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Mountain View running back Shane Black carries the ball against James Monroe last night. Black had 185 rushing yards and a touchdown for the Wildcats. Mountain View got a last-second field goal to earn the win.
James Monroe's Mike Latney runs for one of his two fourth-quarter touchdowns to help rally the Jackets.
Mountain View quarterback Jordan King stretches for a first down during the first half |
BY ADAM HIMMELSBACH
Greg Outlaw was the kicker on Mountain View's junior varsity team last season, but that doesn't mean he was very busy.
"We never kicked anything besides an extra point," the junior said.
So imagine how Outlaw must have been feeling last night, when there were four seconds left and the game against James Monroe was tied and his coach turned and sent him in.
But in a strange way, the moment did not faze Outlaw, because he had never been in such a moment before. Prior to this field goal attempt, he had never attempted a field goal in a game at any level of football.
But when the 185-pounder trotted toward the ball and poked it into the air, there was never a doubt.
The kick sailed high into the dark night, right down the middle, and it gave the Wildcats a stunning 19-16 victory against the Yellow Jackets, who are the defending Group AA, Division 3 state champions.
"We knew JM was going to be good, and we hoped we could match up with their athletes," Mountain View coach Eric Cooke said. "We felt like if we played solid football we'd have a good chance."
After Outlaw's kick, the Wildcats swarmed together and yelled and bobbed up and down. Outlaw was calm as his teammates patted his helmet and congratulated him.
"I kind of zoned it all out and just let myself do my job," Outlaw said. "Once I hit it, it felt good. And after it went in I was numb. I just screamed, is all I did."
That the game even reached that point was a testament to James Monroe and its championship mettle.
The Yellow Jackets trailed 16-0 early in the fourth quarter before they responded.
James Monroe pulled within 16-8 when Mike Latney ran for a 10-yard touchdown with 10 minutes, 54 seconds left, and Farkeem French found Greg Edwards for the ensuing two-point conversion.
With 2:33 remaining, JM started a drive at its 6-yard line.
Edwards caught passes of 17 and 23 yards, and on first down from the 36, Latney broke free for a touchdown at the 1:16 mark.
Latney added the two-point conversion, and the game was tied.
"Overall I'm happy," James Monroe coach Richard Serbay said. "You're never happy with a loss, but we saw some positive things in it."
The ensuing squib kick bounced directly to a Wildcats player at his team's 42.
On first down from the 33, Mountain View quarterback Jordan King hit Aaron Williams for a 25-yard gain.
After an incomplete pass on first down, Outlaw trotted out for the game-winning kick.
"This is a great win for the school, for the program, and for this year in general," Cooke said.
Outlaw was a soccer goalie in middle school, and when he developed a habit of hitting the opposing players, his coach recommended he try football.
He played on the defensive line and was the kicker on the JV team, although he was cut from the soccer team in each of the past two years.
He said he would like to play on the defensive line once again, but he admitted that kicking game-winning field goals isn't bad, either.
"I'm just glad I could win it," Outlaw said.
The Wildcats received a boost from senior running Shane Black, who had 24 carries for 185 yards and a touchdown.
Black played wide receiver last year, but this year he took over at running back for his older brother, Connor Black.
"I was just trying to run hard and do my best," Black said. "Man, first game of the season with the stat champions in the house? There's nothing to test our team more than this."
Adam Himmelsbach: 540/374-5442
Email: ahimmelsbach@freelancestar.com
