Black Knights shine in season debut
Robbinsville – Chalk it up to community hype, a dangerous Black Knights roster, first-game jitters from the opponent or whatever you would like, but Robbinsville looked sharp in its 2025 premiere Friday.
Playing Tuscola in the first gridiron clash between the two schools since 1967, the Knights held the 4A Mountaineers scoreless in the first half and fully cashed in on a trio of interceptions tossed by the visitors to pick up a 28-14 win at Modeal Walsh Memorial (Big Oaks) Stadium.
Robbinsville (1-0) snuffed out a fake punt on Tuscola's opening possession and thwarted the attempt, before Kyzik Teesateskie rushed across the goal line on a 17-yard carry at the 7:47 mark of the first quarter for the initial Knights strike of the year.
Black Knights quarterback Luke Lovin later reeled in a Jett Bartley pass at the Mountaineers' 40 in the second and Teesateskie concluded a seven-play drive with a 2-yard scoring rumble.
Tuscola (0-1) broke through in the third, when Bartley connected with Ty Walker on a 3-yard zip. The effort was negated early in the fourth, when Isiac Collins rushed Bartley in the backfield and got a fingertip on a pass as it was delivered. Ryelon Waldroup was more than willing to snag the missile and return it 35 yards for a Knights' touchdown.
Allison pulled down Bartley's final passing miscue of the night in the waning minutes of regulation, which led to Collins rushing into the end zone on a two-yard carry. Zander Lucksavage followed by splitting the uprights, to finish out a 4-for-4 evening on extra points.
With a mere three seconds left on the clock, the Mountaineers ensured the outcome would look a bit more respectable: Bartley found Dillon Vanhook on a 13-yard scoring pass.
Robbinsville now shifts its attention to Franklin (0-1). Kickoff on Bob Colvin Field will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29.