Hall of Fame Class alongside Matt Hendricks and Jeff Jakaitis. The 2027 ECHL Hall of Fame ceremony, presented by BFL CANADA and Sutton Special Risk, will take place at 5:00 p.m. MT on Tuesday, January 27, 2027 at the Grove Hotel Ballroom. The three will be formally inducted as the

Press Release Safe Pet Project is thrilled to announce that its 2nd Annual Tales of Hope Gala, held on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Brasstown Valley Resort, raised over $7,500 to support local animal welfare programs. The evening brought together community members, leaders, local business partners, and animal advocates for a festive celebration featuring an Appalachian-inspired dinner, live acoustic music by Steve Vaclavik, and a bustling auction boasting over 50 unique items donate

The Hayesville boys soccer team kept rolling Monday, shutting out Tri-County Early College 5-0 in a Smoky Mountain Conference match at Frank R. Long Memorial Stadium. The Yellow Jackets (11-5) won their fourth straight match and completed a season sweep of the Jaguars, having also won the first meeting 3-0 on Sept. 23. Tri-County (1-15) was held scoreless in the loss. Hayesville is back home Wednesday, Oct. 28, hosting Murphy at 4 p.m. for the final regular-season match. SMC

(Photo by Deango Motorsports Photography) Jim Exum was the Driver of the Night, picking up a pair of checkered flags to close the season. Press Release Jim Exum of Murphy charged from 15th starting position to win the 100-lap Enduro, the special event of the night, as Tri-County Racetrack closed its 2026 season Saturday, Oct. 24. Exum, driving the No. 48, took the checkered flag ahead of Jacob Ward of Seneca, S.C., with Jason Coates of Murphy third. Chase Leitner of Murphy fi

Daniel Hooker Press Release Cullowhee, N.C. – AJ Colombo provided a Homecoming spark with an 86-yard punt return touchdown that briefly gave Western Carolina the lead late in the first half, but Chattanooga used a ball-control rushing attack and capitalized on two fourth-quarter turnovers to pull away for a 41-18 victory Saturday afternoon in front of 11,889 fans at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. The Mocs rushed for 295 yards and five touchdowns while scoring 31

By Guy Chiarenza Press Release The Florida Everblades defeated the Atlanta Gladiators 4-2 on Saturday night at Hertz Arena. Florida forward Devon Paliani recorded a hat trick to help the Everblades erase a two goal deficit. The Gladiators met the Everblades for the second time on the weekend and after falling 5-0 on Friday night, were in search of a bounce back performance on Saturday to earn a weekend split. T.J. Semptimphelter started in net for the Gladiators, while Cam Jo

By Travis Dockery Sportswriter HAYESVILLE, N.C. — Murphy scored 42 unanswered points after an early Hayesville touchdown and rolled past the Yellow Jackets 42-12 on Senior Night, Friday, Oct. 23, at Frank R. Long Memorial Stadium. The Yellow Jackets struck first when Kabe Shaheen scored on a 1-yard run, though the extra-point try was blocked, leaving Hayesville up 6-0. It was all Bulldogs from there. Cameron Clem scored on touchdown runs of 1, 27 and 4 yards to lead Murphy. A

Cullowhee, NC – Freshman Ashlyn Cobb posted a career-high offensive night as Western Carolina volleyball opened Homecoming weekend with a straight-set win over Mercer in Southern Conference home action on Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center. The Catamounts earned their second straight sweep of the season, 25-23, 25-23, 25-15. As a team, WCU posted season highs in a three-set match, with 45 kills on a .315 attack percentage and 42 assists in the win. The Catamounts handed Mercer

By Greg Hartlage Press Release Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina's mid-February men's basketball matchup against chromatic rival Furman on Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center was among two Catamount games earmarked for national television as part of the Southern Conference's 19-game regular-season broadcast schedule announced Thursday, just days before the opening of the 2026-27 regular season. The SoCon package features a modern-era high of 15 regular-season men's basketball