Swain Secures First Win Of The Season vs Madison

Rowan Ellis

Swain Secures First Win of the Season Against Madison

The Swain County Maroon Devils showcased their dominance with a commanding 39-13 victory over the Madison Patriots, marking their first win of the season.

Hoping to capitalize on the first possession, the Swain rushing attack looked to do that, as rushes by Zeke Glaspie and Rocky Barker got the Devils in the red zone and an end around run by James Arch gets the Devils into the endzone first, Swain takes an early 8-0 lead.

Madison struggled to respond. A fumbled punt on fourth down led to a recovery by Sylas Stanberry, giving Swain the ball back in advantageous field position. The momentum shifted further as a 33-yard completion from quarterback Owen Medlin to Corey Stilwell set up Kaden Sawyer for a 3-yard touchdown run. Although the two-point conversion was unsuccessful, Swain extended their lead to 14-0.

Madison continued to battle but found it difficult to break through Swain’s defensive front. A 36-yard quarterback keeper by Madison’s Chance Penland tried to give the offense hope, but a series of setbacks—including a sack and a blocked punt—squashed their efforts. Stanberry’s blocked punt recovery resulted in scoop and score. Although the two-point conversion attempt was again unsuccessful, Swain makes the score, 20-0.

As the first half unfolded, Madison fought to find rhythm, but they were unable to connect on key plays. An interception by Stanberry upset yet another scoring opportunity for Madison, leaving them trailing significantly as they headed into the halftime break.

The second half started with Swain picking up right where they left off, despite starting their possession on their own 6 yard line, Zeke Glaspie breaks loose for a 94 yard touchdown run to extend the Swain lead, 26-0.

As Swain linebacker, Colton Shuler gets two tackles for loss in the Madison backfield, another punt by the Patriots is made. Getting the ball back, Swain is met with a pivotal fourth-and-five attempt which is converted on a 43-yard run by Sawyer setting the stage for another score as Medlin’s quarterback keeper pushed the lead to 32-0

Madison finally found a breakthrough as Ivan Leonard rushed for a touchdown, narrowing the gap to 32-6. However, Swain responded emphatically with a touchdown from Jon Stephenson on a quarterback keeper, making the score 39-6 after a successful extra point conversion.

In the waning moments of the game, Madison managed to find the end zone again, scoring with just a minute left on the clock. But with time expired, it was too little too late, and Swain emerged victorious with a final score of 39-13.

This victory marks a significant turning point for Swain, as they not only celebrated their first win of the season but also demonstrated a balanced and explosive offensive attack complemented by a tenacious defense. With players like Sylas Stanberry making impactful plays and Kaden Sawyer leading the charge on the ground, Swain is looking forward to building on this momentum as they head deeper into the season. The team has proven they can compete and thrive, setting a positive tone for the weeks ahead.