CHARLOTTESVILLE — To gain control of the Mid-Eastern Conference, Eastern Hancock had to overcome a familiar opponent and one that has had their number in recent years — Monroe Central.
With losses in six of the last seven meetings since the two teams began playing yearly in 2016, and three straight losses to the Golden Bears coming into the night, the Royals and head coach Pat Echeverria knew Friday night’s home contest wouldn’t be an easy one.
For the first time since 2019, the Royals prevailed 40-26.
“Their coach does a great job there. They do some different things on offense and defense that really challenge your preparation and I thought our kids responded really well,” Echeverria said. “They’re a really good team and we got a really good win.”
With the win the Royals moved to 2-0 in the MEC, and with a win over North Decatur earlier in the season, now control their destiny in the race for the conference title.
“Any time you have the chance to win a championship, something our kids haven’t done, you want to take advantage of that opportunity,” Echeverria said. “We held our own future in our hands and we took the first step that we needed to.”
After a down performance a week ago, the Royals offense came out ready to go.
Three first-quarter touchdowns propelled Eastern Hancock to a 20-0 lead.
On the opening drive, the first of many big connections on the night between quarterback Elijah Edon and wide receiver Eli Manship set up the first Royals score.
Edon hit Manship for a 27-yard completion to move into Golden Bears territory, and a few plays later hit Dylan Bowman for a 19-yard touchdown.
While the offense on the Royals opening drive came through the air, the second Royals score was set up by the run game.
Mark Kube broke off two 23-yard runs to move the ball deep into Monroe Central territory and later capped off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.
Fourteen seconds, and one play from scrimmage later, the Royals increased their lead to 20-0.
After a successful onside kick, Edon broke free for a 57-yard touchdown run on the Royals’ next play.
Monroe Central found the end zone early in the second quarter on a 49-yard pass from quarterback Lane Wilson to Brylen Case, but it took the Royals no time to break off another big touchdown run.
On the following possession, James King scampered 50 yards for the answering score and continued the Royals dominant night offensively.
In total, Eastern Hancock accumulated 510 yards of offense and five touchdowns, with 275 of it and four of the scores coming on the ground.
“We didn’t play bad offensively last week, we just didn’t have the ball. So this week we put an emphasis on playing our style of ball which is playing fast on offense and being aggressive on defense,” Echeverria said. “If they hit a couple of big plays, so what, we’re going to get the ball back and we’re going to go score. That’s the mindset we’re instilling in these kids. We’re going to play our game, and not let other people play their game.”
A late first-half rushing touchdown by Monroe Central’s Ethan Hunt cut the Royals lead to 26-12 entering the break.
The Golden Bears hung around in the second half, with both teams scoring two touchdowns, but big plays by the Royals defense sealed the win.
Bowman intercepted a Wilson pass on the Golden Bears opening drive of the half and returned it 40 yards for the touchdown.
Later in the half, with the game coming to a close, a Cameron Volz interception sealed the win.
King added the lone offensive touchdown for Eastern Hancock in the second half on a 1-yard run.
On the night he ran for 85 yards and two touchdowns, Kube had 80 yards and a score, and Edon had 110 yards and a score.
Edon added 235 yards and one touchdown through the air, while Manship led the Royals receivers with 128 yards.
Eastern Hancock will look to secure the Mid-Eastern Conference title outright with a win next Friday at 7 p.m. at Shenandoah.
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Eastern Hancock 40, Monroe Central 26
Monroe Central (2-5, 1-2);0;12;7;7; —;26
Eastern Hancock (4-3, 2-0);20;6;14;0; — ;40
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
EH – Dylan Bowman 19 pass from Elijah Edon (conversion failed), 8:37
EH – Mark Kube 1 run (Aaron Redmon kick), :41
EH – Edon 57 run (Redmon kick), :27
2nd Quarter
MC – Brylen Case 49 pass from Lane Wilson (kick failed), 10:42
EH – James King 50 run (kick failed), 10:05
MC – Ethan Hunt 2 run (conversion failed), 1:12
3rd Quarter
EH – Bowman 40 interception return (Redmon kick), 9:44
MC – Justus Ullom 21 pass from Wilson (Nick Hendrickson kick), 4:34
EH – King 1 run (Redmon kick), :19
4th Quarter
MC – Wilson 1 run (Hendrickson kick), 10:24
