Latest Peotone, Illinois, weather
∙      Home Page
∙      Newspapers
∙      Weather
∙      Automotive
∙      Apartments
∙      Business
∙      Help Wanted
∙      Homes
∙      State News
∙      Web Exclusive
∙      Blog
∙      Advertising
∙      News Feed 
∙      Archive
∙      Calendar
∙      Social News
∙      Obituaries
∙      Submissions
∙      Employment
∙      Contact Us
∙      Subscribe
The current time is
C-M H.S. Football Results
» Jim Baranski - Monee Monitor - 09.11.08


Again for Crete-Monee High School football, it came down to the final seconds. Again for Crete-Monee, it was heartbreak.

Friday, the Warriors were matched with the top-ranked team in Class 6A, Rock Island, and throughout the contest, Crete-Monee was right with the Rocks. In the end, a late interception sealed the Warriors' fate, a 7-6 nonconference loss.

"We place tough teams on our schedule, not just to play them," Crete-Monee coach Jerry Verde said. "We expect to beat them. In the end, these games will make ours a better team."

Trailing by a point, the Warriors (0-2) stopped the Rocks on downs at the Crete-Monee 23 with 90 seconds.

The Crete's Lexus Jackson connected on passes of 15 yards to Steve Trudo and 23 to Dylan McElveen. After a penalty on Rock Island, good for another C-M first down, Jackson passed to Alexander Laveille for nine, and then Jackson ran for two yards to the 18.

story continues below »
Terry's Banner Advertisement

Jackson and McElveen (7 catches for 68 yards) combined for another six yards on a sideline route with 20 seconds left. On the next play, Jackson had a tipped pass intercepted by Rock Island's Adam Palm.

"As a sophomore, Lexus came in and made some big plays, but that final pass over the middle was not the best decision," Verde assessed.

Jackson also scored the only Warrior touchdown; however, as a receiver. Justin Roudez started as quarterback, and Jackson was a flanker.

Roudez directed the Warriors down the field in their first possession. A key third down swing pass from Roudez to Brian Hatwood for 11 yards started the Warriors rolling. Roudez then hit Jackson for 12.

Four plays later, after the Warriors benefitted from a 15-yard Rock Island penalty, Roudez connected with Jackson for a 13-yard score. The sophomore grabbed the ball in the flat and skirted the left side for the TD. The extra point was wide.

Roudez, who was 7 of 8 for 81 yards, suffered an ankle injury late in the second quarter. Jackson, who caught three passes for 32 yards, competed six of 12 for 52 yards.

Meanwhile, the Warrior defense was shutting down a top-flight offense. Led by Greg Barksdale, Gary Young, Michael Jamison, Salvador Carvajal, and Tre' Jenkins, the Warriors held Rock Island to just nine first downs and 166 yards of offense.

Again for Crete-Monee, it was a bad play in a punting situation that proved costly. A high snap from center sailed over Young's head and resulted in a 27-yard loss.

The Rocks took over at the C-M 34. Rock Island ripped off a pair of first downs, and enjoyed a first-and-goal at the 5. Kendrick Heam then drove to the goal, but at the play's end, Crete-Monee's Jenkins had the ball in the end zone. The officials, however, concluded that Heams had scored prior to the fumble. The extra point provided the Rocks with a 7-6 halftime lead.

In addition to the final drive, the Warriors had another opportunity in the second half. Beginning at its own 17, the Warriors used a ground attack. Hatwood (86 yards on 15 carries) ripped off gains of 11 and 9, and Julius Spicer added runs of 14 and 11.

After a five-yard penalty, Hatwood picked up another five for first down at the 19. Following two-yard loss and incompletion, Jackson ran for four yards to the 17. The Warriors then tried a 34-yard field goal, but it was short.

"We are so close to a big win," Verde concluded. "We will let it hurt tonight, but tomorrow, it is back to work."

The Warriors will host unbeaten Thornton on Friday in a 7 p.m. matchup.

_

advanced search »
Copyright 2007 © Russell Publications, Inc.
Help | Contact Us | RSS
LATEST NEWS
SEARCH THE SITE