Robbinsville wins league opener
Robbinsville – It took until the latter stages of the third quarter for Friday's Smoky Mountain Conference opener for the score to resemble that of a football game.
The Black Knights went into the break with a 6-3 lead over the Hayesville Yellow Jackets – the victims of three first-half touchdowns being called back on holding penalties. Even a 30-yard Zander Lucksavage field goal at the 4:47 mark of the third gave Robbinsville very little breathing room.
But the Knights pressed on regardless, riding on the back of Kyzik Teesateskie's second and third rushing touchdowns of the evening – and one for good measure from Benton Gibby – to buzz the visitors 29-10 on Bob Colvin Field.
Two of the negated scores occurred on the opening drive, but Robbinsville (3-2, 1-0) salvaged its first 5:42 in possession of the ball with Teesateskie's initial strike: a two-yard heave.
Hayesville (3-2, 0-1) snuck onto the scoreboard in the second, when Josue Salas split the uprights on a 21-yard field goal.
A 45-yard touchdown pass from Luke Lovin to Cameron Allison was ultimately called back during the next drive, which kept the score firm until Lucksavage's triumph in the third.
Following his field goal, Robbinsville's defense gave Jackets quarterback Peyton McGaha fits. Kellen Ensley broke through for a pair of sacks on the next possession, while Ryelon Waldroup dropped McGaha for a loss to end the segment.
Teesateskie's next success came with 8:47 left to go, a six-yard rush that Lucksavage complemented with a PAT. Just 11 seconds later, Hayesville carved out its only touchdown of the night when McGaha found Ben Bethel downfield for a 64-yard scoring pass.
Gibby's six-yard touchdown was recorded at the 6:06 point of the fourth, with Lucksavage stamping the 29th point for Robbinsville in the aftermath.
Up next
The Black Knights now shift their focus to the Andrews Wildcats (0-5, 0-1), which visit Modeal Walsh Memorial Stadium for Friday, Sept. 26's homecoming game.
Kickoff under the Big Oaks will be at 7:30 p.m.