James Monroe 'Runs Out of Gas' Against Rockbridge

FREDERICKSBURG, Va., Dec. 2 -- For three months, the James Monroe football team dealt with its share of adversity. The Yellow Jackets overcame the shock of having teammates arrested on two occasions, adopted and learned new positions, poured in extra practice time and bonded over a common goal: to salvage something from what appeared a condemned season.

James Monroe had done precisely that in advancing to the Virginia AA Division 3 semifinals, but the strain of overcoming the loss of significant parts of its lineup to legal problems during the offseason finally appeared to take its toll, as its season ended Saturday to visiting Rockbridge, 27-0.

"Like a car running down the road," James Monroe Coach Rich Serbay said, "we just ran out of gas."

Undersize James Monroe (8-5) had neither the manpower nor the energy to contain the Lexington school's fireplug running back, Stephen Strowbridge. In a one-sided second half during which Rockbridge (9-4) ran 32 of the first 33 plays from scrimmage, the 5-foot-11, 211-pound senior rumbled 14 times for 108 of his 123 yards.

The Wildcats dominated the line of scrimmage all game, bursting through blocks and harassing James Monroe sophomore Devontae Atkins, a 155-pound former wide receiver who had been moved to quarterback to replace an expelled teammate. Rockbridge returned a fumble for a touchdown, blocked a field goal and held the ball for all but 11 seconds of the third quarter.

Still, the feeling after the loss was more of accomplishment for James Monroe, which fell one win short of playing for its first state title in a decade despite a diminished roster.

"The thing was, they were some really great players," 160-pound senior defensive end Andrew Harrison said. "But we didn't let it linger. Everybody stepped up. Everybody."

When it was over, the players, coaches, families and friends crowded the field and didn't leave for a good while. There were a few tears, but no regrets.

Rockbridge 27 James Monroe 0 Worn down: James Monroe possessed the ball for six minutes the entire second half and didn't earn a first down in the half on a non-penalty until less than five minutes remained. Up Next: Rockbridge plays Richlands in the AA Division 3 final Saturday at Liberty University in Lynchburg.