From 10/15/2014 Gatesville Messenger:
Jonesboro rallies, tames rival Tigers, 40-21
In a heated six-man football rivalry, the Jonesboro Eagles emerged victorious over the Oglesby Tigers, 40-21, in the District 14-1A opener Friday. The two teams met for the 56th time, and the Eagles improved to 34-22 all-time against the Tigers. The Eagles stayed a perfect 6-0 with the win while the Tigers slipped to 5-1 on the season. Jonesboro’s running game proved to be the difference, as the Eagles amassed 318 yards on the ground. The Eagles wasted little time in setting the tempo, as Robert Robuck stunned the Oglesby crowd with a 72-yard touchdown scamper in the first quarter. The sophomore tailback churned out 137 rushing yards on 10 carries and reached the end zone twice. R. Robuck’s long run put the Eagles ahead, 6-0, on the game’s lone first-quarter score. In the second period, Josh Barnes got in on the action for Jonesboro, plowing his way over the goal line from three yards out to enhance the lead. On the ensuing two-point kick attempt, Cannon Dixon scooped up a bad snap and heaved the ball into the end zone to tight end Derrick Miller for a one-point conversion. The improvisation lifted the Eagles’ advantage to 13-0. But, the Tiger offense was awakened like a hungry animal from a nap. Over the next three drives, Oglesby reached the end zone each time. The first score came on the legs of Tristan Perez, who broke the plane on a one-yard run to get the Tigers on the board, 13- 6.
However, on the ensuing kickoff, Jonesboro’s R. Robuck showed off his blazing speed by picking up an onside attempt and racing 50 yards to the house. The special teams play put the Eagles back on top by 13 points, 19-6. But, the play did not faze the Tigers. Oglesby marched down the field on the ensuing possession and reached the end zone with the passing game. Senior quarterback Nikita Roedler delivered a strike to fellow senior Ryan McClinton, who maneuvered his way through Jonesboro’s defense for a 23-yard scoring play. The Tigers punched the ball back into the end zone for a one-point conversion to draw within one score, 19-13. Roedler passed for 181 yards and two scores in the contest, but also threw an interception. After the Eagles were unable to hedge their lead, Roedler and the Tiger offense went back to work. Oglesby wasted little time in taking its first lead of the game on a 15-yard scoring toss from Roedler to Creigan Burchell. McClinton came on and drilled the two-point kick to put the Tigers in front for the first time, 21-19, just before halftime. However, much to the dismay of the packed Oglesby crowd, the second half was all Eagles. Jonesboro regained the lead, 27-21, when Thai Robuck broke off a 56-yard touchdown run and Dixon followed with a two- point conversion kick. T. Robuck followed his younger brother’s lead by going over the century mark on the ground, as he finished with 107 rushing yards and a touchdown. The score held until the fourth period, when the Eagles added some insurance. Senior Tommy Isom showed off his passing skills by hitting Miller for a 14-yard score to lift rival Jonesboro’s lead to 33-21. With time winding down, Barnes punched the ball into the end zone again, this time from one yard away to seal the victory. Andy Sarmiento tossed a pass to Miller for the point-after conversion to put the Eagles in front for good, 40-21. Barnes carried the ball six times for 46 yards and a pair of touchdowns, as he shouldered the short-yardage duties for the Eagles. Josh Smith and Dixon anchored Jonesboro’s defense. Smith was in on seven stops and had an interception in the contest while Dixon had eight tackles, broke up a pass and recovered a fumble. Oglesby’s offense received a lift from senior Jonathan Taylor, who had eight carries for 45 yards and four receptions for 63 yards in the contest. Roedler was the Tigers’ leading tackler with 15. The physical game took a toll on both squads, but neither has much time to recover as they both face tough district foes Friday. Jonesboro is set to battle Iredell at 7:30 p.m. Friday on the road, while the Eagles will also take to the road to face Walnut Springs at the same time. Iredell is coming off an easy, 59-0, shutout over Morgan while Walnut Springs was off this past week after receiving a 2-0 forfeit victory over Cranfills Gap.