Monarchs win 27-14 over host L.C. Bird

Now you can add a new way that Meadowbrook's Desmond Coble subdues his football opponents.

Normally, the junior quarterback excels offensively with his feet and his arm.

Last night, it was his ability on defense that made the biggest difference in a MHS comeback from 14 points down.

Coble's interception and zig-zagging 65-yard touchdown return with 1:32 to go led to the Monarchs' 27-14 win over host L.C. Bird in the Central Region Division 6 semifinals.

The Monarchs (9-2), who have eliminated Bird two years in a row, advance to the region final next week at No. 1-ranked Varina, a 21-20 overtime winner over Hermitage.

MHS trailed 14-0 entering the fourth period, when Coble went to work. His 10-yard run at 9:26 cut it to 14-6, but the extra point try failed.

At 3:34, Coble drove the Monarchs to Bird's 1, where Akil Dorsey plunged over. Coble then passed to Kevon Wright the 2-point conversion - 14-14.

Coble was just warming up.

On Bird's ensuing possession, Coble picked off a Dontae Jefferson pass and didn't stop until he was dancing in the end zone.

Here's how Coble explained the pick n' run:

"I made a cutback . . . then I made a couple more cutbacks . . . then I broke a couple of tackles . . . then I saw daylight . . . and it was off to the races."

Monarchs' coach Bill Bowles put it like this:

"We only play Desmond on defense when we really have to . . . that was a tremendous play; I certainly can't coach those moves.

"I'll tell you, when he gets to moving, he's hard to put a hand on."

The drama wasn't over with Coble's long return.

Two long Jefferson completions took Bird to the MHS 10 with 40 seconds left. Two running plays were stuffed, then Jefferson threw out of bounds.

On fourth and goal from the nine, Jerry Brown ran right, was hit hard and fumbled. Lequan Lawrence scooped up the loose pigskin and raced 90 yards for the final score with 20 seconds left.

Then things got ugly. A bench-clearing brawl broke out on the Bird side of the field that threatened to get totally out of control.

School officials, game officials and coaches played peace-maker and finally broke up the melee following about five violent, bloody minutes.

Coble finished 15 for 22 passing for 194 yards. He rushed for 65 yards on 16 carries.

On the season, he has rushed for 1,040 yards and 12 TDs, thrown for 1,442 yards and 14 TDs . . . and now scored a 27th TD via interception.

Bird (finishing 9-2 with both losses to Meadowbrook) dominated with Brown and Kenyon Lewis early on. Lewis scored on a 1-yard run in the second period and Brown from 15 yards out in the third.

Brown also had a 63-yard TD run nullified by a hold.

For the game, Bird was penalized 13 times for 120 yards. The Skyhawks were flagged for holding eight times, wiping out more than 100 yards rushing by Brown and Lewis.

In the end, Coble's all-round play made Meadowbrook the survivor.

"It was a hard fought game, so we had to step it up," he said. "We had to do it; no way I was losing to Bird."

Meadowbrook 0 0 0 27 27
L.C. Bird 0 7 7 0 -- 14

B -- Lewis 1 run (Keck kick)

B -- Brown 15 run (Keck kick)

M -- Coble 10 run (pass failed)

M -- Dorsey 1 run (Murphy, pass from Coble)

M -- Coble 65 interception return (Ornelas kick)M -- Lawrence 90 fumble return, kick failed