Hayesville hasn't had much luck against Murphy recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Hayesville Yellowjackets will face off against the Murphy Bulldogs at 7:30 p.m. Both are sauntering into the matchup backed by comfortable wins in their prior games.
Hayesville headed into their last game having not scored more than 12 points for four straight, but Concord Christian let them put that streak behind them. Hayesville put the hurt on Concord Christian with a sharp 37-16 win on Saturday. The victory was a breath of fresh air for the Yellowjackets as it put an end to their five-game losing streak dating back to last season.
Tre Graves had a dynamite game for Hayesville, rushing for 132 yards and a touchdown while picking up 8.3 yards per carry. The team also got some help courtesy of Michael Mauney, who rushed for 105 yards on only eight carries.
He was just one part of a punishing run game: Hayesville was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 362 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've posted since back in September of 2023.
Meanwhile, Murphy had already won three in a row and they went ahead and made it four last Friday. They blew past the Hurricanes 65-20 at home. The Bulldogs' offense stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most points they've scored all season.
Murphy's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Brady Grant, who threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns while completing 83.3% of his passes. Jonah Hedden helped Grant out on the ground, rushing for 69 yards and a touchdown on only five carries, while also catching a touchdown.
Hayesville's first victory this season bumped their record up to 1-4. As for Murphy, their win bumped their record up to 4-1.
Friday's contest might be decided in the on the ground. Hayesville has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 182.6 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Murphy struggles in that department as they've been averaging 258.8. It's looking like Friday's matchup might have some serious battles in the trenches.
Hayesville came up short against Murphy when the teams last played back in September of 2023, falling 21-14. Will Hayesville have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other football content.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
