For the second week in a row it was heartbreak for the Goochland football team as they suffered their second last minute loss to a two-point conversion in as many weeks. 

  On Friday night the Bulldogs dropped a one-point decision to visiting Jefferson District opponent Monticello. The Mustangs scored with 26 seconds remaining in the game to cap a dramatic second half comeback that netted Monticello a 29-28 win over the host Bulldogs.

  Monticello running back Jesse Ayres put the one-yard finishing touch on a final drive that drew the Mustangs within one at 28-27.

  Though a tie was virtually assured, Monticello head coach Brud Bicknell didn’t hesitate and opted to go for the win on a two-point conversion.

  “We believe in that cliché that you go for the win on the road,” Bicknell said. “We saw them play a triple overtime last week and they were efficient, so we figured our best shot was to go for two.”

  Monticello sophomore quarterback Jhalil Mosley stretched the Bulldog defense as he swept around the right end for the conversion and a Mustang lead.

  “It certainly wasn’t the way the play was drawn up but Jhalil made a great play to find the end zone and get the win,” Bicknell said.

  Most heartbreaking for Goochland was the loss came after the Bulldogs dominated the first half, taking a 21-0 lead to the locker room. They were also set to receive the second half kickoff.

  “It was pretty somber at halftime,” Bicknell said of the Mustangs.

  Goochland running backs David McKenna and Dustin Plummer provided the apparently comfortable lead with each producing 100-yard plus performances for the Bulldogs.

  But, Goochland’s powerful ground game wasn’t enough to counter Ayres’ three-touchdown, 254-yards rushing performance, much of which came in the second half.
  “I think he finally realized just how good they were and they were going to hit him,” Bicknell said. “He came out the second half and just slammed it up in there. I think he just wore them down after he saw what they were trying to do.”

  In the second half, things started going wrong for Goochland right from the start when the Mustangs set the tone by executing a successful onside kick on the opening play.

  The gamble paid off when Ayres took it in from seven yards out to make the score 21-7 with a little over nine minutes remaining in the third quarter.

  The Bulldogs responded with what looked like a back-breaker when Plummer broke loose for a 58-yard touchdown run to answer the Mustang score with an exclamation point.

  Goochland then stopped the Mustangs on the ensuing drive and took over on their own eight-yard line.

  A steady dose of McKenna runs took the Bulldogs to the Mustang 25, but Monticello defensive back Denzel Terry ended the threat when he intercepted a Ryan Crouch pass and killed the drive.

  “That was a big play for us,” Bicknell said. “It was the first time we’d stopped them all night.”

  Ayres capped the ensuing drive with an 11-yard run, and the Mustangs were within 14 heading into the final period.

  Mosley found wide receiver Tyler Moneymaker with a 28-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to seven, setting up the dramatic finish.

  With three minutes and change left in the game, the Mustangs stopped the Bulldogs on a fourth-and-four on the Goochland 25-yard line, and took over for their final push.

  Ayres again took charge with key runs and wide receiver Deno Robinson grabbed a critical third down catch that set the Mustangs up on the Bulldog 14-yard line.

  At that point, it was a matter of when, not if for Ayres. “My only thought was to score,” the senior running back said. “I knew I was getting in there, regardless.” He plunged across the goal line with seconds remaining, setting the stage for the two-point winner by Mosley.

  Bicknell said it was the biggest win in recent memory for the Mustangs, and places them in the middle of the Jefferson District hunt at 4-2.

  “It’s exciting and I feel great for our kids,” Bicknell said. “We’ve haven’t had many games where we came back from such a long way back to get a victory. This one ranks right up there.”

  Goochland coach Joe Fowler was clearly frustrated with the repeat last-second loss.

  “We’re not able to close the deal right now,” he said. “We’re doing everything we can as players, as coaches and things aren’t going our way. All that we can hope for is that in five weeks we get to see Monticello again in the playoffs.”

  Plummer finished with three touchdowns and 163 yards on 17 carries, while McKenna had 18 attempts for 134 yards and a touchdown. Zakell Johnson also had an interception for the Bulldogs.

  Goochland returns to action this Friday, hosting Fluvanna at 7:30 and looking for a chance at redemption.

Goochland…...14 7   7   0—28
Monticello…..... 0 0 14 15—29
G -McKenna 29 run (kick blocked)
G -Plummer 13 run (Plummer run)
G—Plummer 7 run (Cooke kick)
M—Ayres 7 run (Kalinsky kick)
G—Plummer 58 run (Cooke kick)
M—Ayres 11 run (Kalinsky kick)
M—Moneymaker 28 pass from Mosley (Kalinsky kick)
M—Ayres 1 run (Mosley run)