By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
The Junior Varsity Yellow Jackets stole the show from Robbinsville with an explosive offense Thursday, but it was Hayesville’s defense that brought down the final curtain in a rousing 20-18 win at Frank R. Long Memorial Stadium.
Linebackers Carson Finn and Caden McClure led a gang of tacklers that kept Robbinsville out of the end zone on a two-point conversion attempt after the Black Knights scored a touchdown to close the gap to 20-18 with
3:38 remaining in the game.
A Robbinsville two-pointer would have sent the game into overtime.
Hayesville proceeded to run out the clock with six running plays, including a crucial 3-yard gain by Finn on fourth-and-1 that kept the ball in the Jackets’ hands and put the kibosh on Robbinsville’s hopes.
“It was a great win for the JV’s. It’s been a long time since our JV beat Robbinsville,” Hayesville Head Coach Chad McClure remarked. “I’m very proud of the team.”
Robbinsville drew first blood in the opening quarter, but Hayesville knotted the score when McClure galloped 38 yards to pay dirt in the second quarter.
The score was 6-6 at halftime.
Hayesville seized the momentum less than a minute into the third quarter when Brock Garrett recovered a fumble at the Robbinsville 39-yardline.
Hayesville quickly marched 57 yards, breaking the scoreboard stalemate when Buckner scooted down the sideline for 21 yards to set up McClure for a 9-yard run for six up the middle. A determined charge for two over right tackle by Buckner put Hayesville in charge, 14-6.
Robbinsville made things interesting by scoring just 2:24 later. Hayesville helped the cause with penalties for face masking and a horse collar tackle. A 9-yard TD run cut Hayesville’s lead to 14-12, but the Black Knights botched the two-point attempt.
McClure’s 36-yard tightrope act along the hometown sideline late in the third quarter set up Hayesville’s final march to pay dirt. Buckner scored from 1-yard out on the first play of the fourth. The point-after kick was wide. Hayesville 20, Robbinsville 12.
“I always tell the guys that football games usually come down to just a few plays and you never know which ones at the time,” Coach McClure stated.
Hayesville rolled for 243 yards on the ground. Caden McClure spearheaded the attack with two touchdowns and 127 yards on 12 carries. Buckner added 64 yards on 10 carries, scored a TD and had the game-deciding two-point conversion run.
Buckner paced the defense with 10 tackles. McClure had nine take downs. Mason Parker had eight tackles; Dustin Lockaby, six; Finn, five and Devin Ramey, five.
Score by quarters
Robbinsville 6-0-6-6 — 18
Hayesville 0-6-8-6 — 20
Hayesville scoring
Second - Caden McClure, 38-yard run. Kick failed. 5:46. Hayesville 6, Robbinsville 6.
Third - Caden McClure, 9-yard run. Luke Buckner, 2-point run. 6:24. Hayesville 14, Robbinsville 6.
Fourth - Luke Buckner, 1-yard run. Kick failed. 9:55. Hayesville 20, Robbinsville 18.