With a strong one-two punch from Kevin Jarrell and Darian Bates, Monticello pulled away from Spotswood starting late in the third quarter to turn a tie game into a 28-14 road victory.
Now the Mustangs (2-1) can set their sights on Western Albemarle in next week’s Thursday night rivalry clash.
Jarrell scored twice on the ground and also hit Darian Bates for a 33-yard catch and run for a touchdown. Jarrell heaved the pass to Bates nearly from his knees, with Bates snagging it and racing in for the score. That touchdown put the Mustangs up 14-6.
But Spotswood answered when quarterback Zachary Polglase plunged in from a yard out with 4:37 left in the third, pulling the Blazers even at 14-14 after a two-point conversion toss from Polglase to Brenden Ritchie.
That’s when Jarrell went to work, finding Reid Huffman for a 36-yard gain that set Monticello up just outside the redzone at the Spotswood 24. After throwing the ball away on the next down, Jarrell sprinted in from 24 yards out on second down, putting the Mustangs up 21-14 with 3:15 to play in the third quarter.
After Monticello forced a three and out and Austin Haverstrom returned the ensuing punt into Spotswood territory, Jarrell struck again with a pass to Huffman for a first down and a toss to Seth Weaver on fourth and three from the Spotswood 27 that gave Monticello a first down at the 11. Bates wasted little time, scoring from 11 yards out with 10:22 to play while putting Monticello up 28-14.
From there, the Monticello defense held twice, first by forcing a three and out by Spotswood and then on the Blazers’ last possession on a Seth Weaver interception that effectively ended the game after he returned it 52 yards.
Bates finished with 86 yards on 18 carries including the TD. He also had 46 receiving yards on three catches. Jarrell was efficient with a 13-for-20 night that led to 164 yards and a touchdown. He rushed for 47 yards and two touchdowns on the night. Huffman finished with 59 yards on three catches.
Monticello will face Western Albemarle Thursday at 7 p.m.
