Cherokee – For the first time in Murphy’s season, it came down to one play Friday night.
Leading 29-28 with just over two minutes left, a fumble on fourth and 3 gave Cherokee the ball back, and a chance for the Braves first win over the Bulldogs since 2007. With quarterback Donald Bradley leading the charge, Cherokee drove down to the 21, setting up a fourth-and-8 with 29 seconds left. Bradley dropped back to pass on the play and threw it right to Murphy defensive back Hunter Laney.
It was Laney’s second interception of the night. His first appeared to be an interception return for a touchdown at the end of the first half, but it was called back for a flag. This time he returned it to midfield, and there was no laundry. The only thing left to do was get in the best formation in football: victory formation.
After a spirited effort from Cherokee, Laney made the final play, and Murphy prevailed 29-28.
“It was amazing, dude,” Laney said. “It felt good to get that last pick, even though the other one got called back. It was a good game all around, and I love how tight it was.”
Though Laney’s interception sealed the win, the one-point difference occurred on accident. Following a Bradley touchdown and a two-point conversion run by Cole Calhoun to give the Braves (2-3 overall, 0-1 Smoky Mountain Conference) a 28-21 lead 22 seconds into the fourth quarter, Juan Allen answered back for the Bulldogs (4-2, 1-0) with an eight-yard touchdown run.
An extra point would’ve tied the game, but holder Payton McCracken dropped the snap. McCracken then let his instincts take over, picking up the ball and running to the left side of the field, crossing into the end zone for a two-point conversion. That ended up being the difference between a Murphy win and the game going into overtime.
“Sometimes, you know, miscues you just gotta make a play,” McCracken said. “You gotta let your athleticism take over, and you gotta play football when it comes down to that.”
Bulldogs head coach Joseph Watson knew his team could have trouble against Bradley, and the Braves quarterback did his best to will his team to victory. Despite throwing two interceptions and fumbling twice, he still ran for 180 yards and two touchdowns.
“They’re never out of the game with him,” Watson said of Bradley. “Donald can go, man. He just makes plays, and they just do a good job of getting him into open space.”
Bradley and sophomore running back Cole Calhoun allowed Cherokee to sustain drives, while Murphy’s touchdowns mostly came in short bursts. The Bulldogs longest drive all night was seven plays. Cherokee had five drives of seven plays or more and ran 69 plays compared to Murphy’s 43.
Despite the Braves success on the ground, they left points on the board multiple times. Their first two drives ended in fumbles, and they were stopped on fourth down twice in Bulldogs territory in the fourth quarter.
In a close game, those types of plays can add up. Murphy made enough to put the final score in their favor.
“I knew it was coming down to the clock running out, somebody’s going to have to make a play,” Watson said. “I’m glad Hunter Laney made a play to end it up.”
After three straight road games, Murphy will host Hayesville (2-4, 0-1) on Friday for homecoming. The Yellow Jackets fell to Andrews 31-7 last week.