Senior’s hat trick clinches win for Robbinsville
Murphy – Cody Cline will never have to pay for a meal in Robbinsville again.
Already extremely respected by his peers and coaches alike, Cline cemented his spot in Black Knights lore by nailing three separate field goal during Friday night’s Smoky Mountain Conference showdown in Murphy – with the latter cinching a 23-20 victory for Robbinsville.
“I just want to thank God,” an emotional Cline said moments after the Knights’ triumph. “All the ability He has given me and my team, I just can’t thank Him enough. I want to give all the glory back to Him.”
As Cline jogged onto the field for the biggest attempt of his career, he had already split the uprights twice in the battle: a 31-yarded midway through the second quarter, and a 45-yard shot that tied the game 20-20, with 6:46 left.
But to get called on to win the game against the team that knocked Robbinsville out of the postseason in April?
No sweat.
“Not a bit of pressure. Not a bit,” Cline affirmed. “I was just focused on doing my job. I practice it every week and have been preparing for this moment for my whole career.”
Robbinsville (3-3, 1-1) scored its other two strikes in the first and third quarters, both on runs from fullback Kage Williams.
The sophomore broke free on the third play of the game and trampled to the end zone from 51 yards out, before weaving across the goal line on a 4-yard carry with 1:42 left in the third.
Murphy (5-3, 2-1) found its offense on a pair of Kellen Rumfelt touchdown passes – one to Juan Allen in the first quarter and another to Payton McCracken in the third – and a 2-yard push from Hunter Stalcup in the waning moments of the first, which gave the Bulldogs a 14-7 lead.
However, the Knights’ defense took a stout stand in the fourth, forcing a pair of Bulldogs’ punts on Murphy’s final two possessions.
And in the heat of the moment, the Dogs jumped offsides after Cline lined up for the game-winner, giving the senior kicker five more yards to seal the deal.
Not that he needed it.
“Props to Dasan (Gross) and Carson (White); a good snap and a good hold,” Cline said. “The line blocked; everything went smooth.”
“I knew if we could get the ball down there, Cody could make it,” Gross added.
“We had a lot of kids step up tonight, and it helped us tremendously.”
All the comforts of home
The Black Knights will close out the regular season with a run of three home games over a span of seven days.
Andrews (5-2, 1-2) comes to town for Hall of Fame night this Friday before Swain County (4-2, 2-0) pays a visit for a makeup game Tuesday. Robbinsville then closes the regular season by hosting the Hayesville Yellow Jackets (2-6, 0-3) for senior night Friday, Oct. 29.
“I feel like after this, we can win out,” Gross said after the Murphy victory. “I feel like we can win out, for sure.”