Sports

BILLIES BEAT BEARS, REMAIN UNBEATEN

By The Commercial Staff
Saturday, October 24, 2009 2:12 AM CDT

Before its high-powered offense ever stepped onto Hyatt Field on Friday night, Monticello already had a two-touchdown lead. Jordan Tilley returned the opening kickoff 65 yards for a touchdown and Joe Carmical returned an interception 45 yards for another score jump-starting the Billies to a 35-7 win over Sylvan Hills.

The win continued Monticello’s unbeaten season and put it one step closer to clinching the 5A-Southeast Conference title and a No. 1 seed in the state playoffs. A win next week at Crossett would clinch at least a share of the conference crown for the Billies, and it would ensure them the No. 1 seed.

With two minutes left in the first quarter, fullback Caleb Bryant, who was playing for the first time since a win at Fordyce Sept. 18 after breaking his leg, scored from a yard out to give the Billies’ offense their first score of the game.

Monticello took a 27-0 lead into halftime after Carmical scored on a 33-yard run and Carmical scored his third touchdown of the game early in the fourth quarter with a 13-yard run to make it 35-0.

Sylvan Hills’ only score came with 3:34 left in the game when Jordan Spears ran a quarterback keeper from three yards out to provide the final score.

Monticello’s defense held Sylvan Hills to just four first downs and 53 yards of total offense. The Billies, however, had 374 yards of offense, 313 of which came on the ground.

Carmical carried 11 times for 53 yards and was a perfect 5-for-5 passing for 61 yards. Bryant rushed 8 times for 48 yards.

The Billies, trying to take a perfect record into the state playoffs, play at Crossett next week before finishing the regular season with a home game against North Pulaski.

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