Chapel Hill — Robbinsville's quest for a 16th state championship ended in heartbreak Thursday afternoon, as the Black Knights fell 9-8 to the Wilson Preparatory Academy Tigers in the 1A title game.
Robbinsville (10-4) looked poised to make a goal-line stand late in the battle, stopping Wilson Prep (9-5) at the 1-yard line. The Tigers were then assessed consecutive delay-of-game penalties, but Ethan Nelson saved the day by nailing a 26-yard field goal with 20 seconds left on the clock — the first field goal kicked by Wilson Prep in three years, head coach Phil Dickens said in the team's post-game press conference.
Manny Dickens picked off a pass on the Knights' ensuing drive to wrap up the rally.
Robbinsville's lone touchdown came with 1:13 left in the second quarter. After Eli Lambert caught a long pass from Luke Lovin and sprinted to the 1-yard line, Isiac Collins made the plunge across the goal line inside UNC-Chapel Hill's Kenan Stadium — before promptly rushing across for a two-point conversion. The 8-6 lead held until Nelson's game-winning field goal.
Look for more coverage in the Dec. 18 edition of The Graham Star.