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Resurgent Robinson routs Middleton, 47-0

Staff photo by BILL WARD

Robinson running back Carlos Duclos breaks into the Middleton secondary for a big gain in the third quarter.

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By NICK WILLIAMS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 26, 2009

TAMPA - You could hear them throughout Abe Brown Stadium on Friday night.

"This ain't the old Robinson," they shouted.

And it is not.

Robinson equaled its victory total from the 2007 and '08 seasons and improved to 3-0 for the first time in nearly a decade with a 47-0 thumping of Class 2A-District 5 rival Middleton.

The Knights defense didn't allow a first down and limited the Tigers to less than 50 total yards while the Robinson offense amassed 295 yards in what was one of the program's most dominant performances in years.

"All we had to do was work as a team," said junior receiver Frankie Williams, who had five receptions for 47 yards and touchdown and an 85-yard kick return for a score. "We've been a horrible third-quarter team for the longest, and we just had to push it to them in the third quarter, finish the fourth quarter and keep punching them in the mouth."

Robinson jumped out to a 33-0 lead at the half, led by junior quarterback Blake Rice's two touchdown passes and a pair of rushing touchdowns from junior running back Tim Randolph. On Robinson's first possession Rice completed 4 of 6 passes, all to Williams, including a 6-yard touchdown.

"It was just the first quarter, but after that drive the team had confidence and we all knew we had to keep pushing it with intensity and our (offensive) line was going to take us as far as we could go," Williams said.

Randolph carried seven times for 35 yards, while fullback Robert Smith added 32 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Rice ended the game 8 of 17 for 102 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Robinson recovered two fumbles, returning one for a touchdown, and had two interceptions and a sack.

"I knew we were in for a dogfight, but I didn't think it would be like this," said junior receiver/defensive back Ruben Gonzalez, who scored on a reception, had an interception on defense and returned a fumble recovery for a 12-yard score in the fourth quarter. "We said we were coming. 'We're not the same old Robinson' is exactly what it means."

"Robinson football is back where it needs to be," said Robinson coach Mike DePue. "It's just one step, because we have Jesuit next week. Next week, we're playing for first place in the district."

The Tigers (1-2) couldn't find any momentum and were plagued by 105 yards in penalties.

R - Randolph 12 run (Thomas kick)

R - Randolph 15 run (kick failed)

R - Smith 2 run (Thomas kick)

R - Gonzalez 4 pass from Rice (Thomas kick)

R - Williams 85 kick return (Thomas kick)

R - Gonzalez 12 yard fumble return (Thomas kick)

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