Yellow Jackets Wax Blue Devils, 64-7

They’re called "POWs," namely, the helmet stickers that James Monroe football coach Rich Serbay awards to his kickers for touchbacks. After his performance Saturday at Culpeper County, David Dit will be hard-pressed to find the requisite space on his headgear. Dit’s seven touchbacks, five of which reached the endzone in the air, highlighted a game in which just about everything went right for the Yellow Jackets.   

"It was just a great day,” said Dit of his performance. “I knew I could do it. Coach kept telling me, ‘just kick it through,’ and I went out there and did it.”

Playing a rare Saturday game due to wet field conditions, James Monroe stumbled out of the gates, but recovered to win by the somewhat comfortable score of 64-7. Turnovers hurt the Jackets early, as Ethan Preston uncharacteristically fumbled, and quarterback Demontaz Brown tossed an interception on a ball thrown behind his slanting receiver.

Culpeper took advantage of the miscues, and with 2:16 remaining in the first quarter, quarterback Zach Crim hit tight end C. Miller over the middle for a 22-yard touchdown. Miller demonstrated great balance in the open field, rumbling for 10-plus yards after the point of first contact.

At that point, JM woke up, and it was curtains. On the second play following the Culpeper touchdown, senior running back Ethan Preston took a handoff and sprinted 52 yards for a touchdown to tie the contest at seven with 1:53 remaining in the first quarter.

The remaining thirty-seven minutes would see JM outscore the Blue Devils 57-0. Preston was up to his usual antics, finishing the evening with over 200 yards rushing and four scores, and defensive back Julian Bumbrey duplicated his performance two weeks ago at King George by returning two interceptions for touchdowns in a 15-second span.

The Yellow Jackets took a 43-7 lead into halftime, and as in every game so far this season, the second-team took over mid-way through the third quarter. It’s a fact that concerns Serbay heading into next week’s pivotal Battlefield District matchup with Courtland.

“All of our games have been blowouts,” remarked Serbay. “We haven’t played a full game yet with our starting offense or starting defense. And that worries me… Next week it’s going to be a nail-biter for four quarters. That’s a big concern for me.”

The Yellow Jackets will host 4-2 Courtland High School, next Friday Oct. 21. It will be homecoming night for James Monroe and kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

Culpeper County- C. Miller 22-yard pass from Z. Crim 2:16 (De Ugato Kick)

JM- Ethan Preston 52-yard run 1:53 (Dit Kick)

JM- Preston 54-run :14 (Dit Kick)

Second Quarter

JM- A. Brown 40-yard run 6:51 (Dit Kick)

JM- Sack in the endzone, Safety 4:52

JM- J. Bumbrey 28-yard INT return 1:151 (Kick Failed)

JM- J. Bumbrey 27-yard INT return 1:36

JM- Kasine Conway 37-yard pass from D. Brown :48 (Dit Kick)

Third Quarter 

JM- Snap out of the endzone, Safety 8:39

JM- Preston 39-yard run 7:22 (Kick Failed)

JM- Preston 35-yard run 2:20 (Kick Failed)

Fourth Quarter

JM- Boone 10-yard run 5:44 (Dit Kick)