Knights move into 2nd-place tie in Smoky Mountain Conference
Hayesville – Bryce Adams completed just four passes in Friday’s road trip to Clay County.
Three were for touchdowns.
Robbinsville’s senior quarterback finished with 117 yards in the air on six attempts, with separate zips to three different Black Knights factoring significantly into a 28-6 buzzing of the Yellow Jackets.
The monotony of a scoreless first quarter went to the wayside in the second, with Cooper Adams cradling the first air strike from Bryce and churning 23 yards for a touchdown. Robbinsville (4-5, 3-1) built on the momentum in the third, when Cooper used a strong push from the offensive line to bully his way across the goal line from three yards out.
Hayesville (2-7, 1-3) kept the pressure on, putting up its only score roughly two minutes later when Tate Roberts successfully found Ben Bethel on a 38-yard target. Undeterred, the Knights got right back to work on their next drive and found paydirt on the artificial surface with 2:22 left in the stanza: a 31-yard touchdown reception by Darion Ledbetter.
For good measure, tight end Isiac Collins rumbled 49 yards to the north end zone in the fourth quarter – helping Bryce complete the hat trick.
A well-rounded defensive effort kept the hosts in check. Kasen Buchanan wrapped up a fumble recovery, moments before Robbinsville’s first touchdown was recorded; Ledbetter picked off a pass on the 13th play of Hayesville’s ensuing drive; and Quinn Jumper sacked Roberts to force a fourth-down turnover late in the game.
Collins led the “Black Knight Swarm” with seven tackles and five assists. Roman Jones had four tackles and finished with 72 rushing yards on 13 touches. Also dropping four Jackets was Tanner Hedden, Jumper, Jonah Teesateskie and Tytan Teesateskie.
The win marked Robbinsville’s second-straight game in which it scored 28 points; since entering Smoky Mountain Conference play, the Black Knights have outscored their divisional opponents 109-43.
Unplanned return
In a shake-up to the original docket, Robbinsville will get to play a fifth home game Friday, Nov. 1. The T.C. Roberson Rams (3-3) will make the trek to Graham County for a 7:30 p.m., kickoff.
If you are unable to attend the game in-person, it will be live-streamed for $6.99 on grahamstarsports.com.
The addition came thanks to an extension from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, which deemed that programs who were unable to play games due to the effects of Hurricane Helene were allowed to extend their season an extra week. The Black Knights were able to make an agreement between themselves, T.C. Roberson, Swain County and Madison County – the latter two will square off Friday in Bryson City.
Robbinsville will then end the regular season Friday, Nov. 8 at Swain County.