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Greyhounds ground Eagles for playoff berth 14-6 @BruceDavidson37 @monessensports @PABackyard

Tagged under: District 7, News

| October 30, 2021

By: Bruce Davidson

Despite having a record of 1-8 overall the Avella Eagles still entered Friday night’s matchup with Monessen holding a shot at a playoff spot.

One of three teams toward the bottom of the conference along with Jefferson-Morgan and Bentworth, Avella controlled their own destiny on Senior night. With the aforementioned Rockets and Bearcats taking on Carmichaels and California respectively, the Avella-Monessen winner would be the last one in should the Mighty Mikes and Trojans both win.

Spoiler alert, they did.

On a cold late October night, it was between the gold-clad Eagles, and white wearing Greyhounds for that final spot.

Avella received the ball to start the game but was forced to punt. Monessen couldn’t get anything off their first possession either. Halfway through the first quarter it was a stalemate at 0-0.

The Eagles reached the Monessen 15-yardline before penalties backed them up as far as the 32-yardline before turning the ball over on downs.

At 12 minutes gone, neither team had put up a point.

Over half of the second quarter had gone by until Monessen Freshman Daniel Dozier fought into the endzone for the Greyhounds touchdown. Dozier ran in the two-point conversion as well, and Monessen led 8-0 with 5:17 left until halftime.

Avella gave the ball right back in three plays with a fumble, but the Eagles defense forced a quick four and out near midfield for Monessen.

With 1:06 left in the second quarter Junior QB KJ Rush threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Junior Noah Markle putting Avella on the board. The Eagles two-point conversion failed, and Monessen led 8-6 when each team went back to the locker rooms.

To start the second half Avella recovered an onside kick at their own 45-yardline and looked to take the lead early in the third quarter.

Monessen forced a turnover on downs for Avella, then drove inside the Eagles redzone with a chance to add to their lead. The Greyhounds were turned away on fourth and goal from the Avella 2-yardline, and with 4:17 left in the third quarter it remained a two-point game.

Through three quarters the natural grass field at Avella had kept this game as a battle of attrition. The Greyhounds led 8-6, and many of their once white jerseys were now covered in mud.

Just after a minute elapsed in the fourth quarter Monessen Sophomore Daevon Burke ran in for a touchdown from 11 yards out. After the play a penalty against the Greyhounds backed up the two-point try to the Avella 18-yardline. The Eagles broke up the pass and stayed down only one score as Monessen led 14-6 with 10:57 left in the game.

Avella would reach the Greyhounds 27-yardline before being stopped on fourth down. Monessen nearly ran out the clock but was faced with a fourth and 14 in the final minute and prepared to punt and give the Eagles on final shot to tie the game.

Except Jamar Bethea had other plans for the Greyhounds. The Monessen Junior took the snap and ran 23 yards to pick up a first down and end the game.

Monessen won 14-6 to improve to 4-6 overall , 3-4 in conference and clinch the final playoff spot in the Tri-County South conference. With the loss Avella finishes the 2021 season at 1-9 overall, and 1-6 in conference.

With very few bench players on their roster Monessen showed great character once again. Sophomore Daniel Dozier echoed that postgame.

“We all fight for each other, we play for each other, and we do everything we need to do for the win,” Dozier said.

The playoffs await the Greyhounds, and while their opponent is still to be determined, the outline of their week is clear.

“We just have to practice hard this week, get ready for who we’ll play, and do our thing again like we did tonight,” Dozier said

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
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