Hendersonville Standard
HENDERSONVILLE WEATHER

Brentwood Academy survives quarterfinal scare from JPII




Brentwood Academy senior Amir Annoor (1) catches a touchdown against JPII's Fisher Donovan (5). PHIL STAUDER

Brentwood Academy senior Amir Annoor (1) catches a touchdown against JPII’s Fisher Donovan (5). PHIL STAUDER

Brentwood Academy keeps finding ways to win close football games.

Nine of its 10 contests played on the field this season have been decided by two scores or less.

“We just know we’re never really out of it,” Brentwood Academy quarterback Tayler Montiel said.

The Eagles’ latest triumph came Friday in a 34-31 victory over Pope John Paul II in the TSSAA Division II AAA quarterfinals at Carlton Flatt Field.

Brentwood Academy (11-0) erased an 18-point deficit in the second quarter to advance to the semifinals, where it will host McCallie (7-3) on Friday, Nov. 20 with a state title appearance up for grabs.

“There’s so much parity in this league,” Brentwood Academy coach Cody White said. “I think people are finally figuring that out. Of the eight teams (in the DII-AAA bracket), all of us could have won it. It’s going to a tough battle (next week), and we’ve had a bunch of them.”

JPII (8-3) came up short but still finished with the best record in program history. Three touchdown catches and 209 total yards from Wisconsin commitment Antwan Roberts weren’t enough for David to knock off Goliath.

Brentwood Academy QB Tayler Montiel (6) evades JPII junior Cole Shaver (21).PHIL STAUDER

Brentwood Academy QB Tayler Montiel (6) evades JPII junior Cole Shaver (21).PHIL STAUDER

The Knights, playing like they had nothing to lose against 14-time state champion Brentwood Academy, jumped out to a 21-3 lead in the first quarter.

Sophomore Kenny Minchey passed for 234 yards and three touchdowns – including a 73-yarder to Roberts and a 21-yarder to Colin Cook in the first eight minutes. Backup QB Chet Lax lined up as a receiver, took a pitch from Minchey and hit Roberts for a 37-yard score to stun Brentwood Academy.

“We told ourselves we were going to come into this game and put the pedal to the metal,” JPII coach Justin Geisinger said. “We weren’t going to hold anything back. I feel good about that. It was a tale of two quarters in the first half – the first quarter was ours, and the second quarter was theirs.”

Montiel and the Eagle offense took over in the second quarter and led 24-21 by halftime. The senior, who threw for 245 yards on 17-of-24 passing, found classmate Amir Annoor for a pair of 17-yard touchdowns, sandwiching a 29-yard scoring strike to sophomore Deuce Scott.

JPII junior Jackson Noble (88) holds on to the jersey of Brentwood Academy receiver Landon Wells (11) after a catch.PHIL STAUDER

JPII junior Jackson Noble (88) holds on to the jersey of Brentwood Academy receiver Landon Wells (11) after a catch.PHIL STAUDER

Scott also tacked on a seven-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter. His emergence has allowed Brentwood Academy to become two-dimensional after it struggled to run the ball early in the season.

“It’s very important to keep the defense guessing if we are going to pass or run,” said Scott, who rushed for 158 yards on 30 carries. “I saw that (JPII) was (leaving space), so I just cut back on them and got my yards.”

After trailing by as many as 10 points, JPII picked up a safety on an errant Brentwood Academy snap with 5:30 left in third quarter. Minchey hit Roberts for a 25-yard touchdown pass to bring the Knights within three early in fourth quarter.  

“I told our guys I wanted them to be vulnerable and risk it all,” Geisinger said. “Lay everything out there. I didn’t know what the outcome would be. We can control how we influence the game and what we do, but we can’t control the outcome.

JPII's Jackson Noble (88) closes in on Brentwood Academy running back Deuce Scott (40).PHIL STAUDER

JPII’s Jackson Noble (88) closes in on Brentwood Academy running back Deuce Scott (40).PHIL STAUDER

“Against an undefeated team, to come in and have an opportunity to win the game in the fourth quarter – that’s what we wanted.”

However, Brentwood Academy’s defense came up big in the end. Senior Caleb Brooks recovered a JPII fumble with 5:29 remaining, allowing Scott and company to run out the clock for another narrow win.

The Eagles will try to use that same formula to get back to the BlueCross Bowl for the fifth time in six years. Brentwood Academy edged McCallie 30-27 on Sept. 4 in Chattanooga.

“I think our tradition helps us a lot. Our kids expect to win,” White said. “They never think that they’re out of anything. That’s a testament to the people in the past and all those things. At the same time, (our team) is tough-minded and they believe in each other.”

JPII's Jackson Noble (88) tries to catch up with Brentwood Academy's Ian Scott during a TSSAA Division II-AAA playoff game on Nov. 13, 2020.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville/File

JPII’s Jackson Noble (88) tries to catch up with Brentwood Academy’s Ian Scott during a TSSAA Division II-AAA playoff game on Nov. 13, 2020.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville/File

Pope Prep coach Justin Geisinger (right) looks on during a playoff game at Brentwood Academy in 2020.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville

Pope Prep coach Justin Geisinger (right) looks on during a playoff game at Brentwood Academy in 2020.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville

Brentwood Academy's Reggie Reed (5) gets to JPII QB Kenny Minchey and causes him to ground the ball for a penalty.PHIL STAUDER

Brentwood Academy’s Reggie Reed (5) gets to JPII QB Kenny Minchey and causes him to ground the ball for a penalty.PHIL STAUDER

Brentwood Academy running back Deuce Scott (40) looks for running room against JPII.PHIL STAUDER

Brentwood Academy running back Deuce Scott (40) looks for running room against JPII.PHIL STAUDER

Brentwood Academy defenders jump to block a field goal attempt from JPII kicker Andrew Southard (47).PHIL STAUDER

Brentwood Academy defenders jump to block a field goal attempt from JPII kicker Andrew Southard (47).PHIL STAUDER

JPII’s Antwan Roberts (44) lets a pass go through his hands against Brentwood Academy.PHIL STAUDER

JPII’s Antwan Roberts (44) lets a pass go through his hands against Brentwood Academy.PHIL STAUDER

Brentwood Academy's Joey Brooks (60) brings down JPII QB Kenny Minchey.PHIL STAUDER

Brentwood Academy’s Joey Brooks (60) brings down JPII QB Kenny Minchey.PHIL STAUDER

JPII QB Kenny Minchey finds running room through the Brentwood Academy defensive line.PHIL STAUDER

JPII QB Kenny Minchey finds running room through the Brentwood Academy defensive line.PHIL STAUDER

Brentwood Academy senior Amir Annoor (right) tries to break a tackle from JPII senior Timothy Lark (3).PHIL STAUDER

Brentwood Academy senior Amir Annoor (right) tries to break a tackle from JPII senior Timothy Lark (3).PHIL STAUDER

An official indicates a first down for JPII after the Knights recovered a Brentwood Academy fumble.PHIL STAUDER

An official indicates a first down for JPII after the Knights recovered a Brentwood Academy fumble.PHIL STAUDER

JPII senior Antwan Roberts (44) cuts off a block by Stephen Carter. Roberts' run to the end zone was waved off after Carter was flagged for a block in the back.PHIL STAUDER

JPII senior Antwan Roberts (44) cuts off a block by Stephen Carter. Roberts’ run to the end zone was waved off after Carter was flagged for a block in the back.PHIL STAUDER

JPII offensive guard Kevin Boyce (50) blocks Brentwood Academy’s James Stewart (56) as Stephen Carter (12) makes a cut upfield. PHIL STAUDER

JPII offensive guard Kevin Boyce (50) blocks Brentwood Academy’s James Stewart (56) as Stephen Carter (12) makes a cut upfield. PHIL STAUDER

Brentwood Academy sophomore Ian Scott (28) reaches in vain for a pass in the end zone.PHIL STAUDER

Brentwood Academy sophomore Ian Scott (28) reaches in vain for a pass in the end zone.PHIL STAUDER

JPII senior Antwan Roberts sprints to the end zone on Friday, Nov. 13.PHIL STAUDER

JPII senior Antwan Roberts sprints to the end zone on Friday, Nov. 13.PHIL STAUDER

Colin Cook makes a touchdown catch for JPII against Brentwood Academy.PHIL STAUDER

Colin Cook makes a touchdown catch for JPII against Brentwood Academy.PHIL STAUDER

JPII running back Antwan Roberts waltzes into the end zone.PHIL STAUDER

JPII running back Antwan Roberts waltzes into the end zone.PHIL STAUDER

Brentwood Academy receiver Landon Wells looks for room to run against JPII.PHIL STAUDER

Brentwood Academy receiver Landon Wells looks for room to run against JPII.PHIL STAUDER

JPII's Jarett Lucombe (22) lifts Antwan Roberts into the air to celebrate a touchdown.PHIL STAUDER

JPII’s Jarett Lucombe (22) lifts Antwan Roberts into the air to celebrate a touchdown.PHIL STAUDER

Leave a Reply