ThomasJeffersonClassicalAcademy

Lady Knights sophomore Bella Coats (40) breaks away from Bethany Community School's Brooke Carter (11) and Ryleigh Wiseburn (20) in the fourth quarter of Thursday's second-round playoff game. More photos can be purchased at geosnapshot.com/grahamstarsports. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights sophomore Bella Coats (40) breaks away from Bethany Community School's Brooke Carter (11) and Ryleigh Wiseburn (20) in the fourth quarter of Thursday's second-round playoff game. More photos can be purchased at geosnapshot.com/grahamstarsports. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights begin postseason run

Hiwassee Dam – Though the hosts put up a gallant effort, it was Robbinsville who stood tall at the end of Monday's fourth-round playoff game.
The Robbinsville Black Knights won the program’s second dual-team state championship Tuesday night, defeating the South Davidson Wildcats 58-24 in the finals. Photo courtesy of Robbinsville Wrestling

The Robbinsville Black Knights won the program’s second dual-team state championship Tuesday night, defeating the South Davidson Wildcats 58-24 in the finals. Photo courtesy of Robbinsville Wrestling

Knights win 2nd state duals title

Denton – Both times that Robbinsville has won a state dual-team championship, it has occurred in a high school gym. That's just the way the Black Knights would prefer it, of course: no need for a lot of glitz and glamour.  Robbinsville (No.
Brayden Lane manhandles Bonnie Cone Leadership Academy's Achilles Ochoa during the second round of the dual-team postseason Tuesday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Brayden Lane manhandles Bonnie Cone Leadership Academy's Achilles Ochoa during the second round of the dual-team postseason Tuesday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Tarred and feathered

Robbinsville – It took less than 10 minutes of total bout time for the Black Knights to advance to the third round of the dual-team postseason. Showing that they were not being paid by the hour – or even the half-hour – Robbinsville (No.
Cuttler Adams (4) takes the handoff from Robbinsville quarterback Donovan  Carpenter during the 2023 playoff opener Friday against Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy. Adams broke both the all-time rushing record for the Black Knights and the Smoky Mountain Conference early in the game. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School

Cuttler Adams (4) takes the handoff from Robbinsville quarterback Donovan Carpenter during the 2023 playoff opener Friday against Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy. Adams broke both the all-time rushing record for the Black Knights and the Smoky Mountain Conference early in the game. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School

Record keeper

The box score from Friday's game. Robbinsville – When Rylee Anderson hung up his jersey for the final time in 2019, he did it on perhaps the biggest high possible for a running back: fresh off a state title and fully cemented as the school (and Smoky Mountain Conference) all-time rushing leader.
Robbinsville senior Cuttler Adams leaps across a mixture of limbs Oct. 6 at Murphy. In the first round of the state playoffs Friday, Adams broke the all-time rushing record for both the Black Knights and the Smoky Mountain Conference. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville senior Cuttler Adams leaps across a mixture of limbs Oct. 6 at Murphy. In the first round of the state playoffs Friday, Adams broke the all-time rushing record for both the Black Knights and the Smoky Mountain Conference. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Adams breaks record; Knights dominate Gryphons in playoff opener

Robbinsville – When Rylee Anderson hung up his jersey for the final time in 2019, he did it on perhaps the biggest high possible for a running back: fresh off a state title and fully cemented as the school (and conference) all-time rushing leader.
Knowing the outcome of the play was fully in the bag, Robbinsville senior Cuttler Adams reaches back for a high five from Tanner Hedden during his 102-yard interception return for the game-winning touchdown in the late stages of Friday’s win over Swain County. The victory solidified the Black Knights’ 27th divisional title. Photos by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Knowing the outcome of the play was fully in the bag, Robbinsville senior Cuttler Adams reaches back for a high five from Tanner Hedden during his 102-yard interception return for the game-winning touchdown in the late stages of Friday’s win over Swain County. The victory solidified the Black Knights’ 27th divisional title. Photos by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

How the SMC was won

The box score from Oct. 27, 2023's Smoky Mountain Conference title game between Swain County and Robbinsville. Robbinsville – Friday’s divisional title game was everything it was built up to be – and then some.
Delaney Brooms (right) keeps pace with Murphy’s Amber Martin during Robbinsville’s Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament finals showdown with the Lady Bulldogs on Friday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Delaney Brooms (right) keeps pace with Murphy’s Amber Martin during Robbinsville’s Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament finals showdown with the Lady Bulldogs on Friday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Total dominance

Robbinsville – Now that’s how you put the rest of the playoff picture on notice. In what can only be described as a lopsided affair, the Robbinsville Lady Knights (No. 13 seed, 18-6) began Tuesday’s first-round postseason pairing with Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy (No.
Members of the Robbinsville Black Knights crowd around the 1A Western Regional Championship trophy moments after defeating the Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy Gryphons 28-14 on Friday night. Photo by Byron Housley/The Graham Star

Members of the Robbinsville Black Knights crowd around the 1A Western Regional Championship trophy moments after defeating the Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy Gryphons 28-14 on Friday night. Photo by Byron Housley/The Graham Star

Kings of the West

Robbinsville – In the final home game of the year, the Black Knights showed why they are 14-0. Robbinsville welcomed the Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy Gryphons on Friday night, to determine the 1A Western Regional champion.
Robbinsville High School principal David Matheson (right) presents Black Knight players (from left) Carlos Wesley, Grady Garland, Kamron McGuire, Clayson Lane and Rylee Anderson with the 1A Western Regional Championship trophy, moments after a 28-14 win over Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy on Friday night. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville High School principal David Matheson (right) presents Black Knight players (from left) Carlos Wesley, Grady Garland, Kamron McGuire, Clayson Lane and Rylee Anderson with the 1A Western Regional Championship trophy, moments after a 28-14 win over Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy on Friday night. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Knights reach 1A state title game

Robbinsville – For the first time since 2015, Robbinsville is heading to the state finals. The Black Knights (14-0) defeated the visiting Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy Gryphons (12-2) to win the 1A Western Regional Championship Friday night, 28-14.
Robbinsville quarterback Nathan Collins (5) looks to outpace the defense of  Murphy’s Ray Rathburn during Friday’s third-round playoff game. Collins had two rushing touchdowns in the Knights’ 24-13 win over the Bulldogs. Photos by Byron Housley/The Graham Star

Robbinsville quarterback Nathan Collins (5) looks to outpace the defense of Murphy’s Ray Rathburn during Friday’s third-round playoff game. Collins had two rushing touchdowns in the Knights’ 24-13 win over the Bulldogs. Photos by Byron Housley/The Graham Star

Black Friday

Robbinsville – Long after most everyone was finished with their holiday shopping, Robbinsville took advantage of a home-field discount. The Black Knights (13-0) welcomed the Bulldogs (10-3) for the third round of the N.C.