Bears maul Cherokees

Despite 16 penalties, Sevier County rolls easily rusty@theheraldnewspapers.com A win is a win, even when it’s sloppy. The Sevier County Smoky Bears held South Doyle’s Cherokees scoreless under a harvest moon Friday night, despite an alarming 157 yards in penalties. The Bears played much like unseasoned cubs at times, but tied enough big plays together to accomplish a 30-0 shutout. The season’s first forced goose-egg was a direct result of a solid defensive game-plan. The first half saw each team struggle to achieve any momentum. The Smoky Bears opening drive ended with a Corey Watson fumble inside South Doyle’s 20 yard line. The Bears regained possession on the next play on a Trey Pippen fumble recovery. Several Sevier County mental mistakes presented 4th and 11. Sophomore running back Tyler Thomas had already a couple of nice runs called back when Watson threw a wheel route to Pippen from 24 yards out to put the Bears on the board first. The score would remain 7-0 until Andrew Feezel caught a Cherokee running back in his own end-zone for a safety. The ensuing punt was returned brilliantly by Daniel Cotter all the way to the South Doyle four. Two plays later Blake Wallace shoved the ball across the goal-line with 8:05 to go in the half. The first half could have easily been much worse for the Smoky Bears. “If it hadn’t have been for the safety and a good punt return to follow, it would have been a 7-0 game at halftime,” said Sevier County head coach Steve Brewer. “It was a Sloppy first half; a very frustrating first half. You make a good play and then you have a penalty...either we’re not in position or we’re not moving our feet, I don’t know what it was, but it just killed our momentum.” There were a total of 11 momentum-crushing penalties committed by Sevier County in the first half, yet the Bears held a 16-0 lead as they took the field for the third quarter. Thomas finally broke free for a 47 yard gain followed closely by a Watson keeper to put the Bears up 23-0 on their third play of the second half. Sevier County would add another score later, this time letting Thomas get a well-deserved score from seven yards out. The purple-clad Bears came out of the locker room for the second half focused. They seemed determined to keep the contest far away from being a nail-biter. Sevier County’s defense was the determining factor in the ballgame, making up for an offense that has struggled early this season at times. “We came out in the third quarter and performed like I would like to see us perform,” Brewer added. “Three plays, four plays and we’re in the end zone. We are very inconsistent offensively. Defensively were playing really well right now,” Brewer added. Next week’s opponent will provide a bigger challenge for the Bears. The good play of Thomas has allowed for banged-up teammates to heal with a little more comfort. “Science Hill always has athletes, and we have to be ready and play better on offense,” Brewer commented, “Shawn Hodge’s status is up in the air right now, but Tyler Thomas has really played well the last couple of weeks,” Brewer explained, detailing the status of his offensive backfield heading into the game with Science Hill. “ We are blessed in the backfield. We have some guys who can catch the ball out of the backfield. It’s fortunate for us because we feel like we can spread the ball around.”