Cougars Outlast Robinson 43-31 to go 8-0
Oakton's Jonathan Meadows streaks around end for a big gain against Robinson on Friday night. Meadows' big plays were key during several scoring drives on the night...
Phot By Dave Bernhardt \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Robinson's Alex Murray had a big night for the Rams, in a losing battle. Murray teamed up with running mate Wynton Fox to total 209 yards rushing on the night...
Phot By Dave Bernhardt \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
VIENNA, VA - The Oakton Cougars were looking to stay perfect on the season Friday night, and the visiting Robinson Rams stood in their way. The two teams stood toe-to-toe from the start, trading blows, with the Cougars getting the upper hand in the 1st quarter, on a Jonathan Meadows 45 yard touchdown run around left end, 6-0 (the PAT failed). They would add a 24 yard Ray Goins field goal to go up 9-0, and the home crowd were poised for another Oakton lopsided run. But the Rams weren't having anything like that...
In the 2nd quarter, the Rams put up 21 straight points to take the lead 21-9. Wynton Fox got the deluge started, when he hauled in a 50 yard pass from Timmy Meier, then later Alex Murray added a 1 yard plunge to take the lead 14-9. With under a minute left in the half, Meier struck again, this time to sophomore Matt Zanellato, on 15 yard lob in the corner of the end zone. But with time running out, Oakton roared right back. On the last play of the half, QB Chris Coyer hit a streaking Trey Watts down the sideline, and Watts coasted into the endzone withthe 65 yard pass and catch. The extra point made the score 21-16 in favor of the Rams.
But as games have gone for the Cougars this season, they came out on fire in the 2nd half. After stopping the Rams on their 1st possession, the Cougars marched 91 yards, and capped the scoring drive with a Chris Coyer 1 yard run, to take the lead 22-21, after the 2 point conversion failed. The Rams took the lead right back, however on a Jordan Vessal 30 yard field goal to make the score 24-22 after 3 quarters.
On Oakton's 1st possession of the 4th quarter, Coyer again captained a long drive, and this time ended it with an 11 yard pass to Matt Chandler, taking back the lead 29-24. Then later in the quarter, Coyer found Watts on the screen pass, and he scampered into the end zone 28 yards later. Goings' kick was good, and the Cougars started to extend 36-24.
But Robinson still had gas in their tanks. With Meier masterfully mixing up the play calls, he marched his Rams down the field on 12 plays, with Murray diving into the end zone from a yard out to shorten the lead to 36-31 after the point after. After yet another sustained offensive drive, late in the game, by the Cougars that took them down to the Robinson 8 yard line, the Rams stiffened on defense yet again, and apparently held the home team to a 25 yard field goal attempt. But head coach Joe Thompson pulled his trickeration book, and with Ryan Harris as the holder in the attempt, he pulled up after the snap, and hit an open Meadows at the goal line, and he bullied his way into the end zone to cap the scoring on the night. Final score: Oakton 43 - Robinson 31.
Robinson will next host the Herndon Hornets at Ram's Stadium on Friday, October 24. The Cougars now have a much anticipated bout against the Westfield Bulldogs, in Chantilly, for quite probably the Concorde District title. That game will be broadcast live, worldwide, on the Gameday Radio Network, starting at 6:30pm on Friday, with kick-off slated for 7:30.
VELOCITY SPORTS PERFORMANCE PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Matt Zanellato - Sophomore WR, Robinson Rams
Zanellato had several big pass catches that were instrumental on all of the Robinson scoring plays on the night. Zanellato was able to outrace his defenders most of the night.
Chris Coyer - Senior QB, Oakton Cougars
Coyer was stellar on the night for the Cougars. His ability to hit his recievers in stride, along with his running efforts, including a 40 yard QB draw play that almost scored, kept the Rams defense off balance most of the night.
