Mountaineers

Kyzik Teesateskie (5) flashes a smile at Cameron Allison after scoring his second rushing touchdown Friday night against Mitchell. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Kyzik Teesateskie (5) flashes a smile at Cameron Allison after scoring his second rushing touchdown Friday night against Mitchell. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

'You get a pick, and you get a pick …’

Kevin Hensley
Friday, September 19, 2025
The box score from Sept. 12, 2025's game between Mitchell and Robbinsville. Robbinsville – Between five interceptions, a pair of rushing touchdowns from two different players and the hosts netting almost 400 total offensive yards, the Mitchell Mountaineers never stood a chance.
Cameron Allison reels in a one-handed reception for a big gain during Friday’s game at Mountain Heritage. Allison finished the night with 139 receiving yards. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Cameron Allison reels in a one-handed reception for a big gain during Friday’s game at Mountain Heritage. Allison finished the night with 139 receiving yards. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights clawed by strong Cougars attack

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 11, 2025
The box score from Sept. 5, 2025's game between Robbinsville and Mountain Heritage. Burnsville – The first 15 minutes of Friday's scrum between Robbinsville and Mountain Heritage lived up to the billing: the No. 2-ranked team in 2A (the Cougars) battled for every yard, as did the No.
JV Black Knight Mason Silvers tackles a Mountain Heritage ball carrier during Aug. 21's season opener. Robbinsville's defense has held opponents scoreless thus far this season. Photo by Lexie Anderson/The Graham Star

JV Black Knight Mason Silvers tackles a Mountain Heritage ball carrier during Aug. 21's season opener. Robbinsville's defense has held opponents scoreless thus far this season. Photo by Lexie Anderson/The Graham Star

JVs conquer Mountaineers

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 4, 2025
Bakersville – In a true testament to how talented the JV Black Knights are this season, both of their non-conference opponents failed to score a single point this season. Aug.
Kyzik Teesateskie gladly takes advantage of the hole opened up by defenders Christian Koeller (33), Kasen Buchanan (55) and Kellen Ensley to score his second rushing touchdown of the first half Friday against Tuscola. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Kyzik Teesateskie gladly takes advantage of the hole opened up by defenders Christian Koeller (33), Kasen Buchanan (55) and Kellen Ensley to score his second rushing touchdown of the first half Friday against Tuscola. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Mountaineers trampled

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 28, 2025
The box score from Aug. 22, 2025's game between Tuscola and Robbinsville. Robbinsville – Chalk it up to community hype, a dangerous Black Knights roster, first-game jitters from the opponent or whatever you would like, but Robbinsville looked sharp in its 2025 premiere Friday.
After making a reception during the July 10, 7-on-7 scrimmage against Tuscola, Isiac Collins weaves through the Mountaineer defense. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

After making a reception during the July 10, 7-on-7 scrimmage against Tuscola, Isiac Collins weaves through the Mountaineer defense. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Early glimpse

Kevin Hensley
Monday, July 21, 2025
Waynesville – This week marks the end of Robbinsville’s most-active offseason in many years. Athletes, coaches and the Black Knights fan base are reinvigorated by a regime change; in return, attendance for summer workouts has been higher than usual.
Eli Lambert wraps up a would-be Mitchell rusher during Aug. 22’s season opener. Lambert snagged the game-winning touchdown catch last week at Mountain Heritage. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Eli Lambert wraps up a would-be Mitchell rusher during Aug. 22’s season opener. Lambert snagged the game-winning touchdown catch last week at Mountain Heritage. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Late-game heroics clinch Black Knights win

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 5, 2024
Burnsville – Victory almost evaded the defending Smoky Mountain Conference champions, but persistence won out. Robbinsville entered halftime of Aug. 29’s JV trek to Mountain Heritage with a 16-12 lead, but found itself trailing the hosting Cougars 20-16 at the dawn of the fourth.
Xamuel Wachacha (3) stayed busy during Aug. 22’s JV season opener against Mitchell, nailing four PATs and reeling in one touchdown amid Robbinsville’s 38-6 blowout over the Mountaineers. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Xamuel Wachacha (3) stayed busy during Aug. 22’s JV season opener against Mitchell, nailing four PATs and reeling in one touchdown amid Robbinsville’s 38-6 blowout over the Mountaineers. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

JV Knights trounce Mitchell

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 29, 2024
Robbinsville – Domination. That’s the best way to summarize how the reigning Smoky Mountain Conference champions attained victory in their 2024 debut Aug. 22, as the JV Black Knights struck early and often to send the Mitchell Mountaineers packing 38-6 at Big Oaks Stadium.
Lleyton Hooper has Mountain Island Charter’s Ethan Hayes searching for answers during the 144-pound bout of Saturday’s first-round playoff dual. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lleyton Hooper has Mountain Island Charter’s Ethan Hayes searching for answers during the 144-pound bout of Saturday’s first-round playoff dual. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Back to the grind

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 1, 2024
Robbinsville – The Black Knights are in a very familiar position: the regional rounds of the state dual-team tournament. It’s a hump that Robbinsville (31-2) has struggled to get over since winning the state championship in 2017 – the only 1A team crown in program history.

Dominance

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 25, 2022
Candler – A mere 66 yards offensive yards surrendered. Robbinsville (1-0) made a resounding statement in its first junior-varsity contest of the year, played Aug. 18 at a neutral site – Enka High School. The opposition? The Mitchell Mountaineers.
An emotional group of Black Knights accept the N.C. High School Athletic Association’s 1A Western Regional runner-up plaque Friday night at Mitchell High School. From left are Carson White, Isaac Wiggins, Drake Hill, Carlos Wesley, Dasan Gross and Eddie Brooms. Photo by Zack Colburn/ZWCSports

An emotional group of Black Knights accept the N.C. High School Athletic Association’s 1A Western Regional runner-up plaque Friday night at Mitchell High School. From left are Carson White, Isaac Wiggins, Drake Hill, Carlos Wesley, Dasan Gross and Eddie Brooms. Photo by Zack Colburn/ZWCSports

Black Knights ousted in Western Regional final

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 9, 2021
Bakersville – From the opening kickoff Friday night, Mitchell’s line dominated the 1A Western Regional Final.