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Devils win battle of county rivals
Published October 25, 2009
LOGANVILLE — It was akin to David meeting Goliath again — except this time the big guy ducked.
Loganville — the largest school in Class AAAA — met Monroe Area — the smallest — Friday night at Red Devil Field and came away with a hard-fought 34-25 win. It was the fourth straight heartbreaking defeat for the Purple Hurricanes, who have now dropped their past four games by a total of 23 points.
“I’m really proud of our kids’ effort,” said Monroe Area head coach Matt Fligg. “I just wish our seniors could be playing in the division where they belong.”
With realignment coming this spring, the ’Canes will be returned to AAA for the next two years.
The contest was tied 13-13 at halftime before Loganville erupted for two quick touchdowns early in the third quarter to move out to a 27-13 lead. Storm Johnson, who finished the night with 26 carries for 216 yards and three touchdowns, ran 51 yards for a TD on the first offensive play of the period and then Loganville kicker Connor Lockridge recovered his own onsides kick at the Monroe Area 48-yard line. The Devils scored four plays later when quarterback A.J. Schmidt connected with Desean Ledbetter on a 46-yard pass for a touchdown with nine minutes, 23 seconds to go in the third period.
“I’m never disappointed with a win but I’m not particularly thrilled with how we played,” said Loganville coach Eric Godfree. “But, Monroe had a lot to do with that. Those kids were prepared and ready for us.”
The Hurricanes pulled to within a touchdown midway the quarter after Loganville came up short with a fake punt on fourth-and-3 from its own 39-yard line.
Monroe took over and punched the ball into the end zone in only five plays. Junior quarterback Demontavious Smith hit Tre’shard Burdette with a 16-yard scoring pass with 3:21 remaining in the quarter. The point after touchdown attempt was unsuccessful, yet Monroe Area had cut the deficit to 27-19.
Loganville took the ball at its 33-yard line after the ensuing kickoff. Twelve plays took the Devils to the Monroe 20 where a Schmidt pass on fourth-and-11 fell incomplete, turning the ball back over to the Hurricanes. After picking up a first down on a pass from Smith to Michael Hendricks, Monroe Area fumbled on a hook-and-lateral play with Loganville’s J.D. Smith recovering at the ’Cane 37.
Loganville quickly took advantage of the short field and punched it in for another score. A 7-yard pass from Schmidt to Mykel Wyyet ended the drive. Matt Flynn’s PAT with 7:28 left in the game put the Red Devils in front by two touchdowns again, 34-19.
Both teams began the game on forgettable notes as each fumbled on its first possession.
After Stephon Tuitt fell on a Johnson fumble at the Monroe Area 13-yard line, the Hurricanes marched 87 yards in 12 plays, taking 5:58 on the clock and took an early 6-0 lead. Demeritrius Fuhr covered the final 19 yards for the TD. The PAT was no good, but the underdogs had drawn first blood with 3:48 left in the first half.
Fuhr would go on to pile up 95 yards for the night on 11 carries and score three touchdowns.
The Red Devils picked up a pair of first downs on their next series, but the drive stalled at the 42-yard line.
Monroe was not able to sustain any offensive momentum either and had to punt after failing to convert on a third-and-1 at its 20.
Loganville took over at its 44-yard line. Johnson picked up six yards on first down, but a motion penalty moved the ball back to the 45. The fleet-football senior then circled right end and sprinted 55 yards to the end zone with 10:19 to go in the second quarter. Flynn’s PAT gave the Devils a 7-6 lead.
Defenses for both squads began to flex its muscles for the next several minutes.
Loganville took advantage of a 30-yard punt by Monroe Area and took possession at the Hurricanes’ 37-yard line. It took 12 plays, but the Devils finally found paydirt on a 2-yard dive by Johnson with 1:06 remaining in the first half. The PAT kick was wide and Loganville led, 13-6.
Even with a short time on the clock before intermission, Fligg sent his offense on the attack after the ensuing kickoff. Taking over at their 24-yard line, instead of playing it safe the Hurricanes went to the air. Smith hit Jordan Fretwell for 6 yards and Fuhr picked up the first down on an 8-yard scamper to the 33. On the next play Smith was flushed from the pocket and ran 44 yards to the Loganville 17. Two running plays netted nothing for Monroe. On third down, Smith threw a 20-yard strike to Fuhr for the touchdown with the clock showing :03. Cody Brown booted the extra point and the score was tied 13-13 at the half.
Early fireworks in the third quarter finally gave Loganville some breathing room, but Monroe Area kept battling until the end. The final score of the night came on a 3-yard run by Fuhr with :24 to play in the game to account for the final score.
“Loganville has a great offensive team and they play hard,” said Fligg. “Storm got his yards, but he gets them against everybody. Our secondary needs to get better.
“It was another tough loss for our kids. But — mark my words — our time is coming. I don’t lose many seniors and these guys are ready to win.”
Now comes a huge test for Loganville next Friday when the Red Devils journey to Conyers and take on Rockdale County. The loser of the game between a pair of 5-3 teams could very well find themselves on the outside looking in come playoff time.
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