There was a lot at stake for the Monticello Billies and the DeWitt Dragons coming into Friday’s final regular season showdown.
With both teams coming into the contest with DeWitt coming into the contest with a 5-1 conference record sitting in second in the 8-4A and Monticello entering the contest in third position in the conference standings with a 4-2 record.
The winner of the contest would earn the second seed out of the 8-4A entering the 4A State Football Championship Tournament with the loser falling to third.
The Dragons would win the coin toss and elected to receive the ball to start the game, but their drive would be cut short after Blaine Hayden intercepted Justin Ross’s pass to give Monticello the first turnover of the contest at the Monticello 47.
Joseph Accelus would get the first carry of the game on athree yard loss but would get those yards back and more on the next run, taking the ball from the Monticello 44 to the DeWitt 32.
Accelus would get the ball down to the two yard line with Jackson Hines getting the call to get the first Billie touchdown.
The Billie snap was mishandled on the extra point attempt to give Monticello a 6-0 lead.
The Billie defense would force DeWitt to punt on their next drive with Monticello taking the ball at the 50 yard line.
Monticello would push the ball into the red zone with Jackson HInes taking the ball in for the score from the one yard line.
Tye Guthrie would connect with Jax Rawls for the two-point conversion to take a 14-0 lead.
DeWitt would come back on their next possession to cut the lead to seven after their drive was extended into the second quarter.
After reaching the one yard line, Ross would keep the ball for the Dragon score.
Wyatt Womack added the extra point for the 14-7 score.
After Monticello turned the ball over on downs, DeWitt would take possession at their own 39 and quickly moved the ball to the Monticello 29.
After reaching the 22, a holding penalty against DeWitt moved the ball back to the 32.
On the next play Ross would connect with Travis London for the touchdown.
After the extra point the score was tied at 14.
After forcing Monticello to punt, the Dragons would take a 21-14 lead with 1:07 remaining in the half after a five yard pass to Griffin Whitmore and an extra point.
Monticello would pull within one point after a 65 yard touchdown pass from Guthrie to Accelus.
The extra point bounced off the uprights for the 21-20 Dragon advantage at the half.
Monticello would receive the ball to begin the second half but would turn the ball over on downs.
DeWitt would extend their lead to 28-20 on their possession after a one yard run by Korri Graham.
DeWitt would get a turn over on an interception on Monticello’s next possession but the Billie defense would force the Dragons to punt.
Monticello’s next drive would extend into the fourth quarter with Monticello’s Jayden Rhodes scoring on a one yard run.
Guthrie would connect again with Rawls on the two-point conversion to tie the contest at 28.
The Billie defense would force the Dragons to punt with Monticello taking possession at their own six yard line.
The Billies would drive the field with Guthrie connecting with Parker Bowman for an 11 yard touchdown pass.
Joseph Rojas added the extra point with Monticello taking a 35-28 lead with 3:26 remaining.
The Billie defense would force DeWitt to turn the ball over on downs and after converting a first down, the Billies would down the ball to end the contest securing the second seed out of the 8-4A.
With the win, the Billies will host their first round contest in the 4A Tournament, hosting the Forest City Mustangs who come to Hyatt Field with a 4-6 overall record and a 4-2 conference record as the fourth seed out of the 2-4A Conference.
Kickoff at Hyatt Field is set for 7 pm with tickets needing to be purchased through the Arkansas Activities Association for attendance to post season games.
