Monticello earns big win over St. Joseph on Senior Night
The Monticello Buckaroo football team earned a win on senior night 64-36 over the St. Joseph Jayhawks on October 9. The win put Monticello at a 6-2 record on the season.
The Buckaroos opened the game receiving the opening kick with Cash Mack grabbing the ball at the 10 yard line and returning it 90 yards to open scoring 12 seconds into the game. The Bucks would add the two point conversion and lead 8-0.
Monticello’s defense would force a three-and-out but a low snap by St. Joe would give Monticello the ball at their opponents 16-yard line. Three plays later Monticello would score on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Cache Young to Brandston Mack. Giving Monticello a 14-0 lead with 9:30 left in the first quarter. Monticello’s defense would force another three-and-out and get the ball back at the St. Joe 36 yard-line. Again the Monticello drive was just three plays with Young running in a touchdown from 26-yards out to put Monticello up 20-0 with eight minutes left in the first quarter.
St Joe’s next possession would see them move the chains for the first time, but the drive lasted just six plays before the Buckaroo defense came up on a fourth-down stop to get the ball back at the their own 43-yard line. Monticello’s drive would also only last six plays with Miles Coleman putting up a few big runs setting up a five-yard touchdown pass from Young to Tristan Burtenshaw giving Monticello a 26-0 lead with three minutes left in the first quarter.
St Joseph's offense would find some life driving 72-yards in five plays capped off by a 10 yard touchdown pass. The Jayhawks would add the two-point conversion to make the score 26-8 with two minutes left in the first quarter.
Monticello’s next drive would start at the 20 yard line and seven plays later be capped by a 48-yard touchdown throw from Young to Cash Mack to put Monticello up 32-8 with 11 minutes left in the first half. Monticello’s defense would give up a pair of first downs before forcing a punt giving Monticello the ball at their own 41-yard line. Six plays later Young would throw a pass into the flats to McKay Nielson who would run through three tackles on his way to a 34-yard touchdown, making the score 38-8 with 5:30 left in the half.
The Monticello defense would force their first turnover of the night on the next offensive play from St. Joe with Coleman ripping the ball away from the runner to set up Monticello at the St. Joe 36 yard line. St. Joe would get the ball back two plays later intercepting a pass thrown by Monticello’s jv offense, and the Jayhawks would add their second score of the game three plays later to make the score 38-13 with 5:00 left in the half. A penalty and a good return by Monticello set them up at the St. Joe 35-yard line. John Leber would run the ball the distance on the first play from scrimmage to put Monticello up 44-13 with 4:32 left in the first half. St. Joe would respond with a touchdown on their next play to make the score 44-22 with 4:26 left in the half.
Monticello would have another good kick return to set-up at the St. Joe 45 yard line, four plays later Young would pass to Canyon Christensen for a 26-yard touchdown pass, with a point after kick making the score 51-22 with that score holding to go into halftime.
St. Joe would receive the ball to start the third quarter but a deep pass on the first play from scrimmage would be intercepted by Brandt Mack to give Monticello the ball. On the next play from scrimmage Coleman would carry the ball 44-yards for another touchdown to put Monticello up 58-22 with 11:30 left in the third quarter. St Joe would also score in the third quarter and the Buckaroos would score in the fourth on a six yard rush by Jaxson Breedlove. St Joe would also score on the last play of the game to make the final score 64-36 favoring Monticello.
Monticello earned 170 yards through the air with Young completing eight passes on nine attempts for 147 yards and five touchdowns. Freshman Damon Bunker had four completions on seven attempts for 23 yards.
Cash Mack led all receivers with four catches for 70 yards and a touchdown. Christensen had two catches for 37 yards and a touchdown, Nielsen had a 34-yard touchdown catch. Brandt Mack had a 14 yard touchdown catch and Burtenshaw had a four yard touchdown catch.
Monticello’s run game was led by Coleman who had 129 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown.
Leber ran for 35 yards and a touchdown on his lone carry. Lucas Morrison had 25 yards on five runs, Young had 21 yards on two runs, Bryson Adair had 17 yards on four runs and Breedlove had the six yard touchdown run.
Cash Mack also had 127 kick return yards and the touchdown.
Defensively Leber led the team with seven tackles. While Nielson and Brandt Mack had three each. Brandt Mack also had one interception and caused one fumble while Coleman also caused a fumble.
Monticello has a quick turnaround playing Grand County on October 15. The Red Devils are playing an independent 8-player schedule this season and also have a record of 6-2. With Grand not being post-season eligible they’ll be gunning to beat the Bucks in their final game of the season. If you can’t make the game you can watch it on StreamUtah.Live.