West Monroe grinds out 18-10 victory over Alexandria

West Monroe showed the grit and determination that head coach Jerry Arledge loves to see Friday night. The result was their third straight win in 2020.

The Rebels came away with a 18-10 victory over Alexandria Senior High following a late-night, lightning delayed battle at Don Shows Field at Rebel Stadium. The victory also marked West Monroe’s seventh straight win in the series versus the Trojans.

After dominating the first half to the tune of a 18-0 halftime lead, West Monroe struggled to move the ball in the second half and Alexandria took advantage of every opportunity to take things down to the wire.

It was an ending reminiscent of a year ago in Alexandria when the Trojans erased part of a 19-0 halftime deficit to push the Rebels to their limit only for West Monroe to find a way. West Monroe has now won 96 consecutive District 2-5A contests.

“ASH was a little more motivated in the second half than we were,” West Monroe coach Jerry Arledge said. “They had all the momentum second half. That ol’ Mo (motivation) is a big factor, and I don’t think we could change it.”

Following a blocked punt, the Trojans set up shop in West Monroe territory and drove down the field before being forced to settle for a 38-yard field goal with 3:08 remaining in the third quarter.

West Monroe, who rushed for 226 yards in the first half, went three-and-out and the Trojans kept things rolling.

ASH quarterback Judd Barton was flushed out of the pocket and made things happen on the fly with a 67-yard touchdown run down the right sideline pulling the Trojans within 18-10.

“Judd has played a lot of ball for us,” ASH coach Thomas Bachman said. “We are looking for those kids that are going to battle when its time to battle and who is not. I am proud of our kids but we are done with moral victories.”

West Monroe tried to settle in and run the clock out but were stifled again and forced to punt with 30 seconds remaining.

Judd connected with Taquan Frazier who flipped the ball backwards to Tre Culbert on the “hook and ladder” play. The 44-yard completion put the Trojans in position to get a couple throws to the endzone. On the final play, Brock Harvey rushed in for a sack to end the game.

Judd finished the game 11-of-24 for 128 yards passing and 77 yards rushing.

“We just settled in and belief starts to get going,” Bachman said of his team’s big turnaround. “We didn’t change anything in second half. Credit West Monroe, they made some plays, got through some arm tackles.”

West Monroe running back Derome Williams rushed for a game-high 138 yards and two touchdowns but was limited to just one first down and 10 yards in the second half.

“There (ASH) intensity rose and ours dropped in the second half,” West Monroe offensive coordinator Glenn Hunt said. “We didn’t come out and play in the second half. I don’t think we got but one first down that second half.”