ROBBINSVILLE: Injuries catch up with Ravens

Football team drops opener

By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
   Injuries are a part of football. Robbinsville High coach Jason Gray knows that. He also knows his team is one that can’t afford injuries if it hopes to win games.
   The Ravens, already thin in numbers, saw some key players leave the game with injuries and dropped their opener last Friday night, 32-6, to Bordentown. Robbinsville trailed just 7-6 at halftime and 13-6 heading into the fourth quarter before the Scotties pulled away for the win.
   ”We just fell victim to them playing well and us running out of steam,” said Gray, whose team will play at Burlington City on Friday night. “It was a nice contest most of the game. At halftime it 7-6 and then 13-6 and we had the ball on the 4-yard line. They made the stop they needed to make and on the next play their kid went 97 yards.
   ”The injury bug also hit us. We went in without two starters and then lost another four by time the fourth quarter started.”
   The Ravens are thin to begin with and could not overcome the added losses. Still, Gray likes the makeup of his team and feels like they have the talent to compete.
   ”We are pretty seasoned on the line but thin,” Gray said. “We lost a lot of guys on the line in the game so we had guys step into key spots in the fourth quarter. I was proud of the way the kids fought. It was one of those things where everything that could have gone wrong in a season went wrong in eight minutes.
   ”When we are healthy we can compete with a lot of guys. This game reminded me of boxing match where they slugged out for 10 rounds and then in the 11th one of them had the other on the ropes and that counter punched and it was over.”
   The Ravens graduated their quarterback and top rusher from a year ago, but did get back Kyle Austin, who missed most of last season with an injury.
   ”Kyle Austin only played six quarters last year,” Gray said. “He is our best athlete. He was having good game until he took a shot to the back of the head and we took him out as a precaution. He was fine the next morning. He plays all over for us and is a jack of all trades. He also plays free safety on defense.”
   Chad Scott ran for over 100 yards in the opener and will also be counted on to contribute. Scott scored the Ravens’ lone touchdown in the game.
   The strength of the Ravens, when healthy, is on the line where Gray can look to Tyler Gildner, Connor Harding, Matt Forno, Dante Focarelli, Ken Wright and Nate Smith.
   ”That is a strength when we are healthy,” Gray said. “Going into the game in Kenny was hurt and then we lost Connor and Nate Smith before halftime and Dante in the beginning of the fourth for a while. When you are relying on 15 kids on the varsity level and six are in and out of the sidelines because of injury it is tough.
   ”We got to throw some young guys into the fire and hopefully they learned from it. That is what every coach tries to tell kids these days. Be ready when your time comes and learn from the experience.”
   The Ravens are at Burlington City and then Cinnaminson over the next two weeks and will play their next home game on Sept. 28 against Florence.
   ”The kids were in good spirits on Monday,” Gray said. “They were humbled but positive and ready to move forward and take it one day at a time. Burlington City is athletic and has a new coach. They had a good opening night against Riverside.”