Bearcats pounce on Arlington
Published 12:23 am Saturday, October 16, 2010
MONROE — Monroe football coach Dave Telford called it “early adversity,” which was totally true, if not a slight understatement.
After all, the Bearcats had two first-half fumbles in their Friday night homecoming football game, and both miscues resulted in Arlington touchdowns. One on a fumbled punt return that was returned for a TD, the other on a quarterback fumble in the end zone that was recovered for a TD.
The remedy?
“Our kids are pretty resilient,” Telford said. “They battled back from everything bad that happened to them early in the game. They never dropped their heads. And they never gave up because they believe in themselves.”
That no-quit spirit put the Bearcats in a position to win, and a late 29-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Joey Roppo to wide receiver Jake Pratt provided the winning points in Monroe’s thrilling 24-21 victory over the visiting Eagles.
The Bearcats sealed the outcome by recovering a squib kick, and running off the final seconds on kneel-down plays by Roppo, sending the stadium packed with black and orange clad Monroe students and boosters into a postgame tizzy.
“I’m so proud of our kids,” Telford said. “We gave up 14 points early, but our kids handled that adversity.”
The Bearcats scored the winning touchdown after starting a drive from their own 20-yard line with 3:42 to play in the game. Roppo passed 32 yards to wide receiver Miguel Floresca-Cravens for a pivotal first down on a third-and-5 play, and then Roppo scrambled for 14 yards and another first down on the ensuing play.
Both teams suffered critical penalties moments later. Monroe was cited for unsportsmanlike conduct by its bench and the Arlington secondary was flagged for pass interference on the next play.
When the infractions were marched off, Monroe had a first-and-10 from the Arlington 29, and just over 90 seconds to play in the game.
Roppo dropped back to pass and spotted Pratt streaking down the right sideline. The pass was perfectly placed, reaching Pratt near the goal line, and he leaped to make the catch between three Arlington defenders for the touchdown.
“If you give kids a chance to make plays, they make plays,” Telford said with a grin. “(Roppo) did a heck of a job and Jake Pratt made a heck of a catch.”
Arlington scored first after Mitch Irvin scooped up the fumbled punt and dashed 25 yards untouched for an early 7-0 margin. Monroe answered early in the second quarter, moving 64 yards in 10 plays — aided by a costly roughing the passer penalty — with Austin Mulholland carrying up the middle for the final 4 yards.
Arlington got the defensive play of the game midway through the second quarter when linebacker Devante Gaillard came free on a blindside blitz and crashed into Roppo in the end zone, popping the fall free. Teammate Lucas Revelle fell on the loose ball for a touchdown.
Monroe took a 17-14 halftime lead by scoring twice in the late minutes of the second quarter. Roppo tossed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Mulholland to tie the score, and moments later the Bearcats used an interception to set up a 32-yard field goal by Roppo with one second to play in the half.
Arlington went in front on the first play of the fourth period on a 20-yard scramble for a touchdown by quarterback Skylor Elgarico.
Monroe began its season with losses to Edmonds-Woodway, Woodinville and Kamiak, but has since won three of four Western Conference North games.
“At halftime,” Telford said, “I told the kids, ‘The way you’re playing … we’re two quarters away from maybe playing for a Wesco championship. And our kids came out and they believed.”
Arlington was playing without three key players, all lost to recent injuries. Running back Riley Cobb (broken ankle) and quarterback Blake McPherson (knee ligament) are lost for the season, while tight end/linebacker Bo Brummel is out 2-4 weeks (strained knee).
At Monroe H.S.
Arlington7707—21
Monroe01707—24
Arlington—Irvin 25 fumble recovery (Hordyk kick)
Monroe—Flygare 4 run (Roppo kick)
Arlington—Gaillard recovered fumble in the end zone (Hordyk kick)
Monroe—Mulholland 25 pass from Roppo (Roppo kick)
Monroe—FG Roppo 32
Arlington—Elgarico 20 run (Hordyk kick)
Monroe—Pratt 29 pass from Roppo (Roppo kick)
Records—Arlington 3-1 league, 5-2 overall. Monroe 3-1, 3-4.
