James Monroe learning to finish
James Monroe (21) vs. Nicholas County (6)
Written: Oct 03, 2015
By CAM HUFFMAN
for the Daily Telegraph
SUMMERSVILLE — The story of James Monroe's 3-7 finish in 2014 was not being able to finish down the stretch. The Mavericks lost five games by 10 or fewer points, turning what could have been a magical season into a forgettable one.
The Mavs (5-0) won't forget the first half of 2015.
The No. 4 team in Class AA outscored No. 16 Nicholas County 14-0 in the final quarter, winning 21-6 to stay undefeated and win another tight game after beating Greenbrier East 42-38 in the season opener.
"I think we're more mature," said Mavericks head coach John Mustain of the difference in the nail-biters. "We have several kids back that saw a lot of time last year, and I think that maturity is a lot of it. It's a very determined bunch, too.
"I'm never one to say we're going to do this or that, because Lord knows we still have several tough ones left, but this team's determined."
Up just 7-6 heading into the fourth quarter, James Monroe finally found some breathing room when Evan Beasley converted on a fourth-and-11 from the Grizzlies 27-yard line, breaking several tackles on his way to a 12-yard gain that ended just across the chains. That set up Grant Mohler, who took it into the end zone from 10 yards out two plays later to put his team ahead 14-6 with 6:01 to play.
NCHS (3-2), which moved the ball throughout the night, still had time, but a fumbled kickoff gave the Mavericks the ball and all the momentum and Mohler, who finished with 200 yards on 36 carries, wouldn't be stopped. He virtually put the game away with an 18-yard touchdown run on the first play following the turnover.
The first half was all defense, aside from a 76-yard touchdown run from Beasley in the second quarter when he kept the ball on an option read, found running room up the middle and then outran the defense down the sidelines on his way to the end zone.
Nicholas County answered just before halftime when Tate Mayes found Carter Sweeney in the end zone. Sweeney initially bobbled the ball, and the Mavericks had a chance for an interception before it eventually settled back into Sweeney's hands for the score.
The Grizzlies had a chance to take the lead early in the third quarter when Mayes and Sweeney hooked up again on a 36-yard pass that gave them a first-and-goal at the 5, but they couldn't punch it in on three runs and an incomplete pass, coming away without points.
A Sweeney interception gave the home team another good chance minutes later, but on a fourth-and-1 at the 7-yard line, Mayes' 25-yard field goal missed the mark, allowing the Mavericks to hold onto the 1-point lead and setting up their big fourth quarter.
"It was exactly what I knew it was going to be," said Mustain. "I've been telling them all week that we were coming in undefeated, they were upset last week and it was homecoming on their field. I knew it was going to be a tough game.
“They're a good team. There's a very good chance they'll make the playoffs, so it was a big win.
"I've been bragging on that defense all year," he continued, crediting the game to those two big stops. "Teddy Ballard's the defensive coordinator, and he's done a great job with them. They've been pretty good at gut checks. Even going back to that East game in a shootout, they did what they had to do at the end to keep them out of the end zone. I'm just so proud of them."
Playing without starting running back Matt Moore, the Grizzlies got 42 yards on 14 carries from Austin Riffle and 58 yards on seven runs from Mayes, who also threw for 193 yards but tossed a pair of picks.
Beasley ran for 72 yards and threw for 41, but it was Mohler's big second half that paced the Mustang effort.
"Our line picked it up after the first half," said Mustain. "We were on them pretty hard at halftime. Grant seemed like he was on a mission, and he had a great game."
James Monroe will try to stay undefeated with a trip to Westside next week, while Nicholas County will hope to break a two-game losing streak at Fayetteville.
James Monroe (5-0)..........0 7 0 14 — 21
Nicholas County (3-2)........0 6 0 0 — 6
Second quarter
JM: Evan Beasley 73 run (Lance Wilson kick), 11:02.
NC: Carter Sweeney 14 pass from Tate Mayes (run failed), 1:00.
Fourth quarter
JM: Grant Mohler 10 run (Wilson kick), 6:01.
JM: Mohler 18 run (Wilson kick), 5:47.
———
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — JM: Mohler 36-200, Beasley 16-72, Caleb Keys-Dominguez 1-(minus 2). NC: Sweeney 3-20, Austin Riffle 14-42, Mayes 7-58, Jared Gregory 1-2.
PASSING — JM: Beasley 3-8-1-41. NC: Tate Mayes 7-24-2-193
RECEIVING — JM: Cory Boothe 2-37, Mohler 1-4. NC: Jacob Grose 2-77, Nick Nutter 1-10, Sweeney 3-95, Gregory 1-9.
TAKEAWAYS — JM: Mohler (FR), Connor Moore (2 INTs), Keys-Dominguez (FR). NC: Sweeney (INT, FR).
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