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James Monroe's Jamel Brooks (3) carries the ball against Courtland last night. Brooks led the Jackets with 94 rushing yards and he scored on a 25-yard rush in the first quarter.
James Monroe's DeVontae Atkins (1) looks to pass as Courtland's Sam Johnson (42) gives chase last night. Atkins had 103 passing yards and threw for a score.
Courtland's Luke Sellers gets hit by James Monroe's Josh Tasker (30) during the final minute of the yesterday's game at Courtland High School. The Jackets got a 20-8 victory to earn a share of the Battlefield District title.
Courtland's Aaron Harper is brought down by James Monroe's Stephen Meadows (13) and Mario Catlett. |
BY ADAM HIMMELSBACH
For the James Monroe defense, the tests came frequently and with little warning.
Every few minutes in the fourth quarter, the Yellow Jackets were busy stopping Courtland on a crucial fourth down.
Each hit seemed to be the final, dizzying one.
But then a few minutes later, the James Monroe defense would find itself back on the field, back staring through wet face-masks, back to do it all over again.
And each time, the Yellow Jackets were ready.
In the fourth quarter last night, James Monroe stopped Courtland on a pair of crucial fourth downs.
And then they stopped the Cougars on the game's final play, as an interception turned into a wild and wacky touchdown, giving the Yellow Jackets a 20-8 victory.
"Holy moly," James Monroe coach Richard Serbay said. "Six points? I never in my wildest dreams thought we'd hold [Courtland's offense] to six points."
With the win, JM snapped Courtland's 23-game Battlefield District winning streak and earned a share of the district crown, along with Courtland and Caroline.
All three of these teams have qualified for the Region I tournament, which begins next Friday.
James Monroe will play host to Poquoson. Courtland will visit Powhatan.
But as time ran out last night, neither team was too concerned about next week.
Several Courtland players ripped off their helmets and dropped to the turf.
The James Monroe players swarmed each other and bobbed up and down, yelling and smiling.
"There's about to be a whole lot of momentum," JM quarterback DeVontae Atkins said.
And that momentum found its legs in the final quarter.
Courtland trailed, 14-6, when it faced a fourth-and-4 from its 37-yard line.
Cougars quarterback Luke Sellers sent a pass to Jon Longtin, but the ball popped out when Longtin was popped by a Yellow Jacket.
JM marched to the Courtland 7, but on first-and-goal with 4 minutes, 38 seconds left, Jamel Brooks fumbled the ball and the Cougars recovered.
Courtland moved 71 yards in three minutes, and ultimately faced a fourth-and-2 from the 20.
This time, Sellers dropped back for a screen pass.
James Monroe's Josh Tasker read the play well, and swatted the ball to the ground.
"It looked like it was gonna be a screen," Tasker said, "so I just jumped at it."
After the Yellow Jackets were stopped on three plays, they intentionally took a safety with 13 seconds left, making it 14-8 and giving Courtland one final chance.
But after a pair of incomplete passes, Sellers' third-down try was intercepted by Farkeem French as time expired.
The defensive back flipped the ball to Atkins, who ran down the left sideline before fumbling. The anxious moment did not last long, however, as Nick Kroko fell on the ball in the end zone, ending the game with a JM touchdown.
"I'm speechless," Atkins said, smiling.
Last week, the JM coaches noticed Courtland ran many of its plays to the wide side of the field.
So last night, linebacker Stephen Meadows was used on read-blitzes, as the Yellow Jackets hoped to catch the Cougars off guard.
But Courtland ran more plays to the short side, and JM adjusted to a more basic scheme.
And it worked.
"They've been scoring so many touchdowns on other teams," Atkins said. "But we held them to six points. That's good for us."
While the Yellow Jackets look to ride their momentum into the regional tournament, the Cougars will look to regroup.
"Fortunately, we've got a heck of an opportunity in front of us," Courtland coach J.C. Hall said, "because a lot of teams are collecting their gear tonight."
James Monroe | 6 | 8 | 0 | 6 | -- | 20 |
Courtland | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | -- | 8 |
First Quarter
JM--J. Brooks 25-yard run (kick failed).
Second Quarter
JM--P. Hayden 25-yard pass from D. Atkins (D. Atkins run).
Ct--A. Harper 2-yard run (kick failed).
Fourth Quarter
Ct-- safety.
JM--J. Kroko fumble recovery in the end zone (not attempted).
TEAMSTATISTICS
JM | Ct |
First downs13 | 14 |
Rushing yardage37-142 | 43-207 |
Passing yardage103 | 67 |
Passes7-14-0 | 5-15-2 |
Punts-Avg.3-30 | 3-27.2 |
Fumbles-lost4-2 | 1-1 |
Penalties-yards 4-20 | 4-35 |
INDIVIDUALSTATISTICS
Rushing: Courtland--Aaron Harper 11-88, TD; De'onte Jones 8-57; Matt Taylor 16-51; Tajh Pendleton 7-21; Luke Sellers 1-(-10). James Monroe--Jamel Brooks 18-94, TD; DeVontae Atkins 17-46; Stephen Meadows 1-2; P.J. Hayden 1-0.Passing: Courtland--Luke Sellers 5-15-2 67. James Monroe--DeVontae Atkins 7-14-0 103, TD.
Receiving: Courtland--Jay Madison 3-62; Aaron Harper 1-3; Matt Taylor 1-2. James Monroe--P.J. Hayden 6-98, TD; Delonte Fleming 1-5.
Adam Himmelsbach: 540/374-5442
