Twice in the last seven seconds of Friday night’s Region II Final, Monticello receivers had opportunities to haul in the game-winning touchdown. The first fell incomplete in the corner of the endzone while the second was caught by Josh Malm, but ruled out of bounds by an official at the goal line.
With the ruling, Kettle Run avoided blowing a 17-point halftime lead, and an 11-point fourth quarter lead to escape with a 24-21 win and advance to the Group AA, Division 3 semifinals.
“You hate to be in a situation where someone has to make that call to determine the outcome of the game,” said Monticello coach Rodney Redd. “On the field, the officials’ call in the high school game is absolute. We’re going to take it with class. It is what it is.”
For most of night, Monticello’s defense faced a relentless Cougar ground attack. Behind junior De Jackson and senior Josh Tapscott, Kettle Run averaged 5.6 yards per carry on the ground. In the second half, the Cougars attempted only one pass as they held a 16:26 to 7:34 edge in time of possession, which complicated Monticello’s efforts to rally from three scores down.
“That’s who we are, and that’s who we’ve been all year,” said Kettle Run coach Jeff Lloyd. “I have a big offensive line, two talented tailbacks, and I’ve got a quarterback that’s very talented with his feet as well. I’ve got a fullback who’s going to hit somebody. The entire fourth quarter there, we were in a two tight-end set, just running the football.”
Kettle Run never trailed in the game, and started building its advantage with a pick-six on Monticello’s opening possession. Senior quarterback Jhalil Mosley’s first pass attempt was deflected at the line and intercepted by senior linebacker Tim Coleman, who took it back 23 yards.
“The linebacker ran out there and got a fingertip on it,” said Mosley. “Stuff happens. They made a play.”
Late in the first quarter, Monticello had a chance to even the score when defensive back Mike Booth fell on a fumbled snap to setup the offense in the redzone. However, Mosley was sacked on fourth and goal to end the seires. Kettle Run then marched 85 yards in seven plays, including the only pass completion of the game for 11 yards on third and nine, before Jackson raced in from 25 yards. Monticello’s next series stalled when Mosley was sacked again. Throughout the first half, Kettle Run sent pressure from both edges, and used multiple linebackers as spies, trying to contain Mosley.
Inside of two minutes before halftime, the Cougars took advantage of back-to-back Jackson runs of 38 and 20 yards to add a 31-yard field goal from junior Evan Szklennik.
“Some things definitely did not go our way at first, and we ended up 17 down to a great football team,” said Redd. “We found a way to get back in that ballgame, and that’s something we can be proud of.”
Zach Graves’ sack of Cougar quarterback Carlos Vegerano on third and 11 inside his own 20 jump-started Monticello’s comeback effort. Mosley returned the ensuing punt 18 yards to the Kettle Run 21, and two plays later, T.J. Tillery ran in from 10 yards out. Then, Kettle Run fumbled on its next offensive play, and senior linebacker John Hensley recovered for Monticello. Mosley ran three times on the six-play offensive sequence, including the last 4 yards for the Mustangs’ second score in just over two minutes. However, the extra point attempt knuckled wide right, leaving Kettle Run ahead 17-13 with 5:28 left in the third quarter.
Kettle Run’s response was an impressive 13-play, 65-yard drive — all of it on the ground while converting four third downs — which consumed the rest of the third quarter and the first 1:20 of the fourth. Tapscott scored from three yards out to regain a 24-13 lead. Monticello stayed alive by driving 61 yards in the next 1:21. Mosley picked up the bulk on a 41-yard keeper around the left edge, before a 6-yard touchdown from Tillery capped the drive. The two-point conversion failed, leaving the Cougars ahead 24-19 with 9:19 to go.
“They were bringing so much pressure [early] that fatigue on their part would eventually take its toll,” said Redd. “The heat definitely seemed like it slowed up in the second half, and we just stayed with the game plan.”
After moving 43 yards over 14 plays, the Cougars faced fourth and two at the Monticello 13 with under four minutes left. Lloyd called on Szklennik again for a 31-yard attempt, but this time, the kick sailed wide left.
Monticello moved quickly into Kettle Run territory, thanks to a 9-yard reception by Chase Phillips on third and 3, and a 23-yard scramble by Mosley. On second and 8 from the Cougar 39, Mosley launched a deep pass down the right sideline for Alex McNair. McNair went up with the height advantage over 5’10” corner David Eldridge, but when the players hit the ground at the 5, Eldridge rolled away with the interception.
Defensively, Monticello loaded the box and held Kettle Run to a three-and-out. On fourth down from the 3, Tapscott (who was also the Cougars’ punter) ran around the endzone before taking a safety with 35.7 seconds to go and taking a chance that the free kick would hurt Monticello’s field position.
Mosley hit James Banks for 17 yards to the 29 with just under 12 seconds left. On the next play, Mosley threw the ball away out of bounds, leaving 7.0 on the clock. Then, Mosley found McNair in the right corner of the endzone, but McNair couldn’t hang on with 0.8 left. Finally, foregoing a 46-yard field goal attempt with the swirling breeze, Mosley rolled to his left and fired a 30-yard pass to Malm, which he caught as the Mustang sideline erupted, and Cougar defenders collapsed in the endzone. However, the referee standing near the pylon signaled the pass incomplete, and maintained his ruling after a brief period of confusion among players, coaches, and most everyone near the field.
For the third straight playoff game, Monticello was outgained (315 to 260) in total offense. All but 11 of Kettle Run’s yards came on the ground, with Jackson rushing 19 times for 180, and Tapscott 23 times for 85. Tillery carried 20 times for 86 yards for Monticello, and Mosley added 97 on 15 rush attempts. In sharp contrast to last week, Mosley had a rough night through the air, completing just 4 of 22 for 72 yards, with two picks.
Monticello finishes its season 10-3. Kettle Run (11-2), winners of back-to-back Region II championships, will travel to play the Region I champ next Saturday afternoon.
