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Ovid-Elsie 55, Standish-Sterling 20
Jon McQuinn, November 22, 2008 6:01 p.m.



MIDLAND -- Were anyone in search of a moment that represented an entire football game, the turn of events midway in the third quarter between Standish-Sterling and Ovid-Elsie would have been a good place to start.

There, Ovid-Elsie tailback Chris Robinson broke free for a 24-yard gain from midfield, only to have the play brought back on a holding penalty.

Robinson promptly emerged from the huddle, again took the handoff, and this time ran 52 yards for the touchdown with not a flag in sight.

Remember the name Chris Robinson. Remember it when you sit down to watch next weekend's Division 5 state finals at Ford Field. And remember it next August, too, when he returns for his senior year.

Robinson carried 24 times for 357 yards and five touchdowns as the Marauders ended SSC's season with a 55-20 over the Panthers in a Division 5 semifinal game at Midland Community Stadium. O-E (12-1) advances to next Saturday's state finals against Muskegon Oakridge, the latter school downing Jackson Lumen Christi 27-16 in Saturday's other semifinal.

Robinson was dominant right from the start, and had 150 of his yards by halftime. But it was his third quarter -- and that of his teammates -- which won't soon be forgotten by anyone in the stands.

There, Robinson carried 11 times for 204 yards and touchdown runs of 35, 52, 43 and 42 yards. He then trotted out for O-E's first series of the fourth quarter, ran three yards on the first play from scrimmage, then trotted back off to a standing ovation from the Marauder faithful.

"The coaches all look at each other all the time and say, 'That was unbelievable,'" O-E coach Jerry Goosen said. "It's been like that now for two or three years.

"But that third quarter he had today . . . I still don't believe what I saw."

Great players can make opponents look much worse than they are, and Robinson made a very good SSC team look pretty bad. Time and again the Panthers found themselves chasing in vain at an object they never caught.

"He (Robinson) is a great running back," SSC coach Paul Walderzak said. "And I think there were times today when we made him look a little better."

Robinson had just 15 yards on his first four carries, but then broke off a 13-yarder. Two plays later, he rushed for 11 yards, a play later, 15, and after that, 20.

At that point, the warmup was over.

"At halftime, I was feeling pretty good," Robinson said. "I thought I might have a good day."

For many backs, 357 yards and five touchdowns is a good year.

SSC traded punches with O-E in the first half, and trailed by just a 21-13 score. Austin Collier played a part in both Panther touchdowns, throwing a 40-yard TD strike to Cole Walderzak late in the first quarter, then sneaking in from a yard out late in the second.

O-E got a 15-yard TD run from fullback Nick Madden, a 50-yard run from Robinson, and a 49-yard scoring toss from Jason Goosen to Madden.

"In the first half, we were playing pretty even with them," Paul Walderzak said. "In the second half, we just got outplayed."

Cameron Hurst scored on a 15-yard run to open the second half for O-E, and after the Marauders recovered a Standish-Sterling fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Robinson scored his 35-yarder. Collier was then intercepted by Jason Goosen, and three plays -- and the aforementioned holding penalty -- later, Robinson scored again.

Standish-Sterling's last highlight of the day came when Mitchell McFarland returned a kick 85 yards for the touchdown. But when O-E answered with two more Robinson TDs, the game took on "running clock" mercy-rule status with 1:10 still left in the third.

"That third quarter was just unbelievable," Jerry Goosen said. "It was one of those quarters of football you can't believe you're seeing."

As potent as Robinson and the O-E offense was (584 yards), it was the Marauders' defense which was a pleasant surprise to their coach. That defense held SSC to 164 yards, just 46 via the ground game.

"We have not been that great on defense this year," Goosen said. "We give up points and we give up yards. But we don't give up."

His counterpart across the field was impressed. "We've got tough kids, but that's a very tough football team over there," Walderzak said. "Robinson's a very impressive player, and that's a very impressive program -- the players, the coaching staff, everyone."

Collier, who played the last two playoff games with a tender left ankle, sprained it late in the third quarter Saturday and sat out the rest of the game. His 107 passing yards accounted for most of SSC's offense.

Thus, SSC's season comes to an end, one game shy of where the Panthers wanted it to end. Still, 2008 was the best season ever for the school, a fact not lost upon Walderzak.

"We had a great, great season and I'm proud of the kids," Walderzak said. "The kids, the coaches, the school and the community all should be proud of themselves. We got beat today, but it was a great year."

In the Semi's:

Robinson rushed for 218 yards and four touchdowns on 11 carries -- in the third quarter --

Read more here:

http://www.bucklandmedia....12208.div5.semi.foot.html

Well, we all know a RB is only as good as his line. So for this kid to rack up that kind of yards, he must be running thru some nice holes. And if the QB has thrown for 1,300 yards? Thats pretty decent for a high school QB. As I pointed out OE has a few other backs that get carries, and have scored. OE knows Oakridge will be keying on Robinson so I bet we see a play action pass or two early in the game! LOL

But either way Oakridge was going to face a good player. Whether it was a D1 caliber dual threat QB in Collier or Robinson and his gaudy #'s at RB. Robinson might actually be the easier to stop of the two?

And your right. Even OE's coach admits they give up some points. So Oakridge should be able to find the endzone.

I personally dont think GRWC was that good this year. Oakridge only beat Montague and OV by a score.

I have a feeling this game could be interesting.