Monticello has been unkind to its Group AAA opponents this season.
The Mustangs, fresh off a victory over cross-town rival Albemarle last week, picked up right where they left off on Friday night against Huguenot.
Monticello used a balanced, impressive offensive display and a staunch defense to roll past the visiting Falcons 45-6 and earn its second straight win.
“We were thrilled with [the win],” Monticello coach Brud Bicknell said. “We played well on both sides of the ball and most aspects of special teams as well. We gained some confidence beating these AAA teams and it’s going to be important going into Powhatan and district play in another couple weeks.”
After forcing the Falcons to go 3-and-out on their opening drive, Monticello wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard. The Mustangs scored on their opening possession as Jesse Ayres rumbled up the middle from 4 yards out. Nick Kalinsky connected on the point after attempt to give the home team a 7-0 lead. Tyler Moneymaker played a big role in the drive, rushing for 34 yards and passing to Deno Robinson for a critical fourth-down completion.
Huguenot went 3-and-out again on its following possession and Monticello was able to capitalize. It took nine plays for the Mustangs to score, as Moneymaker connected with Tyson Wahcenheim over the middle for a 28-yard TD pass.
The visitors fumbled on their ensuing possession, and Monticello made them pay with just seconds remaining in the opening quarter. Jhalil Mosley replaced Moneymaker under center and on his first pass hooked up with Deno Robinson on a spectacular 27-yard strike for the score.
Bicknell was pleased with the team’s first-quarter production.
“That was one of those things where we got the turnovers, put it on a short field and were able to convert and had a nice long drive,” Bicknell said. “Anytime you can get up on people, it’s obviously to your advantage and I think we got a pretty good feel to not let up in those situations as well.”
Monticello cruised from that point on, adding a 36-yard field goal from Kalinsky and two more TDs from Ayres (4 and 11 yard runs) before halftime.
The defense continued to set the tone, recovering another fumble to set up an Ayers touchdown. Huguenot did not get a first down until 3:33 to play in the second quarter and was held to 120 yards of offense.
“The first team defense hasn’t been scored on in either game, which is gigantic,” Bicknell added. “[They’re] swarming to the ball, we’re just getting really good play out of a lot of different people.”
Ayres, who scored his fourth touchdown in the third quarter, surpassed the century mark for the second consecutive week. The 6-0, 180-pounder rushed for a game-high 119 yards on 15 carries. Moneymaker finished with 109 all-purpose yards (64 passing), while Isaac Robinson and Darren Ringlen tallied 33 rushing yards apiece. Mosley went 4 of 5 passing for 67 yards.
Monticello visits a very physical Powhatan team next Friday before opening Jefferson District play at home on Sept. 25 against Orange County.
