2025 Hayesville Yellow Jackets Football Preview: A Season of Resilience and Rising Stars

The Hayesville High School Yellow Jackets are gearing up for an exciting 2025 football season in the Smoky Mountain Conference (SMC), looking to build on their 4-8 overall record and 2-4 conference mark from 2024. Despite falling in the second round of the state playoffs last year, the Yellow Jackets showed flashes of brilliance and are poised to make waves with a mix of returning talent and a challenging schedule.

Offense: Tre Graves Takes the Helm

Hayesville’s offense will feel the loss of key playmakers Michael Mauney, Ben Bethel, and Dawson Devane, but all eyes are on dynamic running back Tre Graves. The senior standout is a leading candidate for SMC Player of the Year, bringing explosive speed and vision to the backfield. Graves’ ability to break tackles and turn short gains into big plays will be critical as Hayesville navigates a tough slate of games. The Yellow Jackets will lean on Graves to set the tone, but developing depth at quarterback and wide receiver will be key to keeping defenses honest.Defense: Will Brown Anchors the LineOn the defensive side, senior lineman Will Brown returns as a force to be reckoned with. Brown, who averaged 5.5 tackles per game in 2024, is the cornerstone of a defensive front that aims to disrupt opposing offenses. His leadership and physicality will be vital, especially in conference matchups against run-heavy SMC foes like Robbinsville, Swain County, and Murphy. The Yellow Jackets’ defense will need to gel quickly to replace departed seniors and contain the high-powered offenses they’ll face.

2025 Schedule: A Test of Mettle

Hayesville’s 2025 schedule is a gauntlet, featuring a mix of non-conference challenges and fierce SMC rivalries. The season kicks off on August 22 with a road trip to face Asheville School, followed by a home opener against Enka on August 29. The Yellow Jackets then travel to Copper Basin on September 5 before hosting Georgia Force Christian on September 12. Conference play begins September 19 at Robbinsville, the first of five SMC matchups that will define Hayesville’s season. Key games include home clashes against Cherokee (October 3) and Swain County (October 10), a road showdown at rival Murphy (October 24), and a Senior Night finale against Andrews (October 31).

Outlook: Building Momentum

With Tre Graves powering the offense and Will Brown anchoring the defense, Hayesville has the talent to surpass last year’s 4-8 record and make a deeper playoff run. The Yellow Jackets’ success will hinge on how quickly new faces step up to fill the voids left by graduated seniors and whether they can steal a few wins in the ultra-competitive SMC. Fans can expect a hard-nosed, gritty team that embodies the spirit of Hayesville football.Mark your calendars for August 22 when the Yellow Jackets begin their 2025 campaign. With Graves and Brown leading the charge, Hayesville is ready to sting their opponents and make a statement in the Smoky Mountain Conference.