Robbinsville survives scare from Yellow Jackets
Robbinsville – It wasn’t pretty, but the Black Knights avoided the need for a EpiPen to prevail over Hayesville on Friday, 26-20.
Scoreless throughout the final 12 minutes, Robbinsville (8-1, 4-0) afforded the hungry visitors two separate fumble recoveries in the segment: Dawson Devane scooped up a loose ball moments after Hayesville (5-4, 1-3) had trimmed its deficit to 26-20; the Jackets went 3-and-out, but were gifted another chance just two plays later when Will Brown came out of a scrum with the ball at the 19-yard line.
The Black Knights’ coaching staff called a timeout, provided some instantaneous motivation and in response, Hayesville soon failed to convert on fourth down – right where it had started the drive.
Cuttler Adams needed just five plays to deliver the opening shot for Robbinsville, breaking loose on a 67-yard touchdown run. The Jackets later pieced together a lengthy possession that spilled into the second, but concluded on a 24-yard scoring pass from Tate Roberts to Taylor McClure. Isaac Chandler hit the PAT moments later to give Hayesville its only advantage of the night, 7-6.
Michael Mauney leapt into the night air to snag a Donovan Carpenter pass during the ensuing Robbinsville drive, but the resilient Black Knights Swarm promptly forced a 3-and-out.
Moments later, a 37-yard completion from Carpenter to Darion Ledbetter went on to reinvigorate the Black Knights, who soon celebrated Adams’ second touchdown dash – this one from six yards out and at the 52-second mark. He then took a direct snap to etch two more into the score column, which proved critical during the final minute of the first half.
In a wild series of events, a 32-yard McClure explosion meant Chandler was soon up to bat for a field goal, splitting the uprights with 15 seconds remaining to cut Robbinsville’s lead down to 14-10.
Mauney then recovered a bungled kickoff return and Chandler again proved clutch at the 2-second mark, nailing a 36-yarder that sent the Knights into the locker room with a 14-13 lead.
Carpenter floated a pass to Chase Calhoun early in the third, with the senior dashing upfield for a 60-yard touchdown. Robbinsville again forced a 3-and-out, which gave way to Adams soon punching another hat trick into the record books on a 45-yard trample to the end zone, which went on to be the final production from the Knights’ offense in the game.
Adams ended the night with 182 rushing yards on 15 carries, which drew him within 224 of Rylee Anderson’s all-time school and Smoky Mountain Conference record. Adams now has 5,940; Anderson totaled 6,164 between 2016-19.
Seth Leek posted a sack for Hayesville; Koleson Dooley, Kellen Ensley, Quinn Jumper and Tytan Teesateskie combined for two drops of Roberts in the Jackets backfield, as each were credited with ½ a sack each.
Bryce Adams led Robbinsville with 11 tackles (six solo), while Ledbetter also intercepted a Roberts pass; McClure took down seven Knights runners (three solo) to lead Hayesville’s defense.
Title time
The victory sets up a prime matchup to end the regular season, as Robbinsville hosts a familiar divisional foe Friday, Oct. 27: Swain County (9-0, 4-0), with the conference title up for grabs.
The Knights will seek their 27th Smoky Mountain Conference crown against an unblemished Maroon Devils team. After missing out on the title in 2022, Robbinsville has worked its way back into contention for its fourth divisional championship in five years – and its 27th overall.
Pre-sale tickets (for $7 each) will be available at the Robbinsville High School (301 Sweetwater Road) front office from 1 – 2:30 p.m. today.
If you cannot make it in-person, the game will be live-streamed on grahamstarsports.com.