–Wynn’s five touchdowns and defense carry Roberson into 3rd round
17 November 2007By Zachary Colburn
SKYLAND - November 16, 2007 - When the Roberson football team sits down to the table this Thanksgiving, they will have one more thing to be thankful for. Roberson’s Justin Wynn ran for 197 yards and five touchdowns on the way to a 37-0 victory over the Mustangs of Parkland High School at Guy Ensley Memorial Stadium. The win advances Roberson to the third round of the NCHSAA State 3-AA Playoffs.
"Everything is just clicking for us right now." Said Roberson coach Jim Beatty on his team’s overall performance. "Justin (Wynn) is just seeing the field real well and he continues to get better and better every week."
The Rams defense forced Parkland to punt on their first possession of the game and the drive showed promise as Roberson quarterback Tripp Weaver found Artis Gilmore for a first down and picked up another on third-and-13, finding Tyler Milner for 20 yards.
After a 7-yard gain by Wynn and an incomplete pass, Roberson found themselves in another third down situation but Wynn used a few nifty moves to evade Mustangs tacklers for a 13-yard gain, making it first-and-goal on the three-yard line. Two plays later, Wynn found the endzone from a yard out. A pass from Josh Gossett to Chris Morgan for the two-point conversion gave the Rams an 8-0 lead with 6:28 left in the first quarter.
Despite not picking up a first down on their drive, Parkland caught a break on a punt attempt as Roberson’s Chandler Wrightenberry fumbled the ball on the return and it was recovered by the Mustangs Luis Camacho to give them a first down on the right side of the 50. The new life would last only one play as Terrill Gourdine would cough up the football and the Rams recovered.
After the fumble, Roberson put the ball in the trusty hands of Wynn, who would make a few nice cuts and even hurdled over a defender for a 26-yard gain and the first down. After a nine-yard scramble, Wynn took the hand-off and rumbled 14 yards to the goal. Wynn would get in on the action during a fake extra point attempt as he took the snap and went into the endzone for the two-point conversion to make it 16-0 with just over two minutes left in the opening quarter.
Less than two minutes into the second quarter, Roberson would use the one-two punch of Weaver and Wynn to put more points on the board as Weaver converted on a 23-yard pass to Morgan and Wynn appeared to have scored on the next play but the touchdown was called back due to holding on the Rams. The senior Wynn would not be deterred as scored on the very next play for a 13-yard touchdown. Walker Smith’s extra point made it 23-0 with 10:34 left before halftime.
After forcing Parkland to punt, the Rams would give the Mustangs’ a steady dose of Wynn as he continued to churn out first downs with three on this drive alone, including a 24-yard run.
With the ball first-and-goal on the one-yard line, Roberson gave the ball to Wynn and punches it in for the touchdown. Smith’s extra point made it 30-0 with 3:45 left and the Rams took that advantage to the locker room at halftime.
"I have to give alot of credit to my offensive line for opening up the holes for me." Said Wynn, who had 31 carries on the game. "This is my senior year and I’ve got to step it up."
Parkland had their best chance of the game early in the third quarter as quarterback Darryl Adams passed the ball eight times in his teams’ first possession of the second half. The Mustangs converted on half of those attempts including a 19-yard pass and a pass for 28 yards. The latter was a one-handed catch by Greg Gainey. The last pass Adams threw during the drive proved costly as it was picked off in the end-zone by Morgan.
Roberson would take advantage of the Mustang turnover as Wynn and R.C. Crenshaw traded off rushing the ball picking up three first downs as the last one put them at midfield.
The next pair of plays came courtesy of Weaver, who rushed for 16 yards resulting in a first down on the 37-yard line. Weaver would show off his arm on the next play, hooking up with Wrightenberry for 30 yards, making it it first and goal on the seven-yard line. After a rush for a loss by Wynn, he would redeem himself with a 10-yard touchdown run. Smith’s third extra point of the night made it 37-0 at the end of the third quarter.
Late in the fourth quarter, Parkland attempted one last drive in hope of putting points on the board in hopes of avoiding the shut-out. After converting on a fourth down, the Mustangs completed a pair of pass attempts to put them on the 44-yard line with less than six minutes to go in the game, but those aspirations were dashed as Adams threw his second interception of the game, this time to Artis Gilmore.
After the interception, Roberson would run out the clock and celebrate their victory as the clock hit zero to continue their run towards a state championship.
"Have to give alot of credit to Coach Morgan and the defense," said Beatty on his teams’ sixth shut-out of the season thanks in part to one of his assistant coach. "The passing game is coming along real well, which is opening up our running game as well."
Along with Wynn’s performace, Weaver went 7-for-10 for 124 yards on the night. His counterpart, Adams, was 22-for-36 for 187 yards but he also threw a pair of interceptions. Adams main receiving target, Greg Gainey, caught nine passes for 89 yards. The intereptions forced by the Rams gives them 17 interceptions for the season.
Roberson improves to 11-1 on the season and will travel to Belmont to face South Point next Friday night in the third round.
The Parkland Mustangs finish their season at 6-7.
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