Weather sponsored by:
Before beginning the sports story for the Monticello Billies at Fordyce to start the 2026 season, another story happened just weeks before the season began with the passing of Seymore Weathers, who was not only the Editor for the Fordyce paper but was a die hard Fordyce Redbug fan.
Weathers passed away on July 30, 2026 and was much missed on the sidelines on Friday night, but he was there in spirit cheering on his beloved Redbugs even if they came up short.
Now to the game.
Coming into Friday night's season opener, both Monticello and Fordyce would have the honor of being preseason ranked in the top 10 of their conferences in class 3A and 4A.
Monticello would win the opening coin toss and would defer to the second half and after the kickoff to begin the season, Fordyce would start 1st and 10 from their own 40 yard line.
After moving the ball to the 50, Monticello would create the first turnover of the night with a fumble recovery by Aaden Franklin.
Fordyce would get the ball back on Monticello’s first play from scrimmage after Hudson Harvey’s pass was intercepted by Chase Humphrey.
Fordyce would get the first score of the contest on the drive on a 36-yard reception by Humphrey from Jamartez Stroud to go up 6-0 after the failed two-point attempt.
The score would remain through the half.
Monticello would tie the game at six to start the second half after a 24-yard run by Joseph Accelus and a blocked kick.
The Billies would score again in the third quarter on a 12-yard run by Jonah White and a two-point conversion from Edardo Ramos for the 14-7 lead.
Ja’Bralyn Culbreath would add a Billie touchdown with 38 seconds remaining in the quarter on a 39-yard run followed by an extra-point by Jude Parke for a 21-6 lead.
Monticello would begin the fourth quarter with the ball but would turn the ball over on downs at the Fordyce 31.
The Redbugs would move the ball down to the Monticello 33 but a personal foul facemask penalty would add 15 extra yards to the end of the play to the 18.
After a play for no gain, Micah Gamble would break free for the 18 yard score to cut the lead to 21-12 after the failed conversion attempt.
Fordyce would line up for a successful onside kick attempt, getting the ball at the Monticello 41 with 8:05 remaining in the contest.
Fordyce would move the ball into the Red Zone and with 4:57 remaining in the contest, Ikeyston Thomas would score from 13 yard out with Gamble adding the conversion to trail 21-20.
Fordyce would attempt a second onside kick on the kickoff, but the ball would not quite travel the distance with Monticello getting the ball on the Fordyce 41 yard line.
Accelus would get the first four carries of the drive to get to the Fordyce 32.
Harvey would connect with Kaiden White for 16 yards to the 16.
Jonah White would carry the ball the rest of the way, walking into the endzone with 1:25 remaining in the contest, followed by an extra point by Park to give the Billies a 28-20 lead.
Monticello would be able to hold off the Redbugs to take the win, 28-20, to start the season 1-0.
The Billies will return to Hyatt Field this Friday to host Bauxite with a 7 pm kickoff.
