For the second consecutive year, the Monticello Billies would have to travel to Warren for the Union Bank Saline River Shootout.
Both Warren and Monticello would enter the contest with a 1-0 8-4A Conference record.
The Lumberjacks would win the coin toss to begin the game and elected to receive the opening kickoff.
Monticello’s Joseph Rojas would kick to the 10 yardline where it would be returned 21 yards by Neondre Thomas to the Warren 31.
Cameron Burks first pass of the drive would be complete to Aaron Davis but Davis would be tackled in the backfield by Laytn Nichols for a four-yard loss.
After a two-yard loss on a run by Davis, Burks would connect with Tramond Miller for a 21-yard gain to the Warren 46 followed by a five-yard offside penalty that placed the ball into Monticello territory at the 49.
Warren would drive deep into Monticello territory to the four but the drive would stall with the Lumberjacks turning the ball over on downs with 7:17 remaining in the first quarter.
Beginning the drive at the Monticello four, Jackson Hines would gain a yard to the five.
The Billies would get a little room on the next play on a four-yard reception by Rojas from Tye Guthrie.
Zaedin Jones would advance the ball to the Monticello 21 on a 12-yard run.
Monticello would advance the ball down to the Warren 38 yard line on the drive where Joseph Accelus would break free for a 38-yard run for the Billie touchdown.
Rojas added the extra point to give Monticello a 7-0 lead with 1:30 on the clock.
Warren’s next drive would begin at the Warren 47 after a 36-yard return by Thomas.
The Lumberjacks would drive to the Monticello 44 as the quarter ended.
After reaching the Monticello 30 on a pass from Burks to Miller, the Lumberjacks would further advance to the Monticello one before a false start penalty pushed the ball back to the six.
Burks would get the touchdown from the six with Hayden White adding the extra point to tie the contest, 7-7.
After forcing Monticello to punt on the next drive, Warren would begin their drive in Monticello territory at the 43 after a 20-yard return by Antonio Jordan.
Davis would get an eight-yard run on the first play of the drive followed by a 10-yard run by Burks to the Monticello 35.
Burks would connect with Miller for a 10-yard pickup to the 15.
A holding penalty would back the ball up to the Monticello 25, but the Lumberjacks would get the yardage back on a 15-yard pass from Burks to Tayshawn Edwards to the Monticello 10.
On the next play, Burks would connect with Jo Jo Steen for the 10-yard touchdown pass.
White added the extra point to give the Lumberjacks a 14-7 lead with 6:44 remaining in the half.
It would be the final score of the half.
Monticello would receive the football to begin the second half.
Monticello would advance the ball to the Warren 22 on the drive, but the Billies would turn the ball over on downs.
The first turnover of the contest would come on the next drive.
The Lumberjacks would drive into Monticello territory to the Monticello 39.
After an incomplete pass, Burks next pass was intercepted by Monticello’s Blaine Hayden for a 58-yard return for the touchdown.
After the Rojas extra point, Monticello had tied the contest at 14 with 4:57 remaining in the third quarter.
The Billies would get a their second turnover of the contest on the Lumberjacks next drive after Burks would throw his second interception of the contest after Laytn Nichols would come down with the pass at the Monticello 40, but the Lumberjack defense would force the Billies to punt ball with Thomas returning the punt 13 yards from the Warren 37 to the 50.
Monticello’s defense would also force the Lumberjacks to punt on their drive with Monticello’s next drive extending into the fourth quarter with the Billies turning the ball over on downs at the Warren 26 with 9:34 remaining in the contest.
After forcing Warren to punt on the next drive, the Billies would begin their drive at their own 34 yard line but would be forced to punt the ball with Warren taking over on the Monticello 48 after a 27-yard return by Jordan.
Davis would gain three yards to the Monticello 45 but would fumble the ball on his next carry with Jagger Hines recovering the ball at the Monticello 48 with 7:07 remaining in the contest.
On the first play after the turnover, Tye Guthrie would connect with Curtis Barrow for a 52-yard touchdown pass.
Rojas would get the extra point with Monticello taking a 21-14 lead with 6:57 remaining in the game.
Warren would begin the next drive from their own 35.
Monticello’s Jon Luke Brotherton would sack Burks for a five-yard loss on the first play of the drive.
After an incompletion, Burks would hit Miller for a 34-yard completion to the Monticello 36 followed by another completion to Miller to the Monticello 23.
After advancing the ball to the 17, Burks would hit Miller once more for the 17-yard touchdown.
The Lumberjacks would setup for the extra point, but Monticello would be flagged for a false start that placed the ball at the two yard line with Warren electing to go for the two-point conversion with Antonio Jordan running the ball in to give the Lumberjacks the 22-21 lead with 5:19 on the clock.
Monticello would begin their drive at their own 29 after a Warren penalty, but Monticello would get a holding call that moved the ball back to their 19.
After an incompletion, Guthrie’s next pass would be intercepted at the Monticello 31 by Jo Jo Steen with 4:46 on the clock.
A delay of game penalty would move the ball back to the Monticello 36 and the Billie defense would tackle Davis in the backfield for a four yard loss on the next play.
Warren would get the ball back to the original line of scrimmage but another delay of game penalty would move the ball back to the Monticello 36 once more.
Burks next pass would be incomplete but Warren was flagged for a holding penalty that Monticello declined, but on the next play, Burks connected with Thomas for a 36-yard touchdown.
Jordan would add the two-point conversion to give the Lumberjacks a 30-21 lead with 3:43 remaining in the contest.
White’s kick would go into the endzone for a touchback with Monticello starting their drive at their own 20.
Monticello would get to their own 45 before Guthrie threw his second interception of the contest with Jordan intercepting the ball at the Warren 46, returning the ball to the Monticello 41 with 58 seconds remaining in the contest.
Warren would down the ball to run the time off the clock to move to 2-0 in conference play, retaining the Union Bank Saline River Shootout Trophy.
With the loss, Monticello falls to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in 8-4A Conference play.
Tye Guthrie would pass for 153 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions and 21 rushing yards.
Joseph Accelus led the way on the ground with 13 carries for 67 yards and a touchdown with Curtis Barrow leading the way in receiving yards with five catches and 79 yards with a touchdown.
Blaine Hayden had a 58-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Monticello will celebrate Homecoming this week with the Homecoming Celebration to begin before the two teams take the field.
Monticello will host Star City with kickoff set for 7 pm.
