Andrews falls in hard-hitting loss; 2 games left in the regular season
Andrews – The Andrews varsity football team returned home Friday night and lost for the second straight game, this time at the hands of Robbinsville 28-7.
Despite a late push, the Wildcats (4-3) lost to the Black Knights (3-5). Both teams were coming off of losses last week, but the Wildcats were not able to right the ship.
The first quarter started slow for both sides. Robbinsville got the ball first and were unable to score after the Wildcats’ defense came up with a big stop on fourth down to get the ball back.
However, the Cats were unable to generate much offense, and the Knights got the ball back. During their possession, the clock ran out on the scoreless first quarter.
Robbinsville’s scoring got going in the second quarter. On the first play, they broke through for a big run, resulting in a touchdown to give them a lead the Knights were able to hold for the entirety of the game.
After punts from both sides, including an illegal fair catch call on Robbinsville that led to a turnover on downs, neither side could generate enough offense until the Knights’ next drive.
After a big throw down the field, Robbinsville put themselves in a could position to take a two-score lead. The play after the big throw, they rushed the ball in to take a 14-0 lead.
Andrews had to punt in the next possession, giving the ball back to Robbinsville. Their drive didn’t last long after an interception by Holden Todd got the ball back to the Wildcats late in the second quarter.
Andrews worked their way down the field thanks to multiple runs by quarter back Everett Tatham and penalties on the Knights, but time expired on the first half before the Cats could put any points on the board, ending the first half with the Knights up 14-0.
On the first possession of the second half, the Knights marched down the field and rushed the ball in to make it 21-0.
The next drive, the Cats worked their way down the field and were knocking on the door of the end zone. Only a few yard from the goal line, Tatham dropped back looking for a receiver, but a Knights defender got between him and a receiver and grabbed an interception in the end zone.
Luckily for the Cats, Robbinsville and to punt, giving the ball back to Andrews. As the Cats began working downfield, the quarter ended with only 12 minutes left to mount a comeback.
As the fourth quarter began, the Cats continued working down the field, but eventually had to punt. Robbinsville got the ball back, and the Knights scored another touchdown on a long rush to give earn a 28-0 lead.
Once the Cats got the ball back, they made good progress down the field. Landon Greene broke through traffic for a huge run to put the Cats in the red zone. Todd had a big run that everyone thought was a touchdown, but the referee called him down on the 1 yard line.
Tatham took the ball and got the Cats’ touchdown on a quarterback sneak, and Micah Gibson kicked the extra point to make it 21-7. Robbinsville then got the ball back and ran out the clock to win the game 28-7.
After the game, Wildcats head coach James Phillips said his players came into the game a little banged up ,with multiple starters out. They had a great week, practicing long and hard in preparation for the game.
Phillips said one of the things Andrews did against Robbinsville that the Cats didn’t do against Cherokee is fight hard in the game.
“I was proud of Landon Greene stepping in,” Phillips said. “He’s been a guard for me, and we schemed a little running back stuff, and he came in and provided a little spark for us in the second half.”
With only two games left in the regular season, Phillips said they will fight, execute and continue to work hard to finish the season strong. Andrews will head west to Murphy to take on the Bulldogs at 7:30 p.m. Friday.