Turnovers help Monroe beat Crisp County 21-16

ALBANY — Two first-half Crisp County (4-3) turnovers paid enormous dividends for the Monroe Golden Tornadoes on a stunningly beautiful Saturday afternoon at Hugh Mills Stadium. Thanks to those turnovers, Monroe (4-2) beat the Cougars 21-16 in a Region 1-AAA contest.

Ka’Ron Noird and Janorris Winkfield made the huge defensive plays that helped the Golden Tornadoes lead 21-9 at the half.

“I think our guys played well,” said Monroe head coach LaceyHerring. “We have some things we need to clean up, but that was a great team win for this program.”

The Cougars jumped on the board first when the Golden Tornadoes had a mishap with the snap on a punt that went over the punter’s head and out of the end zone for a safety and two points.

Crisp County was driving again with their strong running attack behind three-star offensive lineman Barry Walker (6’6”, 300) when the Cougars fumbled at the Monroe 20-yard line. Noird, a junior who recently moved to the linebacker position, picked up the fumble and outran everybody on the field for an 80-yard touchdown. After a Kristian Lopez extra-point kick, Monroe led 7-2.

The Cougars responded late in the first quarter with a drive using that strong running game. Senior running backs CJ Jones and Kevon Merrell found holes to scoot down the field behind Walker. Jamarcus Bass put Crisp County ahead on a three-yard run to cap that drive.

Walker has decided to play college football at the University of Alabama-Birmingham over SEC offers from Auburn, Arkansas, Kentucky, and ACC schools such as Florida State and Georgia Tech.

On the kick off, Crisp County tried to surprise the Tornadoes with a high, short kick to the sidelines. The plan was for one of the Cougars to catch the kick past the 10 yards required and take possession again. Instead, the kick went out of bounds and Monroe took over at the Crisp 45.

Monroe’s Corey Randle had the Tornadoes going for another score when he threw to his brother Camryn at the four-yard line but Crisp’s Cayden Daniels intercepted the pass. Fortunately for the Tornadoes, officials ruled that was pass interference and the Golden Tornadoes remained in possession. Randle scored a few plays later on an 11-yard run.

The Cougars took possession and instead of running the ball, quarterback Hagan Slimp put the ball in the air and Winkfield picked off the pass and gave the Tornadoes possession at the 18-yard line. Randle connected with Jordan Washington for a six-yard touchdown play a few moments later. Lopez kicked the extra point to put the Tornadoes ahead 21-9 with less than two minutes remaining in the half.

Monroe’s defense shut down the Cougars quickly and a horrible punt gave Monroe the ball at the Cougar 27-yard line with 54 seconds left in the half and it looked as though the Tornadoes would score again. But Crisp’s Daniels picked off the pass again and this time there was no interference call.

The second half was a defensive struggle and the Cougars managed one touchdown against the Monroe defense.

Monroe will now take on crosstown rival Dougherty (3-3) Friday night at Hugh Mills Stadium to determine the city championship since both Monroe and Dougherty have already defeated Westover. Crisp County will host No. 10-ranked Carver (4-3).

Joe WhitfieldJoeWhitfield[email protected]