Monroe football beats Columbus 44-10 behind defensive touchdowns

ALBANY — The crowd was late. Monroe was not.

Fewer than 100 people were inside Hugh Mills Stadium when Thursday night’s game began. More arrived after the Golden Tornadoes’ band marched in, but by then senior quarterback Jordyn Shorter had already run for a touchdown and Monroe’s defense had begun making life miserable for Columbus.

By the end, the Golden Tornadoes had scored on offense, scored twice on defense and turned a quiet Thursday night into their loudest victory of the season, beating the Blue Devils 44-10.

Monroe improved to 2-5 overall and 2-3 in region play. Those numbers will not cause anyone to plan a parade, but they look considerably better after a performance that offered evidence the Tornadoes may be finding themselves.

Especially on defense.

Monroe forced multiple fumbles, returned two for touchdowns and stopped a Columbus drive with an interception at the goal line.

The biggest stretch came after the Blue Devils pulled within 12-10 on Rayshaun Glover’s 43-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Columbus had momentum. Monroe took it back.

A bad snap slipped away from Blue Devils quarterback Robert Peters, and Raymond Thompson scooped up the loose ball and raced 52 yards for a touchdown.

Then, with Monroe pinned inside its 1-yard line late in the half, senior running back Justin Grice took over. He carried three straight times to move the Tornadoes away from their goal line, then broke free for a 75-yard touchdown with 24 seconds remaining.

Shorter ran in the 2-point conversion, and what had been a two-point game suddenly became a 26-10 halftime advantage.

Monroe’s defense did not allow Columbus to recover.

The Golden Tornadoes tried a fake punt on fourth-and-9 near midfield in the third quarter, snapping directly to Robert Adams. Columbus stopped him short and appeared to have seized an opportunity.

It lasted one play.

A Monroe defender blew up the ensuing handoff, knocking the ball loose before Peters could complete the exchange. Adams, now playing defense, grabbed it and ran for a touchdown.

That is the kind of night it was for Monroe. Even a failed fake punt became six points.

Brownlee later intercepted a pass at the goal line to end another Columbus threat. He also provided one of Monroe’s biggest offensive plays, turning a quick pass from Shorter into a long gain that set up Carter Hudson’s second-quarter touchdown.

Shorter added a fourth-quarter scoring pass to Armonis Jefferson, dropping the ball over Jefferson’s shoulder at the goal line. Another Columbus fumble helped produce Monroe’s final touchdown.

The Golden Tornadoes have endured their share of difficult nights this season. Thursday was not one of them.

They made explosive plays, punished mistakes and gave themselves something positive to carry into next Friday’s meeting with Westover at Hugh Mills Stadium.

The crowd should be larger for that one.

After what Monroe did Thursday, the expectations may be, too.