Jackets Fall in Overtime at Andrews, but Season Lives On
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 fight. The Wildcats jumped ahead 13-0 by halftime on a 2-yard touchdown run by Kelby Waldroup in the first quarter and a 91-yard fumble return by Alex Garrett in the second.
Hayesville stormed back after the break, scoring twice on the ground in the third quarter to take a 14-13 lead — Lance Coker on a 5-yard run and Caden McClure on a 1-yard run, both with Josue Salas kicking the extra point.
Andrews answered in the fourth when Brady McLelland hit Will Phillips for a 22-yard touchdown and found Garrett for the two-point conversion to go up 21-14, but the Jackets tied it late on a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown by Crow Collins, with Salas kicking the extra point.
In overtime, McLelland ran it in from 7 yards out and Myca Gibson added the extra point, and Hayesville couldn't answer, ending the regular season 1-8 and winless in Smoky Mountain Conference play. The 21 points matched the Jackets' season high, and the performance was arguably their best of the year including their win over Copper Basin.
Now comes a rematch. Cherokee (6-4, 4-2 conference) beat Hayesville 57-21 in Cherokee on Oct. 2, and the Braves are led by Kingston Welch, the conference's preseason player of the year pick. Cherokee closed its regular season Friday with a 41-21 loss at Robbinsville.
Kickoff for the round-one game is set for 7:30 p.m.
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