Joe T. Robinson’s prep pays off vs. Trumann
JOE T. ROBINSON 49, TRUMANN 16
In the weeks leading up to the Class 4A playoffs, Joe T. Robinson had time to prep.
So when the Trumann Wildcats showed up for a first-round playoff game with their tight formation and ball-control offense, the Senators were ready to pounce.
The Wildcats’ time-consuming drives kept them in the game for a while, but when it was finished the Senators (10-1) advanced with a 49-16 victory. Next week they face Central Arkansas Christian on their home field.
“It is tough to defend because the kids are put in a position they are not used to being in,’’ Robinson Coach Todd Eskola said about Trumann’s offense. “They are physical and big. Trumann did a good job with their offense just like Bauxite and Harmony Grove and some of the other teams have.”
It was the third opponent in four weeks that used a ball-control offense.
“In the second half, it was just timing issues,” Eskola said. “Their offense stayed on the field. We just didn’t have a lot of snaps.
“We don’t get nervous about first-round games. If you take care of the ball and play defense, you are usually OK.”
The Senators scored on four of their five possessions in the first half to jump to a 28-8 lead at the half.
Junior Buddy Gaston, who had four touchdown passes, hit Martel Nunally with a 36-yard scoring strike on the Senators’ second play. Sophomore Daryl Searcy scored on a 1-yard run, and Gaston hit Nunally on a bubble screen that turned into a 40-yard scoring play. Salvador Gabriel made all three extra points.
Trumann (4-7) put together a nine-play drive that was capped by Milton Lewis’ 10yard touchdown reception from Connor McClain. Lewis also ran in the two-point conversion.
Robinson retaliated when Gaston hit T.J. Hall with a 9-yard touchdown pass with just 13 seconds left in the half.
The Wildcats cut their deficit to 28-16 on their first possession of the second half. Ben Woodruff scored on a 7-yard run, then scored the two-point conversion on a pass from McClain.
Robinson answered when Searcy scored on a 9-yard run, and Ivan Thomas ran in the two-point conversion for a 36-16 cushion.
An interception by James Jordan stopped the next Trumann drive, and Gaston hit P.J. Hall on a 36-yard scoring pass. The Senators final score came on a 2-yard pass from Jack Cleveland to T.K. Kelly.