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After starting the 2026 season with a record of 1-2, opening the season with a win on the road over the Fordyce Redbugs followed by a home loss to Bauxite and a road loss two weeks ago to Little Rock Mills, the Monticello Billies would come off a bye week to host the Hamburg Lions on Friday, September 25, to open the 8-4A Conference schedule.
Monticello would win the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half.
After the opening kickoff, the Lions would begin their drive at their own 24 yardline.
The Billie defense would force the Lions to go three and out with the Billies taking over possession at their own 46.
After an offsides call against Hamburg and a eight-yard run by Dax Bowman, quarterback Hudson Harvey would connect with Jax Rawls for a 10-yard gain to the Hamburg 29.
Ja’Bralyn Culbreath would get the call, covering the 29 yards for the touchdown.
Jude Parke added the extra-point for the 7-0 lead.
Hamburg would turn the ball over on downs with MOnticello getting the ball at the Hamburg 43Joseph Accelus and Joanh White would each carry the ball to reach the 20 followed by an 11-yard pass from Harvey to Kaiden White to the Hamburg nine.
A four-yard run by White moved the ball to the five with Accelus carrying it in from five yards out for the touchdown.
Parke added the extra-point to increase the lead to 14-0.
Monticello extended their lead to 17-0 in the second quarter after Parke connected on a 13-yard field goal.
After forcing the Lions to punt, regaining possession at the Hamburg 44 with 7:59 remaining in the half, the Billies would move the ball down to the Hamburg 33 when Harvey would connect on a 21-yard pass to Accelus to the Hamburg two.
White would get the direct snap for the Billie touchdown.
The extra-point attempt was not successful as Monticello extended their lead to 23-0.
Hamburg would get their first score of the contest with 42 seconds remaining in the half after a touchdown pass from Thoams to Colt Tubbs to cut the lead to 23-6.
Monticello would receive the ball to begin the second half and would move the ball down to the Hamburg 10 on the drive.
Accelus would cover the 10 yards for the touchdown followed by the extra-point by Parke to extend the lead to 30-6.
Hamburg would cut the lead to 30-12 on their next possession and would force the Billies to punt on their next possession.
Monticello would get a turnover after Crews Preston intercepted the Thomas pass at the Monticello 38 with a return down to the Hamburg nine.
White would take the snap and run the ball in from the nine and after the extra-point extended the lead to 37-12.
Monticello would get their final touchdown on a one-yard run by Edardo Garcia and an extra-point by Parke to extend the lead to 44-12.
Hamburg would score the final two touchdowns to set up the final score of 44-24 with the Billies taking the win to move to 1-0 in conference play.
Monticello is set to travel to Warren on Friday night in a contest that is not only one of the biggest rivalries in the state but will have final conference standing implications.
Monticello lost in the final minutes in the 2025 Union Bank Saline River Shootout and will look to capture the Union Bank Saline River Shootout trophy for the first time since the 2020 season when Monticello defeated Warren 18-12.
Kickoff for the Union Bank Saline River Shootout is set for 7 pm at Warren.
