Monticello falls to Milford in battle of top three teams in 8-man ranks

The Monticello Buckaroos fell to the Milford Tigers in a showdown between top three teams in the Utah 1A 8-player league on October 2.
The Tigers defeated the Bucks 40-38 in a tale of two halves as Monticello’s record fell to 5-2 on the season in a close battle.
The game opened with Monticello receiving the opening kick and the drive stalling after six plays with Monticello flipping the field on a punt the defense forced a three-and-out and a good punt return set up Monticello at the Milford 21 yard line to start their next possession. A holding penalty pushed Monticello back ten yards and the Bucks ended up turning the ball over on downs. Milford would respond going 71 yards in four plays with the Tigers running a trick play spreading out linemen on either side of the field leading to a quick screen pass to the sideline for a 58 yard touchdown, the Tigers would add the kick to lead 7-0 with six minutes left in the first quarter.
Monticello would respond with a quick four play, 65 yard drive capped by a 28 yard touchdown pass from Cache Young to Canyon Christensen. Young would add a two-point catch to Avery Hedrick to make the score 8-7 with five minutes left in the first quarter.
Milford would respond with their own 65 yard drive capped by a 19 yard touchdown run to put Milford up 14-8 with two minutes left in the first quarter.
Monticello would respond right away with an 85-yard kick return for touchdown by Cash Mack and a throw from Young to Tristan Burtenshaw would put Monticello up 16-14 with 1:30 left in the first quarter.
Milford would once again respond with an eight play drive going 61 yards capped by a 33-yard touchdown pass with the two point conversion added the score favored Milford 22-16 with 10:30 left in the half.
The Buckaroo special teams once again put together a big play with Cash Mack returning a kick 47 yard to set up Monticello at the Milford 33-yard line. A few plays later Cash Mack would catch a 20-yard touchdown pass from Young. The duo would add a two-point conversion as well to put Monticello up 24-22 with 10 minutes left in the half.
The Tigers would run just one offensive play with a pitch fumbled and recovered by Hedrick to set up Monticello’s next possession at the 14-yard line.
The Buckaroos would face a fourth and 14 a few plays later but Young was able to find Brandt Mack in the endzone for an 18-yard touchdown, Monticello was unable to add the two point conversion but the Bucks held a 30-22 lead with 8:30 left in the first half.
Suddenly the defenses would show up in the second quarter. Monticello would force a three-and-out, but the MIlford Tigers would return the favor, with Monticello doing the same.
Monticello’s offense then saw some progress going 27 yards in four plays but the drive stalled with a fumble. Still the Monticello defense forced a three-and-out and a failed fourth down fake punt was caught by the Bucks giving them the ball at the Milford 32-yard line with a minute left in the half. The Buckaroos would add a score five plays later with a seven yard throw from Young to Cash Mack with just 11 seconds remaining in the half. Young would add two points running the ball to put Monticello up 38-22 at halftime.
The Tigers would receive the opening kick of the second half and take the ball 65-yards down the field in nine plays capped by a one-yard run from the quarterback to make the score 38-22 with eight minutes left in the third quarter.
Monticello’s following drive would take them across mid-field in seven plays but an unsuccessful 4th down try gave Milford the ball at their own 37-yard line. The Tigers would go on a sustained drive moving the ball 63-yards in 15 plays mostly on the ground with a one yard run by the quarterback to make the score 38-34 with Monticello leading with 30 seconds left in the third quarter.
Milford would recover an onside kick attempt to get another possession at the Monticello 46-yard line. The Tigers would take the lead six plays later on a one-yard touchdown run by the quarterback to give Milford the 40-38 lead with 10 minutes left in the game.
The Tigers would once again recover an onside kick attempt. Monticello would force a turnover on downs four plays later to get the ball with eight minutes left in the game. Monticello’s offense would go backwards however and punt on fourth down giving Milford the ball at midfield.
The Tigers would get the ball to 21 yard line with a nine play drive but the Buckaroos were able to force a turnover on downs and get one final possession with 2:50 left in the game.
Monticello would drive down the field to find themselves facing a fourth and 11 at the Milford 25 yard line with 40 seconds remaining. Young would find Brandt Mack on an out route but Mack would be tackled just a yard short on the 15 yard line.
Milford would kneel out the clock to earn the two-point victory over the Buckaroos.
Monticello would gain 243 yards in the game.
The Monticello passing attack was led by Young who completed 18 passes on 31 attempts for 259 yards and four touchdowns.
Brandt Mack led the team with 144 yards on 10 catches and a touchdown.
Cash Mack had four catches for 42 yards and two touchdowns.
Christensen had two catches for 41 yards and a touchdown.
Miles Coleman also had two catches for 22 yards
Monticello's run game netted just five yards. Young led the team netting 12 yards on five carries.
Defensively Monticello was led by John Leber who had 12 tackles, while Coleman and Brandt Mack had 11 tackles. Christensen and Dilts had nine tackles each. Hedrick and McKay Nielson each had eight tackles.
Monticello’s record fell to 5-2 on the season but the Buckaroos will look to bounce back on senior night on October 9 against St. Joseph with kickoff at 7. The Jayhawks have a record of 2-5. If you can’t make the game you can catch it on StreamUtah.Live.