RABBITTOWN, Ga. – In a game many thought would be a shootout, it was just a bit less than that.
Well, it kind of started that way, but never turned into a full-on offensive blitz as Monroe Area held off East Hall to get the 38-29 Region 8-3A win over East Hall (2-4, 0-1 Region 8-3A) on Friday at East Hall Stadium.
However, the game started fast, with the Hurricanes (5-1, 1-0 Region 8-3A) driving 57 yards in just over a minute, and East Hall answering with a 54-yard kickoff return for a touchdown (Kani Williams) to tie the game -- all of that within the first two minutes of the game.
Then the two traded scores, Jitt Carr (29-161 yards, 3 TDs) rushed for a 5-yard score, Jamarcus Harrison answered with an 8-yard TD, and Carr scored again with 1:14 left in the first quarter and a 21-24.
Then over the next 19:30 minutes of game time, the scoring stopped until Monroe Area booted a field goal through with 5:25 left in the third quarter to extend the Hurricanes' lead, 24-14.
The Vikings found a rhythm on the next drive, as Jamarcus Harrison capped a 59-yard drive with a 4-yard TD run with 3:01 to go in the third quarter, closing the game, 24-21.
Monroe Area extended the lead to two scores -- Ezra Harrison found Bryce Bell on a 21-yard pass, and Carr added his third rushing TD of the night on a 10-yard run -- to push the lead, 38-21, with 11:51 to go in the game.
East Hall closed the game, 38-29, when Jamarcus Harrison found Chasen Jones on a 26-yard TD pass with 6:02 to go.
East Hall stopped Monroe Area late in the game and had a shot at a scoring drive, but it ended with an interception.
Jamarcus Harrison ended the night with 118 yards on 22 carries and two TDs. He also passed for 74 yards on a 7-of-11 night and one TD.
