Football SMC 2026

[SwainCountysFinest]

What are thinking this year for the SMC? A lot of roster turnover and some coaching turnover. Seems to be a lot hype and excitement around Cherokee and Swain with the new coaching hires.

 

[bengal4life]

1 murphy is favorites
2 Swain my dark horse pick
3 r ville always contender
4 Cherokee
5 hayesville
6 rosman
7 Andrews

 

[MHHS"12]

How many does murphy return this year?

 

[SwainCountysFinest]

From my understanding Murphy returns their starting RB, FB, WB, TE, and 1 starting OL. Defensively 1 DT, 1LB and 3/4s of their secondary.

 

[SwainCountysFinest]

1 murphy is favorites
2 Swain my dark horse pick
3 r ville always contender
4 Cherokee
5 hayesville
6 rosman
7 Andrews

You like Swain as a dark horse because of the coaching hire or something else?

 

[MHHS"12]

You like Swain as a dark horse because of the coaching hire or something else?

They were pretty decent last year minus the end of the year with all the injuries that plus the new hire would be my guess.

 

[SwainCountysFinest]

They were pretty decent last year minus the end of the year with all the injuries that plus the new hire would be my guess.

Good point. I think they’ll really miss Cody this year but I expect them to be in the mix.

 

[bengal4life]

You like Swain as a dark horse because of the coaching hire or something else?

Swain been really good last couple seasons on jv. You guys have excellent coach now.

 

[SwainCountysFinest]

His resume is very impressive. I like the things I’ve heard about him so far. It’ll be interesting to see about their offense. It’s really been their Achilles heel the past few years.

 

[MHHS"12]

I just hope either Swain, Robbinsville, or Murphy wins it all this year, poor mountain folk needs a conference of champions and that's the SMC lol

 

[SwainCountysFinest]

I’d like to see that happen too. Anyone one have the inside scoop on Rville? Curious about how they’ll look this year.

 

[MHHS"12]

I’d like to see that happen too. Anyone one have the inside scoop on Rville? Curious about how they’ll look this year.

Not a clue we play them week three though then we play Swain the following week.

 

[SwainCountysFinest]

From what I’ve heard thru the grapevine they should have good skill players, but are lacking upfront. Also heard they are up in the air about who their qb will be.

 

[MHHS"12]

From what I’ve heard thru the grapevine they should have good skill players, but are lacking upfront. Also heard they are up in the air about who their qb will be.

Heritage is in a similar situation we return quite a bit on offense but replace nearly everyone on defense, Robbinsville could finish third in the SMC and still win it all in 1a cause let's be honest there's not much competition in their way with the exception of Wilson Prep.

 

[SwainCountysFinest]

I honestly think Robbinsville will finish 2nd in conference behind Murphy. Clem is the best player in the conference and will be really hard to stop. I think it’ll be tight between Swain and Cherokee for 3rd.

 

[MHHS"12]

I'm going

1. Murphy
2. Swain
3.Robbinsville
4. Cherokee
5. Hayesville
6. Rosman
7. Andrews

 

[SwainCountysFinest]

I’ll be interested to see if Swain can pull it off against Rville. They haven’t beat Rville since 2017 and it always seem like they’ve got a mental block against them.

 

[MHHS"12]

Heritage had like a 35 year losing streak to Hendo end in 2010 ever since it's been pretty back a forth, really until the last 18 years Heritage was a door mat but they turned it around, Swains a blue blood of nc football they'll end that streak at some point.

 

[SwainCountysFinest]

I’ll also be curious as to how the new coach at Cherokee will do. They usually have a lot of talent but it’s a hard place to coach. The Asheville Citizen has them picked to finish 2nd this year.

 

[Black knight 87]

From what I’ve heard thru the grapevine they should have good skill players, but are lacking upfront. Also heard they are up in the air about who their qb will be.

Braylon blevins Jr QB would be my guess

 

[Black knight 87]

I’d like to see that happen too. Anyone one have the inside scoop on Rville? Curious about how they’ll look this year.

If the line comes together and QB play is decent we we'll be a good team only time will tell

 

[MHHS"12]

Mitchell and Heritage will be big time games for Robbinsville if you win both those games I say you win the 1a championship and the SMC.

 

[SwainCountysFinest]

A lot of good measuring stick games early for Swain and Robbinsville. Both play heritage and Franklin and they’ll both be at the same scrimmages back to back weeks (not playing each other of course).

 

[Black knight 87]

Yeah those will be tuff games our schedule flips around this year six games on the road four games at home

 

[MHHS"12]

A lot of good measuring stick games early for Swain and Robbinsville. Both play heritage and Franklin and they’ll both be at the same scrimmages back to back weeks (not playing each other of course).

Franklin should be really good this year.

 

[PisgahCatamount007]

Always enjoy following the SMC...

I'll go with,

Murphy
Robbinsville
Swain
Cherokee
Hayesville
Rosman
Andrews

 

[MHHS"12]

Scrimmage updates?

 

[SwainCountysFinest]

Scrimmage updates?

It’s tomorrow at 10 am

 

[SwainCountysFinest]

Swain played really well at times today vs North and Princeton, but there lack of kids showed later in the scrimmage. Didn’t watch Rville as much but heard they were up and down.

 

[SCHSalum]

I thought Swain had a good day and have some things to build off, as well as areas to improve on. Staying healthy will be the biggest thing.

I didn't get a great look at Rville. Their numbers are slightly better than Swain's, but they are thin too. Getting kids to turn out in general is a huge challenge, that I think extends beyond the SMC.

 

[Usdi Watali]

Swain will be very young, from what i've heard they have about 22 kids with only 5 seniors. Fortunately the line should be the strength of Swain, they had several freshman/underclassmen getting a lot of quality playing time last season so look for them to keep growing. The skill positions seem to be just ok atm with many of the players still locked in position battles, especially at QB. With both #6 & #17 graduated Swain will have to find a way to replace their production, perhaps (hopefully) the better quality of coaching will rear it's head and allow some kids to rise to the occasion. Overall I expect Swain to be in an obvious transitionary mode, stout up front as usual with the offensive power TBD. Defense will likely be their bread and butter till the new system takes shape. Maybe if they are successful early they could be a pretty tough out as they gain steam down the road. I personally could see them finishing as low as 4th, but if some kids take a step up and the team really takes to the new system the sky is the limit.

 

[RaynManCommenter]

What are thinking this year for the SMC? A lot of roster turnover and some coaching turnover. Seems to be a lot hype and excitement around Cherokee and Swain with the new coaching hires.

SMC was a fun, successful conference last year— they ranked no.3 in my pound-for-pound 2A rankings. Here are some conference analytics from last year.

 

[SCHSalum]

Murphy, Swain, and Robbinsville in action this evening. Their games are in that order at Asheville High.