By John Miller
Monett, MO – With his team’s season on the line, Michael Branch took over.
The Monett Cubs 6-foot, 220-pound tailback ran over, through, and around defenders on Friday night, leading his team to a 44-28 Class 3 District 4 championship win over visiting Mount Vernon at Burl Fowler Stadium.
Monett will host Owensville in the Class 3 sectionals. Owensville defeated Eldon 47-27 to advance.
“Coach calls me the bell cow,” said Branch, who rushed for 329 yards and five touchdowns on 35 carries. “He gives me the ball and says, ‘Go be you.”
Entering Friday night, Branch’s longest run from scrimmage this year was 21 yards. He shattered that in the first half, scampering for a 35-yard score in the second quarter. The run included Branch hurdling a defender at the 15 yard-line before stomping into the endzone. In the third quarter, Branch broke away from the defense and finished his 65-yard sprint in the endzone. He was seemingly unstoppable.
“He was awesome,” Monett coach Derrek Uhl said. “He was hitting the hole, and once he gets into that second level, he’s tough to bring down. He’s a load and has some speed with it.”
Monett (11-1) jumped in front 17-0 in the first half and seemed to have the game in command. But Mount Vernon (7-5) didn’t go down without a fight. Mountaineer quarterback Garrett Hadlock found Chance Fenton on a go-route, and Fenton sprinted past the defense for a 63-yard score to get Mount Vernon on the board.
The ensuing kickoff bounced off a Monett up-man and into the arms of Fenton. Eleven plays later, Hadlock connected with Dustin Hearne, and the Cubs lead was cut to 17-14.
“They’re an explosive offense,” Uhl said. “They can score quick. They’re scary in that way. It didn’t surprise me (that Mount Vernon got back into the game). They have the potential for that.”
The game remained tight throughout the night, but Monett never surrendered the lead.
Up 23-14 at halftime, the Cubs watched as Mount Vernon’s Andrew Montemayor returned the opening kick of the second half for an 85-yard touchdown. Two plays later, Branch romped 65 yards to the house. It was that kind of game.
But every time Mount Vernon got close, Monett answered. The Cubs’ defense also was key, keeping the Mountaineers’ aerial attack in check. Hadlock completed 25 of 44 passes for 228 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception.
“We got aggressive with them on the perimeter,” Uhl said. “We didn’t wait. We attacked them, which is something we hadn’t really seen people do expect when we played them the first time. We weren’t just going to sit back and let them pick us apart. We were going to be aggressive.”
Senior defensive back Mason Swearingen had the challenge of defending Mount Vernon’s leading receiver Jarrett Massie. Massie made 9 catches for 76 yards and a touchdown but was held without a big play—something Monett wanted to prevent.
“My mindset was to stay over the top and try not to give up that big play,” said Swearingen, whose interception in the fourth quarter sealed the Monett win. “We knew they were going to hit him on some big plays or try to.”
Mt. Vernon 0 14 14 0 28
Monett 3 20 7 14 44
First Quarter
5:57 – Monett – Cameron Cody 22-yd field goal
Second Quarter
9:03 – Monett – Michael Branch 35-yd TD run (Cody PAT)
7:52 – Monett – Ian Meyer to Cody Thompson 53-yd TD pass (Cody PAT)
6:53 – Mt. Vernon – Garrett Hadlock to Chance Fenton 63-yd TD pass (Jayden Buttram PAT)
3:55 – Mt. Vernon – Hadlock to Dustin Hearne 2-yd TD pass (Buttram PAT)
:21.3 – Monett – Branch 8-yd TD run (PAT miss)
Third Quarter
11:48 – Mt. Vernon – Andrew Montemayor 85-yd kickoff return TD (Buttram PAT)
11:02 – Monett – Branch 65-yd TD run (Cody PAT)
4:06 – Mt. Vernon – Hadlock to Jarrett Massie 3-yd TD pass (Buttram PAT)
Fourth Quarter
4:19 – Monett – Branch 10-yd TD run (Cody PAT)
1:51 – Monett – Branch 24-yd TD run (Cody PAT)
