Roderick Robinson, Josiah Cox push Lincoln to 31-17 win over Cathedral Catholic

Lincoln has jumped out to a 6-1 start for the second straight season.

(Lead photo by Steven Silva)

MIRA MESA, Calif. – Lincoln jumped out a 14-0 lead thanks to two Roderick Robinson touchdowns just over ten minutes into Friday's Western League opener against Cathedral Catholic. Fast forward two quarters and the Hornets found themselves stuck on 14 points, now trailing Cathedral Catholic 17-14.

Lincoln reorganized in the final quarter, scoring 17 unanswered fourth quarter points to defeat Cathedral Catholic, 31-17, for their six victory of the season.

Below are three takeaways from the game:

JOSIAH COX SEALS IT FOR LINCOLN

After Lincoln retook the lead with a 99-yard touchdown drive with just over ten minutes to play in the game, the Hornets proceeded to force Cathedral Catholic into two straight three and outs.

The Hornets were able to capitalize on the second three and out with good field position that set up a field goal to extend their lead to 24-17 with 4:30 left to play. Cathedral Catholic returned the ensuing kickoff close to midfield, beginning their attempt to tie the game.

Facing 4th down and 11 with the game on the line, Cathedral Catholic quarterback Jack Stevens floated a pass down the sidelines that fell incomplete, but a flag quickly emerged to give the Dons new life. The call was pass interference on Lincoln defensive back Josiah Cox.

"After seeing him get that (pass interference) he was down for a minute because he’s the emotional leader of our team, Lincoln star running back Roderick Robinson said. "But I knew he wouldn’t be down for long and he’d bounce back like he always does.”

Two plays later, Cox atoned for his penalty, jumping in front of a Cathedral Catholic post route for the game-sealing interception. Instead of going to the turf with the game in hand, Cox avoided defenders and sprinted down the Cathedral Catholic sidelines to return the interception 93 yards, giving the Hornets a two-touchdown lead with 1:15 to play.

“I’m not gonna lie I was thinking about going down but that was a big time play that I thought I could make so I just made it,” Cox said.

“I’m not worried at all because I know he’s that type of guy… he’s just a playmaker,” Robinson said of watching Cox take the interception 93 yards for a touchdown.

Cox made the play at the end of the game that will be remembered, but the Hornets defense caused problems all night for Cathedral Catholic, holding the Dons to one offensive touchdown in ten possessions.

“We definitely want to be the best defense in the county so that’s a big motivation,” Cox said.

RODERICK ROBINSON CONTINUES TO SHINE

Roderick Robinson has set the bar high. A 217-yard, three touchdown performance against a reigning San Diego Section Open Division and CIF State champion team would be a huge deal for just about anybody else.

For Robinson it just felt like another day at the office on Friday.

“My line is working for me real well,” Robinson said. “They go out there and get the push that I need to break a couple loose runs and my receivers block for me as well. They’re unselfish, they don’t just catch the ball.”

Robinson's 217 yards on the ground Friday boosted his season total up to 1,501 in just seven games.

Robinson’s first touchdown on Friday night occurred when he ran around the right edge and down the sidelines, breaking a tackle and applying a stiff-arm during his 32-yard run.

“He told me that he doesn’t want to juke this year,” Cox said of Robinson. “He said I’m putting my foot in the ground and I’m getting up field so that’s another big thing.”

Robinson got a great push from his blockers on his final two touchdown runs, allowing him to easily trot in from four and seven yards.

A GAME OF RUNS

Lincoln got off to a great start on Friday night, forcing Cathedral Catholic into three and outs during the Dons first two offensive possessions. Meanwhile, the Hornets put together consecutive scoring the drives, both concluding with Roderick Robinson touchdown runs.

“You can never go into a game down,” Robinson said postgame. “You need to at least meet or surpass the other team’s energy, so we came out and fired on all cylinders.”

Cathedral put together a drive that started just before the end of the first quarter and were able to get on the board with a touchdown pass from Jack Stevens to running back Will Bond from two yards out.

The Dons evened the score at 14 just before the half when Ty Cortes jumped a Lincoln pass, intercepting it on the 40-yard line and sprinting untouched for a pick-six.

Cathedral Catholic struck first in the second half with a 27-yard field goal after they began their drive at Lincoln’s 36-yard line. After that, Lincoln regained momentum and dominated the final 17 minutes of the game.

The Hornets took the lead for good on Roderick Robinson’s third touchdown of the night, less than two minutes into the fourth quarter and added a field goal and Cox’s pick-six to capture the win.