Pine Bluff High School will be a big underdog this week as it leaves Jefferson County for the final time this regular season.
The Zebras will face Joe T. Robinson at 7 p.m. Friday at Charlie George Stadium in Little Rock.
Acting Pine Bluff head coach Tyrone Jones said entering a game where the Zebras will be big road underdogs, his message to his players is to not put pressure on themselves.
“Go out there and play as hard as you can,” Jones said. “Play every snap like it’s your last snap, and let’s see where the cards fall after that. Just don’t stress out, and definitely don’t be afraid, because they are a very good team.”
Pine Bluff (2-6, 2-3 in 5A-Central) snapped a three-game losing streak last week with a 32-8 senior night win against Watson Chapel. The Zebras finished 2-1 at home but are still seeking their first road win of the year with two road games all that remain on the schedule. They’ll return to Jefferson County next week to face White Hall.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Robinson (8-0, 5-0) is ranked No. 1 in Class 5A and No. 7 overall in the state by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and will be at home for the first time in four weeks. The Senators are coming off a big 46-29 road win against previously unbeaten Searcy where they trailed by as much as 23-7 in the first half.
Jones said after watching the film of that game, the confidence Searcy played with in the first half and the fight Robinson showed to come from behind are good examples to the Zebras on how they must play on Friday.
“(Robinson) showed probably why they are undefeated, because their kids never stopped fighting,” Jones said. “So, that’s my real message to my kids. You have to fight them every snap. If it’s 100 snaps, you must fight them 100 snaps, because they don’t quit, and I don’t want to see my kids quit.”
Pine Bluff catches Robinson between the big road win at Searcy and next week’s game against Maumelle, which will likely decide the 5A-Central Conference championship. The Senators have won their games this season by an average of 33.25 points with a 34-33 win against Class 6A foe Jonesboro being the only game with a margin of victory smaller than 17 points.
Junior quarterback Reece Simpson is averaging 188.4 passing yards per game and has thrown 22 touchdown passes. Senior running back Kevin Williams averages 10.6 yards per carry and has 15 rushing touchdowns to go with three receiving touchdowns. He has exceeded 100 rushing yards in six of Robinson’s eight games.
Jones said he has a lot of faith in the Zebras’ defensive front, but that group will need to play their best against the Senators.
“I don’t think they take a back seat to anyone,” Jones said. “Obviously, Robinson has a very, very talented line. Very talented, and all five of them play extremely, extremely hard, but so do my guys. I think they match up pretty good, I really do, but I need all of them to bring their best game this game. They must perform at a different level.”
Pine Bluff must upset Robinson and get a Watson Chapel victory over Beebe on Friday to stay in the playoff hunt.
Southeast Arkansas Football Schedule
High School Week 9
Friday
(All games kick off at 7 p.m.)
Pine Bluff at Joe T. Robinson
Watson Chapel at Beebe
White Hall at Jacksonville
Sheridan at Sylvan Hills
Crossett at Monticello
Hamburg at DeWitt
Stuttgart at Star City
Helena-West Helena Central at Warren
Palestine-Wheatley at Drew Central
Dumas at McGehee
Fordyce at Rison
Barton at Lake Village Lakeside
Marvell-Elaine at Woodlawn
College Week 10
Saturday
Southern at UAPB, 2 p.m.
Southwestern Okla. State at UA-Monticello, 2 p.m.