Pipkins duo leads Robeson back

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:28PM

Juwane Pipkins has a near supernatural feel for where his twin brother Duwane is on the field. "That's all we do at home is practice throwing the ball to each other," Juwane said.

Needing a big play, Juwane Pipkins knew exactly where to look. The senior Robeson quarterback threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to brother Duwane Pipkins late in the third quarter that broke a 14-all tie.

The score gave Robeson a lead it never relinquished against Harlan Thursday afternoon at Gately Stadium as the Raiders capitalized on two Falcons' turnovers to reverse a halftime deficit and post an impressive 29-20 victory that ruined Harlan's homecoming

festivities.

Juwane Pipkins completed six of nine attempts for 135 yards and two touchdowns. Duwane Pipkins had three of those catches for 80 yards.

"We both run track, so I know [Duwane] is faster than anybody and is always going to be open," Juwane Pipkins said. ‘Besides, my father is always telling me to look for my brother."

The go-ahead score was set up by a critical fumble recovery by Robeson defensive end Damaun Johnson one play earlier.

The Raiders (7-0, 4-0 Land of Lincoln) added an insurance score on Devon Sanders' nine-yard burst up the middle with 2:12 remaining.

That score was also set up by a critical Harlan mistake, a muffed punt that Romaro Jones recovered at the Falcons' 20-yard line with 3:21 remaining.

Jones also sparked the Raiders' comeback. With the Raiders down 14-7 to start the third quarter, Jones ran for 20-yards and threw a perfect 36-yard option pass to Cameren Franklin (three catches, 77 yards, TD) that set up his own six-yard touchdown burst.

"The coaches were looking for a spark, and they asked me to step up and make a play," Jones said. "On the fumble recovery, they always tell us to hustle down the field and that's what I did."

Behind the power running game of senior Welton Crayton (24 carries, 144 yards, TD), Harlan (5-2, 3-1) looked ready to end the Raiders' 28-game conference winning streak. With the conference championship in the balance, the inspired Falcons dominated the first half, running nearly twice as many plays (30-16) from scrimmage.

"It was their homecoming, they came out hard and we were kind of soft in the first half," Juwane Pipkins said. "The coaches gave us a talk at halftime. I played with a lot of poise in the second half, and I wasn't playing with poise in the first half."

Harlan quarterback Tashuan Johnson ran for a touchdown and threw a touchdown pass for the Falcons.

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