The Robeson football team is on its way to another winning season, and ninth consecutive Chicago Public League Illini Land of Lincoln conference title. They recently knocked off their closest rival Harlan 29-20, and are looking forward to closing out the
The Robeson football team is on its way to another winning season, and ninth consecutive Chicago Public League Illini Land of Lincoln conference title. They recently knocked off their closest rival Harlan 29-20, and are looking forward to closing out the campaign with a win against Clark this weekend. The Raiders (7-0, 4-0) have not lost a conference game in the last four years, but the winning has got to continue in the state playoffs to bring them the glory they yearn for. Robeson is the last CPL team to compete for a state championship, having lost 16-12 to Rockford (Guilford) in the 1982 title game. This year’s Raiders would like to be the team to end the drought. “It feels good, it feels great,” senior quarterback Juwane Pipkins said of winning so many games. “But this is my senior year and I want to end it with a bang, I don’t want to lose any games.” Last season Robeson lost in the first round of the state playoffs to Belvidere North 14-7, and they didn’t like the taste of that defeat. The loss inspired them to improve their off season work habits, and in addition, all of the skill players joined the track team to increase their speed and endurance. “The hard work we do all year and then running track pays off in the game,” Pipkins said. Speaking almost in unison, Pipkins’ twin brother, senior wide receiver Duwane Pipkins told the Defender; “It comes down to heart and who wants it most.” The twins have played ball together most of their lives, and they work on their athletic skills together year-round. They practice passing and receiving in a vacant lot near their home, and they lift weights in the family’s basement. They have good chemistry on the field and Duwane has caught nine TD passes from his brother, but the team leader in receptions and touchdowns is tight end Cameren Franklin. “As the years go on we’ve been growing, getting better and learning the game,” said Franklin, who has 34 receptions and ten touchdowns on the season. Franklin also plays defensive end and the wear and tear on the body can take its toll as the season progresses. Playing on both sides of the ball is taxing, but it can be done with the right state of mind. “It’s tough, but you’ve just got to stay focused and when the pain comes you’ve got to keep fighting,” he said. At the helm for the Raiders is head coach Fabray Collins who has an impressive football resume. He played for Robeson in the early 1980’s, and was the leading tackler on Southern Illinois University’s 1983 Division 1 FCS championship team. Collins also played professionally for the Minnesota Vikings in 1987. Collins puts his team through tough practices and drills that can have them on their knees exhausted. But he says he knows that even these athletic young men have physical limitations. “I’m not gonna work them until they’re so fatigued that when they get to the playoffs they’ve got dead legs, but they do work hard,” Collins said. Working his team hard is something that Collins feels he has to do for the Raiders to stay on top. He says that Robeson doesn’t attract the superstar youth players who often choose to attend schools like Morgan Park, Simeon and Hubbard. So to make up for the lack of raw talent he pushes them hard to improve. “You might have more talent than me, but you’re not gonna outwork me,” Collins said. “We really don’t depend on one outstanding player, all of the players just work good together and it’s paying off.” Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender (Defender/Worsom Robinson)
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