Monticello and Whitehorse combine for 116 points in football match-up

by David Boyle
News Director
The Monticello Buckaroos football team picked up a victory in Montezuma Creek over the Whitehorse Raiders on Friday, October 7.
The two teams combined for 116 points with a final score of 74-42 improving the Monticello record to 5-3 on the year while the Raiders fell to 2-4 on the year at their homecoming game.
Monticello struck first in the first quarter when Robert Morrison ran the ball 68-yards for the opening score. Javelin Robison ran in the two-point conversion on the play.
After a first down catch by the Raiders, Monticello answered when Carter Rogers intercepted a Whitehorse pass. The Buck’s second offensive series ended with a three-yard touchdown run by Thomas Fullmer. JD McDonald added the extra point kick.
The Raiders were again able to convert a first down in their offensive series but a fumble was recovered by Mason Atwood for Monticello.
The Buckaroo’s third offensive series ended with another touchdown when McDonald scrambled into the end zone from 11-yards out, McDonald added one more point with the extra point.
Chandler Henderson then recovered an onside kick attempt for Monticello, the Buckaroos drive again ended in a 7-yard touchdown run by Robison with another successful McDonald kick.
After a turnover on downs, the Buckaroos drove down to the 14-yard line where McDonald threw a touchdown pass to Landon Ewart, the kick after was unsuccessful.
After a turnover on downs by the Raiders the first quarter ended with a 35-0 lead for Monticello.
The Bucks picked up where they left off in the 2nd quarter when McDonald passed to Tavon Black for a 10-yard score, the kick after was unsuccessful.
Another turnover on downs by the Raiders set up the Buckaroo’s offense near mid-field where McDonald tossed a three-yard pass to Robison who ran the remaining 45 yards into the end zone. The Raiders blocked the point-after attempt.
On the following series, the Raiders got on the board when quarterback D’Wayne Nakai connected with Camron Nakai for a 73-yard touchdown pass. The two-point attempt was unsuccessful.
The Buck’s responding drive stalled at the 10-yard line where McDonald kicked a 25-yard field goal. On the next Raiders series, Morrison intercepted the pass and took it to the house from 20-yards out to add to Monticello’s lead despite an unsuccessful point-after.
The Raiders next drive ended with a 47-yard touchdown pass from Tristan Black to D’Wayne Nakai. Black ran the ball in himself for a two-point conversion.
The next kick-off was returned 90-yard by Fullmer to give Monticello six more points with an unsuccessful kick.
The Raiders responded with a long drive ending in a 4-yard touchdown run by #6 who also added the two-point conversion.
The Buckaroos responded with another kick-off return for a touchdown by Fullmer this one for 83-yards. The point after attempt was no good.
The Raiders following drive ended with a Ewart interception with the Buckaroos running out the clock to make the 1st half score 68-22.
In the second half, the Raiders’ opening drive ended with a 52-yard pass from Black to D’Wayne Nakai. The two-point conversion attempt was no good.
After a turnover on downs by the Buckaroos the Raiders next offensive series ended with a 35-yard interception returned for a touchdown by Rogers to add to Monticello’s score with the point-after no good.
The third quarter ended with a 74-28 score in favor of the Buckaroos.
In the 4th quarter, the Raider’s Landin Clark blocked a buckaroo punt to set up Whitehorse in the red zone. The Raiders finished the drive with a three-yard touchdown run by Black with the two-point conversion no good.
The final touchdown of the game came when D’Wayne Nakai intercepted a Monticello pass returning it 40-yards for a touchdown. The Raiders’ two-point conversion was run in by Homecoming King Kelan Dee.
The final score favored the Buckaroos 74-42.
Both teams wrap up the regular season on Wednesday, October 12 at 7:00 pm.
The Whitehorse Raiders host the Monument Valley Cougars for the Battle of the Drum. If you can’t make the game you can watch it on the WHS Activities Youtube page.
The Buckaroos host the Altamont Longhorns. If you can’t make the game you can watch it on PictureItPalmer.com or listen on RedRock 92.7 FM