Buckaroos cruise through state quarterfinals

by David Boyle
News Director
The Monticello Buckaroo football team is on to the semi-finals after earning a 63-8 win over Utah Military Academy Hill Field on November 1. 
The quarterfinal victory was the last game of the season in Monticello and was characterized by solid performances on offense, defense and especially the special teams.
Monticello opened the game in the best possible way with Carter Rogers catching the ball inside the five-yard line before finding space down the sideline to return the kick 95 yards into the endzone to give Monticello a touchdown on the first play of the game. John Leber added the point-after kick to make the score 7-0 in the first 15 seconds of the game.
Speaking after the game Skyler Peterson said the special team units pride themselves on their efforts scoring the first 7 points of the game.
“There’s a lot of blocks, on kickoff or when we go down there. When John makes the kicks I had three guys running on my side and I blocked them but that’s what you have to do to make a good point-after.”
UMA began their first possession at the 32 yard line, on the first play from scrimmage a run up the middle was stopped by the Buckaroos with John Leber stripping the ball away from the runner and returning it all the way for a touchdown. Leber added the point-after kick to make the score 14-0 30 seconds into the game.
Speaking after the game Leber said the play was also a surprise for him.
“I tried to tackle him and then my hands, I just grabbed the ball and I didn’t know I had it so I decided to run and I thought I was going to get caught but I made it.”
UMA’s next possession began at the 30-yard line and also only lasted one play with the Thunderbirds running back Papataia Owda running in a 70-yard score, the added two-point conversion made the score 14-8 less than 60 seconds into the game.
Monticello’s first offensive possession began at the 35-yard line with the Buckaroos first play being a backward pass from Jackson Keyes to Cache Young and Young throwing downfield to Seth Taylor who completed the 65-yard play for another Monticello touchdown. Leber added the extra point to make the score 21-8 just 67 seconds into the game.
On the following possession the Buckaroo defense was able to make a fourth-down stand on a fake punt giving the offense the ball at the UMA 27-yard line.
Three plays later Keyes passed to Rogers on a 23-yard touchdown score, with Leber adding the extra point to make the score 28-8.
The Monticello defense once again held strong with UMA attempting to convert on a fourth-down and two at their own 35. The turnover gave Monticello the ball at the 33-yard line.
Three plays later the Buckaroos once again found the endzone with a 34-yard pass from Keyes to Tommy Morrison. The point after kick was no good making the score 34-8.
Once again the Monticello defense held UMA with a pass falling incomplete on 4th and 15 giving the Buckaroos the ball at the 32-yard line.
On this series Monticello kept the ball on the ground with four run plays including an 8-yard touchdown run by Tavon Black making the score 40-8.
A high 20-yard kick by Leber on the ensuing kickoff gave Monticello the opportunity to recover the ball which William Rogers did to give Monticello’s offense another possession at the UMA 34-yard line.
Monticello was unable to take advantage however with an incomplete pass on fourth down giving the ball back to UMA. Once again a conversion attempt on fourth and 16 was stopped giving Monticello the ball back at the 17-yard line.
Two plays later Tavon Black ran the ball into the endzone from 12 yards out to add to the Buckaroos score. Leber added the point after making the score 47-8 at the end of the first quarter.
Four plays later the Buckaroos forced the first punt of the game with Peyton Hatathley blocking the kick and returning the block 15-yards for a touchdown. Leber added the point after to make the score 54-8. 
The Thunderbirds picked up one first down on a penalty and then were unable to convert on fourth down. Monticello sent in the underclassmen who were unable to convert, giving the varsity punt team an opportunity to kick away from the 48-yard line. Leber’s high punt was covered by the rest of the Buckaroo team forcing a fair-catch at the UMA 20-yard line.
The Thunderbirds moved the chains once but a deep pass a few plays later was intercepted by William Rogers giving Monticello the ball at their own 37-yard line.
Two plays later freshman Miles Coleman took a handoff up the middle for a 63-yard touchdown run. Carter Rogers was unable to add the point-after kick making the score 60-8 and end scoring in the first half.
Monticello’s special teams kept up their play in the second half with a deep kick mishandled by UMA and recovered by Canyon Christensen at the 22-yard line. Monticello’s underclassmen moved the ball inside the 10 yard line but were unable to score, setting up a fourth-down. Once again Monticello’s varsity special teams unit delivered with John Leber delivering a 30-yard field goal to give Monticello their final score of the game in the third quarter.
With most of the varsity not seeing the field in the second half Leber said he was surprised to hear the call for the field goal attempt.
“I didn’t even know what we were doing. I lined up and saw the ball was going, I’m like it’s not going to make it and then it just went in, it was super exciting.”
Leber’s field goal was Monticello’s first, dating back at least five years. The sophomore was also 6/8 in point after attempts impressing Peterson.
“He made some really good kicks. He was very consistent with his field goals tonight, and he had some really good tackles. I was really impressed with what he did tonight.”
While Monticello gave up a score on the run the special teams effort forced plenty of turnovers and scores themselves. Leber said he feels comfortable with his teammates on kickoff
“It feels safe, just having Skyler Peterson and everybody out there for me. So I don’t have to make the tackles by myself when they get down there before me and seeing them make it makes me happy.”
The game was the final home game for the Buckaroos as their remaining post-season is played at neutral sites. Peterson, a senior,  said he’s enjoyed the past four years on the team.
“It’s been a lot of fun, I’ve got to meet some really cool people, I’ve got to be a part of some really good teams. It’s been so much fun being a part of this.”
Monticello plays in the semi-final game at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Friday, November 8. The #2 seed Buckaroos will face the #3 seed Water Canyon Wildcats at 4:00 pm. Monticello beat the Wildcats in Water Canyon 44-20 on September 13.