The Monterey football team did what it needed to give itself a chance at the district title.
The Plainsmen held Abilene High to one second-half score in a 31-17 victory Thursday at Lowrey Field. Along with the bruising running of Kyree Baxter, that was enough to hand the Eagles their first district loss.
Monterey, which started the season 1-4, has won four in a row. With a win at Amarillo Caprock in next week’s regular-season finale, the Plainsmen would secure a share of the District 2-5A Division I crown. Abilene has already staked its claim and will have an open date before the playoffs.
“I think our kids always believed,” Monterey coach Judd Thrash said. “We’ve worked too hard not to believe. Those guys will tell you, I work them pretty hard. … It’s incredible how far they’ve come. The main thing about these guys is they’ve learned how important their team is, their teammates, and how much they love each other.”
Baxter ran for 151 yards and two touchdowns, both of which came in the second half to maintain Monterey’s halftime lead. After Abilene pulled within 24-17 late in the third quarter, Baxter carried on five of 12 plays on a 70-yard drive. The senior capped the possession with a 2-yard TD.
Baxter recorded a sack and a quarterback hurry on the ensuing drive. He then ran on five consecutive plays after a turnover on downs to salt away the victory.
Thrash credited the offensive line for powering an attack without leading rusher Dez Williams. Deuce Moore saw increased action, too, adding 48 rushing yards.
The Eagles (7-3, 5-1) dealt with their own notable absence. Sophomore quarterback Tristan Beal made his third consecutive start in place of the injured Brayden Henry. Beal was solid but couldn’t avoid the Plainsmen rush after halftime.
Monterey (5-4, 4-1) made five sacks in the second half, including Moore’s on the final Abilene drive. That forced a fumble and gave the Eagles fourth-and-26.
“We got after that quarterback,” Thrash said. “We knew he was a sophomore, and we knew we had to pressure him. Deuce Moore, Jaivyth Cruz and Kyree Baxter put that pressure on him.”
Abilene coach Mike Fullen spoke highly of Beal, who completed 65.2% of his passes and didn’t commit a turnover. The Eagles will welcome their open week following 10 consecutive games.
“We’re a better football team than this,” Fullen said. “That’s my fault. We just didn’t put our best foot forward tonight. The open week’s coming at a good time. We need to heal up, rest up. It is exhausting (playing 10-straight), yeah, but we’re not ever gonna use that as a crutch. We’re not gonna let this beat us twice.”
Monterey is in line for the No. 1 seed if it takes care of Caprock. It would also give the Plainsmen their first district-title share since 2006.
“There’s gonna be highs and lows in football,” Thrash said. “Don’t get too high, don’t get too low. Stay the course. That’s football and that’s life.”
DISTRICT 2-5A DIVISION I
Abilene 7 3 7 0 — 17
Monterey 7 10 7 7 — 31
SCORING SUMMARY
First quarter
MON — Cam Taylor 25 pass from Luke Arrington (Gio Cardenas kick), 6:41
ABI — Ryland Bradford 30 pass from Tristan Beal (Naim Segura kick), 4:49
Second quarter
ABI — Segura 23 field goal, 11:45
MON — Landon Hiebert 69 pass from Arrington (Cardenas kick), 10:21
MON — Cardenas 41 field goal, 0:00
Third quarter
MON — Kyree Baxter 4 run (Cardenas kick), 2:51
ABI — Bradford 70 pass from Beal (Segura kick), 2:33
Fourth quarter
MON — Baxter 2 run (Cardenas kick), 8:00
TEAM STATISTICS
First downs: (A) 13; (M) 18
Rushes-Yards: (A) 21-49; (M) 42-173
Passing: (A) 217; (M) 203
Comp-Att-Int: (A) 15-23-0; (M) 12-20-0
Punts-Avg: (A) 2-44; (M) 2-14.5
Fumbles-Lost: (A) 1-0; (M) 0-0
Penalties-Yards: (A) 10-79; (M) 5-35
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Abilene High, Ethan Joyner 6-24, Tristan Beal 9-14, Ryland Bradford 3-14, M’Aujehl Aboso 1-4, Dristain Payne 1-(-1), Team 1-(-6). Monterey, Kyree Baxter 23-151, Deuce Moore 16-48, Team 1-(-6), Cam Taylor 1-(-7), Gio Cardenas 1-(-13).
PASSING: Abilene High, Beal 15-23-0—217. Monterey, Luke Arrington 12-20-0—203.
RECEIVING: Abilene High, Bradford 5-130, Camp Churchill 5-54, Bryson Perez 4-27, Adrian Munoz 1-6. Monterey, Taylor 6-86, Landon Hiebert 3-71, Des Lewis 1-34, Dallas Trevino 1-8, Braunzay Render 1-4.
RECORDS: Abilene High 7-3, 5-1; Monterey 5-4, 4-1.

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