Sylva – Andrews’ varsity football team hit the road for the second week in a row as they traveled to Sylva to face Smoky Mountain.
The Wildcats (0-2) fell to Smoky Mountain (1-1) 44-7 for their second loss of the season.
Smoky Mountain opened their drive with a long run, then found the end zone for a one-yard rushing touchdown. They successfully converted the two-point attempt to lead 8-0 in the opening minutes of the game.
The Wildcats had to punt on their first drive of the game. After a series of long rushes, the Mustangs found the end zone on a five-yard rush. They rushed in a two-point conversion to lead 16-0.
Andrews got the ball back, but couldn’t convert and Smoky Mountain got the ball back. In the final minute of the first quarter, the Mustangs found the end zone for a third time. They then rushed in another two-point conversion to lead 24-0.
The Wildcats got the ball to start the second quarter, but once again had to punt. Smoky Mountain blocked to punt to get good field position to start their drive.
After multiple long rushes, they made their way to the Andrews one-yard line. They then rushed the ball in for their fourth touchdown of the game. They attempted another two-point conversion, but the Wildcats stopped them. Smoky Mountain led 30-0 with about three minutes left in the first half.
Andrews’ offense couldn’t get going in the first half and Smoky Mountain got the ball back.
Inside the two-minute warning, the Mustangs had a three-yard rushing touchdown. They converted a two-point attempt to lead 38-0 heading into halftime.
Andrews got the ball to start the to start the half, but their drive ended when they turned it over on downs.
The Mustangs rushed the ball down the field on their first drive of the second half. Then then found the end zone on a two-yard rushing play. Andrews shut down their two-point conversion and the Mustangs led 44-0, ending the third quarter.
Andrews got on the board in the fourth quarter, when quarterback Brady McLelland connected with Logan Shuler for the Wildcat’s first touchdown of the game and of the season. Micah Gibson drilled the extra point through the uprights to make the score 44-7.
Neither team scored the remainder of the game and Smoky Mountain went on to win the game 44-7.
After the game, Wildcats head coach Jason Johnson said, “Overall, we just have to get better. [Friday night] we didn’t play very well. We didn’t play well up front, our linebackers didn’t play well. Smoky Mountain ran the ball at us and we struggled with that. We struggled to get stops and we made some mistakes on offense that stopped some drives and it cost us.”
To prepare for their game against Mitchell on Friday, Johnson said his team will have to learn from their mistakes.
“We’re going to have to go back and correct some things in practice. The kids have got to understand you have to learn from mistakes and correct those things each week and try to get better each day,” Johnson said.
“We’ll take a look at Mitchell and they’re a good football team. We’ll be prepared for another football team that’s going to come in and run the football at us.”
Johnson said that he and the team are excited to return home for their home opener against Mitchell on Friday night.
“The kids are excited, I’m excited, the school’s excited. We’re excited to finally have a home game. To get out on that field at Hugh Hamilton Stadium. You know, get out on the grass there and play,” Johnson said.
“Hopefully we can give the community and the town of Andrews something to be proud of. Put a product out there that they can be proud of. The kids are excited and they’re still positive, they’re ready to play. They’re ready to get another game under their belt and get better.”
Up next
The Wildcats will return home for their home opener at 7:30 p.m. Friday against Mitchell (2A, 1-1).
Mitchell started their season with a loss to Charlotte Latin, then beat McDowell.
Andrews played Mitchell on the road last season and lost 35-34 in a tight, nail-biter that could have gone either way. They are 3-1 against Mitchell since 2021. Their games have also been in the third or fourth week of the season the last four times they have played.