Monroe Gets Run Out of City Playoffs by Reseda, 24-0

Monroe High usually runs over, around and through its opponent.

On Friday night, the Vikings were simply run over.

Reseda dominated in every phase of the game, routing Monroe, 24-0, in the City Section 3-A semifinals.

Armone Lochard rushed for 135 yards in 28 carries and an unyielding defense swamped Monroe, causing confusion and frustration.

“I have never seen the emotional and mental part come into play as much as tonight,” said Reseda Coach Joel Schaeffer, who has coached for 30 years. “This will be in my top five wins of all time.”

Time after time, the Regents ran the dive play and, as a result, Monroe’s title hopes took a dive.

With a 10-0 lead, second-seeded Reseda (10-3) stopped sixth-seeded Monroe (9-4) on its opening drive in the second half.

The Regents then marched 65 yards in 13 plays, eight of which were dives up the middle.

Jamaal Washington topped it off with a two-yard quarterback sneak on fourth down to put Reseda ahead, 17-0.

Monroe became increasingly frustrated. Three Vikings were ejected, including Kenyatta Burris and Vinny Walker.

The Vikings were penalized 10 times for 129 yards, including one disastrous sequence when two major penalties were called during a Reseda extra point. Reseda kicked off on the Monroe 30-yard line.

“Being a young football team, we lost some of our composure,” Coach Fred Cuccia said.

The Vikings also lost out when Reseda took its first drive of the fourth quarter, used up 4 minutes 30 seconds of the clock and moved 44 yards in eight plays.

Lochard scored from four yards on, of course, a dive play.

“We were just eating them up in the middle,” Lochard said.

Reseda jumped to a 10-0 lead on another long drive, going 94 yards in 16 plays. The Regents mixed their plays nicely and converted on four third-down situations.

Washington passed for 41 yards and ran for 17 on the drive.

“We’ve got to respect what they did,” said Cuccia, whose Vikings couldn’t pull off a comeback they way they did in a 25-22 upset of Bell last week.

The Regents, who lost to Monroe during the regular season, 34-21, stuffed the Vikings’ potent offense, which came into the game averaging 352 yards.

Monroe rushed for 138 yards in 25 carries and completed only five of 12 passes for 43 yards.

Jason Anderson, who ran for 227 yards in the first meeting, was held to 20 yards in eight carries.

Reseda also shut down Burris, who torched Bell last week with three touchdowns and 10 receptions for 120 yards.

Burris, who had one catch for 10 yards, was stymied by double-coverage or disguised single coverage.

“We’ve got 37 men out here and they all play with heart,” said lineman Ennis Davis. “Monroe couldn’t hang with us.”

If the Regents hang on for one more week, they’ll win their first 3-A title since 1986.