Black Knights freshman seals conference victory with field goal
Robbinsville – On a night where seniors were recognized and those who paved the way were honored, Zander Lucksavage made his own footnote in Black Knights’ football lure.
A call-up from the junior varsity roster just four days prior to Robbinsville's preseason scrimmage, the freshman donned the No. 15 jersey out of necessity: the Knights needed a kicker – and Lucksavage fit the bill.
So far, the move has played out nicely: Lucksavage is 23-of-26 (88%) on extra points this year and a perfect 2-for-2 when summoned for field goals. It was his second varsity success that may prove to be his most infamous, however.
Asked to split the uprights on a 21-yard attempt in the waning seconds of Friday's Smoky Mountain Conference showdown between Swain County and Robbinsville, Lucksavage trotted onto the field with not only a chance to break a 20-20 tie, but the opportunity to win the game outright.
"'I just have to make it.' That's all I'm thinking about: just making it," Lucksavage said after the game.
With ice in his veins, Lucksavage made the connection. The ball sailed between the goalposts and bounced off the former science building, but no one saw the landing: depending on which side of the stadium you were watching, the fans either leapt to their feet in adulation or buried their heads in their hands in defeat.
"I was somewhat nervous, so this is a big moment for me," Lucksavage said.
Always a contentious battle, the proceedings on the gridiron provided yet another historic chapter in the longstanding rivalry between the neighboring counties. Full of enough twists and turns to make onlookers feel like they were on a roller-coaster ride, Lucksavage's walk-off kick simply capped a wild night of action under the Big Oaks.
Three plays into the game, Xamuel Wachacha picked off Swain County (3-3, 1-1) quarterback Andruw Cody. Robbinsville (5-2, 3-0) later fell mere inches of converting a fourth-down pass from Luke Lovin to Eli Lambert; in turn, the Devils drew first blood on a 7-yard pass from Cody to Jon Stephenson. However, the Knights' line successfully blocked Stephenson's point-after attempt.
Robbinsville again faltered on a fourth-down conversion during its next drive, with Swain's next possession spilling into the second quarter. After trading punts, the teams traded picks: Wachacha nabbed Cody again, but the latter erased the mistake by intercepting a Lovin pass near midfield.
Brayden Lane dropped Cody for a third-down loss in the aftermath, but the Maroon Devils won the battle of the wits after Corey Stillwell caught a Knights punt and returned it 78 yards for a touchdown. Stephenson's extra point extended the lead to 13-0.
With a mere two seconds left before halftime, Robbinsville cracked the scoreboard on another Lovin/Lambert partnership that went for 12 yards. Lucksavage's extra point cut the deficit to 13-7 at the break.
The Black Knights barnstormed out of the locker room and churned 5:01 off the clock to begin the third – even mixing in a fake punt to convert on fourth down to extend the drive. Isiac Collins finally rumbled across the goal line on a 2-yard carry to knot the game at 13-13.
Benton Gibby fell upon a Swain County fumble during the next possession, which set up a 1-yard Lovin dive that gave the Knights their first lead of the evening. Lucksavage hit the extra point to widen the advantage to 20-13.
Kasen Buchanan and Christian Koeller both wrestled Cody to the ground for a loss near the end of the period, but the Devils' quarterback picked off Lovin on a toss to the end zone to stymie the effort. After an 11-play march downfield, Swain County tied the game once more when Cody found Zeke Glaspie for a 26-yard touchdown. Stephenson's extra point ensured the stalemate.
Robbinsville was limited to a three-downs-and-out in response, but Gibby recovered his second fumble of the night just two plays later – setting up Lucksavage for his moment in the spotlight.
"We're doing great this year," Lucksavage said. "Hopefully, we'll win state."
Friday's victory extends Robbinsville's winning streak over its Bryson City rivals to nine.
Up next
The Black Knights finish the regular season with three straight road games, which begin Friday, Oct. 10, at Murphy (4-2, 2-0). Robbinsville's last walk-off victory came at Murphy on Oct. 15, 2021, when Cody Cline hit a trio of field goals, the latter of which also sealed up a 23-20 win for the Black Knights.
Kickoff at Bob Hendrix Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m.