By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, Washington D.C. Metro Area
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Robinson (5-0, 1-0) at Chantilly (3-2, 0-0)
Last Week: Robinson won vs. Lake Braddock, 28-21; Chantilly won vs. Hayfield, 49-14
Playoff Position (SOS): Robinson (Div 6) 1st; Chantilly (Div 6) T8th
With all the hoopla directed at its rivalry with Westfield, the high-octane annual match-up pitting Chantilly against Robinson has gotten lost in the shuffle.
The Chargers come in much stronger than their record would indicate. Their two losses are at South County on a 24-yard, 4th-and-10 touchdown pass with :08 seconds to go and at Woodson, where Chantilly allowed 19 unanswered points in the final 8:11.
The Stallion and Cavaliers are tied for the No. 2 position in the Division 6 playoffs.
Enter the top seed.
Robinson is coming off back-to-back statement wins over Herndon, 35-14, and Lake Braddock, 28-21.
The Rams were held to a “season-low” 201 rushing yards last week against the Bruins, but still average 271.4 yards on the ground every night.
Robinson not only has the top-ranked scoring offense in the Northern Region, but it also has the No. 2 scoring defense in Division 6. The latter stat is aided by the steep, nightly time-of-possession advantage due to its outstanding running game.
That, and senior Brian Laiti anchoring a talented corps of linebackers.
But even with its tough schedule, Chantilly has the No. 2 offense in Division 6 and played its most complete game of the season last week, a 49-14 home win over Hayfield.
Charger senior quarterback Carson Romine completed six of his first seven passes for 107 yards and his first two passing touchdowns of the season. Senior Mike Farris and sophomore Jimmy Hicks each ran for a pair of scores.
In the first 14 minutes, 12 seconds, Chantilly outgained Hayfield 189-8, outscored the Hawks 35-0 and never started a possession further from the end zone than its own 50-yard line.
The Chargers have won the last three regular-season meetings in this series, but the Rams won the five before that, dating back to 1999.
Robinson has taken the only playoff game in that span, for what it’s worth, 17-14 in 2005.
To win, the Chargers have to figure out a way to stop the Ram rushing attack, which ranks second in the Northern Region. That’s something no one has been able to do this year.
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
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