By: Tim Kellis
Photos by: Blue Rivers Images
Homecoming 2011 was a happy one for Hornet players, fans, and alumni as the Hornets came back from an 11-point 1st half deficit to defeat the Valley View Spartans by a score of 18-14.
Valley View converted a Hornet fumble at their own 15-yard line to take a early 7-0 lead when Trey Gulling ran in from the 1 with 8:30 to play in the first quarter. Andrew Shaffer’s 27-yard field goal at the 2:42 mark of the second quarter pulled the Hornets to within 4. Valley View then drove 80 yards in 4 plays taking only 1 minute twenty two seconds off the clock. The big play on the drive was a 57-yard pass from QB Patrick Boyle to Zach Dunn. Monroe controlled the clock in the first half, gained more yards, but trailed primarily due to turnovers.
The second half was all Hornets all the time. Using a newly installed offensive attack and behind the hard running of QB Kevin Slonecker and running backs Jarron Teegarten, Max Agee, and Chris Wilson, the Hornets out gained the Spartans 212 yards to 12 in the second half. Slonecker, playing his first game at QB this season ran the offense to perfection and made one big play after another. Monroe maintained possession of the ball 17 minutes to only 7 for Valley View in the second half.
Slonecker found the end zone late in the third quarter from one yard out cutting the Spartan lead to 14 to 9 and then tossed a nifty pass to a wide-open Chris Wilson for the 2-point conversion. Valley View 14, Monroe 11. Chris Wilson found pay dirt halfway through the 4th quarter from 8 yards out giving the Hornets their eventual 18-14 margin. Monroe’s offensive line won the battle in the trenches enabling Wilson to gain 182 yards on the ground of the Hornets 302 team rushing yards. Monroe out gained Valley View 368 yards to 156 for the game. Monroe is now 1-1 in SWBL play and will travel to Eaton next Friday evening for a key SWBL match up.
Watch video highlights of this game on Wednesday September 28 at the Monroe McDonald’s starting at 7 p.m.
