The Monticello Billies returned to the 4A State Football Championship Tournament on Friday night, traveling almost four hours to Highland High School to face the Rebels in first round action.
For the Billies it marked a return to the tournament format after missing the 2022 tournament.
The Billies secured the third seed out of the 8-4A with their final regular season victory over the Crossett Eagles.
Highland entered the tournament as the third seed out of the 3-4A with an overall record of 7-3 and a conference record of 5--2 having secured the third seed from the conference with a 14-6 victory over Pocahontas.
Highland would win the opening coin toss and elected to receive the ball to begin the contest.
Joseph Rojas would kick the ball off for the Billies 47 yards where it was taken by Keagan Statler at the Highland 13 returning the ball to the Highland 32 where he was met by Trey Riley for the stop.
Statler got the first carry of the drive, and an 18-yard gain to the 50.
A second run by Statler would advance the ball into Monticello territory to the Monticello 39.
Highland’s drive would stall after Hunter Howard sacked Zac Huckabee at the Monticello 40 followed by an incomplete pass that gave possession to the Billies.
Monticello’s first possession of the contest would result in a punt as the Billies could not get much going offensively in the series.
Monticello’s defense would force Highland to punt on their next possession with Monticello being hit with a holding penalty on the return at the Highland 36 that moved the ball back to the Highland 46 to begin the drive.
Monticello’s second possession of the drive would result in a missed opportunity.
Using the legs of Jon Jackson, who returned to the lineup after missing the final regular season contest against Crossett due the concussion protocol, the senior running back would advance the ball down to the two yard line before an offside penalty moved the ball to the one.
On fourth and goal, the Billies attempted to run the ball up the middle to reach the endzone, but the Highland defense would hold strong, stopping Farrell Lewis short of the goal to force the Billies to turn the ball over on downs.
Statler would come out of the endzone on the first carry to break free to advance the ball down to the Monticello 45 yard line.
After one more run for a loss of two yards, the buzzer sounded to end the first quarter with the score tied, 0-0.
Highland would reach the Monticello 28 on their drive but would turn the ball over on downs with 9:31 remaining in the half.
Monticello would get on the board on their next possession.
Brooks Bowman would complete passes to Tejon tensley and Evan Bealer with Jackson getting the carries on the ground to move the ball to the Highland 23.
Bowman would connect with Tensley for the 23-yard touchdown strike.
After the Rojas extra point, the Billies led 7-0.
Monticello would force Highland to punt with Tensley taking the punt at the Monticello 30, returning the ball to the Highland 18.
A completed pass to Quay Rhodes gained a couple yards before Bowman connected with Tensley for the second time to cover 17 yards for the touchdown.
Rojas added the extra point to extend the Billie lead to 14-0 with 2:43 remaining in the half.
Monticello would get on more possession in the half, but the drive would end with an interception in the endzone and after one play by the Rebels, the half ended with the Billies maintaining a 14-0 lead.
Monticello would receive the ball to begin the second half, but the Billie would not be able to get the ball out of their own territory, being forced to punt the ball away to the Highland 35.
Highland would move the ball into Monticello territory, advancing the ball down to the Monticello three where they would fumble the ball attempting to get into the endzone that would be recovered by Tye Guthrie, who also returned to the lineup after missing a couple of contests.
Guthrie would take the ball at the five and return it to the Highland 35,
Monticello would advance the ball to the Highland two on their drive but would also fumble the ball before reaching the goal line with the ball rolling out of the endzone for a touchback.
Highland would get help on their possession thanks to 45 yards of penalties that were levied against the Billies for two personal fouls and a 15-yard facemask that placed the ball on the Monticello 12.
Statler would cover the yardage for the first Rebel score of the contest. Statler also added the extra point to cut the lead to 14-7.
Monticello would score on their next possession to extend the lead to 21-7 after a third touchdown reception by Tensley and extra point by Rojas with 10:23 remaining in the game.
Highland would come back on the next possession to cut the lead to 21-14 after scoring with 6:21 remaining in the contest.
The Highland defense would force the Billies to turn the ball over on downs at the Highland 24 with 2:15 remaining in the contest.
After a loss of three yards on the first play of the drive, Hucabee would connect with his receiver for a 79-yard touchdown pass at the 1:52 mark to cut the Billie lead to 21-20.
Highland would call out to discuss their options, deciding to put the game on the line to go for the two-point conversion with Statler taking the direct snap but would be stopped just inches shy of the goal line as the Billies held on to the 21-20 lead.
Highland would attempt the onside kick, but Tensley would fall on the ball, and after taking a couple of knees, the Billies would escape with the 21-20 win advancing to the second round of the 4A Championship Tournament.
Highland would lead Monticello in passing yards with 182 to 173, rushing yards 202 to 120 and also with the penalty statistics with Highland only receiving five penalties for 34 yards and the Billies receiving 11 penalties for 150 yards.
Monticello will now travel four hours in the opposite direction, heading to the west side of the state to face the undefeated Elkins Elks.
Elkins is the number one seed from the 1-4A.
Elkins comes into the contest 11-0 after defeating Clinton in their first round contest 63-27.
Elkins has outscored their opponents this season 599-91 and has not scored less than 38 points in a game all season, scoring 50 plus points eight out of 11 games including one 73 point game in a 73-14 win over Green Forest and have scored 60 plus points in three contests this season.
Kickoff is at 7 pm at Elkins.
