BlackKnights

Hazeleigh Driver (right) traps a Swain County ball handler during Monday’s lopsided victory over the Lady Devils. Photo by Cheyanne Geyer/The Graham Star

Hazeleigh Driver (right) traps a Swain County ball handler during Monday’s lopsided victory over the Lady Devils. Photo by Cheyanne Geyer/The Graham Star

Black Knights sweep tip-off

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Robbinsville Middle School’s Peyton Weaver sizes up a free throw late in Monday’s season opener against Swain County. Photo by Alex Parton/The Graham Star Robbinsville – One game evolved into a blowout; the other, a nailbiter. Both ended the same way, however: Robbinsville in the win column.
The expression concerning football being a “game of inches” was illustrated nicely by Robbinsville Mites quarterback Kyson Carpenter on Saturday, as the 11-year-old stretched to break the plane and give the Black Knights another Cracker Bowl title. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The expression concerning football being a “game of inches” was illustrated nicely by Robbinsville Mites quarterback Kyson Carpenter on Saturday, as the 11-year-old stretched to break the plane and give the Black Knights another Cracker Bowl title. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

‘Mighty Mites’ retain title

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Until someone manages to flip the script, get used to the sight of the Robbinsville Mites standing tall at the end of each year. The group won its fourth Cracker Bowl championship Saturday, prevailing 6-0 over Swain County.
Bryce Adams (right) presents the next play to his offensive linemen and tackles during Friday’s game at Hayesville. Adams launched a trio of touchdown passes in Robbinsville’s win. Also pictured are Kasen Buchanan (55), Tytan Teesateskie (72), Kyzik Teesateskie (52), Jonah Teesateskie (66), Avery Webster (63) and Tucker Jones (26). Photo by Cheyanne Geyer/The Graham Star

Bryce Adams (right) presents the next play to his offensive linemen and tackles during Friday’s game at Hayesville. Adams launched a trio of touchdown passes in Robbinsville’s win. Also pictured are Kasen Buchanan (55), Tytan Teesateskie (72), Kyzik Teesateskie (52), Jonah Teesateskie (66), Avery Webster (63) and Tucker Jones (26). Photo by Cheyanne Geyer/The Graham Star

Enemy swarm

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 31, 2024
The box score from Oct. 25, 2024's game between Robbinsville and Hayesville. Hayesville – Bryce Adams completed just four passes in Friday’s road trip to Clay County. Three were for touchdowns.
Bryce Adams evades the pursuit of Andrews’ Antonio Hernandez during Friday’s 28-7 win over the Wildcats. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Bryce Adams evades the pursuit of Andrews’ Antonio Hernandez during Friday’s 28-7 win over the Wildcats. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Interior remodeling

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 24, 2024
The box score from Oct. 18, 2024's game between Robbinsville and Andrews. Andrews  – It was not the offensive explosion that would thrill today’s generation, but Robbinsville put on a defensive clinic Friday.
Under heavy pursuit from Ryelon Waldroup (42) and Isiac Collins (7), Murphy’s Cameron Clem sees his progress slowed drastically after Robbinsville senior Caden Lail (8) opts for a low tackle. Photos by Alex Parton/The Graham Star

Under heavy pursuit from Ryelon Waldroup (42) and Isiac Collins (7), Murphy’s Cameron Clem sees his progress slowed drastically after Robbinsville senior Caden Lail (8) opts for a low tackle. Photos by Alex Parton/The Graham Star

Victory: intercepted

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 17, 2024
The box score from Oct. 11, 2024's game between Murphy and Robbinsville. Robbinsville – One errant pass. With 7:57 left in Friday’s home game against Murphy, Robbinsville held firm to a 7-6 advantage.
Braylon Blevins (17) watches for Eli Lambert (11) to catch a two-point conversion pass in JV action Monday against Hayesville. Lambert completed the exchange, to round out the Black Knights’ 30-12 win. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Braylon Blevins (17) watches for Eli Lambert (11) to catch a two-point conversion pass in JV action Monday against Hayesville. Lambert completed the exchange, to round out the Black Knights’ 30-12 win. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

JV Knights miss out on repeat title bid

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 11, 2024
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.
Senior Roman Jones prepares to lower the boom on Cherokee’s Kingston Welch en route to one of his five trips into the end zone Friday. Photos by Royce Worbington/The Graham Star

Senior Roman Jones prepares to lower the boom on Cherokee’s Kingston Welch en route to one of his five trips into the end zone Friday. Photos by Royce Worbington/The Graham Star

Roman Empire

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 11, 2024
The box score from Oct. 4, 2024's game between Cherokee and Robbinsville. Robbinsville – One game removed from a breakout performance, Roman Jones tied a record set by his father some 32 years ago.
Landon Pollard attempts to shirk an Andrews defender Sept. 19. Elijah Kirkland (12) offers a helping hand for the cause. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Landon Pollard attempts to shirk an Andrews defender Sept. 19. Elijah Kirkland (12) offers a helping hand for the cause. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

JV Black Knights collect second win of week

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Robbinsville – After an emotionally-charged road win over Murphy on Sept. 16, one could easily understand how the JV Black Knights might have dreaded throwing pads back on for another game just three days later. But really, Robbinsville needed just 10 minutes or so to get back into its groove.
Roman Jones (15) works through the front-line battle Sept. 12 against Copper Basin. Jones eclipsed the 250-yard mark and recorded all four of Robbinsville’s touchdowns at Trion, Ga. Photo by Royce Worbington/The Graham Star

Roman Jones (15) works through the front-line battle Sept. 12 against Copper Basin. Jones eclipsed the 250-yard mark and recorded all four of Robbinsville’s touchdowns at Trion, Ga. Photo by Royce Worbington/The Graham Star

So close, yet so far away

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 26, 2024
The box score from Sept. 20, 2024's game between Robbinsville and Trion. Trion, Ga. – The first meeting between a pair of 1A powerhouses from two different states lived up to the billing – and then some.
Cameron Allison (4) had other plans for Peyton Baine's pass to Brodie Betts (11), making a mid-air denial by roping in his second interception of the game Monday at Murphy. Allison's pick transitioned into Robbinsville scoring the game-clinching touchdown. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Cameron Allison (4) had other plans for Peyton Baine's pass to Brodie Betts (11), making a mid-air denial by roping in his second interception of the game Monday at Murphy. Allison's pick transitioned into Robbinsville scoring the game-clinching touchdown. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

JV Black Knights ready for primetime

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Murphy – The message was pounded into Robbinsville’s head time and time again, as the activity bus rolled down U.S. 129 South: win.