Reedom, Redskins too much to handle for Marauders

When the Monache Marauders hosted the undefeated Tulare Union Redskins Friday night at Jacob Rankin Stadium, they wanted to take the first punch and hit ‘em in the mouth.

Unfortunately, punching the Redskins is like taking a jab at a brick wall. It only hurts your hand.

The Marauders were handed one of their worst losses of the season — a 42-2 drubbing delivered courtesy of Union running back Jontell Reedom and the rest of the now 9-0 Redskins.

“Anytime these two teams get together, it’s a knock-down drag-out and this was no exception,” Monache coach Chris Likewise said afterward.

For two and a half hours, Reedom delivered most of the punches, scoring five times — four on runs of 20, 23, 10 and nine yards and a fifth time on a 15-yard catch.

“We’ve played some very good backs this year and he’s the best back I’ve seen by far. Hands down,” Likewise said. “He’s one of the best I’ve seen in the last 10 years.”

Reedom looked every bit his listed size of 6-feet, 205 pounds and played twice that big. The senior being scouted by several D-I schools struck early with a hulking run up the middle that had several Marauders wiping off his body like Kleenex sheets.

Moments after receiver Ulysses Serna pumped some life into the Marauders with an 18-yard catch to get within 30 yards of the end zone, Monache fumbled the ball over to the Redskins at the 30 and gifted them another 15 yards on a late-hit penalty, one of the night’s many overzealous penalties by both teams.

“We were extremely banged up coming into the game,” Likewise said. “Some of (our) guys were just trying to come in and give us a couple of plays.”

Monache running back Joey Perry dislocated an already loose shoulder and quarterback Pablo Martinez — one of the few who had success running the ball against Union’s stingy defensive line — was taken out early in the fourth.

“Pablo took some shots and he’s beat up,” Likewise said. “We’re battling now, struggling with some injuries. We’ve gotta put some ice on and hopefully get healthy this weekend.”

Union receiver Marquis Wilson hauled in back-to-back catches of 12 and 16 yards and Reedom scored his second touchdown in the first quarter, a lumbering scamper with little shifting and plenty of bulldozing.

If Reedom was Union’s right uppercut, Wilson and quarterback James Guerrero were the left jab and right hook. The two combined for more than 130 yards, including a 77-yard bomb with 1:55 left in the first half. Instead of going into the half with a surmountable 14-0 defecit, Monache’s psyche took a hit with Union’s 21-point lead.

“It would’ve been big (to remain 14-0 at the half),” Likewise said. “We wouldn’t have had to play from behind as much. We could’ve still tried to grind it out and work on the clock, but they’re a very good football team.”

Unfortunately for Monache, Reedom was apparently just warming up for the second half. Reedom scored three touchdowns alone in the third quarter to go up 42-0, the final score coming after Monache fumbled at their own 10-yard line and Reedom took it in on the next play.

“Obviously, we didn’t help ourselves in the third quarter with the turnovers, giving them the short field,” Likewise said. “You do that and they’re going to stick a dagger in your heart. We didn’t move the ball well enough on 1st and 2nd downs.”

Monache (5-4) hopes to recuperate in time for next week’s season finale against arch rivals Porterville, also 5-4 after its win against Granite Hills.