Faced with a must-win scenario, Pine Bluff High School must beat the top team in the 5A-Central Conference to keep state playoff hopes alive.
Recent history is on the Zebras’ side because they’ve beaten the Robinson Senators before and played them tough when the season was on the line.
Two losses in the last three games of the 2023 regular season, including a 20-7 defeat at Pine Bluff, ended the Senators’ hopes of repeating as conference champions. The year before, Pine Bluff nearly derailed Robinson’s bid for an unbeaten conference record, losing 24-19 in Little Rock to settle for a 5-5 record in Coach Micheal Williams’ first year.
One game out of fourth place, the Zebras (2-6, 2-3 in 5A-Central) have a chance to get the upper hand in the recent series and, with some help from Beebe’s last two opponents (Watson Chapel and Searcy), return to the 5A playoffs. Robinson can reclaim at least a share of the conference championship with a win.
“We go one game at a time,” 20th-year Senators Coach Todd Eskola said. “We stared four freshmen against Pine Bluff who were just beat up (last year). We have the utmost respect for Coach Williams. He just does a great job with Pine Bluff. We tell everybody we talk to, they’re one of the programs in the state that’s always welcome on our campus. They compete, hard. They act right. Great sportsmanship and great competitors.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
A win over the Senators (7-1, 5-0), who have not lost since the season opener against Pulaski Academy, and a Beebe loss to Watson Chapel would put greater emphasis on the Zebras’ Nov. 7 date with White Hall, who could make it to the playoffs by winning out and having Beebe lose one of its last two. Pine Bluff and Robinson will play at 7 p.m. Friday at Simmons Bank Field at Golden Lion Stadium to help clear up the playoff picture.
“They say, most times, a team rises to the challenge or the occasion based on who they play,” Williams said. “You play up based on somebody who’s up, and you play down on somebody based on if they’re down. I think (the Senators) raise our level of competition and we rise to that occasion.”
Williams has been steadfast in his belief about Pine Bluff’s front seven on defense — the linemen and linebackers — calling the unit the best in Arkansas. Last Friday’s 33-6 win at Watson Chapel marked the Zebras’ best defensive outing since shutting out Jacksonville on Sept. 27.
“If our front seven plays well, we’ve got a great chance to win,” Williams said.
But Pine Bluff is taking on a Robinson team that has scored 35 or more points in four of its five conference games and pitched two shutouts (49-0 over Watson Chapel and 42-0 over Jacksonville). Last week’s 49-14 win against previous co-leader Searcy matched a season high in points for the Senators.
Junior Kevin “Deuce” Williams is a proven two-way threat for the Senators. He has 8 total touchdowns, proving a great target for senior Tyson Bradden (15 touchdowns, 106.2 quarterback rating), and 5 interceptions as a free safety.
“This year I think they start eight seniors on defense,” Eskola said of the Z’s. “We know their defense is loaded. They had some offensive struggles this year. They’re kind of where we were last year as far as a lot of young kids playing. Those freshmen for us are now sophomores making plays.”
The Zebras will have to contain the speedy Senators without senior linebacker Marshon Jordan, who suffered a sprained MCL but could return for the White Hall game, Williams said. That may put a little more pressure on senior tackle Danny Johnson to keep Pine Bluff’s defense anchored.
“This is a good opportunity for Emmanuel Hudson to rise to the occasion as well,” Williams said of his junior d-tackle. “If they can command two blockers, it opens up for the linebackers to make open-field tackles.”