Monroe falls in OT
Photo by Scott Chancey
Staff Reports
JACKSON — The Monroe Tornadoes had their chances, but couldn’t cash in offensively in regulation.
In overtime, it ended up as more of the same.
Head coach Charles Truitt’s Tornadoes allowed a fourth-down touchdown pass to Neiron Ball by Jackson on the first series of overtime then was held just short of game-tying score on its ensuing possession to see its season end in a 14-7 OT loss.
The Tornadoes (7-4) took undefeated Jackson (11-0) to the wire when they posted an early touchdown on a quarterback draw by sophomore Devine Noel.
But after spending the majority of the second half in Jackson territory, including a trip inside the 20-yard line that died on downs, the Tornadoes were forced to deal with the fate of overtime.
“We had several chances to score but just didn’t capitalize on it,” assistant coach Octavia Jones said. “We had great field position. We just couldn’t punch it in there when we needed to.”
In the overtime period, senior Larry Whitfield was tracking the Jackson quarterback in the backfield on the decisive fourth-down play but couldn’t bring him down. As a result he scrambled away to find Ball back across his body for the score.
Monroe entered the game as the No. 4 seed out of Region 1 and Jackson was the top seed out of Region 4.
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