SMYCFB

Bass Woods scored the final touchdown of the Robbinsville PeeWees’ season and recorded a pair of conversion runs in Saturday's Cracker Bowl game against Franklin. Photos by Lexie Anderson/The Graham Star

Robbinsville PeeWees, Midgets fall in Cracker Bowl

Kevin Hensley

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Cherokee – Two Robbinsville teams qualified for the annual Smokey Mountain Youth Conference Cracker Bowl. But in an unusual occurrence, the Black Knights returned home empty-handed. The Robbinsville PeeWees (No. 1, 9-1) were upset by the No.

Youth football kickoffs changed

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Depending on when your athlete suits up, cooler temperatures could await when their respective youth football game kicks off this fall. The Smokey Mountain Youth Conference recently voted to switch to an evening schedule for its typical four-game slate. Games will now follow a 4 p.m./5 p.m./6:30 p.

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.

The Robbinsville Mites make it official Saturday, gathering around the 2023 Cracker Bowl Championship trophy to soak up the moment after winning their fourth title in a row. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Making a bowl statement

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, November 9, 2023

The box score from the Mites' 2023 Cracker Bowl championship game. Murphy – Saturday’s Mites championship game proved that the deeply chronicled rivalry between Swain County and Robbinsville shows no signs of slowing down.

Robbinsville’s youth football program collected three Cracker Bowl championships Saturday in Sylva. The Termite Black Knights shutout the previously-unbeaten Franklin Panthers 6-0. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

3 games, 3 titles

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, November 3, 2022

Sylva – Nail technicians across the region had to be swamped Monday morning.

Robbinsville Termite Black Knight Braylon Phillips weaves through the Copper Basin, Tenn., defense during a Sept. 28, 2019 showdown. The Smokey Mountain Youth Conference announced the cancelation of the 2020 football and cheerleading seasons on June 16. Photo courtesy of Jenny Millsaps

Youth football, cheer season cancelled

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, June 25, 2020

It is a move all involved were hoping to avoid. The 2020 Smokey Mountain Youth Conference football and cheerleading seasons were officially canceled on June 16.

The Robbinsville PeeWees were all smiles after winning the Cracker Bowl championship Saturday in Franklin. Photo by Jenny Millsaps/Contributing Photographer

Cracker Bowl Champs!

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Franklin – It was a nailbiter, but Robbinsville got the job done.