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By JONATHAN GREENE
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
GARDNER — The PikeView Panthers have rarely seen success on the field against the James Monroe Mavericks.
The Panthers kept the game close early, but turnovers and the Mavericks’ Matt Romanello were too much to overcome on a chilly Friday night at PikeView High School.
Romanello rushed for 263 yards and six touchdowns as James Monroe cruised past PikeView, 61-43.
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“I didn’t expect a game like that at all,” James Monroe head coach Donnie Jackson said. “I thought it would be a defensive struggle. Both teams were up and down the field. We blocked real well.
“We didn’t throw any tonight and our offense clicked. It worked out good for us.”
The PikeView defense struggled to wrap up Romanello who was patient running and waited for his blocks.
The senior scored on runs of 16, 46, 1, 1, 12 and 50 as the Mavericks amassed 354 yards on the ground.
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“I try to step my game up every week,” Romanello said. “The line did amazing this week. They’ve gotten better since August. They continue to get better and better. They’re the reason I had the game I did tonight.”
The Panthers had four turnovers _ two fumbles, an interception and another on downs _ in the first half which turned into points quickly for James Monroe.
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“I think we came out very sloppy in the first three minutes of the game,” PikeView head coach Jeff Damewood said. “And, you can’t do that. You can’t do that and except to win the game. We had four snaps and four fumbles right off the get go.
“Defensively, we have to tackle better. The offense put up points and moved the ball. We just have to execute better.”
James Monroe took advantage of a David Keen fumble to start with a short field. One play later, Romanello cut to the outside for his first score on a 16-yard rush.
On the Mavericks’ second series, it took three plays before Romanello broke free for a 46-yard score.
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PikeView’s Hunter Moses took the ensuing kickoff back 67 yards for a touchdown to keep the Panthers in the game.
The teams traded rushing touchdowns to end the first quarter before Ryan Payne recovered a PikeView fumble.
Romanello would add his third score of the game to start the second quarter then Trevor Fullen scored his second rushing touchdown less than a minute later to make it 34-14.
“The killed us on the cut back,” Damewood said. “At the point of attack we had guys there to make plays. I think were playing passive on the backside. We got to get better.”
With time winding down in the second quarter, Keen trotted in from four yards out to cut the lead to 13 at the half.
The Mavericks began to put the game out of reach in the third quarter when Micah Deskins took the opening kickoff 70 yards for score. Romanello burst through the PikeView defense for three more scores in the quarter.
“He’s a good back,” Jackson said of Romanello. “He sees the field well, cuts well and has decent speed. Tonight, I have to give credit.
“He had some good blocking. It was a team effort.”
However, the Panthers would not go quietly as Keen found Hunter Moses for an 18-yard touchdown pass. Then he added a 12 yard rushing touchdown.
Yet for every PikeView score, the Mavericks answered as they led 61-36 after three quarters.
“We didn’t make a lot of mistakes like we’ve been doing,” Jackson said. “But, we did give up a bunch of points. Keen’s the real deal. He’s a good player.”
Keen would add his third score of the game early in the fourth when Jordan Hardin hit him for what looked like a short gain. Keen, however, cut through the James Monroe defense for a 37 yard-score.
“I think the offense can move the ball,” Damewood said. “I think David Keen can get yardage. I know people are keying on him and he still produces. We just have to have other people step up and we have to execute plays.”
Keen led the Panthers offense with 103 yards rushing. He added 60 yards throwing and 37 receiving to finish with 200 total yards of offense.
Jordan Shrewsbury added 64 yards on the ground.
“The kids have to pick their heads up,” Damewood said. “We have to show up Monday and get ready for Shady Spring. They’re going to bring more of the same.”
In addition to 263 yards rushing, Romanello threw for 61 and caught one pass for 13. Fullen paced his efforts with 78 yards and two scores.
The Mavericks outgained PikeView 428-299 and finished with just one turnover.
“Huge. Hopefully, this will be a stepping stone,” Romanello said of the win. “Hopefully, the wins will keep coming.”
James Monroe (2-2) hosts Oak Hill Friday while PikeView (1-3) welcomes a potent Shady Spring team to Gardner.
— Contact Jonathan Greene at
jgreene@bdtonline.com
At PikeView High School
James Monroe.....................20 14 28 0 — 61
PikeView…….......................14 7 15 7 — 43
First Quarter
JM - Matthew Romanello 16 rush (Ryan Wickline kick good), 10:38
JM - Romanello 46 rush (Wickline kick fail), 8:42
PV - Hunter Moses 67 kick return (Seth Wood kick good), 8:27
JM - Trevor Fullen 2 rush (Wickline kick good), 4:26
PV - Brandon Hazelwood 9 rush (Wood kick good), 1:11
Second Quarter
JM - Romanello 1 rush (Wickline kick good), 11:57
JM - Fullen 1 rush (Wickline kick good), 11:04
PV - David Keen 4 rush (Wood kick good), 2:20
Third Quarter
JM - Micah Deskins 70 kick return (Wickline kick good), 11:48
JM - Romanello 1 rush (Wickline kick fail), 7:44
PV - Moses 18 pass from Keen (Hazelwood from Keen), 5:26
JM - Romanello 12 rush (Wickline kick good), 1:46
PV - Keen 12 rush (Wood kick good), 1:03
JM - Romanello 50 rush (Wickline kick good), 0:48
Fourth Quarter
PV - Keen 37 pass from Jordan Hardin (Wood kick good), 8:35
———
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING - James Monroe, Matthew Romanello 23-263-6td, Trevor Fullen 15-78-2td, John Mustain 1-(-8), Micah Deskins 1-3, Ryan Payne 1-(-6), Andrew Carter 1-10, Shay Tomlinson 1-14; PikeView, David Keen 17-103-2td, D.J. Green 1-1, Brandon Hazelwood 8-23, Jordan Shrewsbury 13-64, Hunter Moses 3-16, Jordan Hardin 1-(-5).
PASSING - JM, Romanello 3-5-61, Mustain 1-3-13; PV, Keen 4-19-60-td-int, Hardin 1-1-37-td.
RECEIVING - JM, Romanello 1-13, Bradley Jackson 1-39, Deskins 2-22; PV, Hazelwood 2-33, Tanner Farley 1-9, Moses 1-18, Keen 1-37.