By Randy Capps
Since the doors of Cleveland High School opened for students, Scott Riley has been a part of its fabric. Riley, longtime head football coach of the Rams, stepped down from that role today to become the new head coach of Swain County High School.
“It obviously means a lot to me,” Riley said. “I’ve been there since the school opened in one capacity or another. And you know, four years leading the wrestling program and 12 years leading the football program and being an assistant football before that. So I’ve seen it from the ground up. … I told the players today, ‘I said, ‘I’m not Cleveland football and never was.’ It’s all about what those kids have accomplished, and I just played my role in it.”
In his tenure, Riley compiled a 130-27 record, winning 11 conference titles and at least one playoff game in each of his 12 seasons.
He takes over a Maroon Devils program that owns eight state championships, and is located about 20 miles from his wife’s hometown of Hayesville. The desire to be closer to her extended family was a big part of this decision for Riley.
“Being closer to family is important,” he said. “I think the way of life in the mountains will suit us and our family really well. And it’s somewhere we always wanted to end up long term. There aren’t a lot of great football jobs there — or jobs there period. So when one comes available at a place as special as Swain County, we had to look into it.
“That’s what I told the players as well today. I said it’s not about anything lacking here. It’s just a perfect situation for us and our family and that that came available and, you know, you’ve got to jump on those opportunities when they come in life.
“They’ve hung eight state championship banners up there. That’s something that I don’t know if any other school can say. And one close to where my wife is from is a match made in heaven. To be blessed with and entrusted with a program like that is a big responsibility. I’m kind of humbled by the fact that they chose me to do it.”
Riley leaves behind a powerhouse program in this part of the state, and he says he’s grateful for the journey.
“(I just want to say) thank you to everyone in the community of Cleveland, and Johnson County in general, that have supported me and our family over the years,” Riley said. “I’ve still got the same number and, and that won’t change. So, I’m always a phone call away and just appreciative of everything that the community, the school and the players have done for Cleveland football — but for me personally as well.”
Smithfield-Selma women claim GNRC swim title
The Smithfield-Selma women’s swim team took top honors at the 2026 Greater Neuse River Conference Championships recently at the Smithfield Recreation and Aquatics Center.
The Spartans won the event with 401 points, outpacing Fuquay-Varina (362), Cleveland (288), Garner (265), Clayton (79), South Garner (67) and Southeast Raleigh (26).
Smithfield-Selma’s Payton Millard won the 100 free, finished second in the 50 free and was the anchor in a pair of gold medal-winning relays (200 medley and 400 free). Her teammate, Anna Muminovic, won the 200 free, placed second in the 100 breast and also competed in the title-winning relays while Natalie Irish won the 100 back and took second in the 200 individual medley.
The Spartans’ coach, Aaron Bentley, was recognized as the Greater Neuse River Conference’s Coach of the Year.
Cleveland claims men’s swim crown
The Cleveland Rams won the GNRC Men’s Swim Championship recently, outpointing Smithfield-Selma, 388-273. Fuquay-Varina (199), South Garner (139), Garner (107), Southeast Raleigh (40) and Clayton (22) completed the field.
The Rams’ Mason Jones won the 50 and 100 free while being a part of two relay team wins (200 free and 200 medley), while Matthew Zamora took top honors in the 200 free, 100 breast — as well as swimming on those two relay teams.
