Monroe scores 25-19 victory in season finale

ALBANY — While it wasn’t exactly where Monroe High School wanted to be to finish its season, the Tornadoes’ 25-19 victory over Americus-Sumter Thursday night at Hugh Mills Stadium served as a positive end to a year that saw them just miss making a playoff appearance.

Monroe had a chance to open up the scoring on their first drive of the game but had a touchdown called back by a penalty before the Panthers intercepted them at the Monroe 3-yard line.

They opened the scoring when Dexter Morman found Tedo McGowan for a 26-yard touchdown pass to give them a 7-0 lead.

Americus-Sumter answered right back, driving 71 yards before a 2-yard touchdown run by Anthony Payne made the score 7-6. The extra point was blocked.

Before the touchdown, the Tornadoes defense had forced the Panthers to punt on their first four drives.

“It was two teams fighting it out,” Monroe coach Charles Truitt said. “It was a situation where kids weren’t quitting on both sides of the football. Our offense and defense played good football tonight so we made some plays … really good ball game on both sides.”

On the ensuing kickoff, the Panthers tried a squib kick but it was picked up by Demario Curry, who took it 60 yards for a touchdown. A missed extra point made the score 13-6.

The teams found themselves tied at 13 after Americus-Sumter’s Eric Brown burst through the hole for a 32-yard touchdown.

Monroe took a 19-13 lead into the half after Morman found wide receiver Ulysses Williams, who made a jumping catch for a 20-yard touchdown.

On the Panthers’ first possession of the second half, they were backed up to their own 2-yard line before embarking on a 98-yard drive that was capped by a 13-yard touchdown run by Brown. The game was tied at 19 after the extra point hit the upright and fell short.

“We had a chance to be in a different situation, but I am proud of the kids, they did not quit,” Truitt said. “My seniors went out on a winning note and we feel good about that situation.”

The Tornadoes had a chance to regain the lead after a 69-yard run by Mark Robinson gave them the ball at the four-yard line. After being backed up by a penalty, Monroe could not put points on the board and turned the ball over on downs.

Monroe broke the tie midway through the fourth quarter when Morman found Williams in the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown pass. The Tornadoes went for two but failed to convert and the score was 25-19.

The Panthers got the ball back with under a minute to go but an interception by Antonio Leroy sealed the game.

Monroe finishes the season with a 6-4 record, while Americus-Sumter finishes 3-7.