Buckaroos rally to defeat Raiders in rivalry showdown

by David Boyle
News Director
The Monticello Buckaroo football team defeated the Whitehorse Raiders 77-42 in a classic matchup between the cross-county rivals.
The game opened with a 65-yard drive by Monticello closed out with a 10-yard touchdown run by Jaeden Camacho, Jackson Keyes added the two-point conversion run to make the score 8-0 with 8:26 remaining in the first quarter.
The Raiders responded immediately with a four play 41-yard drive including a 36-yard pass from quarterback Tristan Black to Adam Joe, the drive was capped by a four-yard touchdown run by Hunter Tsinigine making the score 8-6 with 7:37 left in the first quarter.
Brothers Hunter and Lance Tsinigine have been a force for the Raiders run game this season. Hunter says their competitive spirit drives each other in practice.
“Yeah, they try to keep us away from each other or else going to start fighting on the football field,
throwing punches and stuff.”
On Monticello’s next drive Aiden Hamm forced a fumble recovered by Whitehorse. The Raiders needed just two plays to score with Black running a 66-yard touchdown and adding a throw to Joe on the two-point conversion to make the score a lead for Whitehorse 14-8 with 6:42 left in the first quarter.
Monticello’s next drive saw one first down but ended in a punt to Whitehorse with the Raiders getting the ball at their own 41 yard line.
The Raiders marched down the field going 60 yards in eight plays capped by a 20-yard run by Hunter Tsinigine, Black added the two-point throw to Elam Etsitty to make the score 22-8 with one minute remaining in the first quarter.
Hunter added the team runs hard to prove a point.
“We just want to show who we really are. Just wanting to go out there, hit hard, and force my way into the end zone.”
Joe recovered a loose ball on the ensuing kickoff to give Whitehorse the ball at the Monticello 19-yard line. The Raiders lost 10 yards on the three-play-drive and punted away giving Monticello the ball at the 30 yard line.
Monticello responded with a 70-yard touchdown pass from Keyes to Cache Young with John Leber adding the point after kick to make the score 22-15 with 10 minutes left in the half.
Keyes called it his favorite play of the game as it marked the start of a comeback for the Buckaroos.
“With all the practice we put in, all that trust, everything's bound to work eventually with all the hard work. I mean, we never gave up. They just kept working and working and it paid off. It showed tonight.”
Whitehorse’s next drive started at the six yard line with Black injurying his leg on the first play of the drive. The Raiders picked up a first down but Bean Rogers forced a fumble recovered by Monticello giving the Bucks the ball at the Monticello 37-yard line. It was another short drive for Monticello with Landon Shumway scoring on a 29-yard touchdown run making the score 22-21 with eight minutes left in the half.
The Raiders next drive saw one first down but a high snap meant a big loss and a punt giving Monticello the ball at their own 45-yard line.
Monticello again scored quickly with a 45-yard pass from Cache Young to Kord Young giving Monticello its first lead since the start of the game 27-22 with five minutes left in the half.
Etsitty returned the kickoff 45 yards to give Whitehorse good field position at the Whitehorse 44-yard line. After three plays the Raiders faced a fourth-and-five with the Buckaroo defense standing strong to force the turnover on downs.
Monticello responded with a six play drive capped off with a 37-yard touchdown pass from Keyes to Cache Young. Rogers added the two point conversion on a pass to Peyton Hatathley. Making the score 35-22 with two minutes left in the half.
The Raiders saw their senior quarterback Triston Black re-enter the game on the next drive.
Speaking after the game he said he had to go back out for his teammates.
“I couldn't give up on them, I just wrapped it. I just told the doctor I was good. I went back on the field, took some ibuprofen, and I was good.”
Black's return was felt immediately when he found Etsitty for a 65-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the drive. Making the score 35-28.
Black gave his credit to Etsitty on the play.
“He's quick, not going to lie. I’ll give him that. I just threw it in front of him. He just runs and gets it.”
Camacho returned the ensuing kick 44 yards to set up Monticello at the Buckaroo 36-yard line. Keyes passed to Camacho on their first play of the drive for a 36-yard touchdown with Leber adding the point after kick to make the score 42-28 which was the count going into halftime.
Camacho said after the game he’s glad to be back impacting the passing game for Monticello.
“It feels great. I'm glad I'm back now catching for Jack. It sucked being gone the first three weeks, but being back and catching touchdowns is a great feeling now.”
At the start of the second half the Raiders received the ball but a fumbled snap on third down was recovered by Tristan Burtenshaw giving Monticello the ball at their own 27-yard line. Monticello’s drive was six plays ending with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Keyes to Tommy Morrison. Leber added the point after kick to make the score 49-28 with 9:30 left in the third quarter.
The Raiders next drive started at the Monticello 30 yard line with the Raiders getting across mid-field on a big 28-yard run by Caidyn Lansing, but the drive ended two plays later with a fumble on a handoff exchange recovered by Leber.
Monticello responded with a five play 67-yard drive including a 30-yard pass from Keyes to Cache Young and a 27-yard touchdown run by Shumway. Rogers added the two-point conversion to make the score 57-28 with 5:30 left in the third quarter.
The Raiders took over at their own 35-yard line and went on a sustained 15 play drive. Facing third and goal Monticello’s defense forced a fumble with Seth Taylor recovering the ball to give Monticello a possession. The Bucks went four and out however and the Raiders responded with a one-play drive a nine yard touchdown pass from Black to Joe, a pass from Black to Etsitty made the score 57-36 with 10 minutes left in the game.
Monticello’s ensuing drive started at the Whitehorse 48 yard line. The Bucks four play 52-yard drive included a 44-yard run by Shumway and was capped with a two-yard pass from Keyes to Burtenshaw. Leber added the point after kick to make the score 64-36 with 7:30 left in the game.
The Raiders next drive saw one first down converted but a fumbled snap gave Monticello the ball deep in Whitehorse territory. Keyes added a five yard touchdown pass to Cache Young. Leber added the point after to make the score 71-36 with 5:20 left in the game.
The Raiders responded immediately with a 84-yard kickoff return by Etsitty to make the score 71-42. Etsitty said the play was simple.
“Honestly, I just tried to find a gap in between the defenders and I found my gap and I turned on boosters and I took off.”
Monticello returned the favor with an 80-yard kickoff return by Camacho to make the score 77-42.
After completing the hat trick of a running, receiving and return touchdown Camacho credited his teammates.
“I give credit to John (Leber) on that play. He blocked perfectly and just I went off his butt, read his button and ran all the way down and now he owes me dinner, he said. So I'm excited for that.”
Monticello’s offense gained 300 yards in the air and 220 yards in the ground on the win.
Keyes completed 24 of 26 attempts for 255 yards and five touchdowns. Cache Young completed one pass on one attempt for a 45 yard touchdown.
Cache Young also led the team in receiving with nine catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns.
Camacho had eight catches for 79 yards and a touchdown.
Morrison had four catches for 28 yards and a touchdown while Kord Young had one catch for a 45 yard touchdown and Burtenshaw had one catch for two yards and a touchdown.
On the ground Shumway had 130 yards on nine attempts and two touchdowns. Camacho had 18 yards on three carries and one touchdown and Keyes had 42 yards on six carries.
Defensively Kord Young had an interception, while Rogers and Canyon Christensen forced fumbles.
Whitehorse’s offense gained 247 yards rushing and threw for 155 yards.
On the ground Black led the way with 86 yards and a touchdown, Hunter Tsinigine had 73 yards and two touchdowns, Lansing with 43 yards, Lance Tsinigine with 32 yards and Hamm with 17 yards.
Through the air Black completed eight of 14 attempts for two touchdowns and one interception.
Etsitty led the team with five catches for 111 yards and a touchdown while Joe had two catches for 46 yards and a touchdown.
Speaking about the difference in the game Keyes said a key difference was the intensity from the sideline.
“We focused on trying to bring more energy into the game and you could feel that on the sidelines. It brought more confidence and of course I always love playing at home. So that makes me always play better, too.”
Reflecting on the season thus far Black says its been fun to beat rival teams so far this year.
“We just been grinding at home at practice and all that, putting in the work, you know, and it feels great to win against that team that we've been wanting to beat for the past four years.”
Etsitty added its been a great senior year so far.
“This ride's been pretty good. We’ve got new coaches. Glad we still have the same coaches, but just the new coaches made a big difference and the other coaches, too. I appreciate all of them. and my team.”
On October 9 both teams are on the road ahead of Fall Break. Whitehorse plays Altamont while Monticello travels to Milford. StreamUtah.Live will be broadcasting the Milford game with kickoff set for 7:00 pm.