Robertsville Middle wins TVAC title
Robertsville Middle School’s football team needed a little extra time, but the Rams outlasted Spring City to win the Tennessee Valley Athletic Conference Championship.
Under first-year Coach Ron Gray, the Rams secured a 22-14 overtime victory in the title game Thursday night at Blankenship Field.
Robertsville (9-1), known for its quick-strike offense, scored three touchdowns on just 18 plays.
“They had a great game plan,” Gray said of Spring City. “They wanted to control the ball. They ran 47 plays to our 18.”
The game’s first big play came on special teams as Josiah McClure returned the opening kickoff 74 yards for a touchdown, giving the Rams a 6-0 lead. The two-point conversion attempt failed.
After Spring City tied the game, McClure responded by throwing a 60-yard touchdown pass to Kashton Seaman. McClure then ran in the two-point conversion, making it 14-6.
Spring City answered with a touchdown to tie the game before halftime, and neither team scored again in regulation.
Robertsville ran just two offensive plays in the third quarter.
In overtime, McClure gave the Rams the lead with a 10-yard touchdown run, and followed it up by converting the two-point play to make the score 22-14.
Robertsville’s defense then held Spring City on its overtime possession to seal the win.
McClure was named the Offensive Player of the Game, while Spring City’s Harlan Thomas earned Defensive Player of the Game honors.
“I’m proud of these kids,” Gray said. “We knew what they were going to try to do — control the ball.
“We made a few mistakes, but we did what we had to do and made the plays we needed to make,” he said.