BY ADAM HIMMELSBACH
After practice last week, after they were tired and sweaty and after they had completed their wind sprints, several members of the James Monroe football team got to work.
They went back to the football field. They went back to the line of scrimmage.
They went back to doing what they do well.
"It was just getting our timing and our chemistry right," senior wide receiver P.J. Hayden said. "We took it upon ourselves."
Sometimes they stood in the rain and worked on passing. If they failed to complete three passes in a row, they punished themselves with sets of up-downs.
Other times they just went to the weight room.
They wanted to get rid of that bitter taste from their last game, which ended with Caroline denting their perfect season.
And last night, it was a return to business as usual for the Yellow Jackets, as they took a 30-11 victory over Spotsylvania.
"Our thing was to bounce back," James Monroe coach Rich Serbay said. "When you're down, you've got to bounce back."
As has so often been the case this season, the Jackets' bounce started with Hayden.
The dynamic senior returned a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown and also scored on an acrobatic 23-yard catch.
Hayden said that when he was younger, he used to run side-to-side on kick returns.
"Sometimes I got caught up trying to do little tricks," he said.
Now, he looks for a slice of space, and then he explodes through it.
His 35-yard punt return came when he made a quick move and burst down the left sideline.
His 75-yard kickoff return was even more impressive. The ball skidded along the ground, as Spotsylvania had hoped to keep it away from Hayden.
But the senior scooped up the ball and found a seam through the middle. No one could catch him.
"The way he changes direction and flows is absolutely remarkable," Serbay said.
JM got its final touchdown on a 13-yard run from fullback Stephen Meadows.
"I saw an opening," Meadows said, "and I know no secondary will tackle me."
JM visits Chancellor on Friday. Spotsylvania plays host to Caroline.
Spotsylvania | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | -- | 11 |
James Monroe | 6 | 15 | 0 | 9 | -- | 30 |
First Quarter
JM--P. Hayden 23-yard pass from D. Atkins (kick failed).
Second Quarter
JM--P. Hayden 35-yard punt return (J. Brooks run).
Sp--J. Ennis 22-yard FG.
JM--P. Hayden 75-yard kick return (R. Davis kick).
Fourth Quarter
JM--S. Meadows 13-yard run (R. Davis kick).
Sp--Q. Carter 38-yard pass from C. Armstrong (E. Perry run).
JM--safety.
TEAMSTATISTICS
JM | Sp |
First downs11 | 9 |
Rushing yardage30-209 | 41-131 |
Passing yardage77 | 66 |
Passes5-10-1 | 6-12-2 |
Punts-Avg.3-32.3 | 5-27.6 |
Fumbles-lost4-3 | 1-1 |
Penalties-yards 3-25 | 3-30 |
INDIVIDUALSTATISTICS
Rushing: James Monroe--Jamel Brooks 15-144; P.J. Hayden 6-39; DeVontae Atkins 6-18; Stephen Meadows 2-15, TD; John Jackson 1-(-7). Spotsylvania--Ethan Perry 11-51; Mark Pace 10-47; Stephen Jackson 7-22; R.J. James 1-18; Taylor McCall 1-2; Christian Armstrong 11-(-9).Passing: James Monroe--DeVontae Atkins 5-9-1 77, TD; John Jackson 0-1-0 0. Spotsylvania--Christian Armstrong 6-12-2 66, TD.
Receiving: James Monroe--P.J. Hayden 3-41, TD; Shakim Armstead 1-20; Greg Edwards 1-16. Spotsylvania--Quartez Carter 2-46, TD; Chris Armstrong 3-20; Greg Brown 1-6; Ethan Perry 1-3.
Adam Himmelsbach: 540/374-5442| SPOTSYLVANIA 11JAMES MONROE 30 |