On Friday night the Avery Vikings used a key fourth quarter drive and a blocked field goal to hold off the Mitchell Mountaineers 28-27 in Ledger. A Travis Thomas one-yard run that just cleared the pylon in the corner of the end zone drew Avery to within one point with 52 seconds remaining. An Adam Pate QB draw on the ensuing two-point conversion proved to be the difference.
The Mountaineers had one final opportunity with a 27-yard field goal attempt by Jesse Mimkin with 3.2 seconds remaining in the game, but the Vikings special teams rose up to block the kick and preserve the win.
Avery finishes the regular season with a 5-6 overall record, and hosts the Swain County Maroon Devils (4-7) out of the Smoky Mountain Conference.
Avery's portion of the 1-AA playoff bracket:
#8 Avery Co. vs. 9 Swain
#1 Mt. Airy vs. 16 North Moore
#5 Cherryville vs. 12 East Surry
#4 Albemarle vs. 13 East Montgomery
Swain County Maroon Devils (4-7, 4-2 SMC)
2007 Schedule:
08/17 @ Polk Co. L 0-20
08/24 Smoky Mountain L 0-9
08/31 Saint Stephens L 0-19
09/07 @ Franklin L 6-24
09/15 North Buncombe L 12-15
09/21 @ Robbinsville* L 25-33
10/05 @ Hayesville* L 20-21
10/12 Cherokee* W 20-16
10/19 Andrews* W 32-13
10/26 @ Rosman* W 24-14
11/02 Murphy* W 21-13
Much more on this week's playoff matchup in this week's edition of the Avery Journal-Times and here on the Blog!
