Coming off their first conference loss of the season a week ago to the 8-4A Conference leading Warren Lumberjacks in a close contest, the Monticello Billies turned their attention to the Star City Bulldogs on Friday night to celebrate Homecoming.
The Homecoming Celebration would begin before kickoff with the presentation of the 2024 Homecoming Court and the crowning of the 2024 Homecoming Queen, Katie Standley, who was crowned by Monticello School Board President Curt Preston.
After the crowning of the queen, the Monticello fans were introduced to the 2024 Senior Billie football players before the game would get underway.
The captains for Monticello and Star City would meet at midfield for the opening coin toss in which Star City would win the toss and would elect to receive the football to begin the contest.
Joseph Rojas would get a good kick to start the contest with the ball being taken at the Star City five by Samari Turner and returned to the Bulldog 39.
Monticello would begin the game with an offsides penalty with Star City moving the ball into Monticello territory on their first pass play to the 34.
The Bulldogs would get to the 28 before penalties moved them back to the Monticello 36 where Jacob Boothe would connect with Dujuan Haney for a Bulldog touchdown with 8:30 remaining in the quarter.
Javier Magana would add the extra point to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead.
Jackson Hines would take the Bulldog kickoff at the Monticello 10 for a 13 yard return to the Monticello 23 to begin the first Billie drive of the night.
Monticello would move the ball into Bulldog territory to the 28 but the drive would stall with Monticello turning the ball over one downs with 5:19 on the clock.
Monticello’s defense would force Star City to lose yardage on every play of the next drive to force the Bulldogs to punt.
Monticello’s next drive would extend into the second quarter but with 10:27 remaining in the half, Tye Guthrie’s pass would be intercepted at the Star City 17 by Kevin Johnson and returned to the Star City 29 but a block in the back penalty would give the Bulldogs possession on their own 14.
The Monticello defense would force the Bulldogs to punt on the drive with 8:19 remaining in the half.
Starting at the Star City 49, Monticello would quickly move the ball down into the Bulldog redzone to the nine where Curtis Barrow would get the call, carrying the ball in for the Billie touchdown..
With 7:09 on the clock, Joseph Rojas added the extra point to tie the game 7-7.
The Billie defense would force Star City to punt once again on their next possession with the Billies taking possession on their own 13 with 3:28 remaining in the half.
Zaedin Jones would move the ball to the 21 on two carries with Guthrie gaining the first down at the 24.
Jayden Rhodes would catch a pass from Guthrie to advance the ball to the Bulldog 46 and would have the final catch of the drive on a six yard gain to the Bulldog four.
Jackson Hines would take the ball in for the Billie touchdown with 19 seconds remaining in the half with Rojas adding the extra point to give the Billies a 14-7 lead.
Monticello would receive the ball to begin the second half and would get their third score of the game on the drive on a 22 yard touchdown pass from Guthrie to Barrow, for Barrow’s second score of the night.
Rojas’ kick was not successful with Billies holding a 20-7 lead.
Monticello’s defense continued to haunt the Star City offense with the defensive line being responsible for four sacks including three by AJ Robinson, one for a safety to give the Billies a 22-7 advantage.
The third quarter safety would be the final score of the contest for either team to set the final score at 22-7.
With the loss, the Bulldogs fall to 4-2 on the season and 1-2 in conference play.
The Billies improve to 4-2 on the season and 2-1 in conference play.
The Billies will be on the road for their next contest, travelling to Stuttgart on Friday to face the Ricebirds.
Stuttgart is currently 3-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play having lost to Helena and Dewitt and defeating Crossett.
Kickoff is set for 7 pm.
