CLASS 4A

Robinson leaves no doubt in rout

Class 4A high school football bracket.
Class 4A high school football bracket.

There was no first-round disappointment for Pulaski Robinson this year in the Class 4A postseason.

The Senators piled up 544 yards in a 58-18 rout of Gravette on Friday night at Charlie George Stadium in Little Rock.

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Special to the NWA Democrat-Gazette

Zaine Holley, Pea Ridge running back, carries the football against Trumann during Friday’s game at Blackhawks Stadium in Pea Ridge. Pea Ridge won the Class 4A playoff game 42-6.

Robinson (9-2), the No. 2 seed from the 4-4A Conference, had six turnovers in a first-round loss at Pocahontas last November. But on Friday night, the Senators did not turn the ball over and advanced to the second round, where they will travel to Pea Ridge Friday. Pea Ridge, the No. 2 seed from the 1-4A, beat Trumann 42-6.

Senior quarterback Brennen Johnson and running back T.J. Hammonds made sure the Senators moved on.

Johnson completed 8 of 11 passes for 183 yards and 3 touchdowns and rushed for 106 yards and 2 touchdowns on 5 carries.

Hammonds, who has orally committed to the University of Arkansas, rushed for 213 yards and 2 touchdowns on 13 carries. He also had a 66-yard touchdown catch for Robinson.

"It was important for them to get the monkey off of their back," Robinson Coach Todd Eskola said. "Until you win one, you're always going to have that 'what if?', 'can we?' But we came out tonight with one of five.

"Let's try to go get four more."

Robinson, which won its first seven games and was ranked as high as No. 2 in the Class 4A Super Six, didn't waste any time getting on the scoreboard.

Johnson found sophomore tight end Hunter Swoboda for a 53-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage and his two-point conversion run gave the Senators a 8-0 lead with 11:48 left in the first quarter.

The Senators' first touchdown, Johnson said, stemmed from a pregame message he had for his teammates.

"I said, 'We are not going to end our season tonight,' " Johnson said. "From the first play, it set the tone for the rest of the game."

Robinson took advantage of a Jordan Burnett fumble, and Johnson scored from 7 yards out with 7:49 left in the first quarter for a 15-0 lead.

Bryce Moorman's 23-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Soule pulled Gravette within 15-6, but Hammonds scored from the 5 with 11:25 left in the second quarter. Johnson found junior Myles Fells for the two-point conversion and Robinson extended its lead to 23-6.

Robinson extended its lead to 29-12 with 6:51 left in the half when Fells caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Johnson.

Hammonds scored his second touchdown, on a 66-yard reception with 2:07 left in the half, to help the Senators take a 36-12 lead.

Gravette would cut the lead to 36-18 six seconds before halftime on Layne Martinez' 5-yard touchdown catch.

The Senators invoked the 35-point sportsmanship rule in the third quarter with Johnson's 4-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Nathan Page, an 87-yard run by Hammonds and Johnson's 69-yard run that made it 58-18 with 2:19 left in the quarter.

Moorman passed for 204 yards and 3 touchdowns for Gravette (7-4). Burnett had 63 yards on 15 carries and Soule recorded 8 catches for 127 yards and 1 touchdown. Austin O'Brien had a 41-yard touchdown catch for the Lions.

PEA RIDGE 42, TRUMANN 6

PEA RIDGE — Zaine Holley ran for four touchdowns to lead Pea Ridge (9-2) past Trumann (6-5) in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs. Holley scored on runs of 8, 40, 2 and 38 yards. Drew Winn 36-yard run and Jakota Sainsbury threw a 12-yard scoring pass to Hayden Holtgrew for Pea Ridge’s other touchdowns.

Sports on 11/14/2015

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