Hurricanes Fall to Trojans, 28-6
The Monticello Hurricane football program traveled to Barnesville last Friday to take on the Trojans of Lamar County who entered the game with a 7-2 record overall, 4-1 in region play. This game had region title implications, for a win by the 6-2 Hurricanes (3-1 region play) would have given them the title, whereas a Lamar County win would have them as the two seed from Region 4, and put Monticello as the four seed.
Because of the way the GHSA post-season rankings work, even if the Hurricanes were the fourth seed from the region, they still could host a home playoff game because of their strength of schedule and opponent’s strength of schedule, which are variables that are used to determine final ranking.
The game began with Lamar kicking to the Hurricanes, and the first drive of the game foreshadowed what was to come as the Hurricanes went four yards forward on the first two plays, and then six yards back, putting them in a punting situation. To compound matters, the punt trickled off the foot of the punter, and in one of the rare moments in the evening of the ball bouncing the Hurricanes way, somehow rolled all the way out to the 42-yard line and away from eminent danger.
Unfortunately for the Canes, the first offensive play for the Trojans went for a 32-yard gain, 10-yards from the end zone. The next play gave some hope, as the Trojans fumbled, but recovered the loose pigskin to retain possession. Two plays sandwiched around a Hurricane penalty led to the lid-lifting points being scored on a four-yard run. The extra point was good, and the Trojans led 7-0 with 8:16 in the first quarter.
On the next Trojan possession, the Hurricanes were able to have some success, with Bryan Ridley forcing a fumble that was recovered by Demonte Greene and returned 35-yards to midfield. Again, the offense went backwards thanks to self-induced mistakes and an aggressive Lamar County defense. Lamar scored one more time in the half on their next possession, running over six minutes off the clock on a drive that stayed on the ground for 14 plays. With the extra point, Lamar County now led 14-0, which remained the score heading into the half.
Lamar County received to begin the second half, and promptly chewed five minutes off the clock on a short drive to pay dirt. After the added extra point, the score stood at 21-0 Lamar. The first Monticello drive after the half moved the ball to midfield, but another fumble turned the ball back over to the Trojans who reciprocated the move however, and returned the ball right back three plays later.
With the ball and a small dose of momentum from the turnover, the Hurricanes went to the air on first down, with JT Thomas rolling left and stepping up to find Nolan Dean striding towards the end zone a step ahead of the Trojan defender. Thomas unleashed a perfect pass, just over the outstretched arms, and caught by Dean as he reached the end zone.
This 34-yard connection was the first score of the evening for the Hurricanes, and the point after was blocked by the Trojans, leaving the score at 21-6 Lamar. The Trojans added one more score as the third quarter wound down, with a 28-yard dash through the left side of the line and to the end zone. The Trojan kicker added his fourth extra point of the evening, and the score stood at 28-6, which would work out to be the final score.
Although the Hurricanes have locked up the four seed and a state playoff bid for the 2024 season, they still have one more regular season game ahead tomorrow against Utopian Academy of Clayton County. The game was originally scheduled to be played at the new Morrow High School facility, but has since been moved to a home game for the Hurricanes.
A win this Friday night will lock up a seven-win season, not happened since 1996. If projections hold up as they currently are, the Hurricanes also stand a chance to host a home playoff game the next Friday.