Weather sponsored by:
The Monticello Junior Billies had one final obstacle in the way to repeat as the 8-4A Junior Conference Champions; that was they had to defeat the Stuttgart Junior Ricebirds.
For the second consecutive year, the conference would be determined between the Junior High teams with this year’s contest being held in Monticello at Hyatt Field.
Stuttgart would come into Thursday’s contest having one loss, coming against Hamburg, with the Monticello Junior Billies putting their undefeated streak on the line.
Stuttgart would win the coin toss and would elect to receive the ball to begin the contest.
Jon Davis Vanderzwalm would kick the ball away to begin the contest with Stuttgart beginning their starting drive on their own 22 yard line.
The Junior Ricebirds drive would end after Lane Reid intercepted a pass at the Monticello 30 and returned the ball to the Stuttgart 47.
Monticello would move the ball to the two but would fumble the ball with Stuttgart taking over at their own 10 but would be forced to punt on the drive giving the Junior Billies possession at the Stuttgart 49.
Monticello’s drive would extend into the second quarter with the Junior Billies moving the ball down to the Stuttgart 22 yardline.
Jonathan Barefield would attempt a pass but it would fall incomplete.
On the next play, Jonathan Grissom would attempt a pass to Dawson Loyd that was completed for the 22-yard touchdown.
Vanderzwalm would connect on the extra point to give the Junior Billies a 7-0 lead.
Vanderzwalm would get the ball away with the ball being touched by the Stuttgart returner who could not gain control of the ball with Monticello’s Courtland Hampton falling on the ball for the fumble recovery at the Stuttgart three yardline.
After a loss of yardage on the first play of the drive, Dawson Loyd would take the ball out of the “Rhino Formation” for the seven-yard score.
Vanderzwalm would add the extra point to extend the Junior Billie lead to 14-0.
Vanderzwalm would get another good kick away that would pin the Ricebirds down at their own six where they would start the drive.
After an incomplete pass, the Junior Billie defense would cause another Junior Ricebird fumble with the Junior Billies taking over at the Stuttgart 11.
Barefield would move the ball to two yard line followed by Loyd taking the ball in from “Rhino” for his third touchdown of the contest.
Vanderzwalm added the extra point for a 21-0 lead.
Stuttgart would begin the next drive at their own 35 after the Vanderzwalm kick went out of bounds.
Lane Reid would get his second interception of the contest on the first pass of the drive, intercepting the ball at the 50 and returning it to the Stuttgart 31.
The Junior Billie drive would also end on a turnover after the Junior Ricebirds recovered a fumble at the 25.
Stuttgart would be forced to punt their drive.
Monticello began their drive at the Stuttgart 18 and would move to the Stuttgart nine thanks to a hold penalty against the Junior Ricebirds.
Barefield would cover the nine yards on the next play for the Junior Billie touchdown followed by the extra point from Vanderzwalm to extend the lead to 28-0 before the halftime horn.
Neither team would score in the third quarter with Stuttgart scoring at the beginning of the fourth quarter on a one-yard touchdown run and extra point to cut the lead to 28-7.
The Junior Billies would get the final score of the contest after driving to the Stuttgart 17 and bringing out Vanderzwalm to attempt a 34-yard field goal.
Vanderzwalm would put the ball through the uprights to extend the Junior Billie lead to 31-7.
The Junior Billies remain undefeated in 8-4A Junior Conference play and capture the 8-4A Junior Conference Championship.
Monticello will travel to Watson Chapel on Thursday for the final game of the season with a 6:30 pm kickoff.
