Tycarius Roberts stepped up to the challenge and delivered.
“He’s played the best football he’s ever played in the last two games, and it’s benefited us,” said Taylorsville head coach Chuck Robertson. “I challenged him a couple of weeks ago, and he’s accepted it.
“We ran the football against a very good football team and, yes, we blocked well, but Roberts had a lot to do with his yards too.”
The Taylorsville senior running back racked up 181 yards on 12 carries and three touchdowns in the Tartars 49-17 win over North Forrest in the quarterfinal round of the MHSAA Class 2A playoffs last Friday night.
Roberts also scored on special teams. Following a defensive touchdown by North Forrest in the first quarter, Roberts put Taylorsville on the board with a kickoff return for a touchdown. It tied the game 6-6, and Taylorsville nor Roberts looked back.
Robertson said Roberts is gaining more yards after contact, which in turn has made Taylorsville better offensively.
“He’s doing some things that he hasn’t been doing, and it’s helping us on offense,” Robertson said. “After the first initial contact, he’s still picking up yards, and that’s something we haven’t done well in the past. Roberts has made us better offensively.”
Roberts has 785 yards on 82 carries this season, averaging 9.6 yards per carry.
Taylorsville is set to play Collins this Friday night for the Class 2A South State Championship. The winner travels to Oxford on Dec. 1 for a shot at the state title.
