Rams aim for TVAC title, face Spring City in championship
Jaxon Billingsley (3) stiff arms his opponent and churns out a few extra yards for the Rams during a regular-season game earlier this year. The Rams will face Spring City in the TVAC championship game on Thursday night at Blankenship Field in Oak Ridge. (photo:Barry Houchin )
But he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else as the Rams are one of the two final teams standing in the Tennessee Valley Athletic Conference playoffs.
Robertsville (8-1 overall) completed a perfect 6-0 regular-season run through its league schedule, earning a No. 1 seed in the four-team playoffs. The Rams will play for a TVAC title when they host Spring City, the No. 2 seed, in the championship game Thursday night at Blankenship Field. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.
“We have to prepare to host the game, and we’ve got to get the trophies and everything else,” said Gray, who is in his first season as Robertsville’s head coach. “But this is good because it means you’re hosting the championship game.”
The Rams earned their way into this week’s title tilt with a 36-12 victory over fourth-seeded Lenoir City last week. Spring City advanced to the title game with a win over Fort Loudoun in last week’s other semifinal.
Quarterback Josiah McClure, who missed two games due to injury during the 2024 season, had a big night against Lenoir City as he rushed for 149 yards and three touchdowns, continuing his dominant season.
“He’s played in seven games and rushed for just under 1,000 yards,” Gray said of McClure, who also completed 2 of 4 passes for 58 yards.
Le’Meire Porter also had a pair of touchdown runs, gaining 33 yards on four carries for Robertsville, which ran just 18 plays from scrimmage in the contest.