MONROE — Eight more yards. That’s all the Monroe Cheesemakers would’ve needed to pull off a come from behind win over the Delavan-Darien Comets in a Rock Valley Conference game on Oct. 2 at T.R. Holyoke Field.
Instead, the Cheesemakers fell 47-42 and out of playoff contention. Just a little over a minute into the game, Delavan-Darien scored on an 81-yard touchdown pass from Quintin Arizola to Kaden Garbe to take a 6-0 lead. Monroe responded quickly as Noah Spotts returned the ensuing kickoff 81 yards to set up a 3-yard touchdown run by Kingston McNett. Brock Brandli’s extra point put Monroe in front 7-6 with 10:05 left in the first quarter.
Arizola scored on an 8-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter and Daniel O’Grady’s extra point gave the Comets a 13-7 lead. The Cheese again responded by getting the ball to midfield. Tristan Anderson ripped off a 15-yard run to put Monroe at the 35-yard-line. McNett finished off the drive with a 24-yard touchdown catch from Ryan Roelli. Brandli’s extra point put Monroe back on top 14-13. But, that would be the last time the Cheesemakers led. Garbe and Arizola connected on a pair of touchdown passes before halftime to put the Comets in front 27-14 at the break.
The Cheese took the second half kickoff and marched 67 yards in six plays with McNett getting the last five yards. The extra point by Brandli was good and Monroe trailed 27-21. Another touchdown pass from Arizola to Garbe and a two point conversion gave Delavan-Darien a 35-21 lead with 6:52 remaining in the third quarter. The Cheesemakers wouldn’t give up as they went on a 74-yard scoring drive. One of the big plays was a 26-yard run by Spotts to put them in the red zone. Anderson reached the end zone on a 4-yard run and Brandli kicked the extra point to keep Monroe within a touchdown at 35-28 with 2:59 left in the third quarter. After the kickoff, a flea-flicker play by the Comets gained 41 yards to the 15-yard-line, and two plays later, Arizola threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Kevin O’Grady. A try for two failed, but Delavan-Darien led 41-28 with 1:32 left in the third quarter.
Anderson’s 1-yard run for a touchdown and Brandli’s extra point brought the Cheesemakers back to within 41-35 with 9:24 left in the game. But, the Comets went on a time-consuming 70-yard drive that chewed up over seven minutes off the clock as Arizola scored from a yard out. A two-point try failed, but Delavan-Darien led 47-35 with 1:50 remaining.
Monroe went on a 60-yard touchdown drive aided by a late hit penalty with under a minute to play. Spotts scored on a 4-yard run and Brandli’s extra point made the score 47-42 with 26 seconds left. The Cheesemakers then executed a perfect on-side kick with freshman Jace Riese kicking the ball, which rolled on the ground and took a big hop right to Anderson who recovered at the 45 with 22 seconds left. Roelli scrambled to the 24 with 13 seconds left and Brandli caught a pass to the 8-yard line with seven seconds left. Sprinting to the line with no huddle, Roelli tried to spike the ball to get in one more play, but time ran out on the Cheesemakers.
Monroe had 385 yards on 50 rushing attempts and five touchdowns. Anderson rushed 24 times for 174 yards and two touchdowns. McNett had a rushing and a receiving touchdown.
Monroe coach Tom Witt was proud of his team fighting back in the second half.
“I challenged them at halftime about being more physical. They responded. We just needed a few more possessions some place but we just couldn’t find it,” said Witt.
The Cheesemakers fell to 1-6 overall and 1-4 in the Rock Valley Conference. Monroe will host Evansville in their Homecoming game at 7 p.m. this Friday, Oct. 10. It will also be Monroe’s last game at T.R. Holyoke Field.
