Dakota Mathes 76-yard touchdown reception with 9:49 remaining in the 4th quarter broke a 7-7 tie and propelled Kecoughtan to a 20-7 victory over the Menchville Monarchs in a Saturday afternoon game at Todd Stadium. The scoring drive covered 98 yards in 3 plays and deflated Menchville's momentum as the Warriors held on for the win.

Kecoughtan appeared to be in deep trouble in the fourth quarter after a Nick Lennartz punt pinned the Warriors at their own 2-yard line. A facemask penalty against the Monarchs put the ball at the 24-yard and setup the big play from Mathes. He knew the play would gain big yardage because the Warriors had run the same play earlier in the game. "I was open on the play before" said Mathes. "We ran it again and I caught the ball and saw daylight" Mathes distanced himself from four Monarch defenders and sprinted into the end zone.

Menchville could not move the ball on their next series, and after a Menchville punt, the Warriors used 5:37 off the clock, on a 10-play 47-yard drive. Quarterback Earl Peoples, who finished with 133 yards passing, scored from two yards out and the touchdown increase the Kecoughtan lead to 20-7 with three minutes remaining.

A Menchville fumble at the Warrior 39-yard line led to the first points of the game when running back Isaiah Sheppard broke a tackle and outran everyone to the goal line for a 7-0 Kecoughtan lead. Sheppard finished the game with 111 yards on 14 carries.

The Monarchs tied the score at seven apiece after linebacker Adam Edbauer intercepted a pass at the Warriors 49-yard line. Two plays later, running back Odis Wesby took a handoff from Shawne Alston and scored from 50 yards out.

Menchville (1-3, 0-3) had several opportunities to score in the first half as they move the ball across the 50-yard line on three different occasions. However, penalties stopped each drive as the Monarchs committed 13 penalties for 103 yards and had three turnovers. One bright spot was the running of Odis Wesby who carried 15 times for 129 yards and scored the Monarchs only touchdown.

The Monarch’s defense also made several big plays. Ronald Ellsworth blocked a FG with 17 seconds left in the first half that was returned to the Kecoughtan 33 yard line. Nick Lennartz also made a big play sacking Warrior QB Earl Peoples for an 11-yard loss.

The Monarchs play at Denbigh on Monday in a rescheduled game from Saturday.

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