For the second consecutive year, the Warren Lumberjacks was the host team for the Union Bank Saline River Shootout.
Both Warren and Monticello entered the contest with a 1-0 8-4A Conference record.
The Lumberjacks won the coin toss to begin the game and elected to receive the opening kickoff. Monticello’s Joseph Rojas kicked the ball to the 10-yard line where it would be returned 21-yards by Neondre Thomas to Warren’s 31-yard line.
Cameron Burks completed the first pass of the drive to Aaron Davis. However Davis was tackled in the backfield by Laytn Nichols for a four-yard loss. After a two-yard loss on a run by Davis, Burks connected with Tramond Miller for a 21-yard gain to the Warren 46-yard line which was followed by a five-yard offside penalty that placed the ball into Monticello territory at the 49-yard line.
Warren drove deep into Monticello territory to the four yard line, but the drive stalled when the Lumberjacks turned the ball over on downs with 7:17 remaining in the first quarter. Beginning the drive at the Monticello four-yard line, Jackson Hines gained a yard to the five-yard line. The Billies gained a little room on the next play on a four-yard reception by Rojas from Tye Guthrie. Zaedin Jones advanced the ball to the Monticello 21-yard line on a 12-yard run.
Monticello advanced the ball down to Warren’s 38-yard line on the drive. Joseph Accelus broke free and ran 38 yards for a Billie touchdown. Rojas added the extra point to give Monticello a 7-0 lead with 1:30 on the clock. Warren’s next drive began at Warren’s 47-yard line after a 36-yard return by Thomas. The Lumberjacks drove to the Monticello 44-yard line as the quarter ended.
After reaching Monticello’s 30-yard line on a pass from Burks to Miller, the Lumberjacks further advanced to the Monticello one-yard line. But a false start penalty pushed the ball back to the six-yard line. Burks got the touchdown from the six-yard line. Hayden White added the extra point to tie the score, 7-7. After forcing Monticello to punt on the next drive, Warren began their drive in Monticello territory at the 43-yard line following a 20-yard return by Antonio Jordan. Davis got an eight-yard run on the first play of the drive. That was followed by a 10-yard run by Burks to the Monticello 35-yard line.
Burks connected with Miller for a 10-yard pickup to the 15-yard line. A holding penalty backed the ball up to the Monticello 25-yard line, but the Lumberjacks would get the yardage back on a 15-yard pass from Burks to Tayshawn Edwards to the Monticello 10-yard line.
On the next play, Burks connected with Jo Jo Steen for the 10-yard touchdown pass. White added the extra point to give the Lumberjacks a 14-7 lead with 6:44 remaining in the half.
Monticello received the football to begin the second half, advancing the ball to the Warren 22-yard line on the drive, but the Billies turned the ball over on downs. The first turnover of the contest came on the next drive. The Lumberjacks drove to the Monticello 39-yard line into Billie territory. After an incomplete pass, Burks next pass was intercepted by Monticello’s Blaine Hayden for a 58-yard return for the touchdown. After Rojas kicked the extra point, Monticello had tied the contest at 14 with 4:57 remaining in the third quarter.
The Billies got their second turnover of the contest on the Lumberjacks next drive after Burks threw his second interception of the contest after Laytn Nichols came down with the pass at the Monticello 40. But the Lumberjack defense forced the Billies to punt the ball with Thomas returning the punt 13 yards from the Warren 37 to the 50. Monticello’s defense also forced the Lumberjacks to punt on their drive with the Billies’ next drive extending into the fourth quarter. The Billies turned the ball over on downs at the Warren 26 with 9:34 remaining in the contest. After forcing Warren to punt on the next drive, the Billies began their drive at their own 34 yard line. However, they were forced to punt the ball with Warren taking over on the Monticello 48 after a 27-yard return by Jordan.
Davis gained three yards to the Monticello 45 but fumbled the ball on his next carry. Jagger Hines recovered the ball at the Monticello 48 with 7:07 remaining in the contest. On the first play after the turnover, Tye Guthrie connected with Curtis Barrow for a 52-yard touchdown pass. Rojas got the extra point giving Monticello a 21-14 lead with 6:57 remaining in the game. Warren began the next drive from their own 35 yard-line. Monticello’s Jon Luke Brotherton sacked Burks for a five-yard loss on the first play of the drive.
After an incompletion, Burks hit Miller for a 34-yard completion to the Monticello 36 followed by another completion to Miller to the Monticello 23. After advancing the ball to the 17, Burks hit Miller once more for the 17-yard touchdown.
The Lumberjacks were setup for the extra point, but Monticello was flagged for a false start that placed the ball at the two yard line. Warren elected to go for the two-point conversion with Antonio Jordan running the ball in giving the Lumberjacks the 22-21 lead with 5:19 on the clock.
Monticello began by getting the ball back to their 19. After an incompletion, Guthrie’s next pass was intercepted at the Monticello 31 by Jo Jo Steen with 4:46 on the clock. A delay of game penalty moved the ball back to the Monticello 36 and the Billie defense tacked Davis in the backfield for a four yard loss on the next play. Warren got the ball back to the original line of scrimmage but another delay of game penalty moved the ball back to the Monticello 36 once more. Burks next pass was incomplete but Warren was flagged for a holding penalty that Monticello declined. On the next play, Burks connected with Thomas for a 36-yard touchdown.
Jordan added the two-point conversion giving the Lumberjacks a 30-21 lead with 3:43 remaining in the contest.
White’s kick went into the endzone for a touchback and Monticello started their drive at their own 20. Monticello got to their own 45 before Guthrie threw his second interception of the game. Jordan intercepted the ball at the Warren 46, returning the it to the Monticello 41. Only 58 seconds remained in the contest. Warren downed the ball to run the time off the clock to move to 2-0 in conference play, retaining the Union Bank Saline River Shootout Trophy.
Cameron Burks completed 18 passes, going 18 of 38 for 294 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Burks also rushed for 49 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown.
Tramond Miller led the way in receiving with nine catches for 137 yards and a touchdown.
Jo Jo Steen had two catches for 26 yards and a touchdown. Steen also had an interception in the contest.
Antonio Jordan finished with two two-point conversions and three catches for 63 yards and an interception for 11 yards.
Neondre Thoas recorded two catches for 47 yards and a touchdown.
Warren will host Hamburg on Friday, October 11, to celebrate Homecoming with kickoff scheduled at 7 p.m. scheduled.
