Robbinsville topples Murphy to continue pursuit of perfection
Murphy – The message was pounded into Robbinsville’s head time and time again, as the activity bus rolled down U.S. 129 South: win.
Multiple residences adorned their mailboxes with various signs of inspiration, with statements like “Beat the Bulldogs” and “Go Black Knights” posted at intervals along Tallulah Road, stretching all the way to the Topton bridge.
A lot of hype surrounded the clash of the two undefeated titans of the Smoky Mountain Conference’s junior varsity league – and the special Monday night showdown lived up to the billing. Overcoming a lethargic first half, Robbinsville made good on the miles of support by using three interceptions to roll over Murphy 15-12 at Bob Hendrix Stadium.
“At halftime, I challenged my linemen. They got whipped in the first half,” Robbinsville head coach Wren Millsaps said. “I challenged them to come out and be resilient. We really just lined up between the tackles and ran it right at them in the second half.
“Our secondary getting three picks was great. I can’t ask for a better group of kids; to come here and win at Murphy is special.”
The Bulldogs carried a 6-0 lead into halftime, following a 1-yard dive from Blake Davis with 5:43 left in the first quarter. Murphy’s (3-1) Landen Shields squandered the ensuing conversion pass moments later, allowing the pigskin to literally slip through his fingers – something that proved costly in the waning seconds of the duel.
Indeed, Robbinsville (4-0) watched its line come to life in the third quarter. Much stronger blocking morphed into a 77-yard touchdown dash by Cameron Allison at the 4:28 mark. Xamuel Wachacha split the uprights to give the Knights the lead, 7-6.
Though Lane Hembree reeled in a Braylon Blevins pass for a quick change in possession during the fourth, Allison made sure to get the ball right back for Robbinsville by snagging a Peyton Baine pass near midfield soon thereafter.
In turn, Benton Gibby powered through a colorful mass of silver and gold from three yards out to extend the Black Knights’ advantage. A bad snap on the point-after left Wachacha with a chance to pass – and he found Eli Lambert for a conversion, making it 15-6 with 2:40 to go.
Both sides had blown through their allotted timeouts with five minutes left, so the clock furiously counted down as Baine muscled his way into the end zone at the 42-second interval. A bungled conversion pass left Murphy trailing by three and though the Bulldogs recovered the onside kick that followed, the home team’s fate was sealed when Lambert pulled down a Baine pass with 33 seconds remaining in regulation.
The game was switched to Monday due to pending storms in the area forcing varsity affairs to be reshuffled around the horn. Robbinsville will only have three days to convalesce before welcoming Andrews under the Big Oaks for a 6 p.m. kickoff today.
If you cannot attend the game, it will be live-streamed for free on the Star’s YouTube page.