STUTTGART, Ark. – The Stuttgart Ricebirds earned a hard-fought 38-21 victory over the Monticello Billies Friday night in front of their home crowd at Ned Moseley Stadium in an 8-4A Conference matchup.
Stuttgart struck first when Cain Price connected with Johnson on a 12-yard touchdown pass, with Dawson McKelvey adding the extra point to make it 7-0 midway through the first quarter. Monticello quickly responded, tying the game 7-7 after Jackson Hines capped off a 6-play drive with a 3-yard rushing touchdown.
Price then took matters into his own hands, rushing for a 4-yard touchdown late in the first quarter to give Stuttgart a 14-7 lead. Monticello’s Joseph Ascelis answered immediately with a 57-yard touchdown run, leveling the game at 14-14.
Stuttgart regained control with Price hitting Sparky Clark for a touchdown, and McKelvey’s 25-yard field goal just before halftime pushed the lead to 24-14.
In the third quarter, Price threw two more touchdown passes—one to Jawyan Terry and another to Jeremiah Jackson—extending Stuttgart’s lead to 38-14. Monticello added a late score on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Guthrie to Jayden Rhodes, but it wasn’t enough as Stuttgart secured the 38-21 win.
With the loss, Monticello falls to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play. They’ll host Central High (Helena) on October 25. Stuttgart, now 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the conference, will travel to face the Warren Lumberjacks this Friday.
8-4A Conference Standings
