Robbinsville improves to 4-0, trumps Cherokee
Robbinsville – Line the opposition up, and Robbinsville keeps taking them down.
The Black Knights (4-0, 3-0) shut out the Cherokee Braves (1-3, 1-3) for the entire first half of a special Saturday showcase, compiling another convincing win in the process, 35-14.
Seniors Lex Hooper (23 carries, 160 yards, three touchdowns) and Nathan Collins (11 carries, 108 yards, two touchdowns) gave the Braves’ defense fits on the ground all night, with Cody Cline easily splitting the uprights for five extra points.
All told, Robbinsville amassed 333 rushing yards in the contest.
“I felt really good about our defense. We bent and bent, but didn’t break,” Robbinsville head coach Dee Walsh said. “Nathan and Lex both played real well. All of the skill kids than ran the ball did a good job and the line – on both sides of the ball – is getting a lot better.
“You take a dropped pass and a penalty, maybe one person missing an assignment, or it could have been a blowout early.”
Collins also picked off Cherokee quarterback Donald Bradley on two different occasions – joining Rossi Wachacha in that department – while an overwhelming defensive-line presence led to Cuttler Adams, Wade Hamilton, Ty Harrell, Briley Tolbert and Wachacha each dropping Bradley for a loss.
“We were pleased. A lot of kids got to play in the second half and that’s important,” Walsh added.
The Braves’ first touchdown came on a 12-yard pass from Bradley to Cameron Lane in the third quarter, but the extra point was blocked. Cherokee struck once more with 25 seconds left in the game on a 9-yard pass from Bradley to Jonathan Frady, with the duo also pairing up moments later for a conversion.
Shout at the Devils
Robbinsville will play on six days rest at Swain County (2-2, 2-2) on Friday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
In the last pairing between the two programs, the Knights drummed the Devils in a special Monday night game Oct. 28, 2019, picking up a 43-6 home victory. Swain County fell 39-7 to Murphy on Friday, though Walsh was quick to point out that the final score was not the true tale of the game.
“They’re going to play hard. They played Murphy really tough; the game was a lot closer than the final score,” Walsh said. “Murphy got a few interceptions, and Swain had a few bad fumbles.”