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With The anticipation of the Friday night contest in Monticello between the Monticello Billies and Warren Lumberjacks in the annual Union Bank Saline River Shootout, the rivalry would kickoff on Thursday night with the Monticello Junior Billies travelling to Warren to face off against the Warren Junior Lumberjacks at Jim Hurley Stadium.
Coming into the contest, the Junior Billies would have a 4-1 overall record and was perfect in conference with a 3-0 mark.
The Junior Lumberjacks would win the opening coin toss and elected to receive the ball to begin the kickoff.
Crews Preston would kick the ball off for the Junior Billies to begin the contest to the Warren 20 with a 17 yard return to give Warren their first possession at their own 37.
After a 10 yard gain, the Junior Lumberjacks would advance the ball to the Monticello four on a 59 yard run followed by a two yard run for a touchdown and after the extra point, Warren led 7-0.
Dax Bowman would take the kickoff after the score for an 18 yard return to start the Junior Billies drive at their own 30.
After a four yard run by Bowman, Preston would connect on consecutive passes to Cayden Daniels to move the ball into Warren territory.
Bowman advanced the ball to the Warren 30 followed by a pass from Preston to Daniels to the 14 and then to the nine on an offsides penalty by Warren.
After advancing to the three, a false start would move the ball back to the eight. Jonathon Barefield would take it in for the Billie score.
Preston added the two-point play to give Monticello an 8-7 lead.
Monticello would get the first turnover of the contest on the next Warren possession after Monticello recovered a fumble at the Warren 41, but the possession would end with Monticello turning the ball over on downs.
Monticello would extend their lead with 4:10 remaining in the first half.
After taking over on downs at their own five, Monticello would find themselves backed up to the one.
Presston connected with Bowman to the 19.
Bowman would get the next carry for a 81 yard touchdown run and after Daniels added the two-point play, the Billies led 16-7.
Warren would get the next score of the contest on a 53 yard pass and would add the two-point conversion to make the score 16-15 at halftime.
Monticello would receive the ball to begin the second half, beginning their drive at their own 35 after the Warren kick went out of bounds.
Monticello moved the ball into Warren territory on two plays and after moving the ball down to the Warren three yard line, Preston would take the ball in for the touchdown.
The two-point play was not successful, giving Monticello a 22-15 lead.
Warren would fumble the kickoff with Monticello’s Cain Forrest recovering the ball at the Warren 23.
A holding call would move the ball back to the Warren 26 and after an incomplete pass, Preston would connect with Bowman for the touchdown to give MOnticello a 28-15 lead.
Warren would score a touchdown and add the extra point to end the third quarter to cut the lead to 28-22.
Monticello extended their lead to 36-22 after a 37 yard run by Barefield and a two-point conversion on a pass from Preston to Daniels.
Warren would score on their next possession to cut the lead to 36-30 after the touchdown and extra point.
Monticello would get the final score of the contest on the next drive after starting on their own 17, the Billies would move to the Monticello 38.
Preston would keep the ball and would advance the ball to the Warren four yard line.
Bowman would get the call, covering the four yards to give Monticello the touchdown.
Bowman would also convert on the two-point conversion to set up the final score, 44-30, after forcing Warren to turn the ball over on down and taking a final knee to end the contest.
