Bryson City – The high school version of Thursday Night Football set up to be a dandy. Robbinsville came to town to open up Smoky Mountain Conference play. On paper it was the #2 ranked Black Knights versus the #10 ranked Maroon Devils. But realistically for fans in the SMC it was just another week of outstanding high school football. The game certainly didn’t disappoint, living up to the buildup. Robbinsville took advantage of two costly Maroon Devil mistakes to take a hard fought 24-16 win.
Standout running back Cuttler Adams, who had already eclipsed the 1000 yard mark for the season, got the Knights on the scoreboard first. Robbinsville took the opening possession and marched 62 yards on 14 play to score. It would be Adams who punched it in from 2 yards out. Adams also converted the two point conversion with another run. Quarterback Donovan Carpenter made the most crucial play of the drive as he hit Brock Adams for 12 yard gain that converted a 3rd and long for the Knights and kept their drive alive.
Swain answered the Knights score with one of their own on their initial possession. Facing a crucial 4th and 17 on the Robbinsville 25 yard line the Devils found some magic. Quarterback Reece Winchester found Josiah Glaspie with a short screen pass. Glaspie used the convoy of Devils blockers to break free and race 25 yards for the Devils first score. Josh Collins converted the two point run to tie the game at 8.
Robbinsville’s second score was set up by a Cuttler Adams interception, which Adams would return to the Maroon Devils 34 yard line, giving the Knights a short field. Eight plays later Adams would score from 3 yards out. Adams again added the two point conversion on a 3 yard run, giving the Knights a 16-8 lead.
Midway through the 3rd quarter the Devils found the endzone again. This time Josh Collins broke free and rumbled 61 yards for a Maroon Devil touchdown. Gabe Lillard found Reece Winchester in the endzone to convert the Devils two point conversion to tie the score at 16.
In the 4th quarter it would be an untimely penalty that would cost the Maroon Devils. With the Knights facing a big 2nd and 13 the Maroon Devils, after making a stop for no gain, were penalized for a late hit out of bounds. The penalty moved the ball to the Swain 35 yard line. Eight plays later, you guessed it, the Knights would score on a 3 yard Cuttler Adams run. Again Adams converted the two point conversion to make the score 24-16.
On a night when both defenses played big, the offensive numbers were almost identical for the two teams. Swain finished with 182 total yards to the Knights 193.
Despite scoring all of the Black Knights points, the Maroon Devil defense kept Cuttler Adams in check, limiting him to 69 yards on 21 carries. Swain’s Josh Collins led all rushers with a game high 92 yards on 14 carries. Josiah Glaspie had 16 yards rushing to go along with 3 receptions for 42 yards on the night.
Next week the Devils will travel to Andrews and the Knights will host Murphy.