‘Canes Have Memorable Game, Beat Morgan Co.

If you were not there last Friday you definitely missed a memorable game. The last time the Canes defeated Morgan County was in 1984.

It’s been 30 years since, the Monticello Hurricanes have beaten Morgan, and the Canes were indeed hungry for a victory, and they not only won, but made history with a final score of 28-21. It was indeed a good night to be a Hurricane!

Junior tackle and kicker Bryce Crawford said, “It was great to get a win, it was also an unexplainable feeling. We beat a team that we hadn’t beaten in 30 years. However, we must continue to work hard in practice and get ready for the next one.”

The captains of the night were Seniors Garrison Williams, Lane Thomas and Xavier Gude. The Canes started off with the ball, after Stone received the fair catch. With 11:23 on the clock in the first quarter, Quincy Standifer received a toss from Thomas Deraney and took it to the house for 69 yards. The Canes got the first touchdown of the game with a made extra point by Crawford.

Senior running back Standifer said, “The O-line did a great job blocking. After I scored, I knew it was going to be a good game for us. It gave us great momentum and confidence in the beginning of the game.”

Standifer was right; the momentum sure did carry over to defensive side. The Canes held the Bulldogs on a score after great tackles being made by Colton Clay and Thomas. The Canes forced the Bulldogs to attempt a 37 yard field goal, and the field goal was no good. The Canes then got the ball back and Deraney hit Thomas on a pass for a couple first downs, and Jordan Stone ran for a first down also.

However, the Bulldogs kept it a game and forced the Canes to punt with about four minutes left in the first quarter. On the Canes next defensive drive, Jay Johnson picked off a pass which gave the Canes back the ball. The Bulldogs threw four interceptions over the course of the game.

To start the second quarter, the Canes still had the momentum of the game and it started with Williams, who picked up a fumble and returned it for another Canes touchdown. They were now up 14; with about eight minutes left in the half.

The Canes continued to have big defensive presence. Gude was on a big third down tackle, which forced the Bulldog’s to punt once more. The Canes took over, and Stone, Deraney, and Johnson picked up several first downs and drove the ball down field. With just under 3:40 left in the half, Standifer’s number was called and he took a toss around the outside and dove into the end zone for his second score of the evening.

The game was definitely in the Canes favor at this point, with the score being 21-0, Canes. But with the Bulldogs being a good team, the Canes couldn’t lay down just yet. The Bulldogs scored with 45 seconds remaining in the half, which made the score 21-7 at the half.

The Canes were on the defending end to start the second half. Gude started off the half with a big tackle. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs hit their receiver and he brought it all the way down to the Canes two yard line. The game quickly got interesting after a second Bulldogs touchdown with 8:45 left in the third quarter. The score was now 21-14, Canes. The Canes still continued to battle through the game; unfortunately they were eventually forced to punt half way through the quarter.

The Canes did all they could do to hold the Bulldogs on the next defensive drive. Nevertheless, it quickly turned into a very scary moment for the Canes. Senior standout Thomas went up to defend a pass and came down awkwardly on his leg. Unfortunately, Thomas went down with a very bad leg injury and didn’t return to the game.

However, with Thomas going down, the game must still resume. After that, Standifer made a tackle on a play, the very next play the Bulldogs’ running back broke a few tackles and scored the tying run of the game. The score was now 21-21 just before the third ended.

To begin the fourth, the Canes’ had the ball, in a fourth and inches situation. After a great play call from Coach Huff, the Canes forced the Bulldogs to jump off sides, which gave the Canes a first down. After a few plays, the Bulldogs recovered a Canes fumble, which gave the Bulldogs the ball with 8:24 remaining.

Almost a minute later, Walt McMichael came up big with an interception, the first of three in the fourth quarter, and gave the Canes the ball in great scoring position. Deraney faked a toss to Standifer and hit Stone in a short route for a touchdown, which gave the Canes the lead, after a made field goal by Crawford, the score was 28-21, Canes.

It was now up to the Canes defense, to hold the Bulldogs passing offense. Halfway through the quarter, Junior Jamaric Bonner tackled the Bulldogs quarterback as he tried to escape from the pressure. The Canes were definitely feeling the momentum. The Canes eventually forced the Bulldogs to turn the ball over.

Unfortunately, the Canes were unable to get a first down, so they had to punt and rely on their defense for a stop. And that’s exactly what the Canes did. Stone hit the Bulldogs quarterback in the backfield for a loss. Unfortunately, just after that, the Bulldogs got a first down. At this point, they were just over the 50 yard line, and moved into the Canes territory.

The game started to get interesting and the Canes were in the same situation when they played the Jackson game a couple weeks ago. Both sides were standing and the atmosphere was indeed live. With just over a minute left to play, the Bulldogs QB looked to go deep, and the pass was intercepted by Standifer, and gave the Canes back the ball with just under a minute to play.

One would think the game was over, but the Bulldogs stopped the Canes from getting a first down, and forced the Canes to punt with about eight seconds remaining in the game. The Bulldogs had time for one more play, and to no surprise, they looked to go deep to their standout receiver. But Deraney was there and intercepted the pass at the buzzer! The Canes did it, with a final score of 28-21.

Coach Huff mentioned, “It was great to get a win. Especially against Morgan County who has always been strong in football. I couldn’t be more proud of the players and coaches. After losing one of our best players, Lane Thomas, and the game getting tied up, we didn’t lie down or quit, we found a way to win.”

The first region game will be at the Rose Bowl Field against longtime school rival, the Putnam County War Eagles, this Friday, Sept. 26. Kickoff time is at 7:30 p.m.

Coach Huff also said that, “We still have some things to clean up on both sides of the ball, the War Eagles have some good players, and it’s a big rivalry game so we need to play well, but overall I’m pleased with where we are and we must continue to get better.”

The Canes suffered a loss in Lane Thomas, so please keep him in your thoughts. Come out and support your Canes as they continue to play through their season. They are working extremely hard and they need your support.

Go Canes!