MidValleySports.Com

Count em…1…2…2

With Monrovia and Paraclete meeting again this Friday night in the Mid-Valley Semi Finals we thought we would take a trip down memory lane to the last time these two Mid-Valley powers collided. Last year it was the Finals. This year it’s the semis. Here’s how it went on November 30, 2012. 

Threemendous!

(Monrovia)- Monrovia scored 23 unanswered points in the second half to overcome a 7-0 deficit and beat Paraclete 23-7 for its third straight CIF Mid-Valley Division title Friday night on its home field.

Paraclete was the more physcial team in the first half. The Spirits were knocking the Wildcats all over the field and even knocked off George Frazier’s helmet on one play. They also sacked Blake Heyworth twice. Paraclete had one big play offensively in the first half. Tyler Carvalho hit a wide open Darma Poonosamy on a 48-yard touchdown pass on its second possession for a 7-0 lead. Poonosamy got behind the Monrovia secondary and Carvalho hit him in stride for the first score of the contest.

Meanwhile Monrovia couldn’t get things going. The Wildcats punted on its first two possessions and were stopped on downs on thier next two. The Wildcats had a golden opportunity to break through late in the first half after Brett Walsh intercepted a Carvalho pass off of a tip. Monrovia toook over on the Paraclete 27 but after a sack and two short runs, Mason Bryant missed a 46 yard field goal and the Spirits went in to the break with the seven point lead.

Ainsworth finds a crease!

“That’s a great football team. They were flying around,” said Monrovia Coach Ryan Maddox of Paraclete. “We made some adjustments on our offensive line to take advantage of the way they were playing. Our defense played great in the first half. there wasn’t a whole lot of adjustments there.”

Monrovia wasn’t lighting it up on offense, Paraclete’s defense was cracking down and all was well in Spiritville. Then things changed in an instant in the second half. Paraclete went three and out, and like the lightning on this rain soaked night, Monrovia struck. Blake Heyworth hit Anthony Craft in single coverage, who broke the tackle of the defender and raced 85 yards for the touchdown. Craft’s sprint to glory only tied the game at seven, but you could almost hear the wind escaping Paraclete’s sails.

“Their D-backs walked up in our face and we’ve done that all year,” Maddox said. “If they’re going to challenge us we’re going to take our shots. We just had to put ourselves in the right position. Our quarterback threw a great ball and there was a great catch.”

The Cats forced Paraclete into a three and out again and Monrovia took over at its own 30. A couple of penalties helped a Monrovia drive down to the Paraclete six yard line where Bryant booted a 22 yard field goal.

James Jackson picked off a Carvalho pass to halt a Paraclete drive on the ensuing possession and Monrovia was in business again. This time the Wildcats embarked on a 10-play 52 yard drive. A couple of Paraclete penalties and an 18 yard pass from Heyworth to Bryant set up Ge Vontray Ainsworth for a one -yard run and a 16-7 lead with 10:30 left in the game.

Paraclete was forced to go for it on fourth down from its own 31 on its next series. Monrovia held and then five plays later Frazier trucked in, helmet and all, on a five yard touchdown run. For all intents and purposes, that put a bow on M-Town’s third straight crown.

Deshawn Potts picked off a pass on the next Spirit series which set the celebration in motion. Paraclete’s three turnovers proved to be costly while Monrovia never coughed it up.

While the Monrovia offense did enough, it was ultimately the D that set the tone. The Cats held Paraclete to only 155 yards of total offense, including just 61 yards on the ground.  Antoyne Hutcherson gained 22 yards on eight carries and Chris Campbell was limited to 16 yards on six carries.

Ainsworth rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and Craft had four receptions for 117 yards and a score. Darione Jones added 49 yards on the ground.

“Let’s just say the speech at halftime wasn’t G-rated,” said M-Town assistant coach Mike Minter after the Spirits controlled most of the first half action.

“It’s the dedication of my coaching staff and the hard work the players have put in. We don’t talk alot about three-peat just getting better each week and being the best you can be,” Maddox added. “It’s an incredible feeling but we have to stay humble and continue to work hard.”

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