Yellow Jackets Blast Lafayette 56-21 in Regional Semifinals

James Monroe treated the first game of its postseason just like any other game, and this season that means winning, and doing so in blowout fashion.

The Yellow Jackets exploded for 555 yards of total offense, and completely demoralized a Lafayette team that was actually picked by some regional media outlets to topple JM.

James Monroe received the opening kickoff, and on the second play from scrimmage, senior wide receiver A'Darius Brown took an end around to the left and sprinted 64 yards for a touchdown to give JM an early 7-0 lead.

Although the Rams pulled within a touchdown on Will Capers' scoring scamper early in the second quarter, Lafayette couldn't compete from that point on.

Three straight JM touchdowns before the break gave the Jackets a 35-7 halftime lead and effectively put the game out of reach.

"They [Lafayette] were worried about our running game," said James Monroe head coach Rich Serbay.

And they had good reason. Despite the Rams' obvious efforts to contain senior running back Ethan Preston, the standout back rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns. 

A'Darius Brown chipped in with 108 yards on the ground, the bulk of it coming on his first quarter score.

The constant scene of eight and nine man fronts allowed Brown and his fellow receivers to face man-to-man coverage all game long.

They cashed in.

Quarterback Demontaz Brown played arguably his best game of the season, completing 12 of 17 passes for 235 yards, including a 97-yard hookup with A. Brown that landed the duo in the history books for longest completion in James Monroe history.

"Demontaz Brown is the x-factor," remarked Serbay about his man under center. "And when Demontaz Brown is hot you're never gonna beat us. And I believe that. Today he came out and did what we asked him to do, and I'm really proud of him." 

Perhaps even more impressive, on the biggest play of the night, he managed to find a receiver who ran the wrong route.

"Coach told me to come off the ball hard," recalled A'Darius Brown in reference to his 97-yard touchdown reception. "I actually ran the wrong route. Luckily Demontaz threw a perfect ball and I was able to run under it."

James Monroe will need to bring the same sort of firepower next Saturday Nov. 26, when they will travel east down I-64 to take on undefeated and regional #1 seed York at Bailey Field. The Falcons defeated Poqouson 35-22 Friday.

-Kevin Boilard contributed to this report

Stats Central

JM Rushing Totals

E. Preston: 14 carries, 140 yards, 2 TDs

A. Brown: 4 carries, 108 yards, 2 TDs

D. Brown: 6 carries, 26 yards

E. Nelson: 1 carry, 4 yards, TD

D. Armstead: 1 carry, 3 yards, TD

A. Boone: 6 carries, 39 yards

JM Passing Totals

D. Brown: 12/17, 235 yards, TD

JM Receiving Totals

A. Brown: 3 catches, 131 yards, TD

K. Conway: 4 catches, 66 yards

R. Lawrence: 3 catches, 25 yards

M. Forjan: 1 catch, 7 yards

Ja. Bumbrey: 1 catch, 6 yards

Box Score

                            Q1       Q2       Q3       Q4       F

Lafayette              0         7         0         14       21

James Monroe      14       21       7         14       56      

Scoring Summary

Quarter/Time Remaining

1/11:10         JM- A. Brown 64 yard run (Dit Kick)

1/0:23           JM- E. Nelson 4 yard run (Dit Kick)

2/10:54         LAF- W. Capers 14 yard run (Vaught Kick)

2/7:06           JM- E. Preston 9 yard run (Dit Kick)

2/6:29           JM- A. Brown 5 yard run (XP failed)

2/2:45           JM- D. Brown 97 yard pass to A. Brown (D. Brown pass to K. Conway for 2 pt conv.)

            **HALFTIME SCORE: JM 35, Lafayette 7**

3/7:06           JM- E. Preston 53 yard run (Dit Kick)

4/11:07         LAF- W. Capers 27 yard run (Vaught Kick)

4/6:17           JM- Ju. Bumbrey 70 yard kickoff return (Dit Kick)

4/0:17           LAF- B. McGinty 34 yard pass to G. Lostly (Vaught Kick)