Matt Robbert has been focused on the postseason since the moment last year’s offseason began. He wanted to get Centereach over the second-round playoff hump, and thanks to his four touchdowns in a 41-21 win over Connetquot November 8, he’s halfway there.
“Our whole goal is to make it past where we were last year,” the senior tight end and defensive end said. “With that in the back of our minds we came out strong today. Sometimes we start slow and have to flip the switch, but we were confident.”
That’s partly because the Cougars (6-3) saw two weeks ago how well its ground-and-pound offense works against the Thunderbirds, coming out of the October 26 matchup with a 35-20 road win.
Senior running back and outside linebacker Eric Harrington, who finished with 181 yards and a touchdown on 35 carries, got the ball rolling fast under the Friday night lights. He had his hands on the ball for 13 of 15 plays including his 8-yard touchdown run with 3:22 remaining in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead.
“We wanted to bring that physicality,” the senior running back and outside linebacker said. “And we brought the energy. I felt it.”
Centereach knew what Connetquot (4-5) would bring was a good passing game, but the Cougars were ready for that, too. Robbert, Josh Ackerler, and Chris Crane all made sacks, and Ryan Cahill and Alex Goldberg each came up with interceptions.
Centereach only attempted one pass play, and it resulted in a touchdown for Robbert (156 yards on 16 carries) that brought the score to 21-7 at halftime. The 15-yarder came from his younger brother Justin and was set up by Cahill’s pick that gave the Cougars the ball on Connetquot’s 25-yard line.
“We were overpowering,” Robbert said, not wanting to take the credit. “The offensive line does it all. They make the holes for me and I just follow them.”
In a similar fashion to the October victory, Centereach continued to pepper the scoreboard even after Connetquot tried to knock the wind out of the Cougars’ sails with a touchdown a little over a minute into the second half. This time, Robbert was the one who had his hands on the ball through most of a 80-yard march that spanned 4:56 across 10 pays. He had gains of 26 and 21, which put the ball at the goal line, before punching it in for a 28-14 lead midway through the third quarter. He also is the team’s kicker, and made all five of his extra-point attempts on the evening.
“We didn’t want to let them back in the game,” Harrington said.
Taking time off the clock was crucial, and Goldberg played a big part in that late with his interception at the 11:46 mark of the fourth. His pick, arms stretched out in front of him to tip the ball into his arms, gave the Cougars the ball on their own 43-yard line. It set up Liam Webber’s 9-yard touchdown run that gave the game its final score.
“The interceptions were crazy,” Harrington said. “It was like out of a movie.”
A movie the Cougars hope has that happy semifinal ending next week that Robbert’s been dreaming about.
“I want to win,” Harrington said. “I’m not ready to go home yet.”
