By Drew Goodman / Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
Twenty-two points.
That is how many points the William Monroe football team managed in its first three games of the 2019 season.
Some personnel switches and an early-season schedule against a trio of teams that entered week four with a combined 9-0 record spelled trouble early for the Greene Dragons.
Despite the 0-3 start, head coach Jon Rocha felt as though his offense was slowly putting the pieces together, and the unit would find its rhythm soon enough.
If Friday’s showing against rival Madison County is any indication of what’s to come, Rocha will be able to breathe a little easier on game days.
William Monroe racked up 437 yards of total offense, including 370 on the round, en route to a 54-21 blowout of the rival Mountaineers.
The victory marks the Greene Dragons’ eighth-consecutive win over Madison County. Friday’s offensive outburst marked the program’s highest scoring game since Monroe hung 56 points on George Mason back on October 28, 2011.
“Trying to put a new quarterback in, losing Alex Kinsey and putting Jared [Knights] in there, it’s taken some time for him to learn it and the line to learn it, but tonight was good for us,” Rocha said. “The first three games were tough, they were, but it gets us ready for the rest of the season, and hopefully we started tonight.”
The Dragons (1-3) accounted for six total rushing touchdowns on the night. Workhorse tailback Dupree Rucker scored two of them and set the table for a few others with a bevy of big gainers.
Rucker racked up 227 yards on 25 carries and accomplished the impressive numbers despite being the focal point of Madison County’s defense all night long. The explosive back carried the ball on Monroe’s first eight offensive plays of the game. One of those carries was a one-yard run to pay-dirt to open the scoring for the Dragons.
In the second quarter, Rucker shed several would-be defenders for a 36-yard scamper, setting the table for a six-yard touchdown run by Phillip Shifflett. Rucker finished off his night in style, with a 22-yard touchdown in the third quarter to put his team ahead 33-6. The senior also had a 60-plus yard touchdown run called back due to an illegal block that took place well behind him.
“When [Rucker] works, when he functions, our quarterback can function,” Rocha said. “You’re not getting that constant pressure, when you can get outside and up the middle. He brings everything for us and he always has. There’s a reason why he’s all-district, the speed and his moves, and he’s a leader. The kids rally around him and they love him.”
Rucker was the workhorse, but the Dragons showed off several other weapons in Friday’s win. Shifflett scored a pair of short, hard-earned touchdowns from six and 10 yards out respectively. Jeremy Savoie had just one carry, but it went for 47 yards and a touchdown on a direct-snap, as part of Monroe’s 27-point third quarter.
Just over one minute after coming up with a huge pass break-up on fourth down, Logan Barbour was dancing in the opposite end zone following a 14-yard, one-handed touchdown haul for the Dragons.
Monroe had a number of different players step up, but Knights’ play behind center helped steer the ship and enabled the many playmakers to show out when called upon.
Knights went 5-for-7 through the air for 67 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The 54-point outing comes just three weeks after his team failed to score one touchdown in a 17-2 loss to Turner Ashby, and the senior feels as though his trial-by-fire start to the season is starting to pay off.
“We faced a lot of adversity as a team opening with three really good teams to start the season,” Knights said. “We’ve warmed up with some tough competition, and so I think I’ve learned a lot through that and then to come out here and play this team and win like this, it’s really gratifying.”
The Mountaineers ended the first half with a blocked field goal and many on the Madison sideline felt it was anybody’s game, despite trailing 20-6 at the break.
But one too many missed opportunities in the third quarter opened the floodgates for a Dragon offense that was ready to break out.
Trailing by 14 at the half, the Mountaineers recovered on onside kick to open the third quarter, but could not turn the good field position into points.
Then, the Madison defense then forced their first three-and-out of the evening and once again took over in Monroe territory. Unfortunately for the visitors, Madison’s opening play of the drive resulted in a fumble, and the Dragons were in prime position to recover the loose ball.
The two missed opportunities did Mountaineers in, as the Dragons reeled off three touchdowns in less than three minutes of football time.
“We didn’t capitalize on the opportunities that we had,” Madison County head coach Jon Rasnick said. “We didn’t defensively stick our feet in the ground and allowed back-to-back big plays, and that’s what kind of broke our backs and broke the spirit of everybody I believe. That’s where we got to keep learning and getting over that hump right there… We can’t let one bad play turn into two.”
Special teams were a bright spot for the Mountaineers in the loss. Madison County blocked a field goal and and an extra point, and had the beautifully executed onside kick to open the second half.
The special teams play of the night, however came in the midst of William Monroe’s scoring barrage in the third quarter. With his team trailing 40-6, Jack Bourdon fielded a kickoff deep in his own territory and raced 96 yards for a much-needed Madison County score.
The Mountaineers will look for their first win of the season on the road against undefeated Luray next week. William Monroe will return to action on October 4 against Western Albemarle.
