Hurricanes Take on Alcovy Tigers
Last Friday, the Monticello Hurricanes hosted the Alcovy High Tigers in the second and final scrimmage before the regular season.
The varsity teams played through the first three quarters, tying 13-13, and the junior varsity (JV) teams played the final quarter.
Hurricane kicker Bryce Crawford started the game off as the Tigers received the first kickoff and their offense took the field. The defense held strong, forcing the Tigers to a quick three and out and a punt back to the Canes.
Jay Johnson started the drive off quickly with a quick breakaway run around the edge for a nice pickup. Austin McCullough drove the ball up the gut a few times before finally punching it into the end zone. Crawford tacked on the extra point to put the Canes up 7-0 early in the first quarter.
The Tigers took the next possession and began to drive down the field, with a long pass down the right side caught around the five yard line. A few plays later they ran it in, tacking on the extra point and tying the Canes at seven.
The Hurricanes began their next possession but stalled out just short of the first down marker a few plays later. Alcovy began to gain momentum, driving the ball up the gut, but senior Jamaric Bonner recovered a much needed fumble, bringing the Canes’ offense back on the field.
The strong defensive play from both sides of the ball continued for a few possessions until the Tigers eventually broke open around the edge for a long gain, eventually getting into the end zone. They missed the extra point, putting the Tigers up 13-7 shortly before halftime.
The Canes had the ball for the last possession before the half. They began driving the ball with quarterback Thomas Deraney hitting Jordan Stewart to keep the drive alive. Unfortunately on the last play of the half, Deraney’s pass bounced off the hands of a receiver surrounded by defenders and the Canes went into the half down by six points.
Both defenses came out of the locker room ready, and the next few possessions did not move very far for either team. Junior Malcolm Smith came down with a critical interception shortly into the third quarter and sent the Canes’ offense back on the field.
The Canes started strong, with Deraney hitting Johnson deep down the middle for a long gain, and hitting him once again a few plays later down the right sideline inside the 20 yard line. Johnson then ‘juked’ his way up the middle of the field for a score. The extra point was missed, tying the game at 13 with about five minutes remaining in the third quarter. The defenses held strong the remaining of the quarter, ending the varsity quarters with a tie game.
The young guys entered the game in the fourth quarter, looking much improved from the past scrimmage. The defense held strong, including an interception deep down field by Jeff Cain, and the offense ran the ball much more effectively, with Micah Carnes and Grant Miller both running the ball very well for the Canes.
When asked if anything impressed him about the game, Coach Doug Huff said, “We improved in several different areas. Their determination to come back in that third quarter to tie the game was very encouraging.”
He continued, “There was much improvement and better execution from both the varsity and the younger guys, but there is still room for improvement.
The Canes will host Walnut Grove tomorrow, Aug. 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the season opener. There will be a student section roped off next to the band for all high school students. Students are asked to wear white.
Go Canes!