By JONATHAN GREENE

Bluefield Daily Telegraph

LINDSIDE —For the second straight year, James Monroe’s Matt Romanello had a big performance against PikeView.

Like last year, his performance earned him the Bluefield Daily Telegraph/ Pocahontas Coal Association Player of the Week honors.

The crafty senior rumbled for 286 yards on 26 carries scoring six touchdowns in the Mavericks’ 61-43 victory this past Friday.

“I just try to play better each week,” Romanello said. “I think I continue to improve every week. I just try to play as well as I can for my teammates and help us win.”

He did his best against the Panthers with touchdown runs of 16, 46, 1, 1, 12 and 50 yards. He also threw for 62 yards and caught a pass for 13.

“He had an outstanding game,” James Monroe head coach Donnie Jackson said. “He really did. He made some great cuts. We thought our blocks were outstanding.

“But, he really set his blocking up well and made some great cuts. He sees the field really well. He read what they gave him and he made some fantastic runs.”

It was the second straight big performance against PikeView after slicing through the Panther defense for 180 yards and two scores last year.

“I don’t know. It just happens,” Romanello said. “I come out and play like I do every week. It just happened to be them again.”

The six-foot, 171 pound back has rushed for 663 yards in four games for James Monroe (2-2). Most of those yards have come from him being patient and letting his line get out in front of him. Then its on Romanello to make the correct cut at the right time.

“If they weren’t out there, there is no way I’d have games like this,” Romanello said of his offensive line. “If you put me out there without them, I’m going to get smashed every play. There is no chance for me to go anywhere without them.”

Romanello has three 100-yard performances and has rushed for nine scores on the ground. He has another throwing.

“He’s playing both ways,” Jackson said. “I didn’t really want to play him on defense. I wanted to run him on offense this year.

“We have also played him in the secondary this year. We didn’t have the athletes back there. I’ve been giving it to him 25 or more times a game. So far, he’s held up well. He’s pretty tough.”

Romanello has spent time at running back and quarterback on offense. He plays in the secondary on defense and returns kicks on special teams. And before they added Ryan Wickline as the kicker, Romanello was on extra point duty.

“I enjoy it,” he said. “This is my last year and I won’t have another opportunity to play like this. I hope to continue to play at the next level. If that doesn’t happen, I want to be on the field as much as I can.”

As long as Romanello is on the field, the Mavericks have a good chance to not only score, but win.

Before their win against PikeView, James Monroe had dropped back-to-back games against Summers County and Glenvar (Va.). Those losses may have brought back memories of last season when the Mavericks won their first five before losing their final five.

“We don’t want to repeat what happened last year,” Romanello said. “We want to win like every team does. We’ll do whatever we have to. To come out with a win after those two loses, hopefully it will gets us back on track and we’ll continue to win.”

Despite the schedule getting tougher, Romanello and Jackson believe big things are a head.

“The competition is getting stiffer every game for us,” Jackson said. “He’s just going to have to do his thing and keep plugging. We look for big things from (Romanello).”

Romanello added, “I think we can be one the better teams in the state. I know we’ve got a tough schedule coming up. We just have to get better. I feel like we’ll continue to get better.”

The team isn’t the only one improving. So has Romanello. After not playing much in 10th grade, he has burst onto the scene the past two years and colleges are starting to notice.

“Concord called me yesterday and invited me to their game this weekend,” he said. “I hope to play football in college. Where ever they would offer.”

“I’ve been sending game films, highlight reels and all that out to a bunch of different schools. Getting contact with them to help me possibly get there. So far it’s done me some good.”

So has his ability to run.

— Contact Jonathan Greene

at jgreene@bdtonline.com

HONORABLE MENTION

Bland County (21-20 loss, Holston): Johnny David, 2 td rush.

Bluefield (31-14 loss, Charlotte Country Day): Montel Leggett, 13-85 rush, td; Nick Lester, 4-19 rec.; Thaddeus Foley, 3-18 rec.

Giles (49-12 win, Narrows): Ethan Mitchell, 7-78 yards, 4 td rush; Brad Kessinger, 5-83 yards, td rush.

Haysi (29-14 win, Eastside): Zack Owens, 276 yards, 3 td pass; Dakota Stanley, 6-157 receptions; Toby Edwards, 2 td catch.

Honaker (42-13 win, Patrick Henry): Ty Hall, 2 td pass , fumble return for td.

Hurley (52-0 win, East Ridge): Austin Cooper, 11-21, 157 yards pass, 3 td; Tyler Berglowe, 10-159, td rush.

James Monroe (61-43 win, PikeView): Trevor Fullen, 16-81, 2 td rush; Micah Deskins, 2-22 rec., 70-yd kick return td.

Montcalm (42-28 loss, Phelps): No stats available.

Mount View (48-20 loss, Liberty): Teddy Hazzard, 13-36, 2 td pass, 12-61 rush; Maurice Brown, 4-98 rec., td; Trey Huckleberry, 2-75, td rec.; Tashaan Vineyard, 4-59 rec.

Narrows (49-12 loss, Giles): Wyatt Robertson, 20-89, td rush; Adam Parcell, 18-82, td tush.

PikeView (61-43 loss, James Monroe): David Keen, 17-103, 2 td rush, 60 yards, td pass, 37 yards, 1 td rec.; Jordan Shrewsbury, 13-64 rush; Hunter Moses, 3-16 rush, 18-yd td catch, 67-yard kick return td;

Princeton (55-21 loss, Capital): No stats available.

Richlands (38-21 win, Pulaski County): Devon Johnson, 23-199, 2 td (66, 65) rush, 54-yd td catch; Reece Strong, 7-11, 124 yards 2 td pass, td rush, 22-yd field goal.

River View (26-24 win, Man): Trey Bailey 2 td rush; John Bailey td rush; Jacob Muncey td pass; Leshon Benton td reception.

Summers County (19-14 win, Wyoming East): Jesse Howdershelt, 31-97, td rush; Dustin Smith, 6-36, td rush, 2 int.; Isaiah Brown, 5-43 rec., td.

Twin Valley (40-24 loss, Tug Valley): Shannon Adams, td pass, 2 td rush;