Stuttgart cruises into second spherical with win over undermanned Monticello

Photo courtesy Hollee Davis.

Stuttgart encountered little resistance from Monticello in the first round of the 4A playoffs on Friday evening. Monticello arrived in Stuttgart as number five at the 4A-8 conference, with 12 players missing from their usual roster. As a result, the Ricebirds crossed a 42-7 grace rule win and a second round match with Elkins that Friday night.

It was known ahead of the season that four players were unavailable for the Billies, the result of a Week 10 fight against DeWitt players. But the loss of 12 from the squad left Monticello severely inferior to the Conference champion of the 4A-2. So much so that 45 minutes before kick-off one of the match officials walked into the press box to inform the home clock keeper that both coaches had agreed to a running clock in the first half if the game warranted it.

The game justified it.

Photo courtesy Hollee Davis

Stuttgart invokes an early rule of grace

The Ricebirds came from all cylinders and led with 35: 0 and 11:28 in the second quarter.

Photo courtesy Hollee Davis.

Tymir Coppins had put the goal into play after 89 seconds when he hit Cedric Hawkins for a 31-yard throw and a catch that put Stuttgart 7-0 ahead. After a punt in Monticello, the Ricebirds increased their lead when Coppins scored with Jaden Strange for an eight-yard stroke with 6:39 in the first third.

The Billies’ subsequent possession of the ball lasted a game before a fumble resulted in a ball and a touchdown for AJ Higgins to put Stuttgart ahead 21-0.

• AJ Higgins grabs a Brooks Bowman Fumble.
• AJ Higgins scored after the fumble.

Photos courtesy of Hollee Davis.

Stuttgart’s first team defense does not allow a first down

While the Offensive receives the awards, the Ricebirds’ defense put in an impressive performance against the unmanned Billies. Monticello’s offense didn’t result in a first down until 4:15 a.m. in the third quarter, long after the starters left the game.

The Billies ended the night with only 39 net yards.

Ryan Kizzire, who started in place of the injured middle linebacker Cade Coates, performed well, as did Senior Bryer West. Lavontae Clark delivered his best performance of the season, collecting five tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

In addition to a forced fumble, Stuttgart got another punt block from Kameron Harper. Blocking punts becomes an expectation for the junior lineman.

Kameron Harper (# 17) just before he blocks a punt in Monticello. (Courtesy photo by Hollee Davis)

Starter ready at the beginning of the second quarter

Daniel Poole gave Stuttgart a 28-0 lead 1:35 back in the first quarter when he scored a 15-yard touchdown. After 32 seconds in the second period, the Ricebirds invoked the Sportsmanship rule of the Arkansas Activity Association after a 10-yard blow from Coppins to Poole and made the Ricebirds 35-0 ahead.

From this point on until the final horn, the Stuttgart starters no longer saw the field.

The ranking was not over for the Ricebirds, however, as Landon Melnychuk led a 49-yard scoring drive in the third period. Yair Hernandez owed the final result to Stuttgart when he crossed the stage 1:21 behind from three meters in the third quarter and gave Stuttgart 42-0 lead.

Monticello scored his only touchdown in the middle of the fourth quarter when Jordan Light crowned a 57-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run.

Stuttgart welcomes Elkins this week in the second round

Now the Elkins Elks, trained by Zach Watson, stand in Stuttgart’s path as they march towards the War Memorial Stadium.

The Elks finished the regular season with 8: 2 in the overall standings and 5: 2 in the 4A-1 conference and thus achieved third place. Elkins defeated Dardanelle 29:23 at home last week.

In Thursday’s edition of the Stuttgart Daily Leader you will find a complete overview of the game with quotes from Stuttgart’s head coach Josh Price.

4A-2 playoff results