North Hall breaks through in dramatic fashion to edge Monroe Area

GAINESVILLE -- North Hall coach David Bishop told his team the final few weeks of the season was all about character.<br /> <br /> On Friday, the Trojans showed they have it an abundance, fighting off a 14-0 deficit to pull out a 38-35 victory over Monroe Area in Gainesville and claim the first win of the campaign and first for Bishop as the Trojans head coach.<br /> <br /> "I'm so proud of the kids and the effort they showed," Bishop said. "I kept telling the kids the next few weeks that the team with the most character would win. <br /> <br /> "We're so young, and we've been fighting. But now the monkey is off our back."<br /> <br /> That was far from a certainty with the way things started on Friday, as Monroe Area scored two touchdowns before North Hall even touched the ball -- the visitors scoring on the opening drive and then recovering an onside kick and scoring less than four minutes into the contest.<br /> <br /> The Purple Hurricanes tried another onside kick leading 14-0. But North Hall recovered and began its fight back, Drew Atha scoring on a 1-yard run to pull within 14-7.<br /> <br /> It was a dogfight from there, with each team trading punches -- until the fourth quarter, when North Hall found another gear. <br /> <br /> The Trojans (1-7, 1-4 Region 8-AAAA) knotted the score at 35-35 on a 15-yard scoring run from Kyle Bacus with 8:48 left to play and then forced a turnover on downs from Monroe at the Trojans 40. North Hall responded to the stand with a churning drive that ended at the Purple Hurricanes' 4-yard line, setting up the winning 21-yard field goal from Chris Dennis with just seven seconds to play.<br /> <br /> "It was just a crazy game, especially there late," Bishop said. "Holding them out in the fourth quarter was so huge for us."<br /> <br /> The Trojans offense also proved huge, as North Hall rolled its way to 529 yards -- 485 of that on the ground, led by 131 yards on 18 carries from Maddox Turner. Atha added 100 yards and two scores on 17 carries, while Bacus put up 91 yards and a score. Austin Perry also ran for 80 yards and a touchdown.<br /> <br /> "We're finally getting healthy on offense, and that's been big for us," Bishop said.<br /> <br /> Monroe Area finished with 350 yards of offense, 284 of that through the air, as quarterback Jacob Olson, completed 16 of 25 attempts for 3 touchdowns and an interception.<br /> <br /> North Hall also tossed a touchdown pass, Atha hitting Mac Bennett for a 32-yard scoring play.<br /> <br /> "The excitement just carried with us once we started scoring," said Bishop, who believes that will now carry through to his team's final two games.<br /> <br /> "Those last two games (against Chestatee next week and White County on Nov. 7) are against rivals. The kids won't want to lose to either of those two teams, and they'll be up for it."<br /> <br /> They showed tonight that they are nowhere near down.