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Rustburg runs past Monticello

After a winless record in the 2021 season, Monticello was eager to come into this season making steady progress with their program. During the offseason, the Mustangs took a deep look in the mirror and identified a lack of physicality and intensity as their primary downfall in the previous season.

 

“As we talked as a team, and as a staff all offseason, we were really wanting to make sure that we could head in the right direction, and we want the ability to play a more physical brand of football,” said Monticello coach Matt Hicks.

 

While the Mustangs are certainly headed in the right direction, Rustburg got the better of the Mustangs Friday night 35-14.

 

The Red Devils came out and punched Monticello in the mouth, scoring a 56-yard touchdown on their first offensive play from scrimmage. That did little to rattle the home team. On the Mustangs’ second play of their first drive, Selorm Kartey, after getting great blocks from his right tackle and tight end, ripped off a 75-yard rushing touchdown that tied the game up at 7 a piece.

 

From that point on, slowly but surely Rustburg started running away with the ball game. Red Devil running back Marquavion Rosser gave the Mustang defense fits throughout. 

 

Although Monticello recovered two Red Devil fumbles in the first half, Rustburg took a 20-7 lead going into halftime. Monticello came out of the locker room fired up, but once they hit the field, Rustburg appeared to have figured out their offense.

 

The Mustangs had a rough time moving the football offensively for much of the meeting. Quarterback Matt Dixon had 10 completions but they went for just 72 yards. The leading receiver for the Mustangs was Brandon Herring who finished with 35 yards. A bright spot for Monticello was Selorm Kartey who finished the day with 106 yards on 19 carries, the bulk of that coming on the 75-yard touchdown in the early going.

 

“This is a very good Rustburg team that is incredibly strong up front,” Hicks said. “Throughout the game, I was really happy with some of the moments we had, when we were able to establish the line of scrimmage, both offensively and defensively.”

 

Despite the loss, Hicks and his squad hope to carry that high-physicality mentality throughout the rest of the season, including next week when they host Wilson Memorial on Friday.

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