It wasn’t that T.J. Tillery was running poorly in the first half Friday night. It’s just that he wasn’t fluid — he wasn’t running naturally.
“He was running like a robot in the first half…like somebody was controlling him,” said Monticello center Sam Marshall.
That changed in the second half, as Tillery channeled an old lesson and helped Monticello erase a 4-point halftime deficit and hold on for a 24-21 victory over Albemarle.
“I was a little rusty because it’s been awhile since I played tailback,” Tillery said. “But I got it back in the second half. We went at it. My dad (former Western Albemarle standout running back William Tillery) always taught me since I was a little boy that it’s one cut and go. That’s what I’ve been doing ever since.”
The Mustangs clinched the win behind Tillery and a series of solid defensive plays in the second half, forcing three punts, and two interceptions on six second half drives by the Patriots. With Albemarle threatening to tie or even the score with 1:29 to play, Josh Malm leapt in front of a pass along the sideline and sealed the victory with an interception. Monticello ground out the clock on the ensuing drive.
“I was going out into the flats but the corner was already there and I saw the guy across the middle and that was also my responsibility so I just turned,” Malm said. “I was just glad I could help, I was glad I could do my part.”
It didn’t start that way for Monticello though. The Mustangs looked to be in major trouble after an opening kickoff fumble led to a quick Albemarle touchdown. Then an interception by Albemarle’s Matt Crist on the next drive opened the door for a potential 14-point lead for the Patriots.
Denzel Terry made sure that didn’t happen, picking off Albemarle’s first pass attempt of the game and racing 90 yards for an equalizing score in the first quarter. Albemarle took the lead again though with an 83-yard drive late in the first quarter that carried over into the second frame. Nico Troche and Drake Bryant had every touch on the drive as Albemarle stuck to the ground game for all nine plays and Bryant plunged in from three yards out.
It was Tillery though, that would do the grinding in the ground game after the break and put Monticello in position to escape with a victory.
Tillery rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns in his first start as a tailback, with 94 yards and both scores coming after the break. In a game with seven turners split nearly evenly between the two teams, Tillery and his Albemarle counterpart, Troche, who had 149 yards and two touchdowns were about the only consistent offense on either squad.
Like any good rivalry game, Friday night’s clash had a little chess match to it. Both defenses managed to take away what the other squad’s offense does well from the beginning. Monticello’s secondary took away Albemarle wideout A.J. Willy with a lot of deep help that threw the Patriots’ passing attack completely out of rhythm. Albemarle managed just six total yards through the air a week after going for nearly 200 against Western Albemalre.
“We were very pleased with our team, I don’t think too many people gave us a chance and our kids came out here and played with a lot of heart and we played for four quarters,” said Albemarle coach Mike Alley. “Monticello did a very good job taking the pass away, they were playing four deep and they were taking the edge away. They had A.J. spotted.”
Albemarle, in turn, did its best to contain Monticello’s dynamic quarterback Jhalil Mosley with a game plan tailored to stop the senior signal-caller. It largely worked, as Mosley ran for just 27 yards and threw for 125 yards and a pair of interceptions as Albemarle hounded him with pressure and contained him on the edge. All that attention and Mosley’s productivity when he could get loose opened things up for Tillery, allowing the junior and the Mustangs’ offensive line to run downhill in the second half and create problems at every level of the defense.
“It’s different when you’re back there seven yards and getting it every other play then when you’re playing fullback (Tillery’s spot in 2011) and you’re getting it sparingly,” said Monticello coach Rodney Redd. “I think that’s also the sign of a great back, that you get better as the game goes on, that shows great promise.”
The Mustangs will face George Wythe in another out-of-district matchup next week while Albemarle now has to jump into Commonwealth District play starting with Colonial Forge next week on the road.
