Weather sponsored by:
The Monticello Billies travelled to Ashley County on Friday, October 30, to take on the Crossett Eagles.
For the Billies, the final two games of the season are important in determining the final seeding for the 4A State Football Championship Tournament.
Coming into Friday’s contest, the Crossett Eagles would enter with an overall record of 3-5 with an 8-4A Conference record of 2-3 and currently is sitting in the sixth position in the conference standings.
Monticello would hold an overall record of 4-4 with a 3-2 record in the 8-4A Conference and a 4th place standing in the conference rankings.
Crossett would win the opening coin toss and would defer to the second half with Hayden Seals kicking the ball off for the Eagles to begin the contest.
TK Hoover would return the ball six yards with Monticello starting the opening drive at their own 23 but would be forced to punt the ball on drive.
Crossett would drive into Monticello territory on their initial drive but would turn the ball over on downs at the Monticello 43.
Monticello turned the ball over on downs on their next drive which would allow Crossett to get on the board first in the contest on a touchdown pass by Cash Forrest and extra point by seals to put the Eagles up 7-0.
Monticello’s next drive would result in a turnover after Hudson Harvey was sacked and fumble the ball with Crossett recovering the ball.
Monticello would get the next turnover on a fumble recovery by Bo Hobbs who would return the ball for a 60-yard plus return touchdown.
Jude Parke added the extra point to tie the contest 7-7.
Crossett would turn the ball over on downs on their next possession with the Billies taking over at the Monticello 48.
After a three-yard run by Ja’Braylyn Culbreath into Crossett territory at the Eagle 49, Joseph Accelus would move the ball to the Eagle 40 but a false start penalty before the next snap would move the ball back to the Eagle 45.
Harvey would connect with Jaxson Rawls to the Eagle 38 and for the rest of the drive it would be Accelus driving the field for the Billie touchdown.
Parke added the extra point to take a 14-7 lead.
Crossett would tie the contest on their next drive after Forrest connected on a 52-yard pass to Nicolas Mondragon for the score.
Seal added the point after for the 14-14 tie.
The teams would exchange turnovers on the next drives with Harvey’s pass being picked off by Javarius Hughes and Monticello’s Cameron McCullough recovering a fumble.
Crossett received the ball to start the second half, but the drive ended on an interception by Bo Hobbs.
The Billies would drive the field with Dax Bowman running the ball in for the Billie score from 17-yards out.
Parke added the extra point to give Monticello the 21-14 lead.
Crossett would tie the contest on the next drive after Forrest connected with Kaevon Scoby for an 11-yard touchdown.
Seal added the point after.
Monticello would begin the next drive at their own 44 with 1:16 remaining in the third quarter.
Accelus would cover the 56 yards in three plays to take the lead 28-21 after the Parke extra point.
Crossett’s next drive would extend into the fourth quarter and would end on TK Hoover intercepting Forrest’s pass in the endzone for a touchback.
Monticello would turn the ball over on downs on their next drive, giving the Eagles possession at the Eagle 29.
Crossett would suffer one of only three penalties called against the Eagles on the drive, a holding call, but would drive into Monticello territory.
After reaching the Monticello four, the Billie defense would get a stop in the backfield and would hold Forrest to two incomplete passes from the five to secure the contest 28-21.
The Billies will return to Hyatt Field on Friday, November 6, for the final regular season contest of the season hosting the DeWitt Dragons at 7 pm.
