It was hard to tell who the winning team was after the Menchville-Phoebus game at Todd Stadium. The Phantoms, who came into the game undefeated, survived a close 35-28 game that was expected to be a blowout on paper. Phoebus won the game last year 74-0 and had not allowed more than 13 points all season.

The first drive of the game gave an indication of things to come. The Phoebus offense started out business as usual, as they marched down the field 65 yards to the Monarchs two yard line. But Menchville held, stopping fullback Haroon Brown three times inside the 10 and on fourth and goal from the one, the Monarch defense stuffed quarterback Tajh Boyd’s sneak attempt for no yardage.

Menchville took over on the 1-yard line and got a first down after three running plays, the last from 280 pound fullback Nick Lennartz. Quarterback Rakeem Kersey then found receiver Tim Davidson on the left sideline and he raced 79 yards to the Phoebus 1-yard line. Shawne Alston capped the 99-yard drive with a touchdown run giving Menchville an improbable 7-0 lead after the first quarter.

Phoebus answered quickly after a 53-yard pass completion from Tajh Boyd to William Wheeler gave the Phantoms the ball inside the six yard line. Brown would not be denied a second time and crossed the goal line with 11:55 left in the half. The extra point was blocked. Dennis Mathis 28 yard gain a few minutes later gave Phoebus the ball at the Menchville 25-yard line and Brown scored his second touchdown from two yards out.

With the Monarchs down 12-7, quarterback Rakeem Kersey took over and led his team down the field. He completed three passes for 39 yards and converted two third down plays to keep a long the drive going. His sneak from the one yard line put Menchville ahead at the half 14-12.

The upset of the decade was still intact midway thru the third quarter until a poor snap on a punt attempt gave Phoebus the ball at the 19-yard line. Dennis Mathis, who finished with 217 yards rushing, glided around the left end for the go-ahead touchdown with 5:27 left in the third. The two-point conversion put Phoebus in front 20-14.

The Phantoms barely had time to enjoy their lead before Shawne Alston got the Menchville supporters excited, with a 60 yards three plays later that put the Monarchs back in front 21-20 going into the fourth quarter.

But the clock would eventually strike 12 on the Monarchs Cinderella upset as the Phantoms scored two fourth quarter touchdowns to put them up by two touchdowns. Menchville, who had just played a game three days earlier, simply ran out of gas and had no answer for Mathis. His touchdown with 8:22 remaining finished a drive where he gain 53 of the 64 yards. His second score, a 34-yard touchdown run with 2:46 remaining, provided the Phantoms some cushion.

The Monarchs would not go away and had one last piece of magic left. Receiver Anthony Garlick drew a pass interference penalty on fourth down; then he and Kersey connected for a 23-yard pass completion with less than a minute left that gave Menchville a first down at the 21 yard line. Kersey, who passed for 191 yards on 13 completions, found Antonio Harris in the end zone and lead was down to seven. The onside kick failed, and the Phantoms escaped with the win allowing Coach Bill Dee to breathe a sigh of relief. \“We were not mentally ready,\” he said \“but that’s the best I’ve seen a Menchville team play in a long time.\” The Phantoms may have been looking ahead to their showdown with Hampton next week, in what is considered the biggest game in the Peninsula district every year. \“This game opened our eyes\” Mathis said about the victory. \“We have to go out and play our best, no matter who the opponent is.\”

The Monarchs hope to use the moral victory to help them finish the season strong. \“It was great offensive performance,\” Menchville coach John Byron said. \“I could not be more proud of our guys.\” The Monarchs return to Todd stadium next week to meet Heritage while the Phantoms face the Hampton Crabbers in the Peninsula district game–of-the-year.

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