Jay Neal
Jacksonville Daily Progress
JACKSONVILLE —
No disrespect to Monterrey (Mexico) Tech, but the Lon Morris College Bearcats should actually get their first real test of the year at 2 p.m. Saturday when the Green and White tee it up against the Arkansas Baptist College Buffaloes (0-1).
And while a win is always a win, no matter what, LMC head coach Johnnie Ritchey realizes that there may not be any more Monterrey Tech’s on the ‘Cats’ schedule this year. The ‘Cats pulverized the Wild Rams in every phase of the game, winning 49-0 in LMC’s return to football after a 70-year recess.
“We really didn’t know what to expect from them (Monterrey Tech),” Richey said. “They lost their stating quarterback and I believe they had some kids playing new positions, but, you know, they are a college football team and we are excited about getting the win.”
LMC soared out to a 21-0 lead with just 3:30 having expired off the clock and with the ‘Cat offensive unit having been on the field for just a single play.
On that single play though, Brandon Whitaker (Rome, Ga.) took a hand off from former Jacksonville Indian Kyle Stacy, immediately slithered through the Wild Ram line and then raced into the end zone from 60 yards out, giving LMC the early lead (7-0).
From that point the LMC defense made a statement by returning interceptions for touchdowns on Monterrey Tech’s next-two plays from scrimmage.
Buck McCullough (Crockett) dashed in from 36 yards out and Marquise McCormick (Dallas) ran in from 33 yards away to account for the ‘Cat scores.
“In all my years of coaching, I don’t think I can ever remember seeing a team being ahead 21-0 having run just one offensive play,” Richey said. “It was exciting to see that.”
Having rolled up 457 yards of total offense while allowing the Wild Rams just 33 total yards, one may think that the LMC starters played longer than they should have in the one-sided affair; quite the contrary, however.
“We played a lot of kids on both sides of the ball,” Ritchey said. “We had five-different quarterbacks that saw action for example. We wanted to get as many kids into a real game situation as we possibly could.”
With a plethora of ‘Cats giving good accounts of themselves, Richey was hard pressed to narrow noteworthy performances down to a manageable number, but he gave it try anyway.
“Kyle Stacy had a good night at quarterback,” he said. “He completed 9-of-13 and really should gave gone 11-of-11. Brandon Whitaker had the 60-yard touchdown run and he proved anytime he gets his hands on the ball he has the potential to make a big play for us.
“Jonathan Keener out of Sealey had two or three catches and I think he will continue to make the big catches for us. C. J. Jackson (Kilgore) had some big runs. Once he gets around the edge he’s gone because he has so much speed which makes him a big threat.”
The Buffaloes (0-1) come to town after dropping a 37-20 decision to Joliet (Ill.) Junior College in a game that was played in the suburbs of Chicago last week.
ABC, which is a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) that is located in downtown Little Rock, Ark., fell behind 24-0 late in the third quarter before finally getting on the board after a short touchdown scamper by Patrick Gears.
The Buffaloes went on to score twice inside the final 5:18 of play, with both drives be aided by personal foul penalties on Joliet JC, to make the final score more respectable.
Richey says that the ‘Cats must be able to stop the run to be able to stop ABC.
“From what we’ve seen of them they like to run the ball and have some kids that can run ,” he said. “They (ABC) struggled in their passing game against Joliet and I think Joliet took advantage of that, but they area big and physical team.”
Following Saturday’s game, LMC will play their next-six games on the road before returning home on Oct. 23 to face Tyler Junior College at 7 p.m.
