After fumbling the ball into the end zone on what looked to be a sure touchdown, Plainfield North’s Jay Roberts spent the third quarter on the sideline Friday night.
Early in the fourth, he entered the game on a fourth-and-1 at the Plainfield East 44.
“I told coach (Tim Kane) I wanted the ball, he put me in, I ran behind my lineman and got it done,” Roberts said.
Roberts ran 12 yards for a first down, 22 on the next play and 10 for a score that propelled the Tigers to a 28-14 Southwest Prairie Conference home win over the Bengals.
Roberts, who fumbled twice in the first half, finished with 221 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries.
“I just had to take some time, breathe a little bit; my nerves were getting to me, but I went out there and did what I wanted to do,” Roberts said.
North’s Kurt Palandech opened the scoring by running around end for a 10-yard touchdown with 4:26 left in the first quarter.
A turnover set up the tying score for East. Brennen Rompa scored from a yard out to knot the score at 7 with 4:12 to go in the half.
Palandech (16-yard run) and Rompa (4-yard run) traded scores in the second quarter to make it 14-all late in the half.
Roberts was involved in all but five plays in the first half for the Tigers, who avenged a 38-12 loss to the Bengals a year ago.
