Tackett directs Senators to rout

Joe T. Robinson running back Andre Bradley (5) slips away from Dardanelle linebacker Carter Chandler (7) during the second quarter of the Senators’ 42-14 second-round playoff victory over Dardanelle on Friday night at Charlie George Stadium in Little Rock.
Joe T. Robinson running back Andre Bradley (5) slips away from Dardanelle linebacker Carter Chandler (7) during the second quarter of the Senators’ 42-14 second-round playoff victory over Dardanelle on Friday night at Charlie George Stadium in Little Rock.

A week off gave the Joe T. Robinson Senators an edge they probably didn't need, at least not this time.

Junior quarterback Greyson Tackett led Robinson's offense with three touchdown passes in its 42-14 victory over the Dardanelle Sand Lizards in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs at Charlie George Stadium in Little Rock on Friday night.

Robinson had a bye in last week's first round.

"The bye week, in hindsight, probably sharpened us a lot, because we went good on good and got real physical for a week," Robinson Coach Todd Eskola said. "It sharpened that competitive edge, and tonight we did a good job."

[HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD: Results + recaps, photos and more]

The rout was on early.

Dardanelle was held to three plays and a punt on its first possession, and Robinson responded with a 55-yard touchdown run by senior running back Ceazar Warren on its first play from scrimmage.

Dardanelle Coach Phil Vega said he was most impressed by Robinson's defense. Its starters held Dardanelle to 22 yards in the first half.

"They have really improved defensively," Vega said. "To play at War Memorial [Stadium] you have to have a great defense, and they definitely have a great defense."

All Arkansas football championship games are played at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

"Defensively, we've been solid all year long," Eskola said. "We do have a great defense. Defense is what we hang our hats on, and we really do feel like we have a defense capable of playing a long time."

Tackett's first of three first-half touchdown passes came on a 78-yard completion to senior Nathan Page that gave Robinson a 13-0 lead with 5:47 left in the first quarter.

Robinson's lead was 20-0 after Tackett's 15-yard touchdown pass to Page midway through the second quarter.

Tackett, who completed 5 of 9 passes for 159 yards, praised his receivers.

"We have a ton of depth," Tackett said. "We can interchange them in and out. We have speed across the board, and they all can catch. It's really easy for me to make plays."

A 60-yard pass from Tackett to senior Xavier Hardy gave Robinson (11-0) a 27-0 lead with 5:43 left before halftime.

Warren's 6-yard touchdown run with five seconds left in the second quarter, plus a two-point conversion pass from Tackett to junior Traveon James, gave Robinson a 35-0 lead that insured a mercy-rule running clock in the second half.

Senior running back Andre Bradley ran 63 yards to the Dardanelle 1 early in the third quarter. Eskola sent out the reserves, and junior Seth Watson's 1-yard touchdown run completed Robinson's scoring.

Dardanelle (8-4) scored late in the third quarter on a 3-yard run by senior running back Carter Chandler and early in the fourth on a 5-yard run by senior fullback Tate Vestal.

"We really overachieved and overcame a lot of things this year," Vega said. "This bunch of kids here are just a gritty bunch of football players. They came together and did a good job this year."

Sports on 11/18/2017

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