Glayden Berry redeemed two first-half fumbles with an explosive second half and Jordan Passehl returned yet another kickoff for a touchdown to throttle the Indians to a 28-21 victory over Grand Junction High Friday night at Stocker Stadium.
The win, coupled with Durango’s big stumble — a 20-14 loss at home to Central — clinched at least a share of yet another Southwestern League crown for Montrose (3-0 SWL, 8-1 overall).
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“We played like champions tonight,” said Montrose coach Todd Casebier, his team celebrating mildly behind him, seemingly proud of their workmanlike effort clocked in. “We recovered from our early mistakes, played solid down the stretch, and grabbed control of a key league game.
“That’s what champions do ... they dig deep and play with heart.”
Berry, who slashed his way for 128 yards on 12 carries, left the ball on the field twice in Grand Junction territory early on. And after bobbling a short kickoff return in the second half, Casebier still showed faith in his standout senior halfback.
The Tigers had just matched Passehl’s 94-yard return with a long drive of their own, capped by Jake Brock’s 27-yard run to go back ahead 21-14. Passehl’s return of the second-half kickoff — his fourth kick return for paydirt in the past five games — had briefly tied the game at 14-14.
Casebier knew where to go.
“We went back to Berry because we believe in him,” said Casebier, who then saw his sideline erupt in celebration when Berry took a quick trap right on his own 33, bounced down the right sideline and broke a tackle attempt at the Tiger 5 to knot the score again at 21-21. “That really broke things open for us.”
The Indians were running downhill from there, shutting down the Tigers on downs to get the ball back in the hands of their stable of backs again.
Passehl had the call on the winner, a 21-yard blast off left tackle where he literally carried defenders into the end zone for the final three yards. Stood up at the Tiger 8, Passehl (19 carries, 98 yards) simply would not be denied.
Tigers coach Robbie Owens, though impressed with several of the Indians’ key skill players, was dissapointed at what slipped through his team’s hands.
Grand Junction outgained Montrose 385-306, but also committed two more turnovers and was penalized eight times for 85 yards. Brock’s game-high 155 yards rushing was offset by the Tigers’ troubles.
Montrose, perhaps in a key reversal statistic that has cost them at times this season, averted the yellow flag for the first time all season.
“We’ve played teams tougher than Montrose this year, so that wasn’t the issue,” Owens said. “We had this game, and let them take it from us.”
Friday’s Box Score
SWL
MONTROSE 28, GRAND JUNCTION 21
At Stocker Stadium
MHS (3-0, 8-1) — 07 00 07 14 — 28
GJ (2-2, 3-6) — 07 07 07 00 — 21
SCORING SUMMARY
M — Jordan Passehl 6 run (Nathan Robertson kick)
GJ — Rose Chandon 16 pass from Sean Rubalcaba (Tim Saro kick)
GJ — Jake Brock 3 run (Saro kick)
M — Passehl 94 kickoff return (Robertson kick)
GJ — Brock 27 run (Saro kick)
M — Glayden Berry 67 run (Robertson kick)
M — Passehl 21 run (Robertson kick)
TEAM STATS
First downs: M 14, GJ 16
Rushes/Yards: M 44-284; GJ 50-241
Passing yards: M 22; GJ 144
Total yards: M 306; GJ 385
Comp/Att/Int: M 3-7-0; GJ 15-27-1-1
Fumbles/lost: M 3-2; GJ 4-3
Penalties/yards: M 0-0; GJ 8-85
INDIVIDUAL STATS
Rushing: (Montrose) Berry 12-128; Passehl 19-98; Robertson 10-52. (GJ) Brock 26-155; Rubalcaba 14-54; Andy Willett 8-22.
Passing: (Montrose) Robertson 3-7-22-0-0; Rubalcaba 15-27-144-1-1
Receiving: (Montrose) Berry 1-11; Johnathan Sierra 1-5; Roland McLaren 1-6. (GJ) Tyler Winder 6-57; Cory Derush 4-36; Rose 4-49.
SWL Standings
Montrose (3-0, 8-1)
Durango (2-1, 8-1)
Central (2-2, 4-5)
Grand Junction (2-2, 3-6)
Fruita Monument (0-4, 2-6)
Friday’s Scores
Montrose 28, Grand Junction 21
Central 20, Durango 14
Today’s game
Fruita Monument vs. Poudre, 2 p.m.
Next Week
Durango at Montrose
Byes: Central, Fruita, GJ
old school wrote on Nov 2, 2009 7:30 PM: