Quick start lifts Panthers past Camanche
Monticello jumped to a 21-0 lead, then fought off several Camanche challenges on the way to a 41-20 non-district football win Friday, Sept. 1 in Camanche.
The Panthers had another outstanding offensive performance, with six touchdowns and 464 total yards. Max Keleher rushed 30 times for 222 yards and three of those scores, and quarterback Jacob Manternach completed nine of 16 passes for 192 yards.
That it might be Monticello's night looked evident from the start. Camanche took its first possession and went three-and-out, and the Panthers scored in just four plays. Manternach hit Gavin Cooper on a 40-yard pass on the first play from scrimmage, setting up a two-yard TD by Keleher.
After another Camanche punt, Monticello went 66 yards in nine plays, scoring on a five-yard run by Andrew Mescher. Gavin Holub's extra point kick made it 14-0.
The Panthers scored their third touchdown late in the second quarter, on a one-yard plunge by Keleher. Camanche answered this time, as Cam Soenksen made a reaching-back, one-handed catch for a 23-yard score.
Monticello had time for one more score before halftime, a 22-yard pass from Manternach to Mescher with 11.6 seconds left. The Panthers led 28-6 at the break.
A 15-play, 73-yard drive for the Panthers, following an interception by Keleher, resulted in a three-yard scoring run by Cooper and a 34-6 Panther lead.
Camanche came back, however, with a pair of touchdown passes from Baylor Crigger to Soenksen, and suddenly the Indians were down by just two scores, 34-20, with 3:13 left in the third quarter.
A 43-yard touchdown run by Keleher in the fourth quarter, however, put the game away.
The Panthers will play at Union of LaPorte City Friday, Sept. 8.
Sept. 1
Camanche 0 6 14 0 -- 20
Monticello 14 14 6 7 -- 41
SCORING SUMMARY
FIRST QUARTER
Monti -- Keleher 2 run (Holub kick), 9:18 remaining.
Monti -- Mescher 5 run (Holub kick), 3:10.
SECOND QUARTER
Monti -- Keleher 1 run (Holub kick), 3:26.
Cam -- Soenksen 23 pass from Crigger (run failed), 1:07.
Monti -- Mescher 22 pass from Manternach (Holub kick), 0:11.6.
THIRD QUARTER
Monti -- Cooper 13 run (kick failed), 7:30.
Cam -- Soenksen 75 pass from Crigger (Campie pass from Crigger), 6:30.
Cam -- Soenksen 19 pass from Crigger (run failed), 3:13.
FOURTH QUARTER
Monti -- Keleher 43 run (Holub kick), 6:12.
TEAM STATISTICS
Monti Cam
Rushing yds. 272 (-1)
Passing yds. 192 296
Comp.-att.-int. 9-18-1 17-27-1
Total yds. 464 295
Penalties 9-70 2-15
Fumbles lost 1 0
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Monticello
Rushing -- Keleher 30-222, Manternach 12-39, Luensman 2-7, Mescher 1-5, Cooper 1-3, Bowser 1-2.
Passing -- Manternach 9-18-192-1-1
Receiving -- Mescher 4-76, D. Kraus 3-69, Cooper 1-40, C. Kraus 1-6.
Interception -- Keleher.
Sacks -- Holub 2.5, Picray 0.5, Henderson 0.5, Kuper 0.5.
Tackles-for-loss -- Holub 2.5, Mescher 2, Kuper 1.5, Stahlberg 1, Wallerich 1, Keleher 1, Manternach 1, Picray 0.5, Henderson 0.5.