By Keith Harrington

CJ Monty has had an outstanding start to the 2023 season. Friday night Monty outdid even himself. Monty rushed for 190 yards and scored a program record six touchdowns as Granville-Whitehall went on the road and rolled over Coxsackie-Athens 62-14 in Section II Class C football.

“All I have to say is, my lineman should get a lot of credit,” Monty said after the game. “They worked hard all week, and it showed tonight.”

“We had a balanced attack. “RJ (Monger) was fantastic throwing the ball. And CJ is such a hard runner,” Granville-Whitehall coach Kevin Gebo said. “RJ has such a great mind. He tells me what is open, and I give him two plays. The line was also outstanding.”

G-W struck quickly. On their second play from scrimmage after recovering a Riverhawk’s fumble RJ Monger connected with Nick Powers down the left sideline on a 56-yard strike to make it 8-0 after the two-point conversion. The play was planned in advance after Monger saw something he liked on the game tape of Coxsackie-Athens.

“What happened was we had been watching the film. RJ texted me early in the morning and said coach what do you think? I said if you have confidence go for it, and he did,” Gebo explained.

Coxsackie-Athens scored on the ensuing drive to pull within 8-6, but it was all G-W after that.

The defense has been a key these last three games,” Gebo added. They gave up some yards but they (Coxsackie-Athens) were never able to break anything.”

Monty rumbled for a 46-yard touchdown run to increase the lead to 14-6. The conversion attempt failed.

Monty scored his second touchdown of the quarter with 1:11 to play to make it 22-6 after the conversion.

In the second, Monty opened the scoring with his third touchdown of the game, as G-W opened up a 28-6 lead.

Monger then found Powers for their second hookup of the night to make it 34-6 G-W with 5:16 remaining in the half.

With two minutes to go in the half Monty found the end zone for the fourth time in the contest. Monger found Powers for the two-point conversion to extend the lead to 42-6 at halftime.

With 5:55 left in the third, Monty scored for the fifth time of the game. Aiden Smith added the conversion run to make it 50-6.

Monty added one more score in the third and Jackson McCullen tossed a touchdown pass to Kole Plude to complete the scoring.

“We tell the kids three things they need to remember. Humility, stay humble. Stay hungry. And bring honor to your schools.”

Next, G-W finally plays their home opener on Saturday at Ambrose Gilligan Field against Watervliet after three long road trips.

“They are very athletic. They look good. It’s going to be so nice to not have to get on a bus and stay home at home to play,” Gebo said.

Granville-Whitehall is now 2-1 on the season. Coxsackie-Athens is 0-3.

Photo Credit-Lacoste Photography