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The Monticello Billies looked to get back in the win column after a loss on the road the previous week to Warren in the Union Bank Saline River Shootout, returning home for the 2026 Homecoming game, hosting the Star City Bulldogs on Friday, October 10.
Star City would win the coin toss and elected to receive the ball to start the contest and would begin the opening drive at their own 29 yardline.
The drive would end with the first turnover of the contest with Justin Holloway’s pass being intercepted by Monticello’s Crews Preston who returned the ball to the Star City 39 yardline.
Joseph Accules would get the first three carries of the game for Monticello, moving the ball down to the Star City 17.
Jonah White would take the ball to the two, followed by a two-yard touchdown run for the first score of the contest.
Jude Parke added the extra-point to put the Billies up 7-0.
The Monticello defense would stop Star City on their second drive of the contest after the Bulldogs moved the ball into Monticello territory, down to the 35 yard line.
The Bulldogs would go for it on fourth down with Holloway’s pass falling incomplete to turn the ball over on downs, setting Monticello up 1st and 10 from their own 35.
Dax Bowman would take the ball and cover 61 yards to the Star City 4 to set up 1st and Goal with White taking the ball in for the score, his second touchdown of the game.
Parke added the point after to increase the lead to 14-0.
Star City would be forced to punt on their next possession with the Billies taking possession at their own 41.
Monticello would move the ball into Star City territory with carries by White and Ja’Bralyn Culbreath down to the Star City 30.
After a couple holding penalties, the Billies found themselves pushed back to the 39 yard line with White completing his first pass of the contest to Kaiden White for a six-yard pickup to the Star City 33 followed by a 33-yard completion to Danner Loyd for the score.
Parke added the extra-point to increase the score to 21-0.
Star City’s next possession would extend into the second quarter and would end with the Bulldogs punting the ball away with no return, giving the Billies possession at the Star City 49.
White would connect with Parke for a two-yard gain followed by Culbreath moving the ball down to the 40.
White would break free for 39 yards to the Star City one with Ed Ramos taking the ball in for the score.
Parke added the extra-point to give the Billies a 28-0 lead, the score would remain until halftime.
Monticello would receive the ball to start the second half but would turn the ball over on the drive on a fumble, but the Billie defense would force the Bulldogs to punt on the drive.
Starting their drive at their own 24, the Billies would hand the ball off to Caleb Fisher for the next several plays, with Fisher moving the ball to the Monticello 39.
White would take the ball down to the Star City 11 on a 50-yard run.
Bowman scrambled to the nine with White taking it in from there for the final Billie touchdown of the contest.
Parke added the extra-point to put the score at 35-0, placing the contest under a running clock under the “Sportsmanship Rule.”
Star City would get on the board, scoring the final two touchdowns of the contest and adding the extra points to set up the final score of 35-14.
With The win, Monticello moves to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in 8-4A Conference play with Star City falling to 3-3 and 1-2 in conference play.
Friday night also had implications in the 8-4A Conference with Hamburg traveling to Warren to defeat the Lumberjacks 55-13.
With the Hamburg win, Monticello moves back into second place in the conference standings setting up a conference showdown on Friday night that could have 8-4A Conference Championship implications when the Billies travel to Stuttgart to face the Ricebirds who currently sit at the top of the 8-4A Conference with a 6-0 overall record and a 3-0 record in the 8-4A.
The Billies will have to defeat Stuttgart on the road to keep their conference title hopes alive.
Monticello and Stuttgart will meet on Friday at Stuttgart with kickoff set at 7 pm.
