There’s no place like home

It felt a little like deja vu for Monticello on Friday night.

Only this time, the Mustangs made sure they got the better end of the deal.

Monticello scored a late touchdown after a controversial goal-line call, and allowed a potent Courtland offense to score on the following drive.

The visitors got the ball back with 1:39 to play, but the Mustangs’ defense made a big stop and the defending Group AA, Division 3 champions held on to upend Courtland 23-21 on homecoming night.

Monticello (5-1) avenged its lone loss last season with the win and handed the Cougars, ranked No. 3 in the latest Associated Press poll, their first loss of the season.

“It was an awesome game. We felt disappointed certainly after we lost to them last year,” Monticello coach Brud Bicknell said. “And I don’t think these guys are going to be satisfied with anything less than walking away with the victory. It’s really ironic how similar the game sorted out. But I’m glad we came out on top.”

With 3:35 to play and Monticello on the 1-yard line, quarterback Michael Graham attempted to run in for a score. The Cougars signaled they had recovered a fumble on the play, but after some discussion by the officials, the Mustangs maintained possession.

Graham got in for the touchdown on the next play, and after a botched conversion attempt, the Mustangs held a 23-14 lead.

Courtland, however, marched right back down the field, as it rode the arm of Luke Sellers.

On third-and-10, Sellers hooked up with Jay Madison for a 35-yard scoring strike to get the Cougars back in the game.

On its ensuing drive, Monticello failed to get the first down. Faced with fourth-and-1 on the 41-yard line, the Mustangs took a timeout. But following the timeout Monticello was called for a false start and was forced to punt.

Sellers completed two passes — one a 31-yard play to Madison — before Monticello’s defense clamped down.

Following a personal foul penalty on the Cougars, senior Chris Coiner came up with the biggest hit of the day as he pulled Sellers down for an eight-yard loss.

Sellers made one final completion, but it wasn’t enough for a first down, and the Mustangs began their celebration.

“They were phenomenal,“ Bicknell said of the defense. “We got beat on the scramble to make the game interesting, but they played within the framework of the defense and made some plays. It was a great situational stop on the fourth-down play. I can’t say enough about all of those guys.“

Monticello, which never trailed in the contest, got a stellar performance from Graham, who ran for two TDs (both 1-yard runs) and threw for another. The senior quarterback finished 21 of 31 for 200 yards passing.

On the team’s opening drive, he was particularly efficient, connecting on 7 of 7 passes for 79 yards, including a 20-yard TD pass to Mark Brady.

The Mustangs’ defense forced the Cougars to go three-and-out on the following drive, and again, the home team put together an impressive drive.

Monticello was able to get its running game going and continued to find success in the air. Graham hooked up with four different receivers on the drive—all for short gains—while Hines Banks rushed four times for 25 yards. Graham finally took it in for a one-yard touchdown to give the Mustangs a 14-0 lead. Banks toted the ball 24 times for 97 yards in the win.

Monticello returns to Jefferson District action next week against Western Albemarle.