Junior Quin Shields ran wild again and the Robertsdale defense came up big to secure a 13-10 win over Elberta Thursday night at home. The Golden Bears improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2020.

Shields recorded both of Robertsdale’s touchdowns on the ground and set the tone with a 79-yard run to pay dirt on the second play from scrimmage. He then helped stage a comeback and retook the lead for the Golden Bears by a 13-10 margin with a 25-yard touchdown at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

But it was the Robertsdale defense that provided multiple stops with their backs against the wall in the red zone. None of the stops from inside the 20-yard line were more important than the last one that came in the final six minutes of regulation when pressure forced a 16-yard field goal from the Warriors to miss.

Although the Golden Bears’ ensuing drive stalled, an interception from Robertsdale senior Jalyn Coats with only four minutes remaining sealed the deal.

The Golden Bears continued their best start to a campaign since 2020 when they opened 3-0. That season also started with a Robertsdale win over Elberta in Week 2.

Elberta scorers

In this year’s Week 2 matchup, the Warriors got on the board with a 30-yard field goal from senior Ben Landrum with 4:14 left in the second quarter to make it a 7-3 deficit at halftime. The Warriors staked claim to a third-quarter lead when junior Adrian Billups took a jet sweep 28 yards to the house with 7:10 remaining in the third to make it a 10-7 game in favor of the visitors.

Up next

Region play is set to start for both teams next week when the Golden Bears host the 2-0 Foley Lions to start the Class 7A Region 1 playoff race.

The Warriors, who fell to 0-2, are scheduled to return home to face the Williamson Lions to kick off the games within Class 5A Region 1. Williamson was looking for a 2-0 start with Friday’s contest against the Wayne County War Eagles from Mississippi.