Turnovers Spoil Hayesville’s homecoming as Rosman Rolls, 44-7

(Photo by Travis Dockery)

Hayesville's offense crowds the line in an effort to gain a first down to keep the drive alive against Rosman on Friday night.

By Travis Dockery

Sportswriter

HAYESVILLE, N.C — Homecoming is supposed to feel like a party. Friday night at Frank R. Long Memorial Stadium felt more like a lesson in how quickly a football game can get away from you.

Rosman received the opening kickoff, used the resulting field position, and scored on a 42-yard touchdown run with their first possesion of the game. The two-point conversion was no good. Tigers 6, Hayesville 0.

Then the night really started to tilt. Hayesville’s first offensive play ended in an interception. That was possession one.

With 7:51 left in the first quarter, Rosman punched it in from the 1-yard line. The two-point conversion was good. Rosman 14, Hayesville 0.

Hayesville fumbled with 6:02 left in the quarter. Rosman recovered. That was possession two.

With 3:23 left in the first, Rosman intercepted another pass and took over again. That was possession three.

Three trips with the ball. Three turnovers. That is a tough hole to climb out of no matter who is on the other sideline.

Wayne Fullmer gave the home crowd something to cheer about with 1:21 left in the first, stuffing a fourth-down play and handing Hayesville the ball. The first play from scrimmage? Another fumble, and the Tigers had it back. Two plays later, Rosman scored on a 17-yard run with 27 seconds left in the quarter. The two-point conversion was good. Rosman 22, Hayesville 0.

The second quarter opened the same way. With 8:45 left, Rosman picked off another Hayesville pass and stopped the drive cold.

Hayesville finally caught a break with 2:49 left in the half when Brock Garrett recovered a fumble and gave the Yellow Jackets the ball at the Rosman 13. Ephraim Jones made it count, catching a pass from quarterback Lance Coker in the end zone with 2:02 left in the second quarter. The PAT was good. Rosman 22, Hayesville 7.

Rosman recovered the ensuing onside kick and started at its own 46. A 5-yard quarterback keeper with 5.7 seconds left in the half put the Tigers in the end zone again. The two-point conversion made it 30-7 at the break.

The third quarter did not offer much relief. With 8:04 left, Rosman scored again and converted the two-point try. Rosman 38, Hayesville 7.

Rosman snagged another interception with 7:07 left in the third. The Yellow Jackets answered with a Brock Garrett fumble recovery with 6:25 remaining. That spark did not last. Hayesville fumbled it back on Rosman’s 21-yard line with 2:35 left in the quarter.

Rosman scored again with 1:10 left in the third. Final: Rosman 44, Hayesville 7.

The Yellow Jackets fall to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the Smoky Mountain Conference. They head to Cherokee on Friday, Oct. 3, to take on the Braves. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

Protecting the football will have to be the first order of business for the Yellow Jackets if they want to turn the season around.