CLASS 4A
JOE T. ROBINSON 47, POTTSVILLE 12
The Joe T. Robinson Senators started their Class 4A playoff run Friday night by making quick work of the Pottsville Apaches.
Robinson, the No. 1 seed from the 7-4A Conference, rolled to a 47-12 victory over 4-4A No. 5 seed Pottsville in a first-round playoff game at Charlie George Stadium in Little Rock.
The Senators (9-2) will face Hamburg, the No. 3 seed from the 8-4A, in a second-round game Friday at home.
Robinson Coach Todd Eskola, whose team reached the Class 4A semifinals last season, has won three consecutive games since a Week Eight loss at Bauxite.
"We're getting better," Eskola said. "I don't think we've played our best ball yet. I think we're getting better each week, especially late here in the season. We kind of caught our breath after the Bauxite loss. We refocused and have gotten better each week."
Senior quarterback Greyson Tackett threw three touchdown passes in the first half to lead the Senators to a 35-0 halftime lead. Tackett completed 5 of 7 passes for 126 yards and didn't play in the second half. Backup quarterback Buddy Gaston, a sophomore, completed all 5 of his passes for 161 yards and 2 touchdowns.
"I thought both quarterbacks did a great job," Eskola said. "They're really comfortable with the offense."
Also for the Senators, senior wide receiver Mekel Kentle caught 2 passes for 92 yards and 2 touchdowns. Running back Tyler Jones, a senior, finished with 57 yards and 1 touchdown on 6 carries.
The Senators gained 405 yards Friday, with nine different receivers catching at least one pass.
Robinson scored 21 points off three Pottsville turnovers. The Senators defense held the Apaches (5-6) to 128 yards in the first half.
"They've done a good job all year," Eskola said. "I guess it's the fourth week in a row we've played the Dead-T. We're ready to see some Spread teams.
"But I thought we were physical. That's a good Pottsville team."
The Senators took a 7-0 lead with 6:33 left in the first quarter. Tackett found Kentle over the middle for a 40-yard touchdown on 4th-and-16.
Pottsville junior quarterback Ben Jones fumbled at midfield and Robinson senior Matthew Howard recovered. The turnover set up Tyler Jones' 40-yard touchdown run, making it 14-0 Senators with 22 seconds left in the first quarter.
Robinson took advantage of Ben Jones' second fumble of the half, as Gaston threw a 78-yard touchdown pass to senior Traveon James to extend the lead to 21-0 with 11:06 left in the second quarter.
Pottsville fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Robinson junior Deonte Moody recovered.
Four plays later, junior Tyler Terrell caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Tackett for a 28-0 lead with 9:29 left in the half.
Ben Jones threw an interception to Robinson senior cornerback Courtney Snelling on the Apaches' next drive, then Kentle hauled in a 52-yard touchdown pass from Tackett to stretch the Senators' advantage to 35-0 with 7:43 left in the second quarter.
Robinson added two touchdowns in the second half -- a 31-yard pass from Gaston to senior Robert Johnson and an 8-yard run from junior Derrick Alexander.
Senior running back Kurtis Kemp led the Apaches with 56 rushing yards and 1 touchdown, a 15-yard run, on 14 carries. Spencer Bradley, a senior, added a two-yard touchdown run in the second half.
[HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Click here for more scores, recaps and photos]
Sports on 11/10/2018