MHS ladies bested by Broncos, tested at Sevier Valley Tournament

THE BIRD SCOOP
by Walter & Becky Bird
The Buckaroo volleyball team hosted the San Juan Broncos (20-5) the second day of October. The Broncos jumped out early, taking the first two sets 25-15 and 25-13.
However, Monticello rallied to make it a match, winning the third set 25-19.
In the fourth set, it was all Broncos, as they took the final set 25-17 to win the match 3-1. The loss dropped Monticello to 11-8 on the season.
Monticello had little time to lick their wounds, as the Lady Bucks headed to Richfield for a weekend filled with volleyball against some good 1A-3A competition at the Sevier Valley Volleyball Tournament.
In its first match on Friday afternoon, the ladies took on the 3A Emery Spartans. In a hard-fought match, Emery came out on top 26-24, 26-27, and 15-12.
In its second match, the Bucks got a win, edging the 3A Carbon Dinos 27-26 and 25-20.
In its third match, and the most anticipated of the tournament for the teams involved, the second-ranked 1A Bucks took on the top-ranked 1A Panguitch Bobcats in what could be a preview for the state championship.
Monticello came out playing well, winning the first set 26-24. However, Monticello folded in the second set, losing 25-8. The Lady Bucks dropped the match when they lost 15-10 in the final set.
Despite dropping the later sets, Monticello had to be encouraged that they can play with Panguitch after winning the first set.
Saturday found Monticello playing early and often. In its first match, Monticello drubbed Milford 25-13 and 25-6. The girls followed that up with a win against 3A Millard, 25-16 and 25-15.
Saturday afternoon wouldn’t be as kind to the Bucks, as they dropped matches to 3A Delta by the score of 25-19 and 26-24 and Grand 20-25, 25-14, and 15-11.
All in all, Coach Esplin must be pleased with his girls efforts against mainly 3A teams and some of the best of 1A.
After going 3-5 on the week, Monticello’s record stands at 14-12 on the season. The Lady Bucks were at home yesterday, October 9 to host Region 19 Monument Valley.
Football
Going into the Parowan game, the Bucks knew this game was going to be a difficult test. Last week, the Rams, who are presently the second ranked team in 1A, outlasted Duchesne 14-7, and Monticello lost a close one to Layton Christian 14-7.
The game started slowly with Parowan picking up the lone score of the quarter when the Rams scored on a 15-yard TD pass with 0:18 to go in the first quarter. After a failed kick, Parowan owned a 6-0 lead.
In the second quarter, both teams got rolling and combined for 34 points. Parowan would strike first with a kick return TD with 7:43 on the clock to take a 12-0 lead after another failed kick.
Monticello answered with a kick return TD of its own by Steven Robinson mere seconds later – making the game 12-6 after Monticello’s failed PAT.
Parowan kept up the offensive pressure, and the Rams would score on a 25-yard run and a 50-yard pass to make the game 28-6 after making good on both two-point conversions.
Monticello was able to add a late second quarter TD when Mark Beh snuck into the end zone with twelve ticks to go in the half. Unfortunately, Monticello’s two-point conversion failed, and the Bucks trailed 28-12 at the intermission.
In the third quarter, Parowan hit pay dirt again when the Rams scored on a six-yard TD run. It was a bad night for PATs, as Parowan couldn’t convert the kick, but still led 34-12.
Monticello answered when Weston Nebeker took it to the house on a 49-yard run. The Buck’s pass for two failed, and Monticello trailed the Rams 34-18 with 3:30 to go in the third quarter.
The Nebeker TD would be the last score for the Bucks, as Parowan scored the only two TDs of the fourth quarter to come away with a 50-18 win.
Offensively, the Bucks ended the game with 199 total yards. QB Mark Beh completed twelve of 34 passes for 98 yards with one rushing TD and one interception.
Reed Hedglin ended the game with seven catches for 61-yards. Carson King caught three passes for 26-yards, and Matt Beh had two catches for 11 yards.
In the rush game, Weston Nebeker ended the game with 112-yards on 20 carries – with 49 of those yards coming on his third quarter TD run. Nebeker also had a lost fumble.
Defensively, the Bucks struggled, giving up 555 yards of total offense to the Rams. Zach Cecil led all Buckaroos with 16 total tackles.
Weston Nebeker and Brevin Olsen had twelve total tackles each, with Wyatt Fullmer and Steven Robinson accounting for 11 and 10 total tackles. Fullmer also had a sack, and Colton Lewis had a tackle for loss in the game.
The loss drops Monticello to 3-4 on the season and 0-1 in 1A South region play.
Next week on Friday, Oct. 12, the Bucks stay on the road, traveling to Milford (7-0, 1-0) for another 1A South matchup. The Tigers are coming off a 42-26 win over Kanab and are the top ranked 1A team. Kick-off with be at 7 p.m. in Milford.
XC – Ancient Trails Invitational
The Monticello High School cross country teams had the week off before the Region 19 cross country Championships and Utah State Cross Country Championships on October 10 and 17th at Loyds Lake in Monticello and Sugarhouse Park in SLC.
The only teams in action last week were the junior high cross country runners. In the final official junior high cross country meet of the season, the junior high harriers traveled to Cortez on Friday, Oct. 5 to run in the Ancient Trails Invitational hosted by Montezuma-Cortez High School at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds.
The junior high boys ran the two-mile plus course first. The course is a good mix of flat racing and uphill climbs. For many runners, this was the longest, hardest course of the season.
Buckaroo Jaden Pehrson performed well, as he finished fourth overall, logging a time of 16:18. Not too far behind was teammate Josh Wheeler coming in fifth place with a time of 16:40.
Jesse Pettit crossed the line in seventh place, running a 16:44. Curtis Bunker and Jalen Bradford came in 13th and 21st place with times of 17:38 and 18:07.
This effort was good enough for second overall, as the team from Montrose placed five of the top 10 runners, easing to a 25-49 win.
Other junior high boys running well were Jacob Johnson coming in 36th with a time of 19:27, Treydon Harris placing 77th with a time of 23:23, and Jarum Robison crossing in 85th place in 25:21 in the 92 boy race.
In the junior high girls race, Monticello ran hard and placed third behind Montrose and Durango. Adri Bird once again got nipped at the line, losing again to the Durango runner that has beat her the last three weeks by a grand total of five seconds. The two really push each other, and its been fun to watch. Bird ended with a time of 16:02.
The next Buckaroos in were Lidia Chamberlain and Lilly Burton, who placed 16th and 17th with identical times of 19:16 when Chamberlain just edged Burton.
Millie Morrison ran a 20:04 for 25th place. Shannon Morrison and Jemma Robison placed 36th and 37th, running times of 20:44 and 20:47. Coming in 43rd and 45th was Shayla Pehrson and Kahryme Alvarado with times of 21:20 and 21:26.
The final Monticello girl was Sadie Whitaker coming in at 25:21 for a 87th place in the 103 girl race.