BlackKnights

JV Black Knight Elijah Kirkland (7) attempts to slow down the efforts of Murphy’s Blake Davis on Sept. 7. Kirkland scored on the second play of Sept. 14’s road game at Andrews, which opened the floodgates in a 34-0 shutout of the Wildcats. Photo by Danielle Crabtree/The Graham Star

JV Black Knight Elijah Kirkland (7) attempts to slow down the efforts of Murphy’s Blake Davis on Sept. 7. Kirkland scored on the second play of Sept. 14’s road game at Andrews, which opened the floodgates in a 34-0 shutout of the Wildcats. Photo by Danielle Crabtree/The Graham Star

4 down, 2 to go for JV Knights

Kevin Hensley
Friday, September 22, 2023
Andrews – Visits to Hayesville and Swain County are all that stand between the JV Black Knights and a conference title. Robbinsville gnashed the Andrews Wildcats from the opening kickoff Sept. 7, taming the hosts’ efforts in a 34-0 shutout at Hugh Hamilton Stadium.
Cuttler Adams finds an open hole during Sept. 1’s game at Mountain Heritage. Adams has recently been selected to play in a pair of prestigous showcases after his high-school career wraps up. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Cuttler Adams finds an open hole during Sept. 1’s game at Mountain Heritage. Adams has recently been selected to play in a pair of prestigous showcases after his high-school career wraps up. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

‘Believe and have faith’

Kevin Hensley
Friday, September 22, 2023
Robbinsville – Cuttler Adams has been a busy man as of late. Realizing his potential to play at the next level, the perennial Black Knights running threat has turned up the heat on his quest to improve throughout 2023.
Under the pursuit of Murphy’s Brodie Betts, JV Black Knight Cameron Allison eyes a cut upfield during Sept. 7’s home tilt with the Bulldogs. Photo by Danielle Crabtree/The Graham Star

Under the pursuit of Murphy’s Brodie Betts, JV Black Knight Cameron Allison eyes a cut upfield during Sept. 7’s home tilt with the Bulldogs. Photo by Danielle Crabtree/The Graham Star

Taking a bite out of the competition

Kevin Hensley
Friday, September 15, 2023
Robbinsville – It started off as a heavyweight battle, between two titans of the Smoky Mountain Conference. But Sept.
Darion Ledbetter clutches one of his two interceptions Friday at Alleghany – both of which led to touchdowns in Robbinsville’s 35-7 win over the Trojans. Photos courtesy of Stewart Royall/Studio Roxie

Darion Ledbetter clutches one of his two interceptions Friday at Alleghany – both of which led to touchdowns in Robbinsville’s 35-7 win over the Trojans. Photos courtesy of Stewart Royall/Studio Roxie

Eat. Sleep. Conquer. Repeat.

Kevin Hensley
Friday, September 15, 2023
Sparta – Returning the favor from last year’s homecoming visit, Robbinsville made the 250-mile trek to Alleghany County on Friday.

Stopped 1 yard shy

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 7, 2023
Robbinsville – In a frantic scramble, Cherokee had reached the Knights’ 11-yard line. The Braves had no way to stop the clock in the closing moments of Aug. 31’s junior-varsity showdown under the Big Oaks, as Cherokee had burned all of its timeouts in the moments leading up to the play.
Robbinsville’s Cuttler Adams emerges for an eventual 29-yard touchdown run that would cement the Knights’ 28-17 win at Mountain Heritage on Friday. Adams now has 5,075 rushing yards in his career. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s Cuttler Adams emerges for an eventual 29-yard touchdown run that would cement the Knights’ 28-17 win at Mountain Heritage on Friday. Adams now has 5,075 rushing yards in his career. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Runaway momentum

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 7, 2023
Burnsville – One might expect a pre-game glimpse inside the Black Knights’ locker room to be upbeat, loud and full of teenagers who are psyching themselves up for that evening’s assignment. Sorry to disappoint, but that does not fit Robbinsville’s mantra this year.
Robbinsville's Chase Calhoun (2) and Quinn Jumper (12) wrestle Mountain Heritage quarterback Brandon Quinn to the ground in the first quarter of the Black Knights' 28-17 win over the Cougars on Friday night. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville's Chase Calhoun (2) and Quinn Jumper (12) wrestle Mountain Heritage quarterback Brandon Quinn to the ground in the first quarter of the Black Knights' 28-17 win over the Cougars on Friday night. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

'Swarm' continues to pay dividends; Knights upend Cougars

Kevin Hensley
Friday, September 1, 2023
Burnsville -- Cuttler Adams had four rushing touchdowns and an interception.

Cougars pounce on JV Knights

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Burnsville – Last year’s Robbinsville JV football team led Mountain Heritage early in a neutral-site game at Tuscola. This year’s narrative was a bit more lopsided – and not-too-favorable to the Black Knights. Mountain Heritage’s freshman-heavy squad hosted Robbinsville on Aug.
The anything-but-appetizing combination of “Biscuits and Gravy” – senior backs Cuttler Adams (4) and Kage Williams (33) – ran wild on the Franklin Panthers, combining for 27 carries, 150 of the Knights’ 200 rushing yards and all three of Robbinsville’s touchdowns on the ground in the 26-0 win. Photos by Danielle Crabtree/The Graham Star

The anything-but-appetizing combination of “Biscuits and Gravy” – senior backs Cuttler Adams (4) and Kage Williams (33) – ran wild on the Franklin Panthers, combining for 27 carries, 150 of the Knights’ 200 rushing yards and all three of Robbinsville’s touchdowns on the ground in the 26-0 win. Photos by Danielle Crabtree/The Graham Star

Access: denied

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Robbinsville – On a night where the stars of tomorrow received pre-game acknowledgement, the Black Knights showed what the expectations are once you reach the high-school level.
Donovan Carpenter unleashes a pass during the first half of Friday's 26-0 rout over Franklin. Photo by Danielle Crabtree/The Graham Star

Donovan Carpenter unleashes a pass during the first half of Friday's 26-0 rout over Franklin. Photo by Danielle Crabtree/The Graham Star

Knights stifle Panthers on Youth Recognition Night

Kevin Hensley
Friday, August 25, 2023
Robbinsville – On a night where the stars of tomorrow received pre-game acknowledgement, the Black Knights showed what the expectations are once you reach the high-school level.