‘Canes Versus Canes Friday Night

The Monticello ‘Canes kick off their football season tomorrow night, August 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Rose Bowl field versus another group of ‘Canes from Monroe Area.

Monroe Area even has the same colors—purple and white, but the similarities end there. The ‘Canes only won two games last year while the Monroe ‘Canes made it to the playoffs and ended with an 11-2 record in the AAA classification, a class above Monticello.

One of those wins was a 55-7 shellacking of the ‘Canes.

So the ‘Canes will be looking for some retribution Friday night, and they just may have the tools to accomplish that.

With 17 seniors, some of whom have been together as a team since little league, when they won the Super Bowl and was runner-up another year, and then went on to win the the Middle School Championship by defeating powerhouses Loganville and Youth Middle Schools. This group includes Brian Barger, Dee Chapman, Brady McMichael, A.J. Thomas, Chris Thomas, Timmy Postlethwait, Mitchell Bishop and others.

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According to Head Football Coach Eddie Roberts, who scouted Monroe Area in its scrimmage last week, they did lose some players, but are still athletic and return a quarterback who is a threat to run the ball.

Coach Roberts said, “They run to the ball real well on defense and they’ll have a lot of confidence coming off the season they had last year. They’ll be riding high, and it’s always tough anytime you play an upward classification.”

Runningback C. Thomas is still day-to-day with an ankle injury and it is questionable whether he’ll play Friday night. However, there are no other injuries that will keep anyone from playing.

Coach Roberts named off an offensive starting lineup which includes a back field of B. McMichael at quarter back, Deonte Norwood at full back, and the two wings will be Trey Jackson and probably A.J. Thomas if C. Thomas isn’t ready.

Marquel Strozier starts at split end and D. Chapman at tight end. John McMichael will be at center, Austin Pierce and B. Barger at guards, and Kevin Camp and T. Postlethwait at the tackle spots.

On the defensive side of the ball, B. Barger will anchor the line at the nose spot flanked by Justin Van Horn and Chris Porter at defensive ends. Inside linebackers will be A.J. Thomas, Skyler Blankership and Destin Breauz, while the outside linebackers will be Billy Edwards and Quincy Standifer. At the corners will be Mitchell Bishop and DeAtrius Stone, and Juri Bermudez at free safety.

D. Chapman will handle the kicking and A. J. Thomas will punt.

Coach Roberts concluded by saying, “Obviously being here for the second year, the kids are more comfortable with what we’re doing. We have a lot of returning players and we expect to be better. We still have a lot to work on but we’re improving every day and the kids have confidence in what we’re doing. We have high expectations.”