Hayesville’s Best Night Isn’t enough in 57-21 Loss at Cherokee

By Travis Dockery

Sportswriter

The Hayesville Yellow Jackets scored more points than they have all season on Friday night, but it was not enough to stay with Cherokee. The Braves pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 57-21 Smoky Mountain Conference win at home on Oct. 2.

Hayesville (1-5, 0-3) traded scores early and stayed within reach into the second half. Cherokee (4-3, 2-1) then broke the game open with a 23-point fourth quarter. The loss was Hayesville’s sixth straight on the road, dating back to last season, and dropped the Jackets to seventh in the conference.

The bright spot was the offense. Twenty-one points were Hayesville’s high for 2026, topping the 20 scored in the season-opening loss at Towns County. Senior quarterback Lance Coker and junior Crow Collins accounted for two of the three touchdowns.

Coker finished 7 of 18 for 140 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Collins caught three passes for 106 yards and both scores. Junior Kabe Shaheen added 31 yards on five carries, and sophomore Dominick King scored on a short run.

Hayesville struck first. Coker hit Collins for a 25-yard touchdown with 5:22 left in the first quarter, and Josue Salas kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead. Cherokee answered before the quarter ended, and the teams went to the second quarter tied 7-7.

The Braves scored three times in the second quarter, including two Kingston Welch runs. Hayesville got back on the board at 3:46 of the half when King scored from 2 yards out and Salas converted the PAT. At halftime it was Cherokee 28, Hayesville 14.

Cherokee stretched the lead early in the third on a 55-yard touchdown pass. Hayesville answered at 5:41 when Coker found Collins again, this time for 53 yards. Salas’s kick made it 34-21. That was the last points the Jackets would score.

Welch broke an 85-yard run early in the fourth, and Cherokee added two more touchdowns and a safety. Welch finished with 230 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries. Quarterback Heron Martens threw for 147 yards and three scores.

The Yellow Jackets still looking for their first conference win. Hayesville will get another Smoky Mountain shot Friday, Oct. 9, when they travel to Swain County for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. The Maroon Devils are also 1-5 after a 28-0 loss to Robbinsville on Friday.