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Posted on Thu, Oct 6, 2011 : 11:58 p.m.

Pioneer secures share of SEC Red title with double overtime win over Monroe

By Matt Durr

MONROE -- With his team trailing 14-7 in the fourth quarter to undefeated Monroe, Pioneer High School football coach Paul Test knew exactly who to turn to, his star senior running back Drake Johnson.

Test called Johnson's number on 10 consecutive plays starting from the Pioneer 2-yard-line and capped the drive with an 8-yard run to tie the game with 1:31 left.

Johnson would score two more times in overtime as the Pioneers handed the Trojans their first loss of the year, 28-21, in double overtime.

“Drake stepped up again. He’s unbelievable,” Test said. “He always tells me after he scores a touchdown, ‘I got your back coach.’”

More coverage: Boxscore at MLive.com | Friday football pick 'em contest

Johnson finished the game with 38 carries for 285 yards and four touchdowns. It's his fourth straight game with four or more touchdowns and he has rushed for 1,074 yards over the past three weeks.

The Pioneers turned the ball over four times in a scoreless first half, but their defense stopped the Trojans from capitalizing on those mistakes and the teams went into the locker room tied 0-0.

“We played uncharacteristically offensively in the first half and we talked about executing,” Test said. “We made a lot of stupid little mistakes, blocking the wrong way and turning the ball over.”

Monroe got on the board first in third quarter with a 10-yard run by Jacob Nadeau. Pioneer's ensuing drive was kept alive when the Trojans were called for a face-mask penalty after stopping the Pioneers on a third down play. Johnson would put the Pioneer's on the board later in the drive with a 49-yard scamper.

Nadeau scored again on the next drive and again in the first overtime as Monroe started with the ball. Johnson scored on an 8-yard run to end the first overtime and a 10-yard run to start the second.

Pioneer's defense stopped Monroe at the 2-yard line to end the game

After starting the year 0-2, the win guaranteed the Pioneers (5-2, 5-0) at least a share of the Southeastern Conference Red Division title.

“Honestly that was my vision. I always am optimistic and positive in a hard working way,” Test said. “I don’t think we’re going to go out and win just because we wish it, we work hard.”

Nadeau finished with 15 carries for 105 yards. Pioneer kicker Erik Kristensen was 4-for-4 on extra points.

Comments

Terry Star21

Fri, Oct 7, 2011 : 11:57 p.m.

Pioneer Football.....nothing but the best.....PURPLE REIGN !

momzilla

Fri, Oct 7, 2011 : 10:47 a.m.

Way to go Pioneer!!! We are proud of the purple and white!