Here's our scouting report, predictions for regional final between Robbinsville and Mount Airy
Just one football team remains alive in Western North Carolina.
Following West Henderson's loss to Hickory in the fourth round of the 3A NCHSAA playoffs, only Robbinsville is in the state championship hunt.
Here’s a preview of the lone WNC game and our score predictions by staff writers Evan Gerike and Zachary Huber.
No. 2 Mount Airy (14-0) at No. 1 Robbinsville (13-1)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
For the fourth time since 2019, Robbinsville is in the 1A West Region final. The Black Knights failed to advance past the regional final round each of their last three attempts but won the state title in 2019.
In the fourth round, Robbinsville steamrolled North Rowan, the No. 4 seed, 44-14 behind 282 yards and four touchdowns from senior running back Cuttler Adams. That win set up the matchup with No. 2 Mount Airy.
Mount Airy has one of the most explosive offenses in the state. The Granite Bears average 54.4 points and 436 yards per game.
Like Robbinsville, Mount Airy is a ground-heavy team. Senior Tyler Mason has run for 1,892 yards and 37 touchdowns, while sophomore Taeshon Martin has 1,299 yards and 17 touchdowns as the No. 2 back. Four rushers are averaging more than 10 yards per carry on 25 or more rushes.
“You have to make assignments, who takes who,” Robbinsville coach Dee Walsh said. “If one kid breaks down, it’s a big play against you. We’ve been good against people running the ball and we hope we can do that again.”
While the Granite Bears’ defense has been nearly unsolvable all season, opposing offenses have had more success over the last two rounds of the playoffs.
Mount Airy entered its third-round game against Murphy having allowed just 25 points all season, shutting out nine of its first 12 opponents, including a 42-0 win over Mitchell in the second round. The Bulldogs proceeded to hang 26 points on the board – and lost 64-26.
Mount Airy also allowed 21 points in the fourth round to Eastern Randolph but staged a comeback with 28 unanswered points in a 42-21 win.
“We’re not going to change our gameplan,” Walsh said. “We do what we do, and we believe what we’re doing is the right thing."
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Despite plenty of playoff success over the last four years, none of the current Black Knights have reached a state final. In a town like Robbinsville, at a school with 14 state championships, the players understand what’s on the line.
“If I’m having to tell them it’s important, we’re in trouble,” Walsh said.
Gerike's prediction: Robbinsville 36, Mount Airy 31
Huber's prediction: Mount Airy 35, Robbinsville 28
This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: WNC high school football predictions for Robbinsville vs Mount Airy
