MONTICELLO, Ark. – The Monticello Billies secured a commanding 41-20 victory over the Bauxite Miners on Friday night in front of their home crowd at Hyatt Field. Monticello’s offense shined as quarterback Tye Guthrie led the way, with big plays coming from multiple players.
Bauxite struck first, with Tony Fox returning the opening kickoff to Monticello’s 8-yard line. Three plays later, Fox dashed into the end zone off a speed sweep to put the Miners ahead 7-0 after Chad Prophitt’s extra point.
Monticello responded later in the first quarter when Guthrie connected with Jayden Rhodes for a 27-yard touchdown. The extra point was missed, leaving the score at 7-6.
The Billies took the lead midway through the second quarter, with Guthrie powering into the end zone from 9 yards out on a keeper. Joseph Rojas added the extra point, putting Monticello ahead 13-7.
Bauxite quickly answered with a 10-yard touchdown run by quarterback Marcus Wimberly to tie the game at 13-13. However, Monticello regained the lead before halftime when Guthrie found Jaxon Rawls in the corner of the end zone for a 6-yard score. Rojas’s extra point made it 20-13 at the half.
The second half was all Monticello. Jackson Hines scored on a 3-yard quarterback keeper in the third quarter, followed by a 60-yard screen pass from Guthrie to Barrow, pushing the Billies’ lead to 34-13.
Hines added his second touchdown of the night in the fourth quarter, breaking through the Bauxite defense for a 7-yard score. Rojas’s kick was good again, making it 41-13.
Bauxite managed a late touchdown when Brody Cole hit Chad Robinson for a 19-yard pass, but it was too little, too late as the Billies claimed the 41-20 win.
With the victory, Monticello improves to 1-1 on the season and will have a bye next week before taking on Dumas on September 20. Bauxite falls to 1-1 and will host Magnolia on September 13.
