Robbinsville drops to 0-2 after loss to Franklin
Franklin – To say the Panthers have improved ten-fold from this time last year would be an understatement.
The 3A pride of Macon County welcomed Robbinsville on Friday for a rematch from last year’s Week 2 matchup, which concluded with the Black Knights shutting out Franklin 26-0.
But the hosting Panthers completely flipped the script, posting 30 unanswered points before Robbinsville could even get on the board in a 30-7 loss for the Knights.
Robbinsville has not dropped its first two games of the year since 2016.
The score column remained silent until 3:15 remained in the second quarter, when Braydon Hervey broke through and crossed the goal line from 30 yards out. Daniel Riddle’s PAT made it 7-0, which was the tally at the break.
Franklin (2-0) continued to build its lead in the third, with Hervey capping the opening drive of the second half by pushing his way into the end zone from three yards out.
Robbinsville (0-2) looked primed to strike later in the stanza, when Darion Ledbetter picked off Panthers quarterback Anderson Terrell. But the Knights were unable to move forward and while attempting to punt the ball away, a botched snap sailed beyond the back of the end zone for a rare safety.
Hervey created a larger gap on the next drive, punching in a 1-yard touchdown with 1:52 left in the third. Franklin’s barrage ended on a 54-yard pass from Terrell to Hervey.
Knights quarterback Bryce Adams sprinted downfield 56 yards on the next play from scrimmage, posting Robbinsville’s only touchdown of the evening. Angel Cervantes split the uprights to bump the score to its eventual conclusion.
Robbinsville will finally play at home Friday, Sept. 6, welcoming Mountain Heritage to Modeal Walsh Memorial (Big Oaks) Stadium. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.; if you cannot attend the game in-person, it will be live-streamed through grahamstarsports.com.