Robeson makes it eight straight

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:22PM

For the eighth consecutive season, Robeson can call themselves conference champions. The Raiders held off a second half charge from Clark on the way to a 31-14 Land of Lincoln victory on Friday at Rockne.

"It feels great, but it's never easy to do," said Robeson senior Cameren Franklin of winning the conference.

Franklin (five catches, 118 yards, 26-yard touchdown catch) and the Pipkins brothers, Juwane (6-for-9, 154 yards, three touchdown passes) and Duwane (30-yard touchdown catch) had a large hand in Robeson's victory. Robeson (8-0, 4-0) took a 15-14 lead into halftime, but Clark had a chance to seize the lead going into the fourth quarter.

The Eagles (4-4, 2-3) faced a fourth-and-five on the Robeson 5-yard line to begin the fourth quarter, but two false start penalties and a sack by Franklin (three sacks) ended the drive.

After back-and-forth series in which Robeson fumbled away its possession and Clark punted, Robeson return man Romaro Jones fielded a punt at the 50-yard line and returned the ball 38 yards down to the Clark 12-yard line.

Devon Sanders (three rushes, 16 yards) punched in a three-yard touchdown run three plays later and the ensuing two-point conversion gave Robeson a 23-14 lead with 6:36 remaining.

"We knew we had to make some plays and shut them down to win this game," Juwane Pipkins said.

Quarterback Juwane sealed the deal for Robeson by throwing a 30-yard touchdown strike to his brother Duwane to push the score to 31-14.

Juwane finished 6-for-9 for 154 yards and three touchdown passes.

"I have to credit my linemen for blocking up front for me today," he said. "(Clark) was bigger but our linemen did a good job blocking and gave us time to make plays."

Brian Muqqddim caught a 22-yard touchdown pass to round out the scoring for Robeson while Terrance Hale (nine rushes, 93 yards, four-yard touchdown run) and Ellis Tate (18 rushes, 91 yards) led Clark.

Martin Bracket had 10 rushes for 47 yards and a touchdown as well for Clark.

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