Swain County quarterback Brodie Bowman.
Year after year, the Smoky Mountain Conference football championship was come down to the Murphy-Swain County game more than anyone can count.
Friday is one more for the archives.
The Bulldogs (8-1, 4-0) have protected their status as the SMC preseason favorite so far. They are home for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff against the Maroon Devils (4-5, 4-0), who have found conference play to be the solution for all that ails them – Swain County began the season 0-4.
Last Friday’s 35-15 home win over Rosman was another notch on the streak.
Maroon Devils junior quarterback Brodie Bowman (1,150 passing yards, 334 rushing yards and 13 combined touchdowns) went over 1,000 yards with his second-highest single-game total (211) of the season. His favorite receivers have been Brier Younce (29 receptions for 480 yards and five touchdowns) and Seth Parker (23 receptions for 482 yards and four touchdowns). They are juniors, too, as is leading rusher Keshaun Beaner (368 yards, 11 touchdowns). Chris Miller (360 yards, four touchdowns) is a senior.
Wren Gunter (7.6 tackles per game) has stepped up to lead the defense along with fellow junior Will Paul (4.6).
Murphy and Swain County had traditionally played on the final Friday of the regular season until SMC coaches voted for a rotating schedule in 2014.
Combined the two rivals have won 38 conference championships – 21 for the Bulldogs and 17 for the Maroon Devils.
Swain County leads the all-time series, 37-33.
Note: More photos of Swain County football can be found at this Facebook page.
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