Robinson passes 5,000 yards in Midway win
Brownie Rose
roanecounty.com
A week after three Midway starters were suspended from the team, the new Green Wave line up seemed to be settling in. They at least got in enough practice time this week to be able to pull away from Wartburg to win their seventh game of the season, 33-7.
A few minutes after the game, Midway would learn who would be their first opponent in the playoffs. Cosby’s one point lost to Grace Christian Friday night left the Eagles in second place in Region 1-A and they will host the Green Waves Friday night.
Midway played at Cosby two years ago in the first round of the playoffs and defeated the Eagles, but Green Wave head coach Craig Moser knows both teams are different this time around.
“That was two years ago and we are in a much different situation this time,” said Moser. “I don’t know if we can beat them again. We’ll just practice hard this week and try to get the offense in more of a rhythm. We’ve been such a productive offensive team the past two seasons, but now everything is in an almost preseason stage so we’ll just have to see what we can get done in practice.”
One thing that has remained constant since playing Cosby two years ago is Midway senior Ray Robinson. Robinson ran for 153 yards Friday against Wartburg and scored four of the five Midway touch-downs. Robinson’s total would have been much higher but touchdown runs of 87 and 53 yards were recalled because of penalties.
Robinson finished the night Friday with 5,096 career yards in his four years at Midway and he has at least one more game against Cosby Friday night. Robinson scorched the Eagles for 193 yards and three touchdowns two years ago.
Robinson and freshman QB Thomas Viar missed an exchange three plays into the game as Wartburg got an early break.
The Bulldogs then got a big play on their first play when they picked up 29 yards to the Midway 24. Midway’s defense, however, stepped up and forced a punt from the 32 on fourth-and-18. A huge sack by Steve Blasko helped back the Bulldogs up.
The Green Wave offense quickly reverted to a grind-it-out style and held the ball for the remainder of the first quarter.
From the 13 after the Wartburg punt, Robinson got loose on the first play and went into the end zone form 87 yards out, but that would be the first one called back on a penalty.
Ten plays later, however, Robinson scored from the one on the final play of the first quarter.
Jack Henderson hit the point after for a 7-0 lead.
Midway’s defense played even better in the second quarter. They came up with three huge interceptions off Wartburg quarterback Rusty Phillips to set up three touchdowns.
Dillion Frazier got the first pick and a 30-yard return to the two yard line.
Frazier then punched it in from the one after a Wartburg penalty and Henderson hit the extra point for a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Wartburg had three plays on the next possession before J.T. Gibson intercepted Phillips and returned it 10 yards to the Bulldog 37.
Six plays later, Robinson scored from three yards out to give the Green Waves a 20-0 lead with 6:14 left in the first half.
The PAT was no good.
After a Wartburg punt, Midway went 70 yards to score their fourth touchdown this time. Robinson gained 21 on two carries to the Wartburg 49 then Viar hit Roberson for a 47-yard gain to the two for the big play in the drive.
Midway scored four plays later on an eight-yard run from Robinson.
Henderson hit the point after for a 27-0 lead with 1:24 left in the half.
Charles Binger got the third interception of the quarter to end Wartburg’s last possession of the half.
The Bulldogs did come out slinging to begin the second half and got a big play on the first snap. Tyler Trout threw an end around pass to Eugene Poole for 51 yards to the Midway nine. Phillips hit Trout for eight more to the one. Two unsuccessful running plays led to a Phillips to Trout pass for the touchdown.
Drew Jenkins hit the point after to cut the lead to 27-7 with 9:42 left in the third quarter.
Robinson would make his encore and his exit on the next Midway series. After a penalty to start the drive, Robinson ripped off 45 yards to the Wartburg 20. He got six on first down and then the final 14 on the next play to up the lead to 33-7.
Everyone got involved at this point. Freshman Aaron Collins came on to carry seven times for 20 yards. Henderson had four runs for 24 yards while Blasko turned into a back and had three carries for 14 yards as the green Waves tried to run out the clock.
Viar was the second leading ground gainer of the night with 32 yards on eight runs. He was also 5 of 11 passing for 78 yards.
Midway piled up 275 yards rushing against Wartburg and 78 more passing. Wartburg had six yards rushing and 134 passing.