Canes Topple Greene Co. 34-14

On senior night last Friday, the Monticello Hurricane football team matured and sent the Tigers back to their home in Greene County licking their wounds after a 34-14 “cane-ing.”

A good offensive showing, strong defense, some tricky plays from Coach Eddie Roberts and a terrible night for the Greene County center all came together to give the Monticello team a big victory in their final home game.

It was apparent this game would be different when the Tigers opened with an onsides kick that resulted in two penalties and Monticello getting the ball on their own 32.

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The ‘Canes went four and out and Greene started their first possession on the home team’s 46 after a long run back on the punt.

A great stop by Kyle Camp on fourth and two once again gave the ball back to the Canes on their own 40. Good running by A.J. Thomas and a pass from Chapman to Edwards advanced the drive to the Greene 34.

On a fourth and 12, Coach Roberts sent in the triple reverse with Chris Thomas passing to Billy Edwards keeping the Canes alive on the Tiger 19. Two plays later, Chris Thomas takes it 14 yards up the middle for a 6-0 lead with 2:22 left in the first quarter.

The PAT was no good due to the fumbled snap.

Dee Chapman, who has improved his kick-offs every week, boomed this one to the six with the Tigers taking it out to their own 28 yard line. Two plays later, the Greene center hiked the ball clearing his quarterback and Billy Edwards won the race to the ball in the end zone for another Monticello TD.

A.J. Thomas picked his way through the Tiger defense for the 2 pointer and a 14-0 Hurricane lead.

The second quarter began with a good “hold” by the Monticello defense, but the home offense fumbled and the Tigers started a drive on the Canes 40.

On a fourth and eight, the visitors connected on a pass to the end zone and cut the score to 14-7 with 6:01 left in the half. This was plenty of time for the ‘Canes to start a drive from their own 18 racking up five first downs behind the running of Chris and A.J. Thomas with Chris Thomas taking it in from 10 yards out with 51 seconds left in the half. The PAT was no good and the half ended with Monticello leading 20-7.

The Tigers started the second half ready to play and put together a 61 yard drive to bring them within six at 20-14.

After a Monticello punt, the visitors again put together an impressive drive before Brandon Barger recovered a Tiger fumble on the Monticello seven yard line. Chris Thomas took the ball for a 35 yard ramble and A.J. Thomas went for 10 before Monticello fumbled giving the Tigers another chance on the Canes 47.

The fourth quarter started with the Tigers threatening on the Canes 17. Again, the Monticello defense gets serious and another bad snap on a fourth and 18 gives the ball to the Canes on the Tiger 48.

This time the offense gets going with A.J. Thomas following good blocking deep in Tiger territory. On a third and goal from the nine, Coach Roberts again reaches into his bag of tricks with Chapman pitching to Breaux who finds Billy Edwards again in the end zone.

Chapman keeps for a 2 point PAT and a 28-14 lead with 8:14 left in the game. A great sack by Barger and another stop by Edwards ends the Tiger offense for the night and the Canes put together a 12 play drive with Brandon Barger, carrying the ball in the middle of a scrum more like a rugby match, moving both teams into the end zone as time expired and Monticello enjoying a 34-14 victory.

Next week the ‘Canes hope to extend their winning ways traveling to winless Crawford County.

STATS VS GREENE CO

Defense

Solo Assists FumRec

A.J. Thomas 6 5

Kyle Camp 5 6

D. Breaux 5 5

C. Thomas 4 3

B. Barger 4 3 1

D. Norwood 3 6

B. Edwards 3 5 1

M. Strozier 2 2

Q. Standifer 2 3

T. Jackson 2 4

H. Victrum 1

D. Bardwell 1

X. Gude 1

J. VanHorn 1 2

G. Stewart 1

F. Marks 3

Kevin Camp 1

H. Blankenship 1

Offense-Passing

Att. Comp Yds TD

X. Chapman 3 1 16

T. Jackson 1 1 18

D. Breaux 1 1 7 1

Rushing

Carries Yds. TD Fum

A.J. Thomas 21 118 0 0

Chris Thomas 14 127 2 1

Q. Standifer 8 24 0 0

X. Chapman 5 1 0 1

D. Breaux 2 3 1 0

B. Barger 1 11 1 0

Receiving

B. Edwards

3 catches, 41 yards, 1 TD