New Era: Monticello blows past William Monroe in Berlin's debut

After bidding farewell to 18 players in the class of 2025, Friday night’s season opener kicked off a new era at Monticello. There were new faces all over the field and on the sideline, as Jon Berlin debuted as the sixth head coach in program history.

For Berlin, the vibe was more ‘welcome back’ than first introduction.

“I was blessed to work for probably one of the best head coaches I’ve ever been around in Brud Bicknell,” said Berlin of the school’s first head coach, who compiled 91 wins, three region crowns, and a state title over 13 years (1998-2010). Berlin served as an assistant at MHS for three seasons (1999-2001) before heading south to climb the ranks, eventually head coaching at Rustburg in Lynchburg and then joining college staffs at Washington & Lee and Davidson. “It’s coming home to family. This is where I grew up, and I’m really pleased to be home.”

After the Mustang offense amassed 412 total yards and new quarterback Ian Feggans accounted for five touchdowns (four rushing, one passing), the black-and-gold faithful headed home with optimism– and a 47-13 victory over William Monroe.

“Our offense is a reading offense, and Ian did a great job of executing it,” said Berlin of the junior signal-caller. “I’m so proud of these guys and what they accomplished, the hard work of putting in the new offense and some new defensive stuff.”

You’d be forgiven for wondering if the final stat sheet was a facsimile of the team's 2024 opener, a 42-13 win by Monticello in Stanardsville behind a breakout 125-yard performance by then-sophomore running back Jaiden Walker. Now in the starting role, Walker tallied a game-high 129 yards and two scores with an identical 13 carries.

“Jaiden really did a great job, and I can’t say enough about the guys up front,” Berlin said. “They did a phenomenal job tonight.

Monroe grabbed early momentum thanks to special teams, as a muffed bouncing punt returned the Greene Dragon offense with a flipped field after an initial three-and-out. Junior 

Gavin Battaile-Gilbert took a pitch around the right edge for 14 yards on fourth-and-five before junior back Lucas Shifflett powered in for a 2-yard touchdown. Shifflett led Monroe with eight rushes on the night for 41 yards.

Monticello answered the early 7-0 deficit with six straight touchdowns. Walker broke a 45-yarder to pull even midway through the opening quarter. Feggans capped the next two drives with keepers of 4 and 21 yards to open a 21-7 lead after one.

The defense posted some highlights, too, as sophomore linebacker Adan Castro-Hernandez and senior defensive back Brooklyn Walker came up with interceptions to end consecutive Greene Dragon series. Jaiden Walker capped an eight-play, 66-yard drive with his second score to put MHS up 28-7 at 8:19 in the second quarter.

Monroe drove inside the MHS 30 on its next two series but came up empty on downs and when time expired as a third-and-goal pass fell incomplete. Meanwhile, Monticello added one more score on Feggans’ only drop-back pass of the first half.

“We just kept running the ball, waiting for them to bite,” said Feggans, who lofted one to junior tight end Mason Bendall streaking down the middle for a 32-yard touchdown. “We knew that play was going to come.”

Leading 34-7 at the break, Feggans put the game on ice early in the third. He returned the kickoff out near midfield, then capped a seven-play drive with a 35-yard score.

Monroe got on the board again via 20-yard run by sophomore Rashad Brock. He finished with 46 yards on six carries. The Greene Dragons’ top gainer was junior fullback Jahiem Tinsley, who totaled 48 yards on three rushes.

Feggans rounded out the scoring with a 32-yard keeper on the final play of the quarter before giving way to second-teamers in the fourth. He finished with 112 yards on just six rushes.

Monticello (1-0) takes their new show on the road to Waynesboro (0-1) next Friday, while Monroe (0-1) welcomes Central-Lunenburg (1-0) to Stanardsville.