Mustangs Dominate Judges in Regional Final
Handley's ground attack could get going all day long as the Mustangs swarmed to the ball carrier on every carry.
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Hines Banks scored once in the game and tallied 125 yards on 21 carries. It was only the 3rd time all season that a running back had eclipsed 100-yards for the Mustangs.
Photos By: Jeff Schryver / Gameday | VIEW GALLERY
Handley's Patrick Shand played lights out against the Mustangs.
Photos By: Jeff Schryver / Gameday | VIEW GALLERY
WINCHESTER, VA - The Handley Judges and Monticello Mustangs met for the 3rd time in 6 seasons Saturday afternoon. The Mustangs had beaten the Judges in both meetings, so the Judges wanted some revenge and had to topple the defending state champions to do so. Monticello was simply too much for Handley, dominating the game on both sides of the ball en route to their regional title win 27-14.
Monticello set the tone of the game with their opening drive. Monticello marched straight through the Judges defense to a quick touchdown and a 6-0 lead. The opening drive covered 74 yards and took just over 4 minutes off the game clock. Although Monticello came in sporting a heavy pass attack, they used the ground game to get the early lead. Running back Hines Banks carries the ball 6 times for 41 yards on the drive. Banks led the way for the Mustangs on the ground gaining 125 yards on 21 carries.
Handley's offense just could not get on track for any of the first half. The Judges were forced to punt 3 times and had 2 lost fumbles to the Mustangs. One thing that helped the struggling Judges offense was their defense, which held the Mustangs for most of the first half after the opening drive score.
Despite the defense's best efforts the Mustangs were able to find the end zone 2 more times before the end of the first half, first on a Mike Graham 1 yard touchdown plunge, and with just :30 left in the half Graham hooked up with wide receiver Jake Pelton for a 21 yard pass and catch that put the score 20-0 as the team's headed to their respective locker rooms.
Monticello out gained the Judges 196 to 50 in total offensive yards. The Mustangs also ran 17 more plays on the offensive side of the football. Handley needed to find some answers coming out of the break if they had any chance to defeat the Monticello Mustangs in the game. Handley would make a push as the 2nd half got underway.
Handley used a great return on the opening kickoff of the half to start their drive deep in Monticello territory at the 20 yard line. On the second play from scrimmage Jeremiah Wilson took the handoff from Geremi Long and reached the goal line from 25 yards away to cut into the lead at 20-7. Long was inserted into the Handley lineup after starter Brian Tavenner went down in the second quarter trying to breakup a pass on defense. Wilson's touchdown run was the only bright spot for the junior running back that was contained all afternoon long, gaining just 57 yards on 16 touches from the backfield.
Down by 13 points Handley again would look to their defense to make a play and give the offense a chance to score again. With the ball on Monticello's own 38 yard line, the Mustangs fumbled the exchange between Graham and Banks. Handley was able to recover the fumble and take over in Monticello territory for the second time in the 2nd half; however, on the very first play of their drive Handley threw an interception to none other than Jake Pelton. Despite the good starting position for the Mustangs they were unable to find the end zone and missed out on another opportunity to increase their lead.
The game again settled down as Handley tried to make a play and Monticello simply wanted to hold onto the football and walk out with the win. In the 4th quarter the Mustangs were able to break through and find the end zone when Jake Pelton was again the recipient of a Mike Graham touchdown pass, this time from 5 yards away to make the score 27-7 and all but seal up the win for the Mustangs.
Handley would not give up though and made a big play on the next kickoff. Robert Galloway fielded the kickoff on his own 40 yard line and returned it down the home-sideline for a touchdown to get the score back to 27-14. Despite their best efforts, the Judges could not get back into the end zone and the Mustangs wrapped up the win and moved on in the Group AA Division 3 playoff bracket. Monticello moves on to play at James Monroe next Saturday in the state semi-finals with the winner getting a chance to play for the state title the following weekend in Lynchburg at Liberty University.
Moe's Southwest Grill Players of the Game
Handley: LB, Patrick Shand
Shand played his final game in a Handley uniform like a man possessed. Shand seemed to be in on almost every tackle for the Judges, unfortunately though his best efforts could not help the Judges overcome a lackluster offensive output.
Monticello, WR, Jake Pelton
Pelton made plays on both the offensive and defensive side of the football for the Mustangs in the win. Pelton finished the day catching 9 passes for 128 yards and 2 touchdowns. Pelton also had the interception in the 2nd half of the game that all but ended the hopes for the Handley Judges.
