There has to be a certain level of trust between an offensive line and a quarterback. That trust gets tested when you start the season 0-4 like Monticello did.
Clearly though, the Mustangs’ trust between the line and quarterback Malachi Fields didn’t break over that span.
“I love him to death, he’s literally like a brother to me and I’d walk through hell with him,” said Monticello lineman Trent Lloyd. “He’s an awesome competitor, he never stops.”
Monticello got a huge surge from its offensive line on fourth down in overtime to push quarterback Malachi Fields into the endzone for a lead. After Western Albemarle answered, the Monticello defense snuffed out Western’s two-point attempt, pressuring the Warriors into a rushed throw on the edge to ignite a celebration that included the student section storming the field.
Fields had a monster night with 218 yards through the air for a touchdown and another 130 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. No carry was more crucial though than the overtime touchdown on fourth down near the goal line though, a test more of will than speed or athleticism as he bulled into the endzone.
“It’s real special having my brothers have my back and push me in,” Fields said. “.”
Western’s answer to Fields’ score came from an Austin Shiflett touchdown, then the Warriors made the decision to go for two, prompting a Monticello timeout. Out of the timeout, Western rolled out Carter Shifflett but the snap started low, disrupting the play’s timing as he rolled left. Pressure came from the edge too, forcing Shiflett to rush the throw intended for Breaker Mendenhall and it short-hopped toward the sideline. Chase Hummel was defending on the play and was pretty tightly covering Mendenhall.
“That’s everything there, we were just so happy,” Fields said. “It feels amazing. We just had to stay together and keep our heads up.”
Monticello had to bounce back to make that overtime score happen, because they’d built a 21-0 lead in the early third quarter that Western went to work on and wore down over the course of the entire second half. The Mustangs appeared in control of the game when Malachi Fields hit Jason Armstrong for a 30-yard touchdown on the opening drive of the third quarter, but Western refused to go quietly.
“We’re having a hard time putting four quarters together but credit to our guys, we fought hard and made it competitive,” said Western coach Ed Redmond. “Credit to Monticello, they played hard and in the first half they dominated.”
John Buetow, who finished with 130 yards on the night, gave Western a lift with a long run and Austin Shifflett (92 yards, two touchdowns on 14 carries) powered in to cut the lead to 21-7 less than three minutes after Armstrong’s catch. Then late in the third quarter, Carter Shifflett snuck in to cap a drive and turn it into a one possession game. The Warriors had to wait for the equalizer, but Carter Shifflett found the end zone with 3:04 to play.
Monticello tried to finish off Western in overtime and drove across the 50 with help from big catches by Will Trent who had six catches for 99 yards on the night and Phillip Estes, but couldn’t connect on a desperation heave from Hummel to Fields, who lined up as a receiver. That forced overtime where Fields came up big, as did kicker Jack Culbreath, who’s extra point proved the difference when Western went for two.
The Mustangs got a critical lift from the return of a couple of injured players, particularly up front where Monticello is already thin.
“We got a couple of starters back including Aiden Byrnes back on the line,” Lloyd said. “We were just able to grind them out basically and it was real nice to be able to do.”
There was a touching moment for Lloyd and his father, Monticello coach Jeff Lloyd in the celebration as they embraced. Trent Lloyd has battled through extensive shoulder problems that have necessitated surgery twice in order to get back on the field and getting a win over an archrival in Western after an 0-4 start prompted some serious emotions.
“For a kid that’s playing right now with his right shoulder out and the left goes in and out, it meant a lot for him to be here, to have that moment with my son,” said Jeff Lloyd. “It was real emotional.”
Monticello will take on Albemarle next week while the Warriors (1-3) will look to get back on track at home against William Monroe in a non-district matchup. The Mustangs are hoping Friday can be a springboard for the rest of the year.
“I told our kids, if we can just win one, we can string a couple together here,” Jeff Lloyd said. “We’re still young but we’re starting to get a little bit better and a little more experienced.”
