On November’s last day in 2007, Chuck Robertson stood on Taylorsville’s field as an assistant coach while he and the program celebrated it’s MHSAA Class 2A South State Championship win over Enterprise-Clarke, 49-7.
Almost ten years later to the exact day, Robertson, now in his second season as Taylorsville’s head coach, tried his best to avoid the ice bath that followed his team’s 48-32 win over Collins Friday night in the second most populated town in Smith County.
The win gives Taylorsville the Class 2A South State title. The Tartars (14-1) will play Winona (11-3) next Friday afternoon at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
“The craziest thing of the night is we’re playing defense and running the football,” said Robertson in the midst of an overcrowded field as Taylorsville fans celebrated the win. “Those are things that we have not done well until the last three weeks. Everybody says defense wins championships and ours came through tonight.”
Taylorsville and Collins combined for 47 points in the first half. The visitors from 16.9 miles away led at the break, 26-21. In the second half, Taylorsville held Collins to just eight points as its offensive continued to pile on points.
“Our adjustments at halftime were amazing,” said Robertson. “I have a great coaching staff, and they do an amazing job. We came out in the second half and held them [Collins] to one score on a bad call. That is just a compliment to my coaches.”
If senior running back Tycarius Roberts’ 52-yard touchdown run with 4:21 left in the game didn’t ice the win for Taylorsville, his interception of a Collins pass less than two-minutes later did.
“In the last two or three weeks, Roberts’ play has been outstanding,” said Robertson. “I challenged him three or four weeks ago, and he has stepped up.
“He’s carried the load for us by taking some of the pressure off our quarterback. We know the better teams you play, the better you have to run the football. Collins made it tough on us to run the football, yet he still an outstanding job.”
Roberts said he just wanted to come out and give his team the win.
“I just wanted to come through for my team,” said the senior running back and cornerback. “I know they have needed me to do so in the past two years, so I have tried [to do so] in my senior year.”
Roberts also had a 9-yard scramble for a touchdown. It gave Taylorsville a 35-26 lead in the final seconds of the third quarter.
Robertson’s second season as head coach has been night and day in difference. A large reason for Taylorsville’s success has been due to freshman quarterback Tycarious Keyes. He leads the state in passing and passed the 4,000-yard mark this season with his 73-yard touchdown pass to Latrell Jones early in the third period. The score gave Taylorsville a 28-26 led over Collins. Keyes and Taylorsville never looked back.
“Keyes is going to be a special kid one-day,” said Robertson. “He never gets flustered. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time.
“Collins did knock down a few of his balls tonight and did a few other things, but Keyes did a good job of adjusting. He came out in the second half, and our offensive coordinator put him in some good situations.”
After the game Keyes said the win felt good, but that his team isn’t done yet.
“Coach told me never to put my head down and keep pushing,” Keyes said. “He said the plays are going to be there, so I just listened to him.”
Keyes had three 70-plus yard touchdown passes on the night, including an 8-yard TD strike and a rushing score in the second half.
