Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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September 1, 2007

Mavs roll past Tigers

By GARY FAUBER

SHADY SPRING — James Monroe attempted two passes against Shady Spring — two more than last week against Narrows, Va.

It’s no secret the Mavericks don’t pass much. When an offensive line dominates a game the way James Monroe’s did against the Tigers, there’s no reason to abandon the run.

Taylor Robertson and Ernie Tincher both went over 100 yards, and the Mavs’ defense came up with three second-half turnovers in a 35-6 win Friday night at H.B. Thomas Field.

Tincher and Robertson both carried 13 times, Tincher for 149 yards and two touchdowns. Robertson went for 129 yards and three scores as James Monroe (2-0) finished with 378 yards and narrowly missed hitting the 400-yard mark for the second straight week.

“We played our style of ball,” James Monroe coach Dave Witt said.

“Just get in there and be physical, play hard, block hard, run hard. There is nothing fancy about it. We’ve got kids who work their butts off all year long. Not just in August and not just during the season and not just for one offseason. We’ve got kids who have been doing it for three years. Our greatest asset is our work ethic.”

James Monroe got off to a quick start, scoring on the game’s second play on Robertson’s 57-yard run. It looked like it might be a mirror image of last year’s game, when the Mavs went ahead 35-0 in the first quarter.

This time, Shady was able to answer quickly. Josh Collins, the Tigers’ left-handed quarterback, hit Travis Mullins on a 31-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-6 with 7:51 left in the first quarter.

But the Mavericks used their trademark ground game, built on physical dominance, to pull away.

They led 21-6 at halftime after touchdowns runs of 2 and 19 yards by Tincher. Shady then turned the ball over on its first three possessions of the second half, and the Mavs turned the first two into scores — runs of 5 and 6 yards by Robertson.

Shady coach Vince Culicerto said the turnovers hurt, but James Monroe’s physical play was more of a detriment.

“They pushed us, there’s no doubt about it,” Culicerto said. “They’re just physical. They’re real physical. They play hard, every single one of them.”

Collins finished 7-of-12 for 91 yards and two interceptions. The Tigers, who host Summers County next Friday, managed just 66 yards on the ground.

Robertson put his arm to the test for James Monroe, completing one of two pass attempts for 16 yards. “That raises our average to one a game,” Witt deadpanned.

The Mavs host Oak Hill next Friday.

— Contact Gary Fauber at

gfauber@register-herald.com



At Shady Spring High School

James Monroe (2-0)..................7 14 7 7 — 35

Shady Spring (0-2)....................6 0 0 0 — 6

First Quarter

JM - Taylor Robertson 57 run (Logan Ray kick), 11:05.

SS - Travis Mullins 31 pass from Josh Collins (kick failed), 7:51.

Second Quarter

JM - Ernie Tincher 2 run (Ray kick), 5:37.

JM - Tincher 19 run (Ray kick), 1:12.

Third Quarter

JM - Robertson 5 run (Ray kick), 7:19.

Fourth Quarter

JM - Robertson 6 run (Ray kick), 7:51.

———

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — JM: Tincher 13-149, Robertson 13-129, Nick Kiesel 12-58, Zach Mann 8-43, Chris Frazier 1-7, Braxton Thompson 2-(-3), Rod Mohler 2-(-5). SS: Dustin Syvertson 15-30, Mullins 3-12, Nathan Wilburn 1-8, Brandon Frye 2-6, Collins 2-4, Walter Patton 4-2, Patrick Starner 2-2, Josh Weeks 1-2. PASSING — JM: Robertson 1-2-0-16-0. SS: Collins 7-12-2-91-1, Patton 0-1-1-0-0, Weeks 0-1-0-0-0. RECEIVING — JM: Tincher 1-16. SS: Matt Brooks 3-53, Mullins 3-42, Syvertson 1-(-4). TURNOVERS — JM: Josh White (FR, INT), John Ballangee (INT), Dewight Robinson (INT). SS: Wilburn (FR).

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