SCORING SUMMARY Monroe College: Second Quarter, #3 Patrick Fisher-Butler 36 yard Field Goal Good (0-3) Monroe College: Second Quarter, #4D Mysonne Pollard 68 yard Punt Return, Patrick Fisher-Butler PAT No Good (0-9) Georgia Military: Second Quarter, #26 Jamarion Walker 53 yard TD run, #82 Britton Williams PAT Good (7-9) Georgia Military: Second Quarter, #39 Mason Maddox 22 yard Field Goal Good (10-9) Monroe College: Third Quarter, #4D Mysonne Pollard 63 yard Punt Return, Patrick Fisher-Butler PAT Good (10-16) Georgia Military: Third Quarter, #26 Jamarion Walker 8 yard TD run, #82 Britton Williams PAT Good (17-16) Georgia Military: Third Quarter, Safety (19-16) Georgia Military: Third Quarter, #82 Britton Williams 25 yard Field Goal Good (22-16)

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga., September 23, 2023 – The reigning NJCAA Special Teams Player of the Week made a strong case to be a repeat recipient of the award this week, as Mysonne Pollard's pair of punt return touchdowns highlights a tough 22-16 loss for the Monroe College football team at No. 15 Georgia Military College on Saturday. The loss drops Monroe to 3-1 overall, while the Bulldogs improve to 3-2.
 
Last week against Community Christian College, Pollard return his lone punt return attempt 68 yards for a touchdown. On Saturday at Georgia Military, did it not once, but twice more. In the second quarter, Pollard returned a punt 68 yards to the house to put the Mustangs up, 9-0. After the Bulldogs led, 10-9, at halftime, Pollard did it again in the third quarter, returning another punt 63 yards for the score to put the Mustangs back on top, 16-10. Pollard has now scored on all three of his punt return attempts for the season.
 
The Mustangs took the game's first lead in the second quarter when kicker Patrick Fisher-Butler made a 36-yard field goal to make it a 3-0 game. Pollard's first return touchdown came shortly after, but the extra point was no good, leaving Monroe up, 9-0.
 
The Bulldogs worked their way back after that, beginning with a long 53-yard touchdown run by Jamarion Walker to cut Monroe's lead to 9-7. Mason Maddox later made a 22-yard field goal for the Bulldogs to put the home team on top, 10-7, before halftime.
 
Pollard's second score of the day gave the Mustangs a 16-10 edge over the Bulldogs, but the lead was unfortunately short-lived. Walker scored his second touchdown of the day on an eight-yard run to make it a 17-16 score in favor of Georgia Military. Later in the third, the Mustangs were attempted a punt deep in their own territory when the snap sailed over the punter and through the back of the end zone for a safety, pushing the Bulldogs' lead to 19-16. Britton Williams then made a 25-yard field goal for the Bulldogs later in the third to hit the eventual final score of 22-16.
 
The defense played well for Monroe in the game, allowing just 227 yards to the Bulldogs, including just 41 total passing yards. The Bulldogs converted just 2-of-16 third downs in Saturday's contest.
 
Nareece Wright led the Mustangs with 11 total tackles on Saturday, including a sack, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Tony Carter was also all over the field, making nine tackles and three tackles for loss in the game. Jessiah Gildersleeve registered 1.5 sacks on five total tackles, as well as a QB hurry. Xavier Belton forced a fumble and recovered one as well in the game, totaling four tackles and a half sack. Abdoul Kone made his one tackle count by jarring the ball loose in the backfield. Each of Ian Brown, Logic Hudgens and Jayon Venerable recorded a pass breakup in the game.
 
Quarterback Mason Boothe completed 20-of-37 passes for 166 yards and an interception on Saturday. Claudio Santos led the Mustangs with 48 yards on two receptions, while Rafael McCoy was right behind with 47 yards on three catches. Diego Lamonica caught a team-high six passes for a total of 28 yards.
 
The Mustangs will take the bye week to recover and get better before their next test on Saturday, Oct. 7, when they take on rival Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pa. Kickoff for that game is set for 6 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 28 teams competing across nine sports. There are 20 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well the Monroe College marching band, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has seven teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
 
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at www.MonroeCollegeMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs). Read Full Article