Buckaroos top Norwood to end regular season

by David Boyle
News Director
The Monticello High School football team finished the regular season with a win over the Norwood Mavericks on October 12. The Buckaroos scored the only points of the second half to grind out the victory 22-14.
Monticello’s fifth win of the year was just the second loss for Norwood and helped Monticello leap over Altamont in the final 8-Player RPI standings. The Buckaroos will enter the postseason as the #2 seed.
The game opened with an impressive drive from Norwood down to the Monticello 12-yard line, but the Buckaroos were able to force a turnover on downs, stopping a Norwood 4th-down option run.
Monticello’s opening drive stalled like Norwood’s but on their second the Buckaroos drove down to the goal line. A few fumbles however caused MHS to turn the ball over on-downs.
Monticello’s defense once again held Norwood to no gain and forced a punt that went out of bounds at the Mustang 25 yard line. On the first play of the drive, JD McDonald threw a pass to Zac Thayn for a 23-yard gain to end the first quarter.
On the second play of the second quarter, Tavon Black took a handoff up the middle for a two-yard touchdown run. McDonald added two points on the ground to make the score 8-0.
Norwood then went on a sustained drive capped off with a two-yard touchdown run and a successful two-point conversion to tie the game 8-8 with 4:20 remaining in the first half.
The Buckaroos’ next drive was a three-and-out and a high snap on the punt resulted in a loss on fourth down, setting Norwood up at the Monticello 37. The Mavericks added another score with an 18-yard touchdown pass to take the lead 14-8 with 53 seconds remaining in the half.
Monticello began their next drive at their own 40 yard line and wrapped up the drive with a 25-yard touchdown pass from McDonald to Black. The score allowed the Bucks to tie the game with 22 seconds remaining in the half.
Monticello also received the ball to start the second half. The Buckaroos drove from the 38 yard line into the end zone capped off with a one-yard touchdown run by Thomas Fullmer and two-point conversion by McDonald to give Monticello a 22-14 lead. 
The Bucks were unable to score again for the remainder of the game but their defense held strong allowing no more points and also creating two turnovers. Thayn snaggged interceptions in both the third and fourth quarters.
His second pick set up the game-icing drive as MHS took the ball from midfield to the 12 yard line where McDonald took a knee to burn the clock and secure the victory.
Monticello finished the game with 218 yards on the ground led by 84 yards for McDonald on 17 carries. Black had 54 yards on 15 carries including one touchdown. Fullmer rushed for 48 yards on 11 carries and a TD. Robert Morrison added 32 yards on the ground on seven carries.
McDonald completed eight of his 18 pass attempts with one touchdown and one interception. Thayn brought in two catches for 34 yards, Black had two catches for 32 yards with a touchdown, and Morrison caught three passes for 30 yards.
The Buckaroo defense gave up 105 yards rushing in the first half and 87 yards through the air. The Monticello defense stepped up in the second half, giving up just 32 yards on the ground and eight passing yards.
The evening also saw seniors on the team honored including Thomas Fullmer, Robert Morrison, Chandler Henderson, JD McDonald, Kaden Chief, Zac Thayn, Dominic Padilla, Caleb Coleman, Mason Atwood, and Quinn Nebeker.
The 8-Player playoffs are set in Utah. Monticello earned the #2 seed in the tournament and will host #7 Monument Valley on Friday, October 27. The kickoff is tentatively set for 6 p.m. and you’ll be able to watch the game live on StreamUtah.live.