'Swarm' continues to pay dividends; Knights upend Cougars

Burnsville -- Cuttler Adams had four rushing touchdowns and an interception.

The patented Black Knights' defense took care of the rest, stopping the hosting Cougars on fourth down in critical moments and opening the way for Robbinsville (3-0) to carry a 28-17 win over Mountain Heritage (1-2) on Friday night back to Graham County.

The Cougars did strike first in the contest, with Brandon Quinn opting for a 15-yard keeper that ended with a trip to the end zone at the 39-second mark of the opening segment. Adams' first score came midway through the second, on a 4-yard carry that was jumpstarted after he picked Quinn off at the 35-yard line. He dashed through the line for a 41-yard touchdown just three minutes later.

Matthais Newsome's 40-yard field goal in the third trimmed the deficit to 14-10, but Adams' extended Robbinsville's advantage once more on a 1-yard carry. The see-saw battle continued with Cason Jones reeling in a 17-yard touchdown pass from Quinn early in the fourth -- which proved to be the final dent Mountain Heritage would make in the scoreboard.

Adams sprinted to the house on a 29-yard run for some insurance with 1:05 to go; Newsome's second attempt at a 40-yarder through the uprights later proved unsuccessful and cemented the Knights' victory. Adams eclipsed the 5,000-yard mark in his career in the game; his 25 carries for 166 yards places him at 5,075. Adams needs just 1,089 to tie the all-time school (and Smoky Mountain Conference) record set by Rylee Anderson between 2016-19, of 6,164.  

Look for more in the Sept. 7 edition of The Graham Star.

Smoky Mountain Conference Round-Up

Week 3: Sept. 1, 2023

Andrews 56, New Faith Christian Academy 0;

Cherokee 41, Choctaw Central (Miss.) 37

Hayesville 49, Georgia Force Christian 27;

Robbinsville 28, Mountain Heritage 17;

Swain County 40, Franklin 13.