Sports

BILLIES GROUND EAGLES IN 43-0 BLOWOUT

By Tom White/SPECIAL TO THE COMMERCIAL
Saturday, October 31, 2009 1:48 AM CDT

CROSSETT — The Monticello Billies amassed over 350 yards on a sloppy Yarbrough Field surface en route to a 43-0 manhandling of the Crossett Eagles on Friday night.

The Eagles were held to just 126 yards of offense and hurt their own cause by turning the ball over five times.

The Billies improved to 9-0 overall and 6-0 in the 5A-Southeast Conference, while Crossett slipped to 4-5 and 2-4.

The Billies took the opening kickoff and marched from their own 42-yard line to the Eagle 18 before turning the ball over on downs, which proved to be one of the highlights of the night for Crossett.

The Eagles picked up two first downs before punting back to the Billies, who then covered 78 yards in a single play, a long run around the right side by senior running back Brishen Mathews, giving the Billies a 7-0 with 6:40 left in the first quarter.

The Billies unsuccessfully attempted an onside kick, which was recovered by Crossett’s Joel Gulledge at the Eagle 45. On the first play of the drive, however, Crossett’s Keith Miller lost the handle after taking a short pass from quarterback Derek Johnson, and Mathews grabbed the ball and raced 26 yards to the Eagle 25.

Quarterback Joe Carmical gained a yard to the 24, Caleb Bryant rambled for 23 to the 1 and Carmical carried the ball in from there to give Monticello a 14-0 lead after Paschal’s kick.

Crossett’s Brandon Bryant fumbled the ensuing kickoff, with the Billies recovering at their own 41. The Eagles defense stiffened, however, and Monticello punted to the Crossett 27.

The Eagles offense lost four yards in three plays and punted back to the Billies with 45 seconds left in the first period.

Monticello then mounted an eight-play drive that covered 54 yards, with Mathews scoring from two yards out. Paschal’s kick made the score 21-0 with 10:59 left before halftime.

The Eagles again had a three-and-out and punted back to the Monticello 25.

Again, the Billies went for the big play — and got it — as Carmical connected with junior receiver Reginald Rayford for a 75-yard pitch-and-catch for another score to make it 28-0 with 9:19 left in the first half, and the rout was on.

Crossett’s Orlando Robinson fumbled the kickoff with the Billies again recovering, this time at the Eagle 24.

Three plays resulted in a 1-yard loss, and Paschal booted a 42-yard field goal to increase the Monticello lead to 31-0 with 7:42 left in the first half.

From their 46, the Eagles marched to the Monticello 30 before Johnson was hit behind the line and fumbled, with the Billies recovering at their 37.

The Billies covered the 63 yards in nine plays in just over two minutes, with Caleb Bryant reaching the end zone from 3 yards out.

Paschal’s kick was wide right, but the Billies were well in control with a 37-0 lead with 52 seconds left in the half.

The Eagles then moved quickly down the field from their 36, with a 43-yard pass from Johnson to Terez Thrower covering 43 yards to the Monticello 1.

With time running out, Johnson attempted a pass for Bryant in the end zone which fell incomplete, ending the first half.

The teams traded punts to open the third quarter, and the quarter ended just before Crossett turned the ball over on downs at the Monticello 35.

The Billies, by now with sophomore quarterback Kameron Smith at the helm, could not move and punted.

As they had done most of the night, the Eagles again fumbled the kick, with Monticello recovering, this at the Crossett 25.

A penalty pushed the Billies back to the 35, and the next two plays lost eight yards back to the 43.

Smith then connected with sophomore receiver Kelvin Ridgell for 35 yards to the Crossett 8, and running back Anthony Wells scored on a 2-yard run three plays later.

Paschal again missed the PAT try, but the Billies had more than enough points with a 43-0 lead with 1:12 left and the clock ran out with Monticello extending its unbeaten streak for the season.

The Billies amassed 232 yards rushing and 123 passing. Mathews paced the running attack with 86 yards on eight carries as 10 Billies carried the ball.

Rayford’s 75-yard reception and the 35-yarder for Ridgell topped the receiving numbers for Monticello.

Monticello travels to North Pulaski to end the regular season next week, while Crossett will visit McClellan.

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