Robbinsville – Opportunities for success were few and far between during the Knights’ impromptu return to Modeal Walsh Memorial Stadium.
The devastating effects of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina prompted the state athletic association to grant an extra week for make-up games before the conclusion of the regular football season. With one of the games postponed including nearby Swain County hosting Madison County on Sept. 27, a deal was brokered: Robbinsville would pick up an extra home game – welcome news, as the Black Knights were only slated to host four this year – and the neighboring Maroon Devils would entertain the Patriots after all. Robbinsville’s visit to Swain was pushed back to Friday, Nov. 8.
In turn, the Knights welcomed a school which had suffered greatly from the impact of the hurricane: T.C. Roberson. The Rams are located in the heart of Asheville and entering Friday’s game in Graham County, had only played in six contest during 2024; following Sept. 20’s 60-26 home blowout over McDowell, T.C. Roberson went on a three-week hiatus before returning to the gridiron for a home game Oct. 18 against Erwin.
The Rams accepted Robbinsville’s invitation for an extra game – but progressively showed themselves to be rude guests on Bob Colvin Field, delivering a 24-0 shutout against the Black Knights.
Robbinsville (4-6) used over five minutes to methodically work its way downfield on the first drive, but after a Tariq Sibert sack, Joemar Darity picked off a Bryce Adams pass at the Rams’ 20-yard line.
Both sides traded punts, before T.C. Roberson (4-3) broke the monotony when Zeb Swangim broke free on a 64-yard sprint to the end zone at the first-quarter buzzer.
The Knights were once again forced to punt in the second, which transitioned into a lengthy Rams possession. Quarterback Laron Mills ended the drive with a 1-yard scoring push.
Coming out of the locker room in a 12-0 hole, Robbinsville had the greatest chance to reverse its fortunes early in the third when Quinn Jumper jarred the ball loose from the clutches of Tian Avery; Adams recovered the fumble and the Black Knights were in full control at Roberson’s 35.
Four plays later, an incomplete pass gave the ball back to the Rams – right where the fumble had just been recovered.
From there, both sides traded possession until 34 seconds remained in the segment. Cohen Bohanon caught a Mills pass and sprinted 83 yards to extend T.C.’s lead to 18-0. The Rams’ final spear came with 10:24 left in the game, when Mookah Simpson dashed into the open and only let off the throttle when he was in the end zone – 57 yards later.
Robbinsville’s final two offensive drives were ruined by fumbles – Bohanon recovered both – and on the final play of the night, Karai Smith Casey dropped Adams in the backfield for a sack.
In addition to three sacks on Adams, the Knights’ frontline showed disciplinary struggles all night. Robbinsville jumped offsides while on offense six times in the game – including two different instances on the opening possession. The Black Knights managed to keep the Rams from cashing in on any of their two-point conversion attempts and defensively, only Jumper recorded a sack for Robbinsville.
Outside of a 36-0 shutout at the hands of private school Rabun Gap, Ga., on Sept. 22, 2023, the defeat marked the first time the Knights had been held scoreless under the Big Oaks since a 14-0 loss to Fannin County, Ga., on Sept. 1, 2000.
T.C. Roberson last kept a team off the scoreboard on the same night of Rabun Gap’s achievement last year: a 49-0 silencing of the North Buncombe Hawks.
Robbinsville looks to keep its playoff dreams alive at Swain County on Friday.
As of Sunday, the Black Knights were ranked No. 7 in the 1A West by MaxPreps, which heavily factors into postseason seeding.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.; the game will be live-streamed on PPV, via the Maroon Devils Network.