Blake Wright rushed for 122 yards
ROBBINVSILLE – The hype and hoopla surrounding Friday’s showdown between unbeaten Robbinsville and defending SMC Champion Swain was all it was made out to be. In the end 4 quarters just wouldn’t do it justice so the teams had to settle it in overtime. Swain got a 1 yard touchdown run from Spencer McCoy after stopping Robbinsvlle in the intial overtime possession to take a 27-21 win over the Black Knights at Big Oak Stadium.
On the first possession of overtime the Black Knights went on offense first. It was the Maroon Devils defense that came up with a huge stop. After gaining 5 yards on first down the Knights looked poised to score. On second down Jordan Cody ran down Robbinsville quarterback Dakota Crisp taking him down with a hard hit for a 7 yard loss. Crisp was unable to connect with a receiver on third down, setting up a critical 4th and 12. Swain’s Shepard Martin ended the threat when he recovered a Black Knight fumble on the play.
Swain’s possession featured a heavy dose of what had been successful all night, the running combination of Spencer McCoy and Blake Wright. McCoy carred for 2 yards on 1st down, followed by a yard gain on a Wright run on 2nd down. Then on 3rd and 7, McCoy bulled his way to the 1 yard line, falling just inches shy of the goal line. Facing 4th and 1, McCoy plunged over from the 1 to score the game winner.
The first half belonged to the Maroon Devils as they roared out to a 21-7 halftime lead.
Spencer McCoy capped off a 11 play 52 yard drive in the first quarter with a 4 yard touchdown run, the first of what would be 3 touchdowns on the night for McCoy. Ben Miller knocked home the point after to give Swain a 7-0 lead.
Robbinsville answered with a Cruz Galaviz 2 yard run, as the 2nd quarter opened. Josh Gibson booted the extra point to tie the game at 7 with 11:11 remaining in the 2nd quarter.
Swain then put together a 13 play 69 yard drive that resulted in their second touchdown of the night. This time Raymius Smith hit Jordan Cody, who made a leaping catch in the endzone, for a 27 yard touchdown strike. Miller again added the point after to give Swain the lead again at 14-7.
Just before the half the Devils went 70 yards on 9 plays to give them their largest lead of the night. McCoy would do the honors, this time from 2 yards out. Miller’s point after stretched the lead to 21-7 with 23 seconds before the half.
Robbinsville set up the overtime by scoring 14 unanswered points in the second half. First on a Dakota Crisp to Galaviz pass that covered 11 yards, the point after failed. Then Crisp took it in himself from 1 yard out with just over 10 minutes remaining. Crisp then hit Jesse Franks for the two point conversion to tie the game.
Blake Wright, in his first game back from injury, showed no ill effects as he rushed for a game high 122 yards on 23 carries. Spencer McCoy rushed for 117 yards on 26 carries and 3 touchdowns. Raymius Smith was 6 of 9 for 73 yards and a touchdown, Smith also added 29 yards rushing. Jordan Cody had 3 catches for 44 yards and a score.
On defense Taylor Oros finished with a game high 13 tackles, while Shpard Martin added 7 tackles and a fumble recovery. Swain held Robbinsville, who was averaging over 50 points per game, to only 21. The Maroon Devils also outrushed the Knights 268 to 171 on the night.