Robbinsville – The junior varsity Black Knights’ defense of the Smoky Mountain Conference title went right down to the wire.
Scoreless after the first quarter of the Oct. 3 home showdown against Swain County, Robbinsville was unable to complete a two-point conversion after finding the end zone in overtime.
But the Maroon Devils did, securing this year’s divisional crown in a 22-20 thriller on Bob Colvin Field.
“Growing up, these kids have been used to beating everyone handily,” Black Knights head coach Wren Millsaps said. “They haven’t faced adversity and Swain came out, started giving us some gut punches – like in a boxing fight – and sometimes, the boxer that hits those punches wins on points in the end, without a knockout blow.
“We didn’t respond to the punches and that’s part of growing up. It’s a part of learning how to be winners, which they can – and will – be.”
Things favored Robbinsville (6-1) in the early going.
Swain County turned the ball over on downs to begin the game, but the Knights successfully cashed in their first offensive chance when Benton Gibby broke free on a 27-yard rumble across the goal line.
Rylen Orr recovered a Devils fumble on the next drive, which shifted into Gibby finding the end zone on a 5-yard dash at the 13-second mark. Braylon Blevins then slipped a pass to Gibby for the conversion – and Robbinsville led 14-0 at the outset of the second quarter.
When Blevins picked off Swain quarterback Ayden Kirkland during the next segment, no one could have forecasted that the interception would be the final bright spot of regulation for the Black Knights. Robbinsville ended up having to punt the ball away – a rarity this season – and the Devils finally got on the scoreboard just 11 seconds before intermission, when Blake Lambert slipped through the swarm on a 5-yard run. Kirkland then fired a laser to Kellan Rutkosky for the conversion, which left the Knights with a 14-8 advantage.
Lambert unknowingly ensured overtime with 1:18 left in the third, plowing ahead on a 1-yard push. Swain County was unable to seize the lead on the conversion and the game went into overtime at a 14-14 stalemate.
Elijah Kirkland took care of Robbinsville’s extra-segment touchdown, scoring on a 2-yard carry. Another rush attempt fell short of the end zone, however; and Swain knotted the game right back up when a 4-yard Coleman Green sprint ended with a touchdown.
Sizing up the totality of the moment, both sides called a timeout before the final play: a handoff to Lambert, who found an open hole on the left side of the scrum to secure the Maroon Devils’ stake in the conference crown.
Ending on a high
Hayesville seemed poised for a major upset when Monday’s season finale kicked off under the Big Oaks.
The Yellow Jackets shook off a late arrival – a byproduct of their bus breaking down in Topton – and marched downfield to score on the opening series, but the Knights gathered their bearings and went on to trounce Hayesville 30-12.
“This is as talented a team that will come through here – if they will put in the work,” Millsaps said.
The visitors capped a 6:22 run to open the game when Rylan Graves weaved into the end zone from five yards out.
Robbinsville finally came to life in the second, when Kirkland measured out a 16-yard touchdown path.
Both sides attempted conversions that were unsuccessful in the first half, but a 21-yard halfback pass from Cameron Allison to Bam Nelms broke the stalemate for good. Gibby then ran in the first conversion of the evening; and Robbinsville led 14-6 at the pause.
The Knights tacked onto their lead in the third, when Mason Silvers sprinted into the end zone on a 4-yard carry and conversion run. The fourth quarter was literally action-packed to the final whistle: Graves tackled Blevins for a loss, before Carson Finn picked off a pass near the end zone.
Eli Lambert reeled in a Crow Collins toss to regain possession for Robbinsville during the subsequent drive, however, which turned into Ethan Chekeleelee diving in on a 6-yard heave. Robbinsville’s final points of the year were etched by Blevins and Lambert, on a conversion pass.
Hayesville never surrendered, even with the outcome in plain sight. With just 18 seconds remaining in the season, Graves rushed 20 yards for a touchdown.
With the conclusion of the year, Millsaps has optimism that the players invited to suit up on the varsity squad will play some key roles moving forward.
“I feel like everybody that has been invited to move up has the potential to help,” Millsaps said. “Numbers are low and they are as talented a group as you could ask for.
“I expect nothing but numbers on the board with this group.”