It was homecoming at Monroe Area Friday night, and the Hurricanes went back to the future.

Doing his best impression of former Hurricane signal caller Chandler Byron, who set the state record in 2018 for most rushing yards by a quarterback (2,495), backup quarterback Cooper Shumate took the team on his shoulders and led it to a 28-16 victory over Cherokee Bluff. 

He had no choice, given that the Hurricanes were without starting quarterback Ezra Harrison, lost to an injury during last week’s Jefferson game, and leading rusher and receiver Jitt Carr, who went down with an ankle injury with seven minutes left in the first half.

Shumate ran 32 times for 219 yards while passing for 84. The lone blemish on his stat line was two interceptions.

Meanwhile, the defense lived up to its reputation as one of the toughest in the state in Class 3A, holding the Bears to just 38 yards rushing, 20 points below its per game average.

It also scored on a safety.

Special teams were also solid, scoring five points on a field and a safety and downing a Bryce Bell punt inside the 1-yard line late to snuff out the Bears hopes of a comeback.

One of the few standouts who avoided the injury bug was senior lineman Dacian Davis, who had a huge night, recording two sacks on defense and scoring twice on offense.

But his biggest contribution might have been as lead blocker. Lining up often in the backfield, he paved the way for much of Shumates yards. 

Trailing 10-7 at the half, the Bears took the opening kickoff of the second half and drove to the Hurricanes five before the defense stiffened, and the Bears settled for a field goal to tie the game.

 But Monroe scored 18 unanswered. 

Following an interception by senior safety Parker Sims, the Hurricanes took over at their own 21 and moved 79 yards in just six plays, sparked by three rushes for 50 yards and finished off by Davis first score on a 2-yard run.

The Monroe defense then forced a three-and-out and the snap in the Bears ensuing punt sailed out of the back of the end zone for two points.

Later in the fourth quarter, Mandela Manga shot the gap and tackled Cherokee running back Jackson Pirkle in the end zone.

The Hurricanes took over at the Bears 33 after the ensuing kickoff and, after two runs for 32 yards by Shumate, Davis score again on a 1-yard blast up the middle.

The Hurricanes gambled on their opening possession of the game, going for fourth-and-one at their own 39. Shumate was stuffed for a yard loss, giving the Bears the ball for the first time at the 38.

Seven plays later, Bears quarterback Cooper Dean scramble into the end zone from four yards out to give his team an early lead.

Unable to move the ball early, Monroe managed just 24 yards and Dean threw an interception over the first 12 minutes.

But after stopping the Bears on three plays and forcing a punt after the turnover, the Hurricanes got the offense in gear.

Starting from its own 20, Monroe produced its most impressive drive of the season, moving the distance in nine plays deftly mixing the run and pass. 

Carr caught a pair of passes for 36 yards and Shumate ran six times for 44 yards, including a 5- yard sprint around the left side for a touchdown.

The Monroe defense forced another three-and-out and the offense took over at the Hurricanes 45. Nine plays later, the drive stalled at the six and junior kicker Ethan Kinney kicked a 23-yard field goal to give his team a lead at the half.

The win snapped a two-game skid to the Bears, both last year, falling in the regular season and in the first round of the playoffs. 

The Hurricanes entered the game at No. 31 in the Class 3A power ratings, and the win should improve their standing as well as their seedings in a likely playoff appearance.

The Hurricanes will take off next week before returning to action the following Friday in a huge region showdown at Oconee County.