Dougherty outlasts Monroe, 28-14 at Hugh Mills Stadium

ALBANY — Dougherty spent much of Friday night overcoming Monroe, a relentless stream of penalty flags and two erased touchdown runs.

Sophomore quarterback Micah Joyner made sure the Trojans overcame all three.

Joyner accounted for four touchdowns, including a 63-yard scoring pass to Alonzo Hammond that extinguished Monroe’s fourth-quarter comeback bid, as Dougherty defeated its crosstown rival 28-14 at Hugh Mills Stadium.

The Trojans improved to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in region play. Monroe fell to 0-2 and 0-1, but the Tornadoes delivered a much stronger performance after opening the season with a 52-0 loss to Class 7A powerhouse Colquitt County.

Heavily favored Dougherty had barely settled into the game before Monroe delivered the first two surprises.

On the Trojans’ third play from scrimmage, Joyner broke free for what appeared to be a 75-yard touchdown run. A penalty erased the score, however, and Dougherty eventually punted.

Monroe needed only one snap to capitalize.

Quarterback Jordyn Shorter threw a screen pass toward the sideline, but the play turned out to be a double pass. The receiver stopped and threw downfield to Luh Karie, who had slipped behind the Dougherty defense. Karie raced to the end zone for a 45-yard touchdown.

Senior running back Justin Grice powered through the middle for the 2-point conversion, giving the Tornadoes an 8-0 lead.

Dougherty responded with a drive aided by a pass-interference penalty and Joyner’s slant pass to Jherel Gibson. Joyner finished it with a touchdown pass to senior David Burgess, and Christian Hernandez’s extra point cut Monroe’s lead to 8-7.

The Tornadoes appeared to be building another promising drive when Shorter broke free for a long gain. On the next play, however, the snap sailed over his head. Shorter recovered at the Monroe 8, but the mistake eventually forced the Tornadoes to punt.

Dougherty took over at its own 44 and appeared to score two plays later when Joyner scrambled 28 yards to the end zone.

Once again, a penalty wiped out the touchdown.

The Trojans recovered from the setback, and Joyner connected with Melvin Williams for a touchdown a few plays later. Hernandez’s extra point gave Dougherty a 14-8 advantage.

The Trojans’ special teams then created another opportunity.

Eric Spann, a former Monroe player, broke through to block a punt, giving Dougherty possession at the Tornadoes’ 22.

Monroe’s defense initially pushed the Trojans backward, but Joyner escaped for another 28-yard touchdown run. This time, there was no flag to erase it.

Hernandez added the extra point, sending Dougherty into halftime with a 21-8 lead.

Runs by Grice and Shorter helped Monroe move the ball during the third quarter, but neither team scored in a period repeatedly disrupted by penalties.

The Tornadoes received the break they needed on the first play of the fourth quarter when Dougherty fumbled, giving Monroe possession at the Trojans’ 21.

Dougherty’s defense and more penalties turned the short-field opportunity into a drawn-out march. Facing fourth-and-goal from the 3, Shorter found an opening and fought his way into the end zone.

The 2-point conversion failed, but Monroe had pulled within 21-14. The Tornadoes’ sideline came alive, and the crosstown rivalry suddenly became a one-score game.

Dougherty needed only one possession to quiet the comeback hopes.

Joyner found Hammond behind the Monroe defense and connected with him for a 63-yard touchdown. Hernandez’s fourth extra point restored the Trojans’ two-touchdown advantage at 28-14.

Monroe never recovered.

Dougherty emerged from the penalty-filled rivalry game unbeaten and with its first region victory. Monroe left with a second consecutive loss, but also with a considerably better performance to carry into another difficult test.

The Tornadoes travel to play No. 4 Cairo next Friday. Dougherty steps outside the region for a road game at Crisp County.