If you were a Robinson Ram backer you couldn't have wrote the script much better. They played great defense, rushed for over 300 yards and made a couple of huge plays in the passing game. Senior Running Back Mike Imoh rushed for 209 yards, recieved for 71 yards and scored 4 touchdowns to lead the Ram offense. Quarterback Brian Gulley threw 2 touchdowns and rushed for a third. With all phases of their game clicking Thomas Dale never really had much of a shot. The Rams cruised to their 12th win of the season and the Division 6 state championship in impressive fashion with a 40-7 win.
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VHSL State Football Tournaments

The Rams set the tone early in the game with the first of their VHSL play-off record 6 interceptions. On third down the defensive line had Dale Quarterback Micah Womack tied up. Womack trying to avoid the sack forced a pass towards the middle of the field. Senior Linebacker Peter Laiti stepped in front and gave the Rams great field position. Three plays later the Northern Region player of the year Mike Imoh scored from 19 yards out giving Robinson a quick 7-0 lead.

The Thomas Dale defense held on fourth down after a Chase Anastasio interception keeping the lead at 7. Thomas Dale sophomore running back Nick Fleming gave the Knights a little life with a couple solid runs. But the Robinson defense held and forced a punt. The Rams drove on the ensuing posession to the 50 yard line where they faced a 2nd and 8. Quarterback Brian Gulley gave a good play action fake to the fullback off right tackle, dropped back in the pocket to find the most explosive player on the field running all by himself. Gulley floated a perfect pass to Imoh who rolled into the endzone from 50 yards out making the score 13-0.

The score stood at 13-0 with the half winding down. The Rams had failed on their third down and 8 attempt from the 34 yard line and the clock stood at 30 seconds. It was decision time for the Rams. Thomas Dale chose not to call a time-out which would have forced the Rams into a probably punt. With no pressure to runa play the Rams ran the clock down to 3 seconds and called a time-out. On the last play of the half Gulley took a quick drop and fired a floater down the right sideline to Wide Reciever Joe Rovansek. Rovansek leaped and made a great catch around the 10. After the catch Rovansek made a move and cruised into the end zone for the improbable score. Kristopher Kiley added the two point conversion to push the score to 21-0. With all of the big plays Robinson made all night Rovansek's catch may have been the biggest. Thomas Dale runs the ball effectively and wins games with a ball control offense. Pushing the lead to three scores at the half forced the Knights to pass the ball more in the second half and take some chances they aren't used to taking.

Neither team could dent the scoreboard in the third quarter. Robinson controlled the clock with their running attack. The Knights ran only 5 offensive plays in the quarter. The fifth of which was an interception by Rams strong safety Bill Hatcher. Hatcher's interception gave the Rams the ball in Knight territory and would eventually lead to more Rams points.

After the quarter change the Rams managed to run the ball behind the efforts of Imoh and Anastasio down to the 5 yard line. On the next play Gulley faked a hand-off to Imoh and sprinted outside for the endzone. The Knight defenders closed on the athletic Gulley. The Senior QB would not be denied as he layed out, stretching the ball through the pilon for a Robinson score.

The Knights moved the ball downfield with a couple of completed passes on their next drive to the Ram 35. Womack dropped back and fired into a crowd down the right sideline. Virginia Tech bound cornerback Cary Wade snagged the ball out of the air for an interception but as he turned to run the ball, wide reciever Pierre Lee stripped it from him and took it the other way for an 18 yard touchdown. The hometown Knight fans had something to cheer about and with more than 10 minutes left, they had a little hope. Thomas Dale recovered the onside kick on the kick-off and suddenly the fans at the University of Richmond had a football game on their hands. Dale completed another pass that moved them to the Robinson 28 yard line. But, as the ball carrier was being tackled Thomas Dale comitted a personal foul. While retreating to their respective huddles Thomas Dale recieved a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. The 30 yards in penalties coming from a lack of discipline really hurt the Knights. In a deep hole Thomas Dale was forced to go to the air again. Anastasio was waiting for just that chance. The Junior DB picked off his second pass of the game giving the Rams the ball back and squashing the Knight comeback hopes.

Imoh finished off the Rams drive with a 14 yard run up the middle. The touchdown seemed to ice the game and send the Rams into celebration mode. After the defense held on downs the Rams took over with just over 7 minutes left up 34-7 at the 44 yard line. It was Imoh again on the carry for the Rams. Imoh ran a sweep to the right, got through hole and saw a lane. Stopping on a dime, the Senior, who had set all of Robinson's touchdown and yardage records through his illustrious career, cut back and ran to daylight. The amazing Mike Imoh's career ended in fitting fashion. The 44 yard touchdown run pushed him over the 200 yard mark for the game and closed out the scoring in the game. After scoring Imoh just kind of danced around in the endzone making his way toward the Robinson crowd. He let the moment sink in. Four years of incredibly hardwork had paid off for the 5 foot 8 running back. He had his state championship.

Imoh was fantastic but the Rams were anything but a one man show in this one. The defense came to play, Gulley provided great leadership and made some big plays and the offensive line opened up holes for all of the backs to rush for over 300 yards. Great teams play their best in the biggest games and the Robinson Rams proved they were a great team tonight.