By Logan Riddick / Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
There was something in the air Friday night at Monticello as the Jeff Woody era began with a 44-12 blowout victory over George Wythe.
“It was very electric, very electric. The crowd was hyped, the players were hyped. It was a great experience,” said junior running back Kyree Koonce of the scene at Monticello.
A larger-than-usual crowd packed Monticello’s bleachers to see the area’s two biggest offseason headline-makers: Koonce, who moved after two tremendous seasons at Division 2 Buckingham County and back-to-back state title winner Jeff Woody, hired as the third head coach in Monticello’s 16-year history. At least on Friday night, both delivered, with Koonce scoring three different ways and Woody moving to 1-0.
“Hey, I’m happy to be here; I like the atmosphere,” said Woody, who picked up his 29th straight coaching victory dating to August 2011.
The crowd did not have to wait long for Koonce to deliver gamebreaking plays. After the defense forced a three-and-out on Wythe’s first series, he fielded a bouncing punt and raced 44 yards for a touchdown.
“I just saw a crease,” said Koonce. “They didn’t fill the lanes, so I saw I had an opening and I took it.”
Later in the opening quarter, he took his first carry for a 10-yard touchdown. His fifth touch of the game turned into his third score, as he caught a screen pass from new starting quarterback James St. Hill and took it 40 yards.
“I saw a big opening from my line; they blocked it real perfect,” Koonce said.
Woody’s no-huddle attack also leaned on the Mustangs’ 2012 leading rusher, T.J. Tillery. Between Koonce’s scores, he ran for a pair of first half touchdowns (from seven yards and one yard out). With Monticello often facing a short field and scoring quickly, his six carries were a team-high.
“We distributed the ball well today,” said Woody. “In order for us to be good with the athletes that we have, they’ve got to understand…if we can distribute it, it makes us more deceptive on offense. Their number will be called, and we will lean on them at some point in time in the season.”
The Mustangs’ defense got in on the scoring in the second quarter after a fumbled kick return forced the Bulldogs to start at their own 1-yard line. Junior linebacker Griffin Davis made the first down tackle in the endzone for a safety. Monticello took a 37-0 advantage to the break.
After Tyler Wagner returned the second half kickoff 35 yards to the Wythe 40, James St. Hill capped the drive with a 17-yard pass to a leaping Alex McNair. St. Hill finished 6 of 12 for 130 yards, two scores and no picks in his starting debut.
Five backs took carries for Monticello, led by Koonce’s two touches for 43 yards and one touchdown. Tillery finished with 35 yards and two scores, and Tyler Wagner added 29 yards on five carries. Alex McNair pulled in three receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown. The offense posted just 233 total yards given favorable field position most of the game. Notably, the Mustangs’ offense did not put the ball on the ground, as had happened seven times in the Benefit Game two weeks prior, and they incurred just one false start penalty on the night.
“Our goals coming into this game were, offensively, to eliminate negative plays; fumbles, penalties, allowing a blitz to come through and mess things up in that backfield,” Woody said. “For the most part, we did well. We’ve improved since our scrimmage games with those negative plays.”
MHS (1-0) continues its out-of-district slate when it hosts Fork Union (0-2) next Friday.
