Monticello football loses one-point game in state semi-finals

The Monticello Buckaroos fell to the Milford Tigers in a dramatic matchup in the Utah 8-player state semifinals. Monticello’s season ended with a 33-32 loss at Zions Bank Field in Herriman.

Monticello opened the game receiving the ball at their own 24-yard line. Monticello’s offense was able to sustain a 22-play drive. Monticello was able to convert two fourth down conversions with throws from Cache Young to Brandt Mack. Monticello’s methodical drive so no gain greater than 10 yards. Despite that Monticello’s methodical offense was able to score the first points in the game coming on a seven yard touchdown run by Brandt Mack.

The Buckaroo’s two-point conversion failed, however, making the score 6-0 with 2:19 left in the first quarter.

The Tigers were able to respond with a good return to the Milford 44-yard line on their next possession.

Milford would need just three plays to score with three large plays capped by a 20-yard touchdown run. Milford added the kick to make the score 7-6 in the final minute of the first quarter.

Monticello would recover an onside kick attempt to put Monticello in possession at the Monticello 46-yard line.

The Buckaroo drive however would stall going three-and-out with the Bucks punting to the Milford 22-yard line to end the first quarter.

The Tigers would drive down the field and add a score on a 44-yard pass. Milford would add an extra point kick to go up 14-6 with 8:23 left in the half.

Monticello would recover another onside attempt, setting them up mid-field. The very next play Young would find an open Brandt Mack for a 50-yard touchdown strike. Monticello was unable to add the point after score on a two-point conversion making the score 14-12 with eight minutes left in the half.

Milford would start their next possession at their 40-yard line. Monticello’s defense would force a punt and get the ball at their own 20 yard line.

Just a few plays later Monticello’s offense was unable to convert on a fourth and short giving Milford the ball deep in Monticello territory at the 31-yard line.

Monticello’s defense was pushed to the limit. Milford was able to get a first and goal at the five yard line. After stopping a run attempt on first down for no gain the Monticello defense came up big with Canyon Christensen stripping the ball from the Milford quarterback on a run and John Leber recovering the fumble to prevent Milford from adding a score late in the first half.

Monticello would start their next drive at the 7-yard line.

With about two minutes left in the half the Buckaroos carefully picked up a first down on three plays and appeared to be happy to run out the clock but on the fourth play of the drive Monticello’s Young found Cash Mack for an 81-yard touchdown pass. Young and Cash Mack would team up again for a two-point conversion to put Monticello up 20-14 with 20 seconds left. Monticello’s defense would sack the Milford quarterback on their only offensive play to send the game to halftime.

Milford would start their first possession of the second half at their own 45-yard line and drive down to the 14-yard line facing a fourth and three and an incomplete pass turned the ball over to Monticello.

After a short run on first down Monticello had another explosive play with Young finding Brandt Mack for a huge 84-yard touchdown. Mack made several tacklers miss on his way to a long touchdown. Monticello was unable to add the two-point conversion. With 7:50 left in the 3rd quarter Monticello’s lead was 26-14.

Milford would respond with a nine-play 70-yard drive with a 24-yard touchdown run. Damon Bunker would block the point after kick to make the score 26-20 with 3:42 left in the third quarter.

Monticello would drive 56-yards on 10 plays capped off with an eight-yard pass from Young to Tristan Burtenshaw. Monticello was unable to add the two-point conversion making the score 32-20 with 11:07 left in the game.

Milford would respond just two plays later with a 61-yard touchdown run with Milford adding a point-after-kick to make the score 32-27 with Monticello leading with 10:27 left in the game.

Monticello would recover an onside attempt at the 35-yard line to set up their next possession. The Buckaroos would pick up a first down but on the fourth play of the drive Milford was able to intercept a pass. A penalty against Milford would give them the ball at their own 26-yard line.

Milford would go on an 8-play drive capped by a 19-yard run. Milford was unable to convert a two-point conversion making the score 33-32 with just under five minutes left in the game.

Monticello would again recover an onside kick to get the ball at their own 40-yard line.

The Buckaroos drove down the field getting into the red-zone in four plays.

Four plays later Monticello would face a fourth-and nine at the 17 yard line. 

Young would complete a pass to Christensen for eight-yards leaving the Bucks just short of the first down needed to continue the game. 

The play was reminiscent of the first match-up with Milford in the season with the Buckaroos similarly ending a drive on a fourth-down completion just one yard short of the first down marker.

Milford would take one snap to run out the clock and advance on a one-point win.

Monticello’s offense would gain 133 yards on the ground and 299 yards in the air in the game.

Young completed 16 passes on 24 attempts for 299 yards throwing four touchdowns and one interception.

Brandt Mack led the receiving group with 10 catches for 176 yards and two touchdowns. Cash Mack had two catches for 93 yards and a touchdown. Miles Coleman had a catch for 11 yards, Canyon Christensen had two catches for 10 yards and Tristan Burtenshaw had a nine yard catch for a touchdown.

Miles Coleman led the running attack with 46 yards on 15 carries. Young had 43 yards on nine carries while Brandt Mack had 38 yards on eight carries with Cash Mack earning eight yards on two carries.

Defensively Monticello was led by Leber who had 13 tackles in the game, while Brandt Mack was credited with seven tackles and five Bucks were credited with four tackles including Christensen, Bunker, Noah Dilts, and Avery Hedrick. Christensen and Burtenshaw were each credited with forcing a fumble with Leber recovering one for the Bucks. Cash Mack also had two pass break ups for Monticello.

Monticello’s season will end after reaching the state semi-finals. Monticello finished the season with an 8-3 record and earning the #3 seed in the Utah 8-player state playoffs.

Monticello will say goodbye to nine seniors including Zamian Lopez, Tristan Burtenshaw, Cache Young, McKay Nielson, Canyon Christensen, John Leber, Arturo Gutierrez, Mustafajaan Rahim, and Spencer Conway.