It’s the thrill of the Chase

Cherokee – Chase Calhoun’s stomach was in knots as the Robbinsville team bus pulled into the parking area Friday.

An offseason transfer from the Braves, Calhoun would soon enter the opposing locker room at Ray Kinsland Stadium to dress out for the Smoky Mountain Conference opener – the first time he would change into his game apparel underneath the visitors seating area of his former home turf.

But if any nerves existed inside, Calhoun’s exterior covered them nicely. It was business as usual for the Black Knights’ running back, who sits just behind powerhouse standout Cuttler Adams on the depth chart.

And when he stepped onto the artificial surface, Calhoun made himself right at home – as he had done so many times before while playing for Cherokee.

In fact, the senior needed just eight touches to record his first 100-yard game for Robbinsville; he had seven such games while competing for the Braves. He also recorded the first touchdown of the second half and successfully ran in three conversion attempts, aiding tremendously in the Black Knights’ 46-6 spoiling of Cherokee’s homecoming.

“I was definitely nervous,” Calhoun said of his emotions Friday. “Plus, being on the visitors side, in that locker room – I had never been inside that locker room.

“I kept looking up in the (home) stands (during pregame); I know everybody. It’s the same families from last year, sitting in the same spot.”

The postgame scene proved there was still a lot of love on the other sideline for Calhoun, as countless Braves sought him out for congratulations, well-wishes, or just simply say hello.

“It was all love. I didn’t leave on a bad note,” Calhoun said. “They’re all still my best friends.”

Robbinsville (5-1, 1-0) and Cherokee (4-2, 0-1) both delivered ferocious hits all night, with some contact sparking internal questions about whether money was owed by one athlete to another.

In reality, the tone of the game was simply two programs adding another chapter in the long-standing rivalry between the conference foes. The Knights would soon turn the page on the narrative, however: following a scoreless first quarter from either side, Robbinsville poured on 32 unanswered points.

Aside from a 13-yard scoring pass delivered by Michael Driver to Shiloh Woodson midway through the third, the Knights’ defense held Cherokee at bay. Darion Ledbetter intercepted a first-quarter delivery from Driver; Tytan Teesateskie later recovered a fumble in the opening segment.

“The turning point was everyone coming together,” Ledbetter said. “We want to encourage each other to get into the end zone and we don’t play selfish: we just want to score and be good.”

Twice in the second half, Robbinsville’s Quinn Jumper tackled Driver for a loss. His first drop was a solo effort; the second go-around was a collaboration with Kage Williams, who punched in the final Knights score with a 3-yard push at the 7:46 mark of the fourth quarter.

Of course, Cuttler Adams did Cuttler Adams things all evening. On 27 attempts, Adams recorded 156 rushing yards and four touchdowns (three on the ground; one thanks to a 46-yard scoring reception).

By the end of the night, Adams had ran his pursuit of the all-time school (and divisional) rushing standard to 5,396 yards which is just 204 yards behind Kurt Odom for second place all time in Robbinsville history. Rylee Anderson tallied 6,164 yards from 2016-19 to set both the Knights and divisional record; Adams is just 768 yards shy of that mark.

The win marked the fourth time in the Knights’ campaign that an opponent was held to under 10 points. Robbinsville’s defense limited the Braves to just 29 rushing yards.

Robbinsville travels to Murphy (5-1, 1-0) for its final road game of the season this Friday. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.