Robbinsville – Outside of two fumble recoveries, the visiting Cougars let out little more than a whimper in the Aug. 21 junior varsity football season opener.
Instead, the Black Knights broke a scoreless game wide open in the second half and sent Mountain Heritage on a long journey back to Yancey County with plenty to think about after delivering a 16-0 shutout on Bob Colvin Field.
Tyson Norton scooped up a loose Robbinsville (1-0) ball in the first quarter, but that was the lone highlight of the half. Ethan Chekelelee ended the monotony in the third, scoring on a 3-yard carry and tacking on a conversion run for good measure. To keep the visitors at bay, Braylen Phillips later collected his own fumble recovery and Devin Burchfield picked off a Cougars heave.
Mountain Heritage (0-1) experienced its final bit of hope in the fourth, when Colton Brinkley fell atop a botched carry. Soon enough, the Knights took back over and Kreed Williams polished off the victory for Robbinsville with a 1-yard rush across the plane and two-point conversion of his own.
The Knights will travel to Bakersville today to face the Mitchell Mountaineers. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.