Canes Off To A Swift Start

With respect paid to award winning singer Prince Rogers Nelson, more commonly known as “Prince,” the Monticello Hurricane football program experienced something last Friday night that has not happened since the 1999 football season.

Two opponents to open the season with two wins, the Hurricanes of Monticello are 2-0 after a 42-6 dismantling of the Pike County Pirates at home.

Coincidentally, the win over the Pirates also evened the all-time series with Pike County at 5-5 since their first meeting in 1978.

The game began with the Hurricanes winning the toss and electing to receive the opening kickoff. A 4-yard return by Cam Farley set them up on their own 31-yard line.

Senior Chevy Sands started the offensive possession with a 12-yard pickup for a Cane first down to the 43-yard line. A pass that went for a loss, coupled with a five-yard gain by Sands put the Canes at 3rd and long around the original line of scrimmage.

Sands went back to pass on a screen play, but his intended receiver slipped on the play, affecting his timing. On the pass attempt, Pirate Godfrey Mahone was able to get a paw up on the ball, knocking it in the air to himself, bringing it down and heading for every lineman’s dream—towards the end zone.

An alert Kaidon Whidby streaked downfield and caught Mahone at the 5-yard line, stripping him of the ball and causing him to fumble out of the back of the end zone, resulting in a touchback for the Hurricanes, and regaining possession on their own 20-yard line.

The ensuing possession did not result in any points, but did end with a kick, which is the goal of a coach on every possession whether it be an extra point, field goal, or punt. Coach Ashley Henderson said, “Kaidon Whidby’s play on the early interception to hustle down and strip him and have the ball roll through the end zone is a culture defining moment for us. That’s how we want to play the game, to the echo of the whistle.”

After a short drive by Pike ended in a punt, the Hurricane offense came to life with the ball on the 50-yard line. An eight-yard pass reception by Jalen Stewart followed by an explosive 42-yard run by Whidby put a quick six points up on the board for the first score of the game. Whidby followed with an emphatic two-point conversion run to put the Canes ahead 8-0.

The Hurricane defense forced a three-and-out, and took over near midfield at their own 42-yard line. Four plays later Monticello found pay dirt again, this time with Tyler Banks cashing in on an eight-yard run. The drive was highlighted by a 15-yard reception by Whidby to move the chains, and a long run by Stewart to move them some more. A missed extra point by sophomore Angel Martin-Garcia left the score at 14-0 Hurricanes after one quarter of play.

The second quarter began with the Canes in the midst of what would turn out to be a 16-play, five-minute and eight second drive that began at their own 10-yard line after a Pike County punt.

Zychez Nolley, Sands, Whidby, Banks, and Stewart all had carries on the drive, along with two big catches by Josiah Cotterell to help dig the ‘Canes out of a 3rd and 23 spot after a snap shot by quarterback Austin Young. Stewart picked up a big first down with an 8-yard run, and finished the drive with another run for eight and the score. Garcia’s extra point was good, and the score was now 21-0.

The Pirates took over on the kickoff and held onto the ball for the next seven minutes of the contest, starting from their own twelve, and driving methodically down the field picking up small chunks of yardage at a time, and grinding down the field, only attempting one pass. On a 4th and one from the Monticello 35, the snap was fumbled, and then kicked by a guard that was pulling. The play resulted in a turnover on downs, Monticello ball at their own 39 with just 1:36 left in the half. An incompletion and a short gain on a reception by Stewart put the ball on the 41 with 1;12 remaining.

Young dropped back to pass and delivered the perfect throw to a wide open Cotterell, who bobbled and then pulled it in for a gain of 42-yards with a minute left before the half. After being pushed back for a personal foul, Young connected with Stewart on a screen pass and pulled in the high throw with one hand. He then broke three tackle efforts and then kept his balance going all the way down to the 2-yard line.

The Canes went to a heavy offensive package with seconds on the clock. Whidby was able to hammer it over to increase the lead to 28-0.

After the half, the Canes kicked off and turned up the defensive pressure, led by Banks who continued his sack barrage putting the Pirates into a 4th and long punt situation. The Canes worked down the field, picking up a first down on a 22-yard run by Stewart and picked a first down on a penalty.

Young once again came through with an accurate pass, hitting Demonte` Greene in the end zone for a 25-yard completion and the score. Garcia was good on another extra point, and the score stood at 35-0. That was to be the only possession of the quarter for the Hurricanes, as the Pirates again took the ball on the kickoff and ran an eight-and-a-half-minute drive that extended into the fourth quarter.

The Hurricanes were able to tack on their last touchdown of the night in the final quarter. Driving from their own 39 and pushing across the score on a 7-yard run by Sands. The drive was all on the ground, and was led by Nolley, who carried four times for 43 yards. The final extra point was pushed across by Parker Eaton.

Avoiding a shut out, the Pirates scored against the junior varsity defense to score on a 43-yard run.

The next opponent for the team will be the Morgan County Bulldogs. A traditional rival, the Hurricanes had trouble last year in Madison, falling 65-7.

Coach Henderson noted that Morgan “is a good football team. We have arguably one of our toughest tests of the season coming to Hurricane Field Friday night. They’re big, have a real talented running back, and a big full back and tight end that leads the way for him. (Our) defense is going to have to stop the run. We need to make it a four quarter game and see what happens.”