It came down to one game to determine the fifth and final playoff spot out of the 8-4A with the Monticello Billies travelling to Crossett to face the Eagles in the final game of the regular season on Thursday, November 3.
Monticello won the opening coin toss and elected to receive the football to begin the contest.
Beginning their drive at their own 40-yard line, Hayden Carter, who got the start at quarterback, gained nine yards on the first carry of the contest.
A false start pushed the Billies back to the 44 followed by a four-yard loss to put the ball back at the starting position at the 40.
Jontavion Lambert would gain six yards to the Monticello 46 on his first carry and would break free on the next play for a 54-yard touchdown run for the first score of the contest.
Landon Shaver added the extra point to give Monticello a 7-0 lead with 9:47 showing on the clock.
Crossett began their first drive of the contest at their own 48-yard line and advanced the ball into Monticello territory, but the BIllie defense would get the first turnover of the contest after Tejon Tensley intercepted the Max Brooks pass at the Monticello 22.
Crosset would force Monticello to punt after the turnover with Jackson Hines’ kick being downed at the Crossett one-yard line.
Brooks would run the ball on consecutive plays to get the ball out to the seven, but Reid Case would sack Brooks on the next play for a safety to extend the Monticello lead to 9-0.
Monticello’s next possession would extend into the second quarter, but the Crossett defense would force the Billies to turn the ball over on downs at the Crossett 39.
After exchanging punts, the Eagles would get on the scoreboard with 1:44 remaining in the half.
Beginning the drive at their own 40-yard line, Brooks would scramble out to the Monticello 49 on the first run of the drive.
After gaining down to the Monticello 10 in seven plays, Brooks connected with Max Taunton for the 10-yard score.
Chris Mondragon added the extra point to cut the Billies lead to 9-7.
After forcing the Billies to punt, Crossett would advance the ball down to the Monticello 18-yard line where Mondragon kicked a field goal to give the Eagles a 10-9 halftime lead.
Receiving the ball to start the second half, Crossett would add to their lead with 9:43 remaining in the quarter after a 21-yard pass from Brooks to Taylin Paskel.
Mondragon added the extra point to give the Eagles a 17-9 advantage.
Monticello began their first drive of the second half on their own 35-yard line.
Lambert would get the first four carries of the drive to advance the ball into Crossett territory down to the 39-yard line.
Brooks Bowman would connect on a pass to Quay Rhodes to the 33 with Lamber taking the next carries to the 24 before Bowman hit Rhodes once more to the Crossett 17.
Lambert advanced the ball to the 10-yard line on the next three carries and with 3:47 remaining Bowman hit Evan Bealer for the touchdown then connected with Luke Frost to tie the game at 17.
Crossett’s next possession carried over into the fourth quarter with the Eagles scoring with Tayshawn Paskel scoring from 12-yards out.
After the Mondragon extra point, the Eagles retook the lead 24-17 with 11:34 remaining in the contest.
The Crossett defense would force Monticello to turn the ball over on downs with 9:30 remaining in the contest at the Crossett 36-yard line, but Monticello would force the Eagles to punt the ball away to the Monticello 22 with 5:54 showing on the clock.
Monticello would punt the ball away with 5:01 remaining and Crossett would be forced to punt at the 3:05 mark.
Beginning the next drive at their own 20-yard line, Bowman connected with Tinsley for a five yard gain.
On the next play, Bowman would hit Bealer for the second time on the night for a 75-yard touchdown pass with 2:22 remaining in the game.
Landon Shaver added the extra-point to tie the contest at 24.
Shaver was able to pin the Eagles deep in their own territory at the Crossett 14-yard line.
Crossett gained 13 yards in three plays to the Crossett 27.
With time clicking down, Brooks dropped back to pass and connected with a receiver who made a Monticello defender miss a tackle to score the touchdown with 59 seconds remaining in the contest.
Mondragon added the extra point to take the 31-24 lead.
Monticello would begin their drive on their own 30-yard line after a five-yard return by Zavarious Johnson,
After two incomplete passes, Bowman’s next pass would be intercepted by Tayshawn Paskel at the Crossett 27-yard line with 32 seconds remaining.
With the loss Monticello finishes the season with an overall record of 4-6 record and a 3-5 conference mark.
