High School Sports

John Marshall Falls Short In Comeback Bid Against Morgantown

Morgantown wins high-scoring tilt at Monarch Stadium

MOUNDSVILLE -- There certainly wasn't a better way for Morgantown to start its game against John Marshall. After eight offensive plays, the Mohigans grabbed a 21-0 lead.

The Monarchs, though, did not call it quits as they provided a couple of sparks and got within one possession on multiple occasions. Morgantown, however, garnered just enough plays down the stretch to secure a 54-41 victory Friday night at Monarch Stadium.

"It's huge for us," Morgantown (2-7) coach Matt Lacey said. "Being 1-7 coming in, these guys just continue to battle. I think we may have put it in cruise control a little there when we went up 21-0 early. But that's a credit to John Marshall. They never quit and they kept coming at us and doing some things.

"But also a credit to our guys, we kept finding some ways even though in the second half we've got inside the 20 a couple of times and didn't score. But, they stuck with it."

The Monarchs (3-5) finished the first quarter with two touchdowns on an Alex Burton 2-yard run and a 53-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Flowers from Justin Frohnapfel.

Flowers was Frohnapfel's go-to target as he hauled in eight receptions for 258 yards and four touchdowns. Frohnapfel threw for 369 yards with four scores and an interception going 13 of 29 in the process.

Morgantown had its first answer of the day when it scored 14 straight points thanks to two passing touchdowns from Gunner Latimore. He connected with Hunter Finn from 66 yards out followed by a 23 yard connection to Preston Fox.

Fox paced the Mohigan receiving corp with 12 catches for 241 yards while Latimore went 17 of 20 for 363 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

But it was the Monarchs who made the most noise coming out of halftime. On their first possession, Flowers hauled in his third TD reception of the night to make it 41-28.

After three straight Morgantown possessions without any success that included a punt, turnover on downs and interception, John Marshall got within one score.

With 8:36 left in the fourth quarter, Burton took the handoff and raced upfield from 49 yards out as the score read 41-34.

Burton led the ground attack for the Monarchs with 175 yards on 22 carries and two scores.

"I'm proud of the guys," John Marshall coach Jason Willis said. "We could have folded down 21-0 early, we battled back and got within a score, but every time we would get close, they would make a play. I'm proud of the effort we put out there."

On the ensuing Morgantown possesion, Whetsell rushed in from 31 yards out on a fourth-and-1. It was Whetsell's third score on the ground as he finished with 126 yards on 13 attempts.

Deondre Crudup also cracked the century mark as he racked up 114 yards on 10 attempts and a score.

John Marshall again got within one possession after Flowers hauled in his fourth TD pass, but Fox took over in the Wildcat formation as the Mohigans marched down the field. Fox ended the drive on a 28 -yard rushing score to make it 54-41 with 1:48 left in the game.

"We put this kind of effort, take it into next week and take it then into Park the following week." Willis said. "But we got to worry about Warren next week, we got to go down there and play. So, just take this kind of effort, go down there and we'll be in good shape."

Morgantown 54, John Marshall 41

Morgantown 21 20 0 13 -- 54

John Marshall 14 7 7 13 -- 41

M -- Whetsell 26 run (McConnell kick), 11:25

M -- Crudup 14 run (McConnell kick), 6:47

M -- Whetsell 34 run (McConnell kick), 5:05

J -- Burton 2 run (Gray kick), 2:38

J -- Flowers 53 pass from Frohnapfel (Gray kick), :6.1

M -- Finn 66 pass from Latimore (McConnell kick), 8:06

M -- Fox 23 pass from Latimore (McConnell kick), 4:32

J -- Flowers 23 pass from Frohnapfel (Gary kick), 3:03

M -- Latimore 2 run (kick failed), :10

J -- Flowers 66 pass from Frohnapfel (Gray kick), 10:44

J -- Burton 49 run (kick failed), 8:36

M -- Whetsell 31 run (McConnell kick), 4:14

J -- Flowers 6 pass from Frohnapfel (Gray kick), 2:12

M -- Fox 27 run (kick failed), 1:48

Rushing: Morgantown 37-325-6td (Whetsell 13-126-3td, Crudup 10-114-td, Latimore 5-2-td, Fox 5-72-td, Wolfe 3-12, Team 1-(-1). John Marshall 37-202-2td (Flowers 6-31, Boggs 5-20, Burton 22-175-2td, Frohnapfel 3-(-23), Team 1-(-1).

Passing: Morgantown 17-20-363-2td-2x (all by Latimore). John Marshall 13-29-369-4td-x (Frohnapfel 13-28-369-4td, Flowers 0-1).

Receiving: Morgantown 17-363-2td (Fox 12-241-td, Finn 3-94-td, Whetsell 1-4, Spencer 1-24). John Marshall 13-369-4td (Gray 1-3, Flowers 8-258-4td, Bonds 2-15, Bishop 3-93).

First Downs: Morgantown 21, John Marshall 21.

Penalties: Morgantown 6-54, John Marshall 3-23.

Fumbles: Morgantown 2-1, John Marshall 2-1.