Robbinsville – Murphy head coach Joseph Watson said his team had a different mentality this week when preparing for Robbinsville. The game has been one of the biggest in the Smoky Mountain Conference for almost a decade, with both teams combining for five state championships since 2014.
With the Black Knights taking five of the last six, the Bulldogs knew they needed to bring something extra under the Big Oaks on Friday night. They brought it, and then some, taking it to Robbinsville all night in a 48-16 win. It was the Black Knights’ worst home loss since 2016, when Murphy routed them 49-7.
“We knew what we had to do this year,” junior running back Hunter Stalcup said. “We were tired of coming over here and losing. We came into practice knowing we needed to win.”
Both teams entered this game having been bitten by the injury bug, though Robbinsville (6-2 overall, 2-1 conference) had less time to adjust to it with quarterback Donovan Carpenter breaking his collarbone last week against Cherokee. His backup, sophomore Bryce Adams never looked comfortable, getting sacked five times. Black Knights running back Cuttler Adams, who entered the game with 1,200 yards rushing, finished with just 97 yards. 121 of Robbinsville’s 217 yards came on its two scoring drives.
Since giving up 56 points in the first half of a loss at Fannin County, Murphy (6-2, 3-0) has allowed just 44 in the last four games.
“It was kind of get them lined up and let them go play and play fast and not worry about too much,” Watson said of his defense. “And just see the tendencies and go get them. That’s the best thing for them.”
While Robbinsville’s offense struggled, Murphy’s was clicking. After the Black Knights punted to start the game, the Bulldogs scored in just four plays. Cole Laney hit a ridiculously wide open Cam Grooms for an easy 64-yard touchdown with 8:10 to go in the first quarter.
“I kind of was surprised,” Grooms said. “I was expecting to be locked up, but I guess not. I was just wide open.”
Cuttler Adams took a pitch for a 24-yard touchdown after a Murphy punt, and his two-point conversion gave Robbinsville an 8-7 lead with 11:09 to go in the second quarter. Unfortunately for the Black Knights, Murphy was just getting started.
Laney went 4-for-4 for 78 yards on the next drive, with Grooms catching a 10-yard touchdown pass for a 13-8 lead with 6:33 to go. Laney would finish with 208 yards and four touchdowns, with Grooms racking up six catches for 137 yards and three touchdowns.
Murphy’s next two drives were one play each. Following a Robbinsville punt, Hunter Stalcup took a handoff up the left sideline 71 yards for a touchdown. Then after Brayden Killian recovered a Black Knights fumble, Stalcup ran for a 35-yard touchdown. He would finish the night with 309 rushing yards and three touchdowns, and now has more than 1,000 yards on the season.
“Hunter, he’s definitely gaining respect for his name now,” Laney said. “He’s been running the ball great … and now everyone’s starting to see it.”
The Bulldogs would add touchdowns on its first three drives of the second half. Laney found Trenton Russell for a 13-yard touchdown to cap off a nearly seven minute drive to start the half, then Grooms made an impressive grab for a 26-yard touchdown with 9:40 to go in the fourth quarter. Stalcup reeled off a 60-yard run on Murphy’s next drive, then found the end zone on a 3-yard run two plays later with 5:50 left. Cooper Adams would put Robbinsville back on the board with 1:17 remaining.
The Bulldogs return to Murphy next week with another rivalry game against Swain County (3-5, 0-3). The Maroon Devils have struggled on offense all season, losing their last four games. But that doesn’t Murphy will be take them lightly.
“There’s no looking past Swain, I’ll guarantee you that,” Watson said. “Murphy-Swain has always been one of the biggest games. Just the history of that game is special to me, and special to our coaches and special to our kids.”