Canes Defeat Ace in First Round, Head to Dublin for Second Round

The Monticello Hurricanes broke one streak last Friday, a streak that could have been referred more to as a curse. Considered underdogs in their own house (the Georgia High School Football Daily had ACE Charter as three point favorites), the Hurricane football team came through with an exciting 41-31 victory to secure their spot in the GHSA Class-A Sweet 16.

The Hurricanes now stand at 8-3 for the season, and will travel to Dublin for the second round where they will match up with an 11-0 Dublin Irish High School team that defeated their first round opponent Gordon Central of Calhoun by a score of 63-6.

In the game last Friday, the Hurricanes started hot, and kept the lead the entire game. With their first offensive possession coming after forcing the Gryphons of ACE to a three-and-out and forcing a punt, the Hurricanes benefitted from a kick that went off the side of the foot, and flopped over for a 10-yard punt. This placed the Hurricanes in positive field position at the ACE 36, and three plays later Monticello were crossing the goal line on a 23-yard pass completion from Jamarkus Thomas to Demonte Greene. The try for the extra point was blocked, but was one of the few mistakes made on a night when most things fell the Hurricane’s way.

After the defense forced another three-and-out, the Hurricanes took possession at their own 29-yard line. This drive was more methodical than the first, covering the 71-yards in eight plays, and chewing four minutes off the clock. The Hurricanes Garyson Manning converted a fourth and one to move the ball inside the 10-yard line, where Thomas took it in on the next play to put the Canes up 12-0. Martin-Garcia converted the extra point, and the score was now 13-0.

The Gryphons, led by sophomore quarterback Ace Hatcher, drove downfield for their ensuing possession, taking an astonishing seven minutes off the clock, well into the second quarter. At the end of the 15-play drive, the Hurricane defense stiffened, and the Gryphons had to settle for a 27-yard field goal to cut the margin to 13-3. The Hurricanes took over at their own 20-yard line after the Gryphon kickoff sailed to the end zone for a touchback.

After three plays, the Hurricanes were staring at another fourth and one, and called out the punt team. With a little bit of trickeration, Tyrin Epps, personal protector, took the direct snap and rumbled 42-yards downfield, plowing over would-be tacklers along the way, to get the first down for the Hurricanes. Taking advantage of the momentum, the Hurricanes went for the jugular on the next play, with Thomas hitting Kamarion Owens for a 29-yard touchdown pass. The kick again was good, and the Canes led 20-3 with just over six and a half minutes left in the half.

Again the Gryphons drove down the field, this time finding the endzone on a short two-yard gain. With the added extra point, the margin was cut to 20-10 with 1:42 left in the half. Not to be outdone, the Hurricanes popped off a three play, 80-yard drive to put another score on the board, this time courtesy of a 64-yard run by senior Jalen Stewart. The drive only took :16 seconds, but moved the score to 27-10, with the Hurricanes fourth score in four possessions to begin the game. A line drive kickoff was fielded by the Gryphons and ran all the way back to the Monticello 28-yard line. This allowed ACE the opportunity to tack a score on the board before the half on a pass from Hatcher to Brice Whitley on the first play of the possession. After the extra point, the score stood at 27-17 going into the half.

Both teams struggled to begin the second half, alternating possession on punts and turnovers, and the Gryphons were able to take advantage of a short field after an errant punt snap gave them possession in the red zone. Hatcher was able to run one in from the 12-yard line, and this narrowed the gap to 27-24, Canes still on top, and was as close as the Gryphons would be able to get.

The Hurricanes began the fourth quarter with the ball and drove almost the length of the field (91 yards) to put another score on the board. Two big third down plays kept the drive going, the first a 14-yard pitch and catch from Thomas to Nolan Dean that gave the Hurricanes a first down while deep in their own territory, and a big 20-yard run by Thomas that converted a 3rd and 12 situation. The Hurricanes knocked out big chunks on this drive, demoralizing the Gryphon defense with Stewart also adding a 24-yard run to move the ball into Gryphon territory. The scoring play was made by the legs of Thomas, who took it into the end zone from five-yards out. This upped the score to 34-24, and after a defensive stop, gave the ball back to the Canes.

This time the Hurricanes went down the field on a shorter drive, all on the ground, and finished off by Chance Ross with his own five-yard drive-capper. Martin-Garcia closed out the scoring for the Canes with the ensuing extra point, and the score stood at 41-24. Whitley, the Gryphons do everything receiver, fielded the kickoff after the score, and returned it 80-yards for the touchdown, but even after recovering an onside kick, the Gryphons were unable to capitalize, with Hatcher’s last pass falling harmlessly to the turf, allowing Thomas to kneel it out and give the Hurricanes their first GHSA state playoff win since 1992 (not region playoff, the Hurricanes did have a region playoff win in the old format in 1994 in order to make it to state).

Monticello TD’s—Thomas 2 TD run (8,5),

Stewart TD run (64), Ross TD run (5),

Greene TD rec (23), Owens TD rec (29)

Monticello PAT— Martin-Garcia 5/6

Box Score

Monticello ACE

First Downs 13 11

Rush Att./Yds. 40/354 30/194

Com./Att./Int. 5/7/0 4/19/2

Passing Yards 75 45

Individual Stats

Rushing —Epps 1/42, Stewart 12/148/1, MJ Maddox 3/48, Owens 2/-1, Thomas 15/90/2, Cam Farley 1/13, Manning 2/-1, Ross 3/17/1

Passing — Thomas 5/7/0/75/2

Receiving —Owens 1/29/1, Isaiah Jackson 1/-6, Greene 2/38/1, Dean 1/14