Black Knights set to host 2nd Western final in 3 years
Robbinsville – In a performance that was eerily similar to their playoff opener Nov. 14, the Black Knights dictated the pace of Friday's third-round postseason showdown from the word "go."
Hosting East Columbus (No. 5 seed, 3-9), Robbinsville erupted for 35 unanswered points in the first quarter before pressing the cruise control button and sending the Gators scampering back to Lake Waccamaw on the losing end of a 54-7 final.
Three plays into the game, Kasen Buchanan dropped East Columbus' starting quarterback Dawson Crosby to jar the ball loose. Buchanan was more than happy to swoop atop the fumble and in the same amount of plays, Robbinsville (9-3) found the end zone on a 15-yard Isiac Collins dash.
Following a Gators punt, Kyzik Teesateskie would cross the threshold for the first of three times in the opening stanza alone when he charged 51 yards downfield. An East Columbus punt gave way to a lengthy Knights possession, which ended when Teesateskie dove across from four yards out.
The visitor turned the ball over on downs to end their next attempt, which led to Teesateskie reeling in a remarkable 34-yard touchdown pass from Luke Lovin, which he caught behind the helmet of Gators cornerback Gabriel Green. A mere 33 seconds later, Xamuel Wachacha recovered an East Columbus fumble and while the Gators attended to the matter, Lovin slipped in and took the ball on a 33-yard journey across the goal line.
Buchanan and Kellen Ensley each shared another sack of Crosby near the dawn of the second, which later morphed into a three-yard Benton Gibby touchdown run. Robbinsville finally cooled its first-half jets after Cameron Allison made a successful 17-yard pilgrimage to the northern end zone.
Matthew Phillips went on to add the final insult with 10:30 left in the game, scooping up a fourth Gators miscue and making a short 10-yard zip for a touchdown. East Columbus managed to avoid a shutout with 2:20 to go, thanks to a 28-yard pass from backup quarterback Demetrius Dexter to Crosby.
Willie McDuffie kicked the PAT for the Gators, while Zander Lucksavage handled extra points for Robbinsville and went 4-for-7 in the game.
With the victory, the Black Knights are set to host the 1A Western Regional title game for the second time in three years, and the third in five seasons. The South Davidson Wildcats (No. 2, 11-1) will make the trip from Denton for the showdown, which will kickoff on Bob Colvin Field at Modeal Walsh Memorial (Big Oaks) Stadium at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 28.
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