Bulldogs

Amidst a first-quarter scrum, Robbinsville’s Kasen Buchanan (88) wraps up Murphy’s Cameron Clem during Friday’s third-round playoff game. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Amidst a first-quarter scrum, Robbinsville’s Kasen Buchanan (88) wraps up Murphy’s Cameron Clem during Friday’s third-round playoff game. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Black Friday

Kevin Hensley
Friday, December 6, 2024
Murphy – The Black Knights and the Bulldogs meeting for postseason supremacy is almost a rite of passage at this point.  In fact, both the 2018 and 2020 Western Regional title games were contested between the two Smoky Mountain Conference foes; in 2021, they met in the Elite 8.
Junior fullback Isiac Collins (7) decisively denies Thomasville’s Elijah McNeair with a stiff-arm during Friday’s first-round playoff win over the Bulldogs. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Junior fullback Isiac Collins (7) decisively denies Thomasville’s Elijah McNeair with a stiff-arm during Friday’s first-round playoff win over the Bulldogs. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

No bones about it

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 21, 2024
The box score from Nov. 15, 2024's game between Thomasville and Robbinsville. Robbinsville – It took until the third quarter, but the Black Knights showed a familiar playoff swagger Friday night.
Robbinsville Middle School’s Carsan Snider cuts toward the paint during Nov. 4’s season opener against Swain.

Robbinsville Middle School’s Carsan Snider cuts toward the paint during Nov. 4’s season opener against Swain.

Smoky Mountain rain

Kevin Hensley
Monday, November 18, 2024
Sylva – For the first time in recent memory, Robbinsville met Smoky Mountain for middle school basketball action.
Kasen Buchanan (55), John Dominguez (74) and Tytan Teesateskie (72) crunch Swain County’s Zeke Glaspie for a loss in the first half of Friday’s shutout over the Maroon Devils. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Kasen Buchanan (55), John Dominguez (74) and Tytan Teesateskie (72) crunch Swain County’s Zeke Glaspie for a loss in the first half of Friday’s shutout over the Maroon Devils. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Devils advocates

Kevin Hensley
Monday, November 18, 2024
The box score from Nov. 8, 2024's game between Robbinsville and Swain County. Bryson City – Mixed into last year’s run was two different home games against a Smoky Mountain Conference foe: the Swain County Maroon Devils.
Robbinsville's Cameron Allison (14), Luke Lovin (3) and Bryce Adams (6) combine forces to drop Thomasville's Keshawn Carpenter during Friday's first-round playoff game. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Robbinsville's Cameron Allison (14), Luke Lovin (3) and Bryce Adams (6) combine forces to drop Thomasville's Keshawn Carpenter during Friday's first-round playoff game. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Knights joust Bulldogs, advance to 2nd round

Kevin Hensley
Saturday, November 16, 2024
    Robbinsville – It took until the third quarter, but the Black Knights showed a familiar playoff swagger Friday night.
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.
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.
Darion Ledbetter (5) celebrates with Tytan Teesateskie after scoring his first of two touchdowns during Sept. 12’s rout over Copper Basin. Photos by Royce Worbington/The Graham Star

Darion Ledbetter (5) celebrates with Tytan Teesateskie after scoring his first of two touchdowns during Sept. 12’s rout over Copper Basin. Photos by Royce Worbington/The Graham Star

Basin shaken

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 19, 2024
The box score from Sept. 12, 2024's game between Copper Basin and Robbinsville. Robbinsville – Heading into the Sept. 12 showdown with Copper Basin, Tenn., the Black Knights were laser-focused on avoiding their first 0-4 start in 29 years. The Cougars never stood a chance.
Cameron Allison ran wild on defense for the Black Knights during Sept. 5’s Smoky Mountain Conference opener at Cherokee, scoring on an interception and punt return in Robbinsville’s trouncing of the Braves. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Cameron Allison ran wild on defense for the Black Knights during Sept. 5’s Smoky Mountain Conference opener at Cherokee, scoring on an interception and punt return in Robbinsville’s trouncing of the Braves. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

JV Black Knights run wild

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 12, 2024
Cherokee – Three defensive touchdowns, two scoring receptions and a 56-yard rush to the end zone.  No, the JV Robbinsville Black Knights (3-0) did not have the cheat codes turned on when they stepped off the bus at Cherokee on Sept.