Robbinsville High School senior running back Elijah McNeil was the driving force behind the Ravens' first win of the season on October 2, which snapped the team's 17-game losing streak that dated back to September 2013.
ROBBINSVILLE -- Robbinsville High School senior running back Elijah McNeil was the driving force behind the Ravens' first win of the season on October 2, which snapped the team's 17-game losing streak that dated back to September 2013.
While Robbinsville wasn't able to do that much offensively during the 12-6 victory over Hightstown, the little they were able to accomplish was the work of McNeil, a former Athlete of the Week.
The bruising 5-foot-8, 178-pound back carried the mail 28 times for 127 yards (4.5 yards per carry), moving the ball at will for the Ravens and enabling them to come out on top.
After the game, Robbinsville head coach Andrew Patterson lauded McNeil and the Ravens' performance.
"When we were down six in the fourth quarter our kids took over the game, even before we scored," Patterson told NJ Advance Media. "Our kids took on a whole new mentality and they seemed to know that it was their game to win. And they knew they were the most aggressive team on the field tonight. And, I've got to say, our defense was amazing."
"It's the best I've seen them since I've been here. I'm told we had some good wins from 2004-09, but coming off that long streak, shutting down a highly respected Group 4 team made this win one of the top in program history," Patterson said.
Patterson and the Ravens are hoping that this positive momentum continues - especially McNeil, who candidly talked about his team's troubles shortly after the 2014 season.
"It was more than just one thing (that went wrong for us)," McNeil said in 2014 on his team's struggles. "We needed to do a better job."
But even then, McNeil had hope for 2015.
"I definitely believe we're going to improve next year," he said then. "If everyone puts in the work, we can do big things - we have the talent to do so."
He was right.
"Next year, I expect that we're going to improve upon our scoring, passing, and rushing, and that starts with me," McNeil said.
Right again.
"We're going to be better next year, I definitely have that expectation," he said. "I definitely plan on bringing more pride to our program."
He did.
Rich Cuccagna may be reached at rcuccagna@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RichCuccagna. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.