Memorial Day rolls over Robert Toombs to win GISA Class AA title
Robert Toombs entered the game looking to take down Memorial Day after losing to the Matadors during the regular season.
Yet the result was the same for the Crusaders as they fell 56-28 to the Matadors on Saturday at Mercer in the GISA Class AA title game.
It was Robert Toombs' third trip to a championship game in four seasons, and the Crusaders are now 1-2 in those games.
"I am proud of the character our guys showed by battling back," Robert Toombs head coach Thomas Smith said. "Those seniors have been to three state championships in four years. It's a special group of kids."
Robert Toombs got off to a hot start, scoring on a 42-yard run from running back Torrey Patterson.
Memorial Day answered right back, however, with a scoring drive of its own, with Christian Smith punching it in from 6 yards out, but the Matadors missed the extra point.
Robert Toombs fumbled on its next drive, setting up Memorial Day at the Crusaders' 28. Irvin Riley capitalized on the mistake with a 28-yard touchdown run, and the Matadors added a two-point conversion for a lead they didn't relinquish.
Robert Toombs' offense could not get going in the first half as a series of three-and-outs led to five straight scoring drives for Memorial Day before Robert Toombs found the end zone late in the half.
Memorial Day's Shivari Williams scored from 25 yards out, but a missed two point conversion kept the score at 20-7. Adrian Smith found Riley for a 28-yard score and the two-point conversion made it 28-7. On the next possession, Adrian Smith threw a ball that was tipped at the line, but fullback Brian Miller was able to bring the ball down and score from 57 yards to make it 35-7.
Following that score, Ty Mingle scored from 25 yards out, inching Robert Toombs back to within 21 at the half.
Coming out of the half, Robert Toombs attempted an onside kick, but it was recovered by Memorial Day at its 45. The Matadors drove down the field on six-minute drive that included three third-down conversions and one fourth-down conversion to score with Riley going up the middle for a 7-yard gain to put Memorial Day up 42-14.
Despite being down by 28, Robert Toombs refused to go away, as Brentt Anderson delivered a strike down the sideline to Bryson Davis, who was open as a defender fell down on the play. Davis took it 70 yards into the end zone. Memorial Day punted for the first time on the next drive in the shadow of its own end zone, and Toby Upshaw got a hand on the punt.
After the blocked punt, Jalen Harris scored from 3 yards out to bring Robert Toombs to within 14 at 42-28 heading into the final quarter.
Memorial Day opened up the fourth quarter with Williams gashing the Crusaders' defense for 46-yard score, and a late touchdown by Delvechio Powell put the game away.
"In the second half, we came back and battled, made it interesting for a minute, but we could not overcome. You have to tip your hat to Memorial; they have a good quality football team," Thomas Smith said.
This story was originally published November 28, 2015 at 7:44 PM with the headline "Memorial Day rolls over Robert Toombs to win GISA Class AA title ."