Hayesville Falls to Swain County in Conference Matchup

Staff Report

Hayesville, NC

After an impressive 37-point performance the previous week, the Hayesville Yellow Jackets couldn’t replicate that offensive success on Friday night, falling to Swain County 28-0 in a Smoky Mountain Conference showdown at Hayesville High School.

The loss marked the first shutout for the Yellow Jackets since August, snapping a three-game home win streak and dropping their record to 5-3 for the season. Hayesville struggled to find rhythm offensively against a dominant Swain County defense that limited them to just 114 passing yards and 66 rushing yards.

Quarterback Peyton McGaha completed 10 of 19 passes for 114 yards, with Ben Bethel accounting for 56 of those yards, making him the top target in the air. On the ground, Tre Graves led the rushing attack with 66 yards but was unable to find the end zone as Hayesville was stifled at every turn.

Swain County's victory propelled them to a 4-3 record on the season. The Maroon Devils controlled the game from start to finish, showcasing a balanced offensive attack that kept Hayesville's defense on its heels.

Looking ahead, Hayesville will face a familiar challenge in their next matchup against Murphy at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 24. The game will feature two of the area’s most dynamic running backs: Graves and Murphy’s Blake Davis. Meanwhile, Swain County will take on rival Cherokee at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17 with the Maroon Devils' Zeke Glaspie set to square off against the Braves’ Kingston Welch in another highly anticipated ground battle.