Monticello not only wanted to keep the coveted Cowbell Trophy with a football victory over archrival Anamosa, it also wanted to make a statement about its team.

    Both things were accomplished, as the Panthers scored a 20-0 season-opening victory Friday, Aug. 27 at Anamosa. Monticello earned the right to keep the Cowbell for the sixth straight year, and lifted its lead in the all-time series to 51-33-5.

    This win, however, meant more than that.

    “The kids want to change some things about themselves and this program,” coach Shane Blake said, “and they are on the right path.”

    Although the Panthers made some mistakes in the early going, coach Blake said he was pleased with the overall effort.

    “I was happy with the sportsmanship by all the kids,” he said. “The discipline was wonderful. I really thought the kids played with a lot of heart and togetherness.”

    Monticello controlled things from a statistical point of view, but held only a two-score lead, 13-0, at halftime. A defense that held Anamosa to just two first downs for the game, and never allowed the Blue Raiders inside the Panther 40-yard line, however, made sure this one would go Monticello’s way.

    “We left some plays out on the field,” Blake said. “We need to work on our ball security and move the line of scrimmage like we moved it on defense.”

    The teams traded turnovers during a scoreless first quarter. Anamosa went three-and-out on its first series, and Dallas Koppes returned the ensuring punt 34 yards to the Anamosa 39-yard line.

    The Panthers moved to the 22, before a fumble was recovered by Anamosa’s Vaughn Takes, who returned the ball 14 yards.

    Monticello responded with an interception, the first of three in the game, on a leaping catch by Payton Felton.

    The Panthers were forced to punt on their next series, but got the ball back on an interception by Nick Eastburn at the Blue Raider 43.

    Monticello drove as close as the 10-yard line, but Anamosa stopped the Panthers on downs.

    The early part of the second quarter was similar; Eastburn made an interception, but the Panthers were held on downs at the Anamosa 31.

    The play that turned the game in Monticello’s favor was a fumbled snap on a punt. Dylan Ash tackled the punter at the Anamosa 32.

    This time, the Panthers cashed in. Quarterback Cody Gullett completed an eight-yard pass to Koppes, then ran the ball three straight times. He gained 18 yards to the 6, then two more, then scored on a run up the middle. A fumbled snap on the extra point led to an incomplete two-point pass, but the Panthers led 6-0 with 4:48 left in the first half.

    Another error on a punt attempt set up Monticello’s second score, giving the Panthers the ball at the Anamosa 6. Following a procedure penalty, Gullett went on an 11-yard scoring run, and Curtis Prull kicked the extra point for a 13-0 Panther lead with 2:09 left in the half.

    That score held up until late in the third quarter, when the Panthers had their most impressive drive of the game. They marched 77 yards in eight plays, scoring on a two-yard run up the middle by Cody Simmons, followed by Prull’s point-after.

    Key plays in the drive were a 10-yard run by Tyler Felton, a 35-yard breakaway run by Gullett, and a 13-yard pass from Gullett to Simmons.

    Anamosa’s best scoring threat was early in the third quarter. A long punt return appeared to give the Blue Raiders the ball deep in Panther territory, but a holding penalty brought the ball back to the Monticello 46 – Anamosa’s deepest penetration of the game.

    Monticello’s defense held Anamosa to 43 total yards and just two first downs for the game. The Panthers totaled 246 yards, including 156 on the ground.

    The Panthers spread the wealth in their rushing attack. Gullett was the leading ball-carrier with 58 yards on 14 tries. Freshman Jacob Black rushed for 27 yards, Mitch McLaughlin had 25, Koppes had 20 and Simmons had 17.

    Gullett competed 10 of 15 passes for 90 yards. Simmons had two catches for 26.

    Koppes and Ash led the defense in tackles, with eight apiece.

Northeast next
    The Panthers will play their home opener Friday, Sept. 3 against Northeast of Goose Lake. The Rebels, a Class 1A team, went 6-1 in district play and 7-3 overall last year. Northeast made the post-season, losing in the sub-state round.

    Northeast opened this season with a 20-14 win over Camanche Friday.

    “Northeast is tall, big, athletic, and will play four quarters of football,” Blake said. “We will see a very fast and good running back, Tanner Loots, who can make things happen if we do not do our assignments.

    “We must stay disciplined, focused, and have a great week of practice.”

Aug. 27
Monticello     0  13   7   0 – 20
Anamosa       0    0   0   0 –   0
SCORING SUMMARY
FIRST QUARTER
    No scoring.
SECOND QUARTER
    Monti – Gullett 4 run (pass failed), 4:48 remaining.
    Monti – Gullett 11 run (Prull kick), 2:09.
THIRD QUARTER
    Monti – Simmons 2 run (Prull kick), 2:59.
FOURTH QUARTER
    No scoring.
TEAM STATISTICS
                                  Mon     Ana
First downs             14          2
Rushing yds.         156         21
Passing yds.            90         22
Comp.-att.-int.  10-15-0  4-19-3
Total yds.               246         43
Fumbles-lost         3-2        1-0
Penalties-yds.      8-55       5-30
MONTICELLO STATISTICS
    Rushing – Gullett 14-58, Black 4-27, McLaughlin 7-25, Koppes 3-20, Simmons 4-17, T. Felton 8-15, Hosch 3 (-6).
    Passing – Gullett 10-15-90-0-0.
    Receiving – Simmons 2-26, Rieniets 2-15, Eastburn 1-13, Prull 1-12, P. Felton 1-9, T. Felton 2-8, Koppes 1-7.
    Tackle leaders – Koppes 8, Ash 8, Paddock 5.5, Gullett 4.5, Lightner 4.5, Rieniets 3.5, McLaughlin 3.5.
    Interceptions – Eastburn 2, P. Felton.
    Sacks – Ash, Lightner, Rieniets.
    Tackles-for-loss – Ash 3, Lightner 2, Rieniets, Simmons.