23-year winning streak against Wildcats snapped
Andrews – For the first time since 2018, there will be a new champion in the Smoky Mountain Conference.
Robbinsville made the short pilgrimage to Andrews for a highly-anticipated showdown Friday. Though the Black Knights looked more crisp than in their previous outing, the Wildcats showed why they are having a historic run this year, racing to a 14-0 lead late in the first quarter and going on to claim a 28-12 win.
The loss mathematically eliminates Robbinsville (6-3, 2-2) from the divisional-title race, ending a run of three-straight seasons where the Knights have finished atop the standings.
It was also Andrews’ first win over Robbinsville since the 1998 season opener, a 20-7 Wildcats victory. The Knights won the return game 20-8 later that year and had strung together 31 consecutive wins in subsequent match-ups between the two programs.
Andrews (9-0, 4-0) has put its most-balanced team in decades – perhaps, history – on the gridiron this year. The Wildcats were only separated by a 17-yard differential between their rushing (179 yards) and passing (162) attacks.
Robbinsville was afforded the opening kickoff, but the offense quickly exited the field after just a 6-yard advance. Andrews dictated the remainder of the portion, eventually finding paydirt on a 1-yard Austin Martin heave with 58 seconds left. Isaac Weaver came down with an interception for the Cats just two plays into the Knights’ next drive, returning it 36 yards for another dent in the scoreboard.
After being held to 99 yards the previous week, Cuttler Adams stormed back with a 16-carry, 155-yard night on the ground. His first big strike came in the second, when he pulled down a Donovan Bateman heave. Soon thereafter, Adams broke through the line and got the Knights on the board with a 26-yard touchdown.
Just 34 seconds later, Andrews seized another two-score advantage when Bateman righted the wrong by finding Martin on an eventual 79-yard touchdown pass.
The Wildcats then put the game out-of-reach in the third. A 6-minute Andrews possession opened the second half, before Weaver tacked on a 4-yard scoring carry. Ty Clark’s perfect night on PAT’s was rounded out at 4-for-4 in the aftermath.
In the waning seconds of the period, Adams dashed to the end zone for a 79-yard touchdown of his own. Both of Robbinsville’s conversion attempts on the night were shut down by the Cats.
Season wrap-up
The regular campaign draws to a close Friday, Oct. 28, when the Black Knights pay a visit to Clay County to face the Yellow Jackets. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m.
Entering the game, Robbinsville sits in sole possession of third place in the Smoky Mountain Conference – but must win to keep the hope of a decent playoff seed alive. Hayesville (5-4, 1-3) could force a tie with the Knights by winning, while Cherokee (2-7, 1-3) would push the scramble into a 3-way split if the Braves can get by Swain County (3-6, 0-4). Andrews travels to Murphy (7-2, 4-0) to determine the divisional champion.
Head-to-head, Robbinsville knocked off Cherokee 30-13, but the Braves slipped by the Jackets 28-21 on Friday. It is a must-win for the Black Knights, who are still putting the pieces back together after junior quarterback Donovan Carpenter suffered a broken collarbone against Cherokee, leading to Robbinsville giving snaps to sophomores Bryce Adams and Roman Jones in the fallout.
Hayesville has not prevailed against Robbinsville since the first round of the 2013 state playoffs, a 20-17 win for the Jackets.
The game will not be streamed on grahamstarsports.com.