The Monticello Junior Billies got the Monticello Billie football squads off to a great start on Thursday night with a 26-6 victory over the McGehee Junior Owls.
The win would carry over for Monticello on Friday night when the Billies travelled to McGehee to defeat the 4A top 10 rated McGehee Owls 21-12, who many high school football experts in Arkansas predicted to finish second in the conference.
On Thursday night, the Junior Billies would get things rolling on their first possession of the contest, McGehee would recover an onside kick to begin the contest, but Monticello forced the Junior Owls to turn the ball over on downs at the Monticello 38.
On Monticello’s first full possession, the Junior Billies would cover 57 yards to score on a three-yard run by Joseph Accelus and a successful extra point attempt by Jude Parke to put the Junior Billies up 7-0 with 1:43 remaining in the first quarter.
McGehee would get on the board with 3:34 left in the half on a three-yard touchdown run.
After the failed two-point conversion, the Junior Owls trailed 7-6.
Monticello would increase their lead before the halftime buzzer.
Beginning their drive at the Owl 49, Monticello covered the 49 yards with Accelus taking the ball in from 29 yards out for the Junior Billie score to increase the lead to 13-6 with 2:24 showing on the clock.
McGehee would turn the ball over on downs to end the half.
After a scoreless third quarter, Monticello’s Luke Reid would recover a fumble at the Owl 29.
Accelus would reach the endzone in two plays, scoring on a 20-yard run.
Parke added the extra point to give the Billies a 20-6 lead with 5:38 remaining in the contest.
McGehee would turn the ball over on downs at their own 35 and after advancing the ball down to the Owl 27, Hudson Harvey connected with Charles Kilgore for a 27-yard touchdown pass.
After the missed extra point, the Junior Billies would take the 26-6 victory.
Joseph Accelus would lead the way on the ground for the Junior Billies with 172 yards on 17 carries and three touchdowns.
Charles Kilgore scored on the only passing touchdown for 27 yards.
The Monticello Junior Billies will travel to Helena on Thursday, September 21, for a 6 pm kickoff.
The Monticello Billies will celebrate Homecoming on Friday, September 22, hosting the Helena Cougars for a 7 pm kickoff.
The Billies are currently 1-1 in 8-4A Conference play having defeated McGehee this past Friday night.
The Homecoming Ceremony will begin at 6:30 pm before the game.
