Greyhounds fall to visiting Rochester, 22-14
Ed Thompson
Monessen蘑菇视频 Devin Whitlock (3) dives for the pylon in front of Rochester蘑菇视频 Tyreek Sherod late in a non-conference game last season at Monessen.
Monessen's Vaughn Taylor (22) lowers the head to get extra yardage running over Rochester's Dah'vell Duke (2) in Friday's non-conference game in Monessen.
Rochester's Tyreek Sherod (3) breaks up a pass intended for Monessen's Marquell Smith (13) during Friday's non-conference game at Monessen.
MONESSEN 鈥� In a battle of one-loss teams in Monessen and Rochester Friday night, the level of intensity and hard-hitting was off the charts.
In fact, it was reminiscent of how the Monessen and Rochester teams of yesteryear were known for playing.
Unfortunately for Monessen, the Greyhounds fell, 22-14, thanks in part to 18 penalties for 215 yards.
鈥淲e helped them win,鈥� said Monessen coach Mike Blainefield. 鈥淲e told the team that whoever made the most mistakes would lose and that is what we did.
鈥淲e were a little jumpy and I may have over-motivated the guys. We were too aggressive towards the sidelines and things piled up for us.鈥�
Rochester was flagged 14 times for 125 yards.
The teams came out in an old-fashioned slugfest in the first quarter.
Monessen gained 43 yards on 13 plays in the first quarter, while limiting Rochester to 18 yards on nine plays.
The contest was scoreless into the second quarter, but Rochester quickly scored when Noah Whiteleather scored from nine yards out. The Rams attempted a two-point conversion pass, but it failed and the scored remained 6-0 in favor of the guests with 10:40 to play in the half.
The drive was aided by two Monessen penalties, and that was a theme in the first half as the Greyhounds were penalized 10 times for 125 yards. Five of the 10 first half penalties were unsportsmanlike or personal fouls.
The Greyhounds had their best chance to score late in the first half as the team moved down the field behind the right arm and the legs of quarterback Devin Whitlock. The freshman completed 4-of-5 passes on the last drive of the half for 39 yards and ran for another 27 yards.
Whitlock led Monessen to the Rochester 26 on a 16-yard run, but Monessen was called for a block in a back at the 30, as well as an unsportsmanlike penalty. Instead of having the ball on the fringe of the Rochester red zone, Monessen had it at its own 45 after the two penalties combined for 25 yards.
Monessen gained 117 yards on 26 plays in the first half, while Rochester had 108 yards on 22 plays.
Rochester scored quickly in the third quarter.
After pulling Monessen in defensively with the Greyhounds having all 11 players in the box, Rochester went with a play-action call and Zaine Jeffers hit Tyreek Sherod on a 63-yard pass with 10:48 to play in the third quarter. Whiteleather hit Glenn Haskins with a two-point conversion pass and the Rams led 22-14.
The Greyhounds finally got on the board on its next possession.
Whitlock scored on a 13-yard run with 6:46 to play in the third quarter and Vaughn Taylor hit Isaiah Beltram with a two-point conversion pass to trim the Rochester lead to 14-8.
Monessen had the momentum and when Zairik Anderson leveled Whiteleather on the ensuing kickoff, the Monessen crowd went into a frenzy.
鈥淭hat moment was reminiscent of time past,鈥� said Blainefield. 鈥淭he crowd was into it, the kids were into it, and even after the game the players said this was the most fun they ever had playing in a game.鈥�
Whiteleather scored with 8:23 left in the fourth quarter and Declan Eaton caught a two-point conversion pass from Jeffers to make the score 22-8.
Monessen answered when Taylor scored on a 7-yard run with 3:59 to play to make the score 22-14, but the two-point conversion attempt failed.
Rochester recovered the onside kick and ran the clock out to secure the win.
Monessen finished with 263 yards on 53 plays as Whitlock had 190 total yards, while Rochester 241 yards on 41 plays.
Monessen is tied for first in the Tri-County South Conference and closes conference play at Avella on Friday. Even if Monessen wins, it may miss the playoffs as only eight teams make the playoffs in Class A and there could be a three-way tie for first.
鈥淲e will take it one day at a time,鈥� said Blainefield. 鈥淟ong-term, the playoffs are not a guarantee because if it goes to a three-way tie, it could be a coin flip or go to Gardner points.
鈥淚f it goes to that, one of us three (California and West Greene) would be out.鈥�
Non-conference
Rochester聽 聽 0-6-8-8 鈥� 22
Monessen聽 聽 0-0-8-6 鈥� 14
Second Quarter
Roc: Noah Whiteleather 9 run (pass failed)
Third Quarter
Roc: Tyreek Sherod 63 pass from Zaine Jeffers (Glenn Haskins pass from Noah Whiteleather)
Mon: Devin Whitlock 13 run (Isaiah Beltram pass from Vaughn Taylor)
Fourth Quarter
Roc: Noah Whiteleather 5 run (Declan Eaton pass from Zaine Jeffers)
Mon: Vaughn Taylor 7 run (run failed)
Records: Rochester (8-1), Monessen (6-2).