Fauquier’s game plan was clear for Friday night’s Region II Quarterfinal at Monticello: shut down T.J. Tillery and the ground game, and unleash senior quarterback Colin Diehl to bombard the Mustang secondary with an aerial attack.
Even though the Falcons satisfied both objectives, Monticello still cruised to a 44-14 win thanks to a rejuvenated passing game and big plays in the defensive secondary and kicking game.
“They were obviously committed to stopping the run,” said Monticello coach Rodney Redd. “They were stacking the box, and we saw that on film. At times, they were leaving some gaping holes in the secondary and out on the perimeter, or putting people in one-on-one coverage. We knew that if they did that, we were going to have to throw the ball, and we did.”
Monticello opened the postseason on defense by forcing a three-and-out, but promptly committed a turnover by muffing the punt. As Fauquier drove into the redzone, their heavy reliance on short passes to the perimeter was quickly established. On second and 12 from the 16, Monticello senior defensive back Willie James got the jump on one to the right flat and took it 85 yards the other way for six.
“We had no chance of catching that kid,” said Fauquier coach Jamie Carter.
Later in the quarter, another Fauquier trip to the redzone ended without points, as a 37-yard field goal attempt fell short just below the crossbar. Monticello responded with a seven play, 80-yard drive, featuring big plays through the air. Senior quarterback Jhalil Mosley hit junior receiver Alex McNair for 23 yards to convert a third and eight, and then found senior Chase Phillips behind the secondary for a 45-yard touchdown.
“I had hot pressure off the edge, I just tried to step up and made a play,” said Mosley. “Chase had beat them one-on-one down the edge and got down the middle of the field. I tried to give him a play. Thankfully he came up with it and it was six.”
Trailing 14-0 after one quarter, Fauquier seemed to settle things down with a fifteen play, 62-yard drive, which included two fourth down conversions, and ended with a 5-yard scoring run by freshman Keion Lewis. The teams traded punts, but then Josh Malm delivered in every phase of the game as Monticello tallied 16 points in the final 1:33 of the half.
First, as the Fauquier defense continued to load the box, Mosley found Malm along the left sideline for a 41-yard catch and run touchdown. On the opening play of Fauquier’s ensuing possession, Malm intercepted Diehl and returned it 21 yards to the Falcon 11. T.J. Tillery ran for his only touchdown of the night from there. After the Falcons moved down to the 31 with less than 4 seconds left, Mosley fielded a badly-missed 48-yard field goal attempt at the 1 and returned it all the way; however, a flag for an illegal block put Monticello at the 24 for an untimed play. Malm got the call and converted from 41 yards, his school-record seventh field goal of the season, putting Monticello up 30-7.
“I mean, I play Madden and NCAA, and there are plays like that all the time,” said Mosley. “I had a feeling he was going to be a little bit short so I went back there. I broke on the ball. I tried to make a play. I took it for six, but it got called back. Stuff happens.”
Monticello kept rolling after the break, as the offensive drove 65 yards in nine plays, capped by a 15-yard Mosley touchdown pass to McNair. Then late in the third, Monticello capped the scoring as Chase Phillips hauled in a 32-yard touchdown pass from Mosley that came two plays after a Fauquier fumble, the Falcons’ third turnover of the game.
“In the playoffs, when you make mistakes, any team you’re playing is good and they’re going to capitalize,” said Carter. “We made some first three games of the season mistakes. We definitely didn’t play like a playoff team tonight.”
Mosley posted his best numbers since September, completing 8 of 12 passes for 171 yards, 4 touchdowns, and no interceptions. He also rushed 13 times for 46 yards. T.J. Tillery averaged nearly 5 yards per carry, but ran just 15 times for 74 yards and one score.
Fauquier outgained Monticello on the night, largely behind quarterback Colin Diehl’s performance. He completed 29 of 44 passes for 263 yards, but had two costly picks. He found eight different receivers, but the top targets were sophomore Spicer Sabruno (8 catches for 64 yards) and senior Wesley Olinger (8 catches for 96 yards).
With the victory, Monticello (9-2) earns the chance to atone for an earlier season loss to archrival Western Albemarle in the Region II semifinals.
