Roberson compiled 333 rushing yards, including
245 in the first half, while rolling to a 44-14 Mountain Athletic
Conference victory over Smoky Mountain Friday at Roberson.
De'Von Mills gained 145 yards and scored four touchdowns in
28 carries. Coti Jackson added 109 yards in nine attempts. David
McDowell picked up 63 yards in nine tries.
The Rams completed just one pass all night.
SM's David Kelly had 43 yards in 12 carries.
Nathan Medlin completed 10 of 25 passes for 125 yards before
leaving the game in the fourth quarter with a concussion.
Smoky Mountain's David Kelly scores on a 4-yard run in Friday's
44-14 loss at Roberson. - Herald photo by Josh Doub
Ollin Dunford caught six passes for 60 yards,
and Patrick Orth had five receptions for 86 yards.
After Medlin's injury, Dunford moved to quarterback and completed
three of seven passes for 45 yards.
The Mustangs (4-5, 3-4) were limited to 40 net rushing yards.
Roberson asserted its ground dominance by driving 80 yards in
12 plays following the opening kickoff. The highlight was Jackson's
24-yard run. Mills scored from a yard out, and Joel Bernotski
kicked the first of three extra points for a 7-0 lead with 6:24
to go in the first quarter.
The Rams got the ball right back when Dunford fumbled after
catching a pass and Jackson recovered at the 16.
Smoky Mountain's Joseph Stapleton (49) and Zack West (88)
move into position to tackle a Roberson runner in Friday's 44-14
loss. - Herald photo by Josh Doub
Mills scored from the four three plays later
making it 14-0 with 4:38 to play in the opening period.
The Mustangs got on the board with a 62-yard drive in eight
plays. Kelly had a 16-yard run, and Medlin completed passes
to Dunford covering 14 and 20 yards. Kelly's 4-yard TD run and
Michael Tennant's extra point cut the gap to 14-7 with 1:28
remaining in the first stanza.
Roberson was forced to punt from deep in its territory setting
SM up at the Ram 48. The Mustangs appeared on their way to tying
the game as they faced third-and-1 from their 14. However, they
lost yardage on the next two plays giving Roberson possession
at the 18.
Jesse Platt gained 2 yards on a quarterback sneak to convert
a fourth-and-1 from the SM 47. Moments later Mills gained 11
yards as the ball bounced into his hands on what was ruled a
fumbled lateral. Mustang coaches argued the play should have
been an incomplete pass, and the bench was hit with a 15-yard
penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Mills broke loose on a
29-yard TD run on the next play. The extra point failed leaving
the Rams on top 20-7 with 3:43 to go in the half.
A short punt gave Roberson the ball at the SM 45. After a yard
loss, Jackson ripped off a 46-yard TD run.
Platt passed to Daquan Davis for the conversion and a 28-7 lead
with 1:34 on the clock.
The Rams weren't through for the half as Mills picked off Medlin's
pass at the Ram 37. McDowell had runs of 15 and 19 yards leading
to Platt's 42-yard field goal on the final play of the half
for a 31-7 lead.
Medlin fumbled as he was sacked on the first play of the second
half with Brandon Gold recovering at the SM 14.
The Mustangs got the ball right back as Dunford picked off Platt's
pass at the 11.
Roberson forced a punt and drove 63 yards in seven plays. The
last two plays of the march were the lone pass completion, a
12-yard flair from Platt to Mills, and a 13-yard TD run by Mills
upping the lead to 38-7 with 5:31 to play in the third quarter.
A 43-yard pass from Medlin to Patrick Orth helped the Mustangs
drive to the Ram 13, but four incompletions turned the ball
over on downs.
Roberson was forced to punt, but the Rams held on downs and
took over at the SM 33. A 17-yard run by Zack Hipshire, a penalty
and an 8-yard TD run by McDowell made it 44-7 with 6:16 to go
in the game.
Kelly's kickoff return to midfield and Dunford's 21-yard pass
to Orth helped the Mustangs reach the 32 before being stopped
on downs.
Randall Crowe blocked Ivan Scott's punt giving SM the ball at
the 26. Dunford's 15-yard TD pass to Corey Siler and Tennant's
PAT accounted for the final with 35.8 seconds on the clock.
|
SM
|
|
Rob
|
|
12
|
First Dow ns
|
20 |
| 28-40 |
Rushes-Yds.
|
52-333 |
| 13-32-1 |
Passing
|
1-8-1 |
| 170 |
Passing Yds.
|
12 |
| 2-25.2 |
Punts-Avg.
|
3-22.0 |
| 3-2 |
Fumbles-Lost
|
4-0 |
| 8-54 |
Penalties-Yds.
|
7-50 |
|
SM 7 0 0 7 14
|
|
Rob. 14 17 7 6 44
|
