Monticello Bucks defeat UMA Hillfield 60-12

by David Boyle
News Director
The Monticello Buckaroos opened the football season with a dominating win against the Utah Military Academy at Hillfield.
The Bucks excelled in all three facets of the game, scoring at ease in the first football game in UMA history.
Monticello opened the game on defense giving up a first down via penalty but forcing the only punt of the game on 4th down. Buckaroo Carter Rogers fielded the punt at the 43-yard line and found the edge, returning the punt without being touched 57 yards into the endzone to make the score 6-0 with 8:50 in the first quarter.
The Buck defense again held the Thunderbirds on 4th down. UMA didn’t attempt another punt after the Buckaroo speed made them pay. After forcing a turnover on downs, the Buckaroo offense ran efficiently with a first down handoff to Tavon Black going 43-yards untouched in for the touchdown.
Quarterback Jackson Keyes got behind the offensive front and pushed his way in to convert a two-point conversion and make the score 14-0.
The Buckaroo defense forced another turnover with Tommy Morrison intercepting a pass and returning it to the 39-yard line. Keyes completed a 39-yard touchdown pass to Rogers for the final score of the quarter.
The Monticello defense gave up a few first-downs but got the ball back with a Carter Rogers interception at the 41-yard line.
Another defensive stop led to another carry for Black, who took his second run of the game up the middle of the field for 59-yards and a touchdown. Landon Shumway ran a two-point conversion to make the score 28-0.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Buckaroos recovered a fumble at the 30-yard line. A five yard run by Shumway and a 12-yard run by Keyes set up a score with a 13-yard pass from Keyes to Rogers. A John Leber extra point kick made the score 35-0.
On the next defensive possession, William Rogers snagged an interception and returned it 25 yards to extend Monticello’s lead, 41-0.
On the next possession, Keyes threw a 21-yard pass to Morrison to make the score 47-0.
On the ensuing kick-off, Skyler Peterson recovered a fumble and the Bucks added another score in the half with Cache Young throwing an 18-yard touchdown pass to Carter Rogers.
Buckaroo underclassman played the second half with a running clock. The second half opening kickoff was returned 60-yards for the first touchdown in UMA Hillfield history.
The Buckaroo underclassman put together an impressive sustained 75-yard drive, capped by a 32-yard run by Young. Leber added the kick to give Monticello it’s 60th point. UMA added one more score on a 70-yard touchdown pass to make the final count 60-12.
The Buckaroos will see a steep incline in the quality of their opponent in their second game. Monticello’s first home game is August 30 against the Rich Rebels. The two teams played last November in the 8-man championship game with the Rebels getting the win and the title. The rematch is set for Friday, with kick-off at 7:00 pm.