Knights host 1A champs Friday
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With Bryce Adams in motion, Robbinsville quarterback Donovan Carpenter lines up behind the Knights' offensive line (comprised here of Quinn Jumper, Dayne Webster, Kellen Ensley, Dane Daniels and Roman Jones, from back to front) during Friday's fourth-round playoff game against North Rowan. Consistency up front is one of the driving forces behind the Black Knights reaching the 1A Western Regional Final for the fifth time in six years. Photo courtesy of Faith Broome/Contributing Photographer
* 1A Western Regional Finals preview
Robbinsville – Following the 44-14 dismantling of North Rowan in the fourth round of the state playoffs Friday, it would be easy to let success force a fanbase to become stagnant.
After all, the thrill of victory often wears off quickly when a program is dominant for a consistent period of time.
Robbinsville has crafted quite the reputation for delivering on the model set in place by predecessors. The team has 14 state championships since 1969 (including an unbelievable run of five straight from 1979-83); 27 Smoky Mountain Conference titles; and Friday, the program will make its 20th appearance in the Western Regional finals (the Knights are 13-6 in regional finales, for those keeping track at home).
So, what’s different this go-around?
For the first time in the storied history of Black Knights football, the stars of the gridiron are playing to uphold their end of the bargain.
It seems like a distant memory, but the widespread concern that covered Robbinsville when the very thought of no Friday Knight football became a real possibility just six months ago.
But Graham County did what Graham County does, in a manner that would have made the forefathers of today’s residents proud: the crumbling, circa-1981 bleachers were torn up; aluminum bleachers were shipped in; and Big Oaks Stadium went from being closed for safety to open for business. What might have taken 2-3 years elsewhere was achieved in a scant 49 days.
The community had done its part – it was time for the Black Knights to rise to the occasion.
“It’s been a really, really good story,” said Robbinsville head coach Dee Walsh. “This community got the stadium put back up and gave us a chance to play. We’ve played every game you could possibly play here. This will be our 11th home game of the year; that’s what the stadium is for. They wanted us to play ball and we did.”
Some 14 games later, Robbinsville is 13-1. Its only loss was to the No. 1 team in North Carolina, Rabun Gap, Ga. – a heavily-scouted, recruitment powerhouse. The Eagles only scored five touchdowns in the win.
There have been some heartstoppers along the way – the two showdowns with Swain County come to mind. The Smoky Mountain Conference title game Oct. 27 was as much of a throwback as you could ask for: a 14-8 final score, with Cuttler Adams’ 102-yard, pick-six in the third quarter sealing up divisional crown No. 27.
Two weeks ago, the Devils were back for revenge in the third round. Swain County led 24-8 midway through the third – but Robbinsville refused to go away, going on a 22-0 run to rally and send the visitors packing, 30-24.
Adams entered the year with 4,691 career rushing yards; he surpassed Robbinsville alum Rylee Anderson’s school and conference standard of 6,164 in the first round of the postseason, against Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy. In Friday’s win over North Rowan, he stormed past Brevard’s Manny Deshauteurs (6,632) to become the new record holder for Western North Carolina – regardless of classification.
He did it behind an offensive line that has worked its tail off from the outset to silence critics, who sent loud whispers around the community about inexperience and lack of commitment.
Now, linemen such as Dayne Webster, Kellen Ensley, Koleson Dooley, Tytan Teesateskie and John Dominguez – just to name a few key players – are healthy, hungry and hankering for a ring-fitting in just two weeks time.
After the drill is finished, of course.
Then, there’s the defense. Filled with many of those same linemen – Robbinsville is a 1A school, after all, so depth can be a challenge – the big boys up front are backed up nicely by other skill players like Cuttler, Bryce Adams (who has a team-high 99 tackles), Chase Calhoun (second on the team, with 85), Roman Jones, Darion Ledbetter, Quinn Jumper, Tanner Hedden and Kage Williams in the second and outlying rows.
Quarterback Donovan Carpenter is making the most of his first trip to the regional finals, as well: his senior campaign includes a 92-percent rating (thanks largely to 1,253 passing yards, 10 scoring heaves and a 82-of-134 ratio on passes).
“Our line is coming together,” Walsh said. “Since that first Swain game, we’ve had the same, consistent offensive line that we’ve been waiting to have all year long. That’s helped us, big time. It makes us a more complete team.
“Our skill kids are doing just fabulous. I really think our confidence level as a team has finally gone where it needs to be; we didn’t know early, because we were struggling a little bit. Everybody feels better now that we’ve got wins and we’re rolling. When kids believe in themselves and their coaches, you’re going to do a lot better.”
The team is peaking at the right moment. “Titletown” could get its 15th claim to fame in a matter of two weeks. The community is firmly in their corner; what could possibly derail the momentum?
Well, Robbinsville’s opponent: the defending state champions.
Meet the Bears
For 48 minutes Friday, Robbinsville will look eye-to-eye with the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, Mount Airy (14-0).
The Granite Bears displaced Eastern Randolph (No. 3, 12-2) in a resounding 42-21 win Friday to reach their 11th regional-finals appearance. Mount Airy is 4-6 when on the cusp of a state-championship appearance, but is the reigning 1A champion after knocking off Tarboro 20-7 last year.
It has been a hot minute since Robbinsville and Mount Airy met on a football field – appropriately enough, it was in the Western finals. The 2009 showdown ended with the Knights sent home after a heartbreaking 27-26 defeat in Surry County.
The Bears will carry a formidable challenge into Graham County, even after a 251-mile trek. Fans can expect a run-heavy evening, as senior quarterback Ian Gallimore and junior Landon Gallimore have combined for just 811 passing yards this year. Leading the ground assault will be senior Tyler Mason (37 touchdowns, 1,892 yards); and sophomore Taeshon Martin (17 touchdowns, 1,299 yards).
Ian Gallimore’s 94 tackles lead Mount Airy’s defense; close behind is senior lineman Deric Dandy (6-foot-4, 221 pounds, 89 tackles) and sophomore defender D.J. Joyce (6-foot-2, 211 pounds, 84 stops).
“It’s supposed to be tough at this point,” Walsh pointed out. “If you’re going to win at this point, you have to be good. Mount Airy is really, really talented. They’ve got good people up front and tremendous skill kids.
“I think our kids up front are to a confidence level where they’re not worried they can’t match up. They believe they can do it.”
With all the talent that will merge onto Bob Colvin Field, the winner will have more than earned the chance to represent the West in the 1A title game.
It is unknown if Mount Airy will carry its own mantra into town, but Walsh is confident in Robbinsville and the bond its 2023 squad has found in the term, “brotherhood.”
“I saw it late in the season,” Walsh recalled. “They had the shirts and the idea, but they had to learn how to be it. They had to learn what it took to believe, trust and play for each other. Once they saw how effective it is to do that, they bought in.”
Tarboro (No. 1 East seed, 12-0) and West Columbus (No. 2, 12-1) will battle for Eastern supremacy.
The 1A Western Regional title game will be live-streamed exclusively at grahamstarsports.com.