Dramatic Dobbins Dashes Roxborough Title Dreams

Both Roxborough and Dobbins scored two touchdowns Saturday afternoon, but it was the extras that proved the difference in the Public League AAA championship game.

Squandering a 12-0 lead and botching two after-touchdown conversions, Roxborough saw its title hopes slip away as Dobbins scored a last-minute touchdown to eek out a 13-12 win for the city crown.

Giving up two fourth quarter touchdowns—and the vital extra point—the Indians were devastated following the loss. A shaken coach Mike Stanley credited his team for a great effort but was clearly stunned.

"They left everything they had out there on the field. [Dobbins] wore us down, and we couldn't hold on," he said.

With several timely turnovers, botched coverages, and missed conversions, there were several miscues that contributed to the loss.

"We've been making the same mistakes all year. Last week you saw what we can do, but it wasn't the same today," he said.

After a grind-it-out first half saw both teams miss red zone opportunities, the teams hit the locker room in a scoreless tie. Starting the second half with a great surge, Roxborough quickly seized momentum and controlled most of the half.

Junior running back Tymere Blue ripped off a long sideline run to put Roxborough deep in Dobbins territory. A few plays later he tumbled into the end zone to give the Indians a 6-0 lead. 

Had some of the next few plays gone differently, Roxborough might be celebrating a championship.

On the extra point, quarterback and holder Nick Butts mishandled the snap and the Indians never mustered a kick. However, on the kickoff, Dobbins fumbled the ball and Roxborough found itself with possession deep in Mustang territory.

Again, Blue drove the Indians deep, but Roxborough missed the chance to grab a stranglehold on the game. Butts rolled out, but threw an interception to Dobbins defender Terrence Stafford.

To the Roxborough quarterback's credit, Butts—who battled with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder—recovered and connected on 30-yard bomb later in the quarter to senior Rasheed Bailey, giving the Indians a 12-0 lead. Hoping to negate the previous miss, Roxborough went for a 2-point conversion, but Butts was sacked.

After that, subconsciously at least, the Indians let up.

"It wasn't anything specific, but we didn't go as hard after that. Dobbins wore us out," Stanley said, pointing to the advanced size of many Mustang players.

On the subsequent possession, Dobbins marched down the field, and somehow scored on a shaky pass from quarterback Kevin Butler. Wobbling over 30-yards, the ball fell between two Roxborough defenders and into receiver Jamil Williams hands for the touchdown. With a successful extra point, Dobbins was right back in the game, 12-7.

With 8:27 left in the third, Dobbins had all the momentum at Northeast Philadelphia High School. Roxborough's offense produced nothing, and the Mustangs found themselves in the driver's seat.

Daquan Brown ripped a punt return to the Roxborough 22-yard line, and Dobbins had 2:08 left to find the end zone. Running back Stafford, who previously excelled on defense, pounded the pavement and got Dobbins to the 1-yard line.

Quarterback Butler hesitated, then snuck into the end zone. Out of nowhere Dobbins had the lead and 32 seconds later a title, dropping Roxborough 13-12.

Though a gut-shot loss, Stanley remained positive about the season and future success.

"It'll be tough without Adrian Johnson-Pope, Rasheed Bailey and Jeremiah Kendrick, and all the seniors, but I'm very excited about the team," he said.

Juniors Blue, Butts, and wide receiver Dre-Von Williams will all return next year.

For Dobbins, the Public League champs will take on the Catholic League winner of Cardinal O'Hara and Archbishop Wood for the AAA title.

Roxborough can say goodbye to its seniors at the Nov. 25 Thanksgiving game home verse Roman Catholic.