Barshia Young and Roberson are 6-1 after Friday’s 37-17 home win over North Buncombe.
SKYLAND – Roberson puts the hurry in the hurry-up offense.
Huddles? Who needs them?
The Rams are ready to snap the football to sophomore quarterback Ty Gossett as soon as the referee sets it into place.
Gossett is the youngest 1,000-yard passer in Western North Carolina this fall and added to his totals with 181 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers in Friday’s 37-17 win over visiting North Buncombe.
“It was a two-week layoff for us since our last game (a 49-14 win at McDowell on Sept. 23) and it showed at times,” Roberson coach J.D. Dinwiddie said.
“We were rusty and there were some things we could have executed better. We’re still learning how to win. But an ugly loss is better than a pretty win. I’ll take it. I’m going to give credit to North Buncombe, too. Those kids played so hard tonight. My hat’s off to them.”
Roberson (6-1, 2-0) has already doubled its number of wins from 2015 under Dinwiddie, who is in his first year at Buncombe County’s largest school.
The Rams were up 17-7 at halftime on their homecoming night at Ensley Stadium. Gossett’s first two touchdowns went to Davis Phillips (16 yards) and Bashia Young (37 yards) in the opening quarter.
Jack Bruce made both extra points as well as a 30-yard field goal with 2:51 remaining in the first half.
Shaq Gist ran for 105 yards and scored a rushing touchdown (14 yards) and receiving touchdown (15) in the second half. Young broke a 70-yard run for another six points with 10:44 to go in the game.
Friday was both an emotional and productive return for senior Dez Moorman. Moorman led Roberson in rushing a year ago with 772 yards and 10 touchdowns, but hadn’t played yet this season. He was been recovering from injuries suffered in a July 13 shooting at Asheville’s Pisgah View Apartments.
Moorman showed his usual bursts of speed Friday and added nine carries for 77 yards to the winning cause.
“I’m just glad to be back. Even though I haven’t been out here, I’ve been the loudest one on the sidelines every game,” Moorman.
“I was doing whatever I could to support my teammates. The grind never stops. I’m so happy to be back out here with them.”
North Buncombe (0-8, 0-3) is the last winless team in the Mountain Athletic Conference but didn’t go down without a fight on Friday.
Blake Mathews returned a first-half interception 101 yards for a touchdown. He later hauled in a 29-yard from Brock Mace at the 3:19 mark of the third quarter. At the time, that helped make the score 24-17.
Johnny Laws booted a 33-yard field goal.
Laws always saved the Black Hawks from disaster on their first punt. The ball was snapped over Laws’ head and rolled into the end zone. He managed to scoop it up and get away a kick that rolled close to 50 yards.
“I’m so proud of them,” North Buncombe coach Curtis Cagle said of his team.
“They keep coming back every week and keep going for it. You couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Roberson travels to Erwin next week while the Black Hawks have an open date.
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