Weaverville – After Copper Basin pulled out of a scrimmage against Murphy last week, head coach Joseph Watson worked quickly to find another for Friday night. The Bulldogs traveled up to North Buncombe to scrimmage both the Black Hawks and Tuscola, giving them some needed experience ahead of this week’s season opener at Franklin.
“Any time you can play somebody else, hit somebody that’s not your own teammate it’s a good time for us and a good experience for us,” Watson said. “And just to be able to get some film for the kids to be able to see them on film, see themselves, see what they could do and what they could do better is the goal of the scrimmage. Any time you come out of the scrimmage pretty healthy, it’s a good thing as well.”
Murphy was able to run 10 plays against both teams starting from their own 20-yard line on offense and defense, then face both like they would in a real game starting from the same spot. With the Black Hawks having lost 18 straight games – and Tuscola resting “six or seven” starters, according to Watson – the Bulldogs were clearly the best team at the scrimmage. The only time either North Buncombe or Tuscola scored was when the Black Hawks did against
Murphy’s second-string players during a 10-play drive.
Hunter Stalcup, Jonah Hedden, Trenton Russell and Cameron Clem all ran hard, with Clem and Stalcup also intercepting passes on defense. Watson liked what he saw out of Ricky Queen on the offensive and defensive lines, and what Kadence Leatherwood and Brody Orton brought to both guard spots on offense and linebacker on defense.
Things will amp up next week when Murphy travels to the Panther Pit in Macon County. Murphy-Franklin has been an annual game on both team’s calendar since at least 1952, and the Panthers prevailed 24-7 in Murphy last year.
Like the Bulldogs, Franklin has to replace a lot of production from last year. In an interview with WLOS earlier this month, Panthers head coach Josh Brooks said his team may start 11 new players on offense and seven on defense.
During a scrimmage against Andrews, Franklin showed some size and physicality up front and a young quarterback with potential in sophomore Brock Bradley. Based on how Murphy lined up in the postseason, the Bulldogs have to replace seven starters on both sides of the ball.
Watson is looking to see how his young players step into their new roles, and how they respond to adversity that comes in a game that isn’t really there in a scrimmage.
“You’re going to learn what the future looks like for this football team,” Watson said.
“I think we got a good nucleus of guys coming back, some guys that are good leaders and are going to keep each other together, and be mentally and physically tough.”