Lone pass completion sends Monroe past CJ

A 38-yard strike in the fourth quarter provides the winning score and upset.

Monroe High School quarterback David Routson (7) runs for daylight against ChaminadeJulienne in the first round of the Division III playoffs Friday, Nov. 6, at Welcome Stadium.

Staff photo by Jim Noelker Monroe High School quarterback David Routson (7) runs for daylight against ChaminadeJulienne in the first round of the Division III playoffs Friday, Nov. 6, at Welcome Stadium.

ENLARGE PHOTO

By Skip Weaver Brian Plasters, Staff Writer Updated 12:10 PM Monday, November 9, 2009

DAYTON — Monroe High School completed just one pass the entire game, but it was the biggest one of the night.

With 10 minutes, 37 seconds remaining, David Routson connected with Travis Hacker for a 38-yard touchdown strike that put the Hornets ahead for good as they held on the rest of the way to beat third-seeded Chaminade Julienne 12-7 on Friday night, Nov. 6, in the Division III, Region 12 quarterfinals at Welcome Stadium.

Sixth-seeded Monroe had great field position at the CJ 38-yard line to set up the pass play after the defense forced the Eagles to punt from their own 18.

Hacker said he was a bit nervous when he heard the play call in the huddle, but the 6-foot-2 junior went up against two Eagle defenders to bring it down in the end zone.

“I had to go up and get it,” Hacker said. “The ball was a little under thrown, but I just had to jump as high as I could.”

The touchdown, which was Hacker’s fourth of the season, gave Monroe (9-2) its first playoff win since 2007 and the first career playoff win for head coach Ken Meibers.

“It’s just a play we work on in practice every day,” Meibers said of the touchdown pass. “Our offense is so run-oriented that we get some success down field like that sometimes.

“Travis made a heck of a catch,” he added.

CJ coach Andy Helms was disheartened following the loss.

“Sometimes it comes down to a few plays in a game like this with two good teams,” said Helms, whose Eagles finished the year at 8-3. “I thought we did a good job limiting their rushing game, but field position was a big factor. We have to execute better after we fell behind, but we didn’t.”

CJ drove 68 yards on 11 plays down to the Monroe 10 after the Hornets took the lead, but the drive stalled and Monroe took over on downs after CJ quarterback Michael Simpson threw an incomplete pass on fourth down.

The Eagles had one more opportunity with the ball, but on third down and 5 from their own 41, Simpson’s pass hung up in the air too long and Zach Fugate snared it for the Hornets’ second interception of the game.

“That’s a great team,” Meibers said of CJ. “We made some good plays on defense and that allowed us to put pressure on the quarterback.”

Simpson completed 9-of-19 passing for 91 yards. Aaron Stokes rushed for 48 yards and a touchdown. Devin King lead the Hornets with 47 yards rushing.

Monroe will play Wyoming Friday, Nov. 13, at a site to be determined in the regional semifinals.

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