The Monticello Billies looked to keep their momentum going after last week's 21-12 win over the McGehee Owls, hosting the Central Cougars on Friday night in the 2023 Homecoming game in front of a packed crowd at Hyatt Field.
The Billies entered Friday’s contest with an overall record of 2-2 and a 8-4A Conference record of 1-1.
Central entered the contest with an overall record of 0-4 and a conference mark of 0-2.
After the pregame Homecoming ceremony where Riley Derryberry was crowned the 2023 Homecoming Queen, Central would win the opening coin toss and elected to receive the football to begin the contest.
Daniel Pace kicked the ball away to Central’s Antonio Webb for no return at the Central 31.
Central opened their drive with an incomplete pass by Mathew Goldberry followed by a completion to Treyzaughn JohnsonPace’s that lost the Cougars 11 yards on the play after Tejon Tensley tackled Rogers at the Central 20.
Goldberry’s next pass would be intercepted at the Central 32 by Jackson Hines who would return the ball to the Central 27 to give Monticello possession.
Quay Rhodes would carry the ball down to the 20 with Zaedin Jones reaching the seven yard line on the next two carries.
Jones would get the call on the next play, covering the seven yards for the first score of the contest.
Joseph Rojas added the extra point and with 9:14 remaining in the quarter, the Billies led 7-0.
Pace’s kickoff would be taken at the Central 21 by Johnson and returned to the Central 34 to bring the Cougar next possession.
Central’s Jamorious Parker advanced the ball to the Central 39.
Goldberry would complete his next pass to Parker, but the ball would be fumbled with Monticello’s Brett Birch recovering the fumble for the Billies at the Central 43.
Monticello began their next drive being given five yards due to an offsides penalty against Central that moved the ball down to the 38 followed by a facemask penalty on the next play that gave the Billies the ball at the 33.
Jones would get the next two carries, advancing the ball down to the Central 21 followed by two carries by Jontavion Jackson to the Central six.
Jackson would carry the ball into the endzone on the next play for the Billie touchdown.
Rojas added the extra point to extend the Billie lead to 14-0 with 5:56 left in the quarter.
Pace’s next kick would be taken at the Central 18 by Goldberry, returning the ball 22 yards to the Central 40 but the Cougars were forced to punt on the drive with the kick being taken by Tensley at the Monticello 33, returning the ball into Central territory to the Central 23.
Rhodes moved the ball down to the Central five and three plays later, Brooks Bowman connected with Blaine Hayden for the third Billie touchdown of the quarter.
Rojas added the extra point to give the Billies a 21-0 lead with 3:08 showing on the clock.
Goldberry would once again take the Pace kick, this time at the 19-yard line, returning the ball back to the Central 31.
Central would get their best drive of the quarter, extending the drive into the second quarter, advancing the ball into Monticello territory before the drive stalled with the Cougars turning the ball over on downs at the Monticello 24.
Beginning their first drive of the second quarter from their own 24-yard line, Bowman connected with Quay Rhodes on the first play from scrimmage for a 76-yard strike to the endzone.
Rojas added the extra points as MOnticello increased their lead to 28-0 with 10:36 remaining in the half.
Central began their next drive at their own 32 after a 12-yard return by Trezon Rogers.
The Cougars once again advanced the ball into Monticello territory, but the drive would stall at the Billie 36, turning the ball over on downs with 6:20 left in the half.
Monticello got an advancement on the ball on an offsides call against Central to move the ball to Monticello 41.
Jones advanced the ball into Central territory before being brought down by Goldberry at the Central 37.
Bowman would then connect with Evan Bealer for a 33-yard reception to the Central four before Jones got his second touchdown of the contest, taking the ball in from four yards out.
Rojas added the extra point with 5:14 remaining in the half.
Central would begin their final drive of the half at their own 32 after a seven-yard return by Trezon Rogers.
Jamarious Parker moved the ball down into Monticello territory to the Monticello 45.
Central would get down to the Monticello 30 before a sack by Race Adcock lost the Cougars three yards and asack by Brett Birch forced an end to the drive at the Monticello 35.
Three plays later the half would end with Monticello leading 35-0.
Beginning the second half of play with a running clock under the Sportsmanship Rule, the Billies would receive the second half kickoff and would be forced to punt in four plays.
Neither offense could get anything going in the third quarter with Monticello maintaining their 35-0 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Monticello would get one more turnover in the contest on an interception by Laytn Nichols to give Monticello possession at their own 29.
After forcing Monticello to punt, the Cougars would get on the board on their final possession of the game after Goldberry connected with Devon Green on a 59-yard touchdown pass.
The two-point conversion was not successful as Central trailed Monticello 35-6.
The score would hold to the final buzzer.
Brooks Bowman would finish the contest going 6 for 6 for 152 yards and two touchdowns.
Zaedin Jones led on the ground with 60 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.
Jontavion Jackson also had a touchdown in the contest on 24 yards rushing.
Quay Rhodes led in receiving with 76 yards on one catch and a touchdown. Blaine Hayden added a touchdown on a five-yard reception.
Defensively, Jackson Hines and Laytn Nichols recorded interceptions and Brett Birch recorded a fumble recovery.
The Billies will travel to Dumas to continue 8-4 Conference play on Friday, September 30.
Kickoff is set for 7 pm in Dumas.
The Junior Billies will host Dumas at Hyatt Field with a 7 pm kickoff scheduled against the Junior Bobcats.
