’Canes Fall to Region Champs, 48-6
Do you remember the story about how the ancient Greeks defeated Troy?
The Monticello Hurricanes did not bring a “Trojan Horse” as a gift to the Lamar Trojans football team last Friday night.
Instead, a gift of nine Monticello fumbles was given to the Region 4AA Champions as Lamar County completed the regular season undefeated and ranked eighth in Georgia state polls.
A season that started at historic Rose Bowl field with one of the most exciting Monticello upsets ever against 3AAA Monroe Area, ended at the brand new Lamar County football complex complete with new stands, field houses, fan amenities and artificial turf.
It was an especially tough loss since this year’s four wins are the most from a Hurricane team in many seasons and almost 20 seniors were playing in their last Monticello game.
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The game started with Monticello receiving the kick-off and fumbling to the Trojans on the third play from scrimmage on the Canes 40.
The Monticello defense held with Destin Breaux breaking up a pass on third down and the Trojans punted to the Canes 20.
The Trojans defense, one of the best in the state, again shut down the Canes running game and senior Justin Van Horne who had a night of fine kicks, punted the ball to Trojan territory.
Two long runs around the left side finds paydirt for the Lamar team and a 6-0 lead. Monticello fumbles on the return but Chris Thomas makes a miraculous recovery surrounded by Trojan players and the ‘Canes start again deep in their own territory.
Again, the Lamar defense stops and after a three and out, get the ball on the Monticello 49. They score with a ten play drive converting two fourth downs (one on a Cane offsides call) and with 19 seconds left in the first quarter lead 13-0.
The next play was a perfect example of the ‘Canes luck of the night as A.J. Thomas takes the ball on a spectacular run from the ‘Canes 25 to the Lamar 20 where the ball is knocked loose from behind by the Trojan tackler and rolls 15 more yards to the Lamar 5 where it is recovered by the Trojans.
The ‘Canes continued to dig their own hole in the second quarter giving up 21 unanswered points (three fumbles). The Canes managed to get into Lamar territory behind a 28 yard run by senior Chris Thomas but another fumble on the Trojan 45 ended that threat at half time.
Monticello scored late in the fourth quarter when freshman Lane Thomas darted through the middle of the Trojan line with a 50 yard score on a quarterback sneak giving the large contingent of Monticello fans a peak at next season’s quarterback and a reason to cheer on the cold and breezy night.
STATS VS LAMAR CO
Passing
X. Chapman
3 Att. 0 Comp 0 TDs
Rushing
Carries Yds TDs Fum
A.J. Thomas 6 104 2
L. Thomas 1 50 1 1
C. Thomas 9 42 1
B. Barger 2 7 0
T. Jackson 3 -2 2
X. Chapman 9 -4 1