Westover improves to 7-1 with hard-fought victory over Monroe

ALBANY — Westover had plenty to celebrate Friday night. Monroe made sure none of it came easily.

On a night that combined homecoming, senior recognition and a crosstown rivalry, the Patriots needed a goal-line stand, a fourth-down touchdown and a freshman’s power running to escape Hugh Mills Stadium with a 14-6 victory.

The win kept Westover in the region championship hunt at 7-1 overall and 5-1 in region play. Monroe dropped to 2-6 and 2-4, threatening an upset well into the fourth quarter before the Patriots’ defense secured the celebration.

That defense had already supplied one of the game’s defining moments.

Monroe quarterback Jordan Shorter and running back Justin Grice found running room on the Golden Tornadoes’ second possession, driving to a first-and-goal at the Westover 9-yard line.

The Patriots yielded little more.

On fourth-and-goal from the 6, Shorter tried to beat the defense to the pylon. Westover forced him out at the 1, taking possession with the game still scoreless.

For Shorter, the opponent was familiar. The Monroe senior spent his freshman and sophomore seasons at Westover. His coach, Bo Daniels, previously coached the Patriots’ defensive line before taking over the Golden Tornadoes last spring.

Their team showed early that it could challenge Westover. The Patriots eventually answered with a big run and a well-timed fake.

Malik Young broke loose down the sideline to the Monroe 12, but the Golden Tornadoes stiffened and forced fourth-and-6. Gabriel Hopper faked a handoff to Young, turned the left corner and raced into the end zone.

The extra-point attempt failed, leaving Westover ahead 6-0.

The Patriots had opportunities to build on that lead before halftime. Monroe recovered its own fumbled kickoff return, then mishandled the next snap and was backed up at its 8. After a Justin Grice punt, Westover took over at midfield.

On the next play, Hopper found Keyontae Hayes crossing toward the middle. Hayes caught the pass and outran the defense to the end zone, only for a penalty to erase the score.

Monroe capitalized on the reprieve, recording sacks on consecutive plays late in the half to keep the margin at six.

Westover found a more dependable route after the break: behind its offensive line.

Starting at midfield after Monroe’s squib kick, the Patriots drove behind a front led by Louisville commitment Kyson Mallard. Hopper and Young picked up yards on the ground, and Michael Daniels added a big gain to move Westover closer.

Freshman Jalen Mack handled the finish.

After being stopped at the 2, Mack barreled through the middle for a touchdown. He carried again for the two-point conversion, giving Westover a 14-0 advantage and its first measure of breathing room.

Monroe promptly took much of it away.

Shorter kept the ensuing drive alive with a third-and-long completion to a diving Kholin Browlee near midfield. Dy’Karie Carr broke through a hole for a sizable gain, and Shorter scrambled to the Westover 8.

Grice finished the possession with a touchdown run to the left. The Patriots blocked the extra point, keeping their lead at 14-6.

With one score separating the rivals, both teams threatened in the fourth quarter. Neither could finish another drive in the end zone.

Westover had turned Monroe away a yard short early in the game. By the end, its defense had preserved an eight-point margin — enough to keep the Patriots’ region ambitions intact.

Westover returns to Hugh Mills next Friday to face Dougherty in another rivalry matchup. Monroe hosts Spencer at the stadium Thursday.