By Tom Bone
LINDSIDE — The final score was higher than the temperature at H.E. Comer Jr. Sports Complex Friday night.
The James Monroe Mavericks got ready for yet another trip to the football playoffs by defeating Summers County 42-0 on a subfreezing night in Monroe County.
The Mavericks’ defense allowed the Bobcats 28 net yards of offense and one earned first down in the game, coming late in the third quarter. Eight Summers County (2-8) possessions were three-and-outs, while two other drives were halted by a lost fumble and an interception.
“Our defense has been steady all year,” said James Monroe coach Don Jackson, whose team is now 8-2. “We put a lot of time in on defense. There in the first half, we just about stuffed everything they tried.”
“Our defensive linemen played great tonight,” said senior Jackson Mohler. “They did their job.”
“Coming in, our game plan was just smash mouth,” coach Don Jackson said. “We wanted to establish the running game. That’s when we’re usually at our best.”
Those runs produced 214 yards on 51 attempts. Mohler led the way with 88 yards on 15 carries as the starting halfback.
“Jackson had a good game against Bluefield,” coach Jackson said. “We thought he deserved a start. And Tanner Beasley ran well, too. That’s a good, healthy situation. They’re both very capable.”
“Establishing the run was a big part of (the win),” said senior quarterback John Ballengee, who finished 7-for-12 passing for 104 yards and two scores.
Yet another senior, Josh Evans, picked up the Mavericks’ third touchdown of the night. Classmates Cody Parker and Caleb Ballard made defensive plays all over the field.
The seniors knew this was likely their last home football game. James Monroe was ranked ninth coming into the contest, and even with the win are unlikely to move into the top eight to host a playoff game.
Don Jackson said, “This is a very close senior class. They really bonded well together. They came out wanting to play and wanting to look good.”
Mohler said that running onto the field in Lindside “felt great. You’ll never get that feeling again in your life.”
It didn’t take long for the Mavs to take control. The first drive of the game, going 62 yards in 10 plays, ended with Braxton Thompson’s 10-yard touchdown run. He added a 5-yard scoring burst later in the initial quarter.
After Evans’ one-yard scoring plunge in the second quarter, the Mavs made it 28-0 when Ballengee stepped up in the pocket and hit Beasley behind the Bobcats coverage. He reached up to his helmet to gain possession of the ball and finished off a 36-yard scoring strike.
Ballengee passed 10 yards to Jordan McKinney for the only score of the third quarter. McKinney touched his toes down just inside the goal line to record the TD.
Substitutes played the fourth quarter for the home squad. Matthew Romanello got the final touchdown by taking a pitchout and running untouched to the goal line from 21 yards out.
Leon Franklin, completing his first year as head coach at Summers County, said, “We weren’t healthy tonight. Both our cornerbacks, who are also receivers, were out with high ankle sprains.”
“Give all the credit to James Monroe,” Franklin said. “They’re a great football team, and we had to be completely healthy to be competitive with them.”
The Bobcats’ cause took another blow when senior quarterback Tanner Lilly was tackled for a loss by Parker and Mitch Boone in the third quarter. Franklin said Lilly suffered a shoulder injury. “Hopefully it’s nothing serious,” the coach said.
Lilly completed 6 of 10 passes for 28 yards. The Bobcats’ ground game consisted of 22 attempts for a net of zero yards. Summers County was assessed only one penalty in the game.
The days and times for the first playoff round will be set Sunday.
—Contact Tom Boneat tbone@bdtonline.com
