Monticello football team beats Altamont 34-8

by David Boyle
News Director
The Buckaroos earned a 34-8 win over Altamont in their final game of the season on October 18. The win pushed the Buckaroo record to 6-3 and secured the #2 seed in the upcoming 8-player state tournament.
Monticello started the game out hot with good field position at the 35-yard line. After a loss on first down Tavon Black ran the ball for a 15-yard gain and a first down, two plays later Jackson Keyes found Tommy Morrison open for a 50-yard touchdown pass. The Buckaroos were unable to convert the point-after and held a 6-0 lead with 10:20 remaining in the first quarter.
The passing touchdown was the first of two in the game for Monticello. Keyes threw for over 230 yards and said postgame he had to put respect on his teammates.
“My line gives me a lot of time to throw the ball and of course the receivers have to make good routes and actually catch the ball so I put a lot of respect on their name. They help me a lot”
The Longhorns first possession was set up by a good return to the 42-yard line. Altamont gained 10 yards in three plays but a mishandled snap pushed the Longhorns back in 20-yard hole they were unable to recover from and were forced to punt two plays later.
Monticello’s next possession started at their 33-yard line and methodically moved the ball down the field over the course of 9 plays. Monticello was set-up with a first down at the 17-yard line when a hold call put the Bucks behind the sticks, Monticello gained most the yards back but were unable to convert on a fourth-down with four yards to go and gave Altamont the ball at the 11-yard line.
Altamont and Monticello then traded short posessions three times before the Buckaroos next possesion at their own 26-yard line.
The Buckaroos gained three first downs on a 10 drive play but stalled out and punted to the Altamont 10 yard line.
The Longhorns picked up a first down on three plays but a fumbled snap was recovered by Payton Hatathley at the 17-yard line with 4:30 remaining in the half.
The recovery was the first of two in the game for Hatathley, during postgame he said he didn’t know how he did it.
“I was just able to get through the line pretty easily, I don’t know, just something about it, maybe its the cold.”
Keyes chimed in that it was because “He’s got that dawg in him.”
Four plays later Tavon Black rumbled into the endzone from seven-yards out to give Monticello their second score of the game. Rogers threw a pass to Camren Carpenter for the two-point conversion giving Monticello a 14-0 lead with 2:30 remaining in the first half.
Keyes shared his offensive front and running backs were key in controlling the game as Monticello earned 140 yards on the ground.
“My running backs Tavon and Landon, they ran really hard. My line was really undersized and I was really impressed they gave me so much time. Those two groups right there they really helped our overall team win.”
Altamont returned the ensuing kickoff to the 40-yard line. On the second play of the drive the Longhorns completed a 30-yard pass with a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty against Monticello.
The result was a first-down at the 16 yard line for Altamont with about two-minutes remaining.
Altamont gained eight yards over three-plays and on fourth down the Longhorns threw a pass that was dropped in the back of the endzone to give Monticello the ball. The Buckaroos ran the clock out earning a 14-0 lead at halftime.
Altamont started the second half at the 45-yard line on the first play of the half Hatathley tackled the quarterback for a 15-yard loss, a few plays later the Longhorns punted to the Monticello 33-yard line.
Monticello then went on a 13-play drive but the Buckaroo drive stalled on fourth down at the Altamont 7-yard line. The Buckaroo defense held strong and a high punt set Monticello up with a first down at the Altamont 25-yard line.
Six plays later Camren Carpenter ran the ball into the endzone from four-yards out, Rogers threw a pass to Morrison on the point-after to make the score 22-0 with two-minutes remaining in the third quarter. Monticello’s defense then forced a punt four plays later setting them up at their own 30-yard line.
On the first play of the drive Keyes threw the ball 30-yards through the air to Rogers who ran the remaining 40-yards to give Monticello their fourth touchdown of the game. Monticello was unable to convert the point-after making the score 28-0 with 20 seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter.
The 70-yard touchdown play was Keyes favorite of the game.
“The one to Carter, I saw Carter wave his hand like ‘throw it to me, throw it to me,’ the fact that he just caught it and ran for so long is so satisfying to see.”
The play was also Hatathley’s favorite. “The one throw to carter, that was amazing, I will not lie” Set-up at the 35-yard line the Longhorns once again fumbled the snap which was recovered once again by Hatathley.
When asked which of the two fumble recoveries were his favorite Hatathley said “Probably the second one, because it’s two, I don’t get two often.”
Keyes completed a 30-yard pass to Morrison to set up Monticello at the 6 yard line to start the 4th quarter.
On the first play of the fourth quarter Tavon Black ran the ball into the endzone for another Monticello touchdown, the point-after was unsuccessful leaving the score 34-0 at the start of the 4th quarter.
Hatathley said postgame the line just did their job against the bigger Altamont team.
“They were definitely strong but we were able to stay in front, keep our feet moving and push them back, that’s all we needed to do.”
Altamont responded with a 68-yard drive and the first score for the Longhorns. The two-point conversion made the score 34-8 with six minutes remaining in the game. The score would be the last of the game as Monticello would hold on for the win.
Monticello will host an 8-player quarterfinal game against Utah Military Academy Hill Field on November 1.