The Golden Tornadoes reached the red zone three times during Friday night’s preseason scrimmage against Sumter County at Hugh Mills Stadium. They came away with zero points — and that was the story in a 10-0 loss that rekindled concerns from last season.
“You get inside the 10, it has to be automatic — we’ve got to score,” said head coach Lacey Herring. “It takes another gear, another level of determination when you’re that close. If I need to be more creative, I will. But we have to fix it.”
They nearly had the game’s first points when Keyontae Hayes scooped up a blocked field goal and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown. But the play was waved off due to a pregame agreement that special teams would be ruled dead in the scrimmage.
“I didn’t know we agreed to that,” Herring said. “We lined up to defend the kick, and our guys made a play.”
Hayes was making his debut as a defensive back after switching from receiver. Despite the nullified score, Herring praised his instincts and energy in the new role.
At quarterback, Keyon Thomas — a late transfer who enrolled just a week ago — showed flashes of potential but is still finding his footing.
“He hasn’t had time to settle in yet,” Herring said. “He’s learning the playbook, learning his reads. But you can see the talent. He made some really good throws. We’ve got to protect him better and give him a chance to grow.”
Jordan Shorter, another recent transfer, is also working into the system, which Herring said will take time.
Despite the loss, Herring was encouraged by the team’s raw athleticism.
“We’ve got guys who can flat-out run,” he said. “We just need to find our identity. Right now, we’re not there yet.”
That process will begin with the offensive line, a unit Herring says will be the primary focus ahead of the season opener.
“We’ve got to figure out what they can do well — and do it consistently,” he said. “We need something we can hang our hat on. Once we get the run game right, I can build the passing game around it.”
That ground game will lean on a committee of backs, including Justin Grice, Ty’Darious Gardner, CJ Thomas, and Ethan Albritton.
Monroe opens the regular season Aug. 15 on the road at Thomasville. With a few weeks to iron t... Click here to read full article
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