Robbinsville – After several delays, the Black Knights’ junior varsity team finally got its 2021 football season started Sept. 16.
As is custom, Robbinsville put the entire Smoky Mountain Conference on notice.
The Knights shut out Cherokee for the first half and chose not to coast through the third and fourth quarters, keeping the pressure on to pick up a 34-12 win over the Braves at Modeal Walsh Memorial Stadium.
“I thought we had a good showing,” Robbinsville head coach Wren Millsaps said. “After a two-week layoff and only 11 practices, we blocked, ran and tackled well.
“This is a special group of young men that have the potential to do great things throughout high school.”
Roman Jones scored Robbinsville’s lone touchdown in the first quarter on a 1-yard push. Cooper Adams then crossed the threshold twice in the second quarter, with the latter score including a conversion run from Adams to make it 20-0. Cherokee was driving late in the segment, but Jones picked off Braves quarterback Bubba Moore to keep the visitors off the scoreboard at the break.
Though Moore would hit Michell Gayosso for the only score of the third quarter – the ensuing conversion attempt was unsuccessful – Robbinsville was unrelenting in the fourth. Knights quarterback Bryce Adams snuck into the end zone with 8:41 left, before Ryelon Waldroup nabbed a Moore pass on the next possession.
Zach Seay would scoop up a Robbinsville fumble moments later and the Braves trimmed the deficit to 26-14 a few plays later, when Moore found Elijah Lineberry for a 60-yard touchdown pass.
However, Bryce Adams ensured the Knights’ victory with 3:43 to go, on another 1-yard keeper. Cooper Adams’ second conversion run of the evening solidified the final outcome.
“Cooper’s leadership is something that is fun to be around,” Millsaps added.
Monday’s scheduled home makeup game against Swain County was once again pushed back – this time due to weather – to Thursday, Oct. 14. Robbinsville shifts its focus to today, when the Knights welcome Murphy to Bob Colvin Field.
Kickoff is at 6 p.m.