Hurricanes Defeat Mustangs
The Hurricanes of Monticello welcomed the McNair Mustangs of Dekalb County to the Hurricane Athletic Complex for game number six of the season, and region game number two.
Because of Hurricane Helene, the team had an unscheduled bye week before, and a bye week this week, so this made for the only football game in a four-week stretch for the Hurricanes. The Mustangs came into the game with a 2-4 record overall, and 0-2 in region play, fresh off of a three-point loss to fellow region-mate Lamar County 19-16.
Their only other loss was by eight to Putnam County in a high scoring affair at 45-37. The Hurricanes on the other hand were streaking up the right side of the win/loss column, coming in with a 4-1 record, and 1-0 in region play since the Utopian Academy game was rescheduled for November 8. The 4-1 start to the season is the best record for the Hurricanes in a five game stretch since the 1996 ‘Canes started 5-0 to begin the season. That’s the best start in 28-years for a Hurricane team for those scoring at home!
The game was slow to develop, with both teams working out kinks on their opening drives with sloppy play and turnovers. The Mustangs won the opening toss and deferred to the second half, meaning the Hurricanes would start the game receiving the opening kick.
On the second play from scrimmage, M.J. Maddox, who came in for starter Jamarkus Thomas for the play, ran around the right side and cut up the field for a big gain. The Mustangs were in quick pursuit however, and punched out the ball, causing a fumble that they then recovered. All was not lost though, as three offensive plays later, McNair, from the 50-yard line, threw downfield.
The pass sailed a little high, tipped off the receiver’s hands and into the waiting arms of Maddox, who returned it 29-yards to put the Hurricane offense back in business at the Mustang 43-yard line.
Nine plays and two critical fourth down conversions later, the Hurricanes were on the board courtesy of back to back runs of 12 and 15 yards by Jalen Stewart to cross the goal line and put the Hurricanes ahead. Angel Martin-Garcia added the extra point, and the Hurricanes were ahead 7-0 with 5:36 to go in the first quarter.
The Mustangs took the ensuing kickoff at their own 20-yard line, and proceeded to nickel and dime the Hurricanes down the field, using up 8:13 off the clock on a 16-play drive. The touchdown occurred on a 1-yard run, and the extra point was good, knotting the score at seven apiece.
During the drive, the Mustangs only had two plays that went for over 10 yards, and amassed five of their 14 first downs. Neither team mounted a scoring threat on their next drives, with both ending in punts. The Hurricanes took over after the McNair punt at their own 22-yard line with 3:58 left in the first half.
Reeling off three first downs on their first four plays of the drive on the ground (Stewart for 11, Kemarion Owens for a big 30-yard gain, and another 19-yard pop by Thomas) and then picking up another after a penalty against McNair. This moved the ball down to the Mustang six, and on third and goal from the three Garyson Manning pushed across for the Hurricane six points. Martin-Garcia was again true on his extra point attempt, and the Hurricanes led 14-7 going into the half.
McNair took the kickoff to open the second half on their own 30-yard line. Moving the ball downfield, the Mustangs looked to exploit the Hurricane defense with a short throw to the outside.
Unbeknownst to them, cornerback Demonte Greene had been studying the tendencies of the McNair offense, and jumped in front of a tunnel screen pass, racing 41-yards to the Hurricane end zone, and putting another six on the board. McNair was caught off guard on the extra point attempt, and Tyrin Epps ran in across for the successful two-point conversion attempt. This made the score 22-7 with 10:15 left in the third quarter.
On the next McNair drive, Bryan Ridley joined in on the fun, picking off an underthrown Mustang pass to give the Hurricanes possession again, this time deep in their own territory at the 20-yard line. The Hurricanes were unable to capitalize, going three-and-out. The Mustangs put the final points on the board with 1:31 left in the third after a nine play, 56-yard drive was finished off with a nine-yard run.
The extra point was again good, narrowing the margin to 22-14. Both teams went back and forth in the fourth quarter, with neither team mounting another scoring threat until the final drive of the game, where the Hurricanes ran off the final 6:03 off of the clock, kept alive by two explosive plays by Jamarkus Thomas of 16 and 30 yards to move the ball downfield before taking a knee at the two-yard line, allowing time to expire.
Coach Henderson was ecstatic after the game, with the Hurricanes running their record to 5-1/2-0 in region play. He stated that this was a “Really big win for our guys. I’m proud of them. Big win. Sets up another big one next week (after the bye).”
“The defense played lights out again. Cope Durand was all over the field. We created turnovers and swarmed the ball. Obviously, always big when you can score on defense so that was awesome too. Big play by Demonte Greene” (on his interception return for a score).
“Offensively, we were able to impose our will on them and run the ball behind our offensive line. J.T. (Jamarkus Thomas) had his best day running the ball and Jalen (Stewart) pounded out some tough yards as well. We controlled the line of scrimmage and moved it up and down the field but just killed ourselves with mistakes that cost us from getting into the end zone. At the end of the day, we got it done against a really good defense.”
The Hurricanes now have a scheduled bye week before their next contest, October 18 when they visit the Social Circle Redskins. Social was off last week, and has McNair tomorrow. Come out and support your Hurricanes on their quest for another region win!
Scoring
1 2 3 4 Total
McNair 0 7 7 0 14
Monticello 7 7 8 0 22
1st Quarter
Monticello – Jalen Stewart 15-yd TD run (Angel Martin-Garcia kick)
2nd Quarter
McNair – 1 yd TD run (kick good)
Monticello – Garyson Manning 3-yd TD run (Martin-Garcia kick)
3rd Quarter
Monticello – Demonte Greene 41-yd INT TD (Tyrin Epps 2pt. run)
McNair – 9-yd TD run (kick good)
Box Score
Monticello McNair
First Downs 10 14
Rush Att./Yds. 40/244 31/135
Comp./Att./Int. 1/3/0 9/18/3
Passing Yards 13 95
Individual Statistics
Rushing – Stewart 17/72/1, Maddox 2/30, Owens 3/30, Thomas 12/100, Isaiah Jackson 1/-1, Manning 3/-3/1, Chance Ross 2/16
Passing – Thomas 1/3/0/13/0
Receiving – Greene 1/13