Knights trample Braves in second round of playoffs
Robbinsville – The second meeting this season between the Black Knights and Cherokee Braves completely flipped the script.
Robbinsville (No. 4 seed, 8-3) rode a wave of six rushing touchdowns and a stubborn defensive showcase in its quest for revenge against Cherokee (No. 13, 6-5) – the only team to best the Knights in divisional play this season – drubbing the Braves 46-18 in the second round of the 1A state playoffs Friday at Modeal Walsh Memorial Stadium.
“Our kids played really hard,” Robbinsville head coach Dee Walsh said. “The line continues to get better, and we’re getting some depth there – with some of the kids coming back healthy – so that’s helping, since they’re not having to play (on) both sides of the ball the whole game.”
The Black Knights fanned Cherokee throughout the first half, limiting the Braves to just 55 yards of total offense across the two quarters and recording three of Robbinsville’s eight sacks – including two on the same drive – before the break.
To fill the void, Robbinsville’s vaunted running game inflicted 25 points worth of damage, including a pair of 13-yard touchdown runs from Cuttler Adams, a 20-yard sprint into the end zone by Kage Williams and a 42-yard field goal by Cody Cline with 49 seconds left in the second.
“Cuttler and Kage are really special,” Walsh said. “They really play physical and hard, especially for two sophomores.
“Cuttler breaks tackles and makes good runs; if he can get a seam, he can go. Kage makes the tough yards inside. He looked more like himself Friday night than he has all year.”
Cherokee quarterback Donald Bradley finally erased the zero from the Braves’ side of the scoreboard early in the third – scoring on a 10-yard keeper – but a pair of traded, lost fumbles later netted Adams’ third touchdown of the game, courtesy of a 9-yard run. Bradley would score again in the waning seconds of the stanza, but Adams’ promptly dashed 62 yards downfield to begin the fourth and punch in his fourth rushing score of the night.
Robbinsville’s scoreline was rounded out by backup quarterback Christian Phillips sneaking in on a 1-yard run later in the period, while Michael Driver punched in a Braves’ touchdown with 15 seconds left in the game.
The Knights thwarted all three of Cherokee’s conversion attempts on the night.
“They wanted to make a statement,” Walsh added. “We talked about how we’re the conference champs; let’s make sure everybody knows it.”
Cavaliers up next
Robbinsville’s next playoff foe is North Rowan (No. 12 seed, 8-3), which upended Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy (No. 5 seed, 7-4) in an overtime war Friday night, 34-28.
The Cavaliers will make the 224-mile trip from Spencer to Graham County for the third round of the postseason. Kickoff on Bob Colvin Field will be at 7:30 p.m.
North Rowan’s backfield features an athletic, freshman quarterback in Jeremiah Alford, as well as two dangerous runners in Jaemias Morrow and Kh’ron Miller. Wide receiver Amari McArthur could also be a viable threat for the Cavaliers’ offensive attack. The game will be streamed live on The Graham Star’s Facebook page as well as broadcast via radio on WBHN (94.1 FM).
Playoff roundup
After the second round of the playoffs, just two Smoky Mountain Conference teams remain in the postseason bracket.
Here are the results from Friday’s games:
* Andrews (No. 10 seed, 7-4) lost to Starmount (No. 7, 8-4) in overtime, 27-20;
* Murphy (No. 9, 8-4) defeated Mountain Heritage (No. 8, 8-3), 22-10; the Bulldogs will travel to Eastern Randolph (No. 1, 10-0) on Friday;
* Swain County (No. 14 seed, 5-6) fell at Mitchell (No. 3, 10-2), 49-14.