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Robinson rolls past Jesuit

Staff photo by JASON BEHNKEN

Byron Pringle and Robinson had no trouble blowing past Jesuit in their district game Friday night.

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By KATHERINE SMITH

ksmith@tampatrib.com

Published: October 3, 2009

Updated: 10/03/2009 01:11 am

TAMPA - The Robinson Knights were back in black Friday night for a blackout game at Jack Peters Field.

In a stunning 50-10 victory against district-rival Jesuit, Robinson proved the football program was back as well.

Robinson (4-0, 2-0) leads the Class 2A-District 5 and controls its destiny. That could mean a district championship and hosting a playoff game for the first time since 1977.

"We've been talking about (last week's) Middleton and Jesuit games from the get-go," Robinson coach Mike DePue said. "We knew if we won these two games, we'd be in the driver's seat."

Robinson was a passenger for the first 13 minutes as Jesuit (3-2, 1-1) built a 10-0 lead. Tigers senior running back Robby Garcia capped a 50-yard scoring drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to give Jesuit a 10-point lead with 11:25 remaining in the second quarter.

That was about the last good thing the Tigers did.

Robinson's defense smothered Jesuit for the rest of the game, allowing only 163 total yards from a Jesuit team that entered Friday's contest averaging 310 per game. The Knights also had seven sacks, including three each by defensive lineman D.J. Woods and Tevin Newman, and forced two turnovers that the offense converted into 14 points.

With his team down by 10, Robinson junior quarterback Blake Rice (6-of-10 for 114 yards and three touchdowns) fired up his teammates.

"I looked all of them in the eye in the huddle," Rice said. "I said, 'Let's go. We're Robinson. This is the new Robinson. We're back.'"

And they came back, scoring 50 consecutive points against a team that had given up an average of 12 points per game this season. Junior wide receiver Frankie Williams accounted for two touchdowns, including a 61-yard punt return that gave the Knights the lead for the first time with 3:03 remaining in the first half.

After the game, DePue gathered his players at midfield on top of the silver-and-black Knights logo and delivered a short postgame speech.

He reminded them that they are the only ones who can stop the team from reaching its goal. DePue ended with a simple statement that drew loud cheers from his players.

"Robinson football is back."

J-Garcia 3 run (Feely kick)

R-Gonzalez 42 pass from Rice (Thomas kick)

R-Williams 61 punt return (Thomas kick)

R- Pringle 34 pass from Rice (Thomas kick)

R-Williams 19 run (Thomas kick)

R-Smith 1 run (Pringle run)

R-Duclos 7 run (Thomas kick)

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