Robinson improves after loss
Joe T. Robinson Coach Todd Eskola believed his team got better after playing Class 7A Springdale, even in a 48-28 loss.
That season-opening defeat Aug. 23 in Northwest Arkansas was the last setback for the Senators (4-1), who have won four consecutive games and are 2-0 in the 7-4A Conference.
“We’ve got a veteran ballclub,” Eskola said. “It’s nice to have a more mature group. But we’re literally trying to get better every week. We feel like we have on both sides of the ball.
“There’s no panic. It’s a 48-minute football game. Let’s go to the next play. That’s nice to have a group of kids who understand that.”
Robinson won 42-14 at Arkadelphia on Friday thanks to a 29-point second half. Senior running back Mekel Kentle rushed for 205 yards and 2 touchdowns on 16 carries, and classmate Tyler Jones had 114 yards and a score on 19 carries.
“We played a really good second half,” Eskola said.
Next up for Robinson is a trip to Howard County to face Nashville.
The Scrappers (5-0, 2-0) rolled to a 58-14 victory Friday at Fountain Lake. They’re led by a trio of running backs — sophomore Keyshawn Stewart (425 yards, 8 touchdowns), and juniors Jakobe Jefferson (385 yards, 5 touchdowns) and Carmillias Morrison (332 yards, 3 touchdowns).
“They’re a really good offense that makes you defend the whole field,” Eskola said of the Scrappers. “We feel like both teams are very similar. We’re good up front and they’re good up front.”
The 7-4A has four teams with 2-0 conference records — Robinson, Nashville, Bauxite and Benton Harmony Grove. Not only are Robinson and Nashville playing each other Friday, but Bauxite is at Benton Harmony Grove, so there will be two 3-0 teams after Friday’s games.
Playing a perennial state contender such as Nashville has the Senators’ attention.
“You don’t have to get them up,” Eskola said. “They realize what’s at stake.”