Greater Chattanooga area prep football player of the week Robinson's runs lead Hixson to playoff win

By Ward Gossett

Monday, November 11, 2013

photo Hixson's Isaiah Robinson looks to gain yardage during the Wildcats' 19-0 District 6-AA playoff win over East Ridge. Robinson is the Times Free Press Player of the Week.
photo 13 for '13 tile

13 for '13 - Week 12Auston Banks, Notre Dame: 151 rushing yards, 2 TDs.Slade Dale, Ringgold: 222 total yards, 122 passing, 2 TDs.Jacob Gilbert, Lakeview-F.O.: 208 rushing yards, 2 TDs; fumble return TD.Austin Herink, Cleveland: 297 passing yards, 2 TDs.Hayden Hicks, Sequatchie County: 117 rushing yards.Omari Kendrick Ooltewah: 128 rushing yards, 2 TDs.Drake McCowan, North Murray: 250 rushing yards, 3 TDs.Kaleb Menzel, Signal Mountain: 173 rushing yards, TD.Zach Miller, Polk County: 240 rushing yards, TD.Isaiah Robinson, Hixson: 202 rushing yards, 2 TDs.Josh Rogers, Silverdale Baptist: 166 total yards, 95 receiving, 2 TDs.Willie Stewart, Tyner: TD pass, TD reception, 58 rushing yards.Blake Zeman, Marion County: 156 rushing yards, 4 TDs.

Isaiah Robinson has consistently had good games throughout the season, amassing more than 1,300 yards through the regular season.

The Hixson senior turned it up a notch Friday and earned Times Free Press Player of the Week honors with a 208-yard, two-TD performance in the Wildcats' 19-0 victory over East Ridge. The showing came in the first round of the Tennessee Class 4A playoffs.

Hixson remains at home this week for its second postseason game and will host Sequoyah. All playoff games kick off at 7 p.m. local time Friday and admission, which is set by the TSSAA, is $8 per person.

"He was our workhorse the other night with 36 carries. He got in a rhythm," said Hixson coach Jason Fitzgerald Sunday afternoon as he took a break from video review. "Normally he and Kedrick (Bradley) get equal carries but we found some things with Isaiah that were really working."

Robinson has been dinged up all year, and Bradley got dinged on Nov. 1 in the District 6-AA champion Wildcats' final regular season game.

"When you carry the ball 200 times you're going to get dinged," Fitzgerald said. "Isaiah's a warrior, though, and while we may not get as much early in the week, by Friday he'll be ready to go ahead. When game time gets here he's going to give you everything he has. He wants to be good, and he wants to play hard."

Robinson may be a little slow this afternoon and Tuesday, but he'll probably still be congratulating and thanking his teammates, specifically his offensive linemen.

"The first thing he talked about after the game was the offensive line. Those two running backs know the success we've had on offense and they're pretty good but the offensive line has played well for them," Fitzgerald said.

A 5-foot-10, 180-pounder, Robinson arrived last season as Fitzgerald took over as head coach.

"He's done everything we have asked," the coach said. "He is qualified academically with the core and the test score, and he's getting some looks from some of the smaller schools. He'll have some offers before it's over."

Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.