Monroe Area Wins on Homecoming Over Indians

Stephens County drops a close one on Homecoming.

Friday night, the Indians led entering the fourth quarter, but Monroe Area scored twice in the fourth quarter to come from behind for a 34-24 win in Toccoa in the Region 8-AAA opener for both teams.

“Defensively, we got out of position a little bit in the first half, but the team adjusted well in the second half,” said Head Coach Wesley Tankersley, adding it was a few plays that made the difference.

The Indians got off to a strong start with a 46-yard touchdown pass from Ben Stowe to Corey Richie to take a 7-0 lead. Monroe Area cut it to a 7-6 game on a two-yard touchdown run by quarterback, Selatian Straughter, but the Indians kept the lead by blocking the extra point.

Colton Bartmas extended Stephens County’s lead to 10-6 in the second quarter on a 27-yard field goal, but two Purple Hurricane touchdowns, an 18-yard run by Alan Jones and a 10-yard run by Straughter, gave Monroe Area a 20-10 lead at halftime.

Ben Stowe and Cam Lacy connected twice on long touchdown passes of 52 and 82 yards in the third quarter to put the Indians back on top, 24-20, entering the fourth quarter. However, Straughter scored on touchdown runs of 7 yards and 1 yard in the final quarter to give the Purple Hurricanes the win.

The loss drops Stephens County to 5-1 overall and 0-1 in the region. Monroe Area moves to 6-0 overall and 1-0 in the region with the win.

Meanwhile, this year’s Homecoming Queen is Ikira Patterson, daughter of Yoshia Maxwell and Ike Patterson.

Player Awards

First Baptist Church Spirit Award – Kamari McCarter

X-Factor Sub of the Game – Walker Thomason

Hart EMC Lineman of the Game – Nathan Walker

Stephens County Farm Bureau Player of the Game – Ben Stowe