JM Completes Perfect Regular Season with Blowout Win over Chancellor

The James Monroe faithful packed into Maury Stadium once again on Friday night as the Yellow Jackets blew out the Chancellor Chargers 49-7.

With the win, the Jackets completed a perfect 10-0 regular season and were crowned Battlefield District champions.

“We are the undisputed district champions,” James Monroe head coach Rich Serbay said after the game, “We aren’t sharing this trophy with anyone.”

There is no doubt that James Monroe played like the best team in the Battlefield district on Friday night. The Jackets soundly outperformed the visiting Chargers in all three phases of the game.

The JM special teams didn’t give up any sizeable returns and flipped the field to set up the offense with favorable field position. Sophomore place kicker David Dit went a perfect 7/7 on extra points.

On defense, the Jackets flustered the Chargers' distinctive Pistol formation attack, forcing five Chancellor turnovers. Junior linebacker Tony Scott had two fumble recoveries deep in Chargers’ territory, returning the second for a touchdown.

Junior defensive back She’Mar Ellis added a 58-yard interception return for a touchdown just before halftime to make the score 42-0 at the break. 

Other standout defensive plays were senior defensive tackle Devon Atkins’ fumble recovery with 10:36 left in the third quarter and junior defensive back Steven Bryant’s interception with 11:42 left in the game.

“We worked so hard,” Atkins said after the game, “we got a great speech in the meeting and our defense played with more emotion.”

Offensively, the Jackets found success through the air in addition to their usual dominance on the ground.

Junior quarterback Demontaz Brown threw for 90 yards including an 18-yard hook-up with senior wide receiver A’darius Brown for a touchdown.

“We can throw the ball,” remarked Coach Serbay about his team's passing attack. “When we have offense, defense and special teams clicking like that, then that’s what happens on the scoreboard.”

But on a night when 20 seniors were honored on the JM sideline just before kickoff, it was no surprise which one would be the star.

Senior running back Ethan Preston has been a stud all season. Preston compiled 19 carries for 108 yards and three touchdowns in a stellar, yet expected, performance on Friday night.

The standout back upped his season-to-date totals to 1,463 yards on only 151 touches (9.7 yards per carry) and 27 touchdowns.

When asked how he felt about completing the perfect season, Preston replied, “It feels great, the team has bonded so much. I’m still surprised. It hasn’t settled in yet, but that will change when I get home.”

Despite his success, Preston always remembers to express gratitude for his linemen and receivers' blocking that so often springs him for big runs.

The Jackets’ undefeated season is rewarded with a first round bye in the upcoming AA state playoffs. James Monroe will host a yet-to-be decided opponent the week of Nov. 18.

 JM Rushing Totals:

E. Preston: 19 carries, 108 yards, 3 TDs

A. Brown: 2 carries, 32 yards, TD

K. Conway: 2 carries, 5 yards

D. Brown: 2 carries, 12 yards

E. Nelson: 2 carries, 31 yards

D. Armstead: 1 carry, 3 yards

J. Bumbrey: 2 carries, 9 yards

R. Lawrence: 3 carries, 4 yards

G. Taylor: 4 carries, 24 yards

A. Boone: 3 carries, -6 yards

JM Passing Totals:

D. Brown: 7/13, 90 yards, TD

J. Bumbrey: 1/1, 15 yards

JM Receiving Totals:

A. Brown: 1 catch, 18 yards, TD

K. Conway: 2 catches, 46 yards

D. Dyson: 2 catches, 14 yards

Box Score

                                    Q1       Q2       Q3       Q4       OT       F

James Monroe           14       28       7         0         --        49   

Chancellor                   0         0         0         7         --        7

Scoring Summary

1/8:49                        JM- A. Brown 30 yard run (Dit kick).

1/0:38                        JM- E. Preston 2 yard run (Dit kick).

2/8:59                        JM- E. Preston 4 yard run (Dit kick).

2/5:18                        JM- D. Brown 18 yard pass to A. Brown (Dit kick).

2/1:33                        JM- T. Scott 10 yard fumble return (Dit kick).

2/0:13                        JM- S. Ellis 58 yard interception return (Dit kick).

3/9:21                        JM- E. Preston 9 yard run (Dit kick).

4/8:59                        Chan- A. Willingham 48 yard run (Dit kick).