Nicholas Robbins is playing two football seasons in one in 2020.
As a junior last season, Robbins didn’t get as much playing time for the Brownstown Central football team as he wanted. But he is making up for it now for the 5-2 Braves.
No. 32 spends so much time on the field this season, the average fan probably thinks there are two guys wearing the same number.
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Robbins is a running back some of the time and a defensive back some of the time. He is a key punt returner, and he plays on Brownstown’s kickoff coverage team.
It is easier to describe the segments of time when Robbins is not in the game, on the team’s kickoff returns and every other series on offense. Presumably, his respite on those occasions is so he can catch his breath.
Since Robbins’ playing time was pretty much stored up during his other seasons, he doesn’t mind being in the game pretty much from whistle to whistle. He’s not about to say, “Take me out, coach” to head man Reed May.
“It’s tiring,” said Robbins, who anticipated playing more this year than last, but “I didn’t know I wouldn’t come out.”
No wonder Robbins thinks this season has gone by quickly as the Braves are approaching their last regular-season game Friday night at home against Scottsburg.
“It has gone by quicker than you’d think,” he said.
May had a similar feeling.
“Every year flies by,” he said.
Last week, the Braves’ 42-14 loss to Silver Creek eliminated them from reaching the goal of winning a Mid-Southern Conference title.
“Silver Creek’s a great team,” May said. “We didn’t play the way we should have.”
His pep talk-evaluation reminded the players the season did not end last week. Not only is there a game this week, but a sectional to come.
“You’ve got two more games, for sure,” May said. “We want to end on a high for our seniors.”
The Braves have had several weekly standouts this season, with Robbins one of them. As busy as he is, Robbins makes his mark on the play-by-play report in more than one way. He has run an interception back for a touchdown, rushed for six more touchdowns and averaged 9.3 yards per carry when he collects handoffs.
Not that many football players are asked to ponder whether they like offense more than defense. Each has its selling points, but Robbins did not hesitate to say offense is his favorite.
He gave the golden boy response, once again supporting the notion that the offensive guys get more props than the defensive side guys.
“Offense,” he said. “You get the most attention.”
Robbins spoke of hearing the cheers, even in this season of the coronavirus when there are crowd limits.
“You can still hear them from Elm Street,” Robbins said of the loud fans who line the perimeter fence alongside the stadium and are a Brownstown football tradition.
Of course, there are players on offense who block and don’t get to touch the ball unless it’s the center hiking it to the quarterback so he can give it to someone else.
“Carrying the ball,” Robbins said being more specific about what stokes him the most. “It’s just an adrenaline rush. You’ve got all the other guys coming after you.”
Not being an offense-only player, however, Robbins does get to fight back and deliver retaliatory hits, hitting being what he characterizes as the best part of defense.
Robbins’ favorite hit of the year was halting an all-the-way kickoff return in the heart-pounding 43-42 victory over Seymour. His tackle stopped the run-back on the 10-yard run, so he figured he accomplished something worthwhile there.
Robbins himself would like to discover such an open-field opportunity before the season ends. Being the team’s designated punt returner carries pressure.
“It’s the scariest thing in football,” Robbins said. “You don’t get many blocks, and everyone is coming after you.”
Still, he can envision how delicious it is to find that daylight, slither past all of those charging defenders and take the ball all the way home.