Panther offense, defense, special teams all are strong in Homecoming win

     Luke Luensman passed for 343 yards and five touchdowns, Tyler Luensman had 198 receiving yards, and the Panther defense held Tipton under 200 total yards in a 37-8 homecoming rout Friday, Sept. 25 at Dean Nelson Field.

     The Panthers, who entered the state Class 2A rankings in the No. 8 spot last week, may have raised their stock by performing well on all phases of the game. Monticello is now 4-0, including 2-0 in Class 2A, District 5 play.

     Tipton put up a battle for most of the first half, but the game may have changed for good when Justin Recker made a highlight-video catch of a Lambert pass for a touchdown with 1.9 seconds left in the first half.

     Lambert rolled out right and fired toward the end zone. Recker outleaped three defenders, extended his arm and snared the ball with his right hand. He pulled it down to himself while falling to his back, causing an eruption of sound from the Monticello sideline and stands.

     The catch turned a 10-0 lead into a 17-0 halftime advantage, and the Panthers outscored Tipton 20-8 in the second half to pull away.

     “That catch was very impressive,” Monticello coach Wes Wilson said. “Not many people can make that catch, and he made it look routine. He has the ability to catch any ball thrown in his direction. That was also huge for momentum going into the second half.”

     The Panthers were impressive in every facet, once they got through a somewhat slow start, the kind that sometimes happens in a homecoming game.

     “Homecoming week is always a tough week with all the outside distractions that go on, and I think we were a little sluggish in the first half,” Wilson said. “We came out in the second half and played better.”

     Monticello scored first after Caleb Gillmore recovered a Tipton fumble at the Tigers’ 9-yard line. After a procedure penalty, the Panthers scored on a 14-yard pass from Lambert to Caleb Sauser, and took a 7-0 lead midway through the quarter.

     Tipton got as close as the Panther 28 on its next possession, but a 45-yard field goal attempt fell short.

     Another Tiger fumble, this one recovered by Preston Ries, gave Monticello possession at the Tipton 24. Six plays later, Christian Castillo converted a 26-yard field goal attempt for a 10-0 Panther lead with 3:49 left in the half.

     The Panthers’ last series of the half started on their 36 with 49.9 seconds left. Lambert hit Sauser for a 31-yard gain to the Tipton 33. Four plays later from the 28, Lambert and Recker connected to put Monticello up 17-0.

     Monticello also received the second half kickoff, and scored on the fourth play of its series, a 61-yard catch-and-run by Tyler Luensman on a Lambert pass, giving the Panthers a 23-0 lead.

     Tipton then went on a 65-yard drive, scoring on a 15-yard run by Lake Anderson, and then a two-point conversion pass, Caden Schmidt to Ian Spangler.

     The Panthers answered quickly. Tyler Luensman returned the ensuing kickoff 71 yards to the Tipton 13, and two plays later, Lambert passed to Sauser for an eight-yard touchdown. Monticello led 30-8 with 5:21 left in the third quarter.

     The final Panther score was on a 35-yard pass play, Lambert to Tyler Luensman, on the first play of the fourth quarter.

     Tipton got as close as the Panther 28 late in the game, but Monticello’s third fumble recovery, by Dylan Roher, closed the deal.

     Monticello defense allowed just 198 total yards.

     “The defense did a great job,” Wilson said. “The single wing offense is something you don’t see very often and is very tough to defend. That was the best per we had this year on that side of the ball.”

     Offensively, the Panthers gained 464 yards.

     “We have very talented receivers at all four spots,” the coach said. “They all run great routes and have big play ability. Luke does a great job of taking care of the ball and not forcing it into bad situations. He plays like a veteran even though this was only his four start at QB.

     “And, our special teams have been very good this year. That has been a huge asset for our field position.”

     The Panthers will play at Camanche Oct. 2, and close the regular season at West Liberty Oct. 9.

Sept. 25

Tipton   0    0   8   0 –    8

Monti     7 10 13  7 –  37

SCORING SUMMARY

FIRST QUARTER

     Monti – Sauser 14 pass from Lambert (Castillo kick), 6:16 remaining.

SECOND QUARTER

     Monti – Castillo 26 field goal, 3:49.

     Monti – Recker 28 pass from Lambert (Castillo kick), 0:01.9.

THIRD QUARTER

     Monti – T. Luensman 61 pass from Lambert (kick failed), 10:31.

     Tipton – Anderson 15 run (Spangler pass from Schmidt), 6:08.

     Monti – Sauser 8 pass from Lambert (Castillo kick), 5:21.

FOURTH QUARTER

     Monti – T. Luensman 35 pass from Lambert (Castillo kick), 11:51.

TEAM STATISTICS

                                Tipton         Monti

First downs           12                  8

Rushing yds.        135               86

Passing yds.          63                378

Comp.-att.-int.  6-13-1        21-30-0

Total yds.              198              464

Fumbles lost          3                    0

Penalties              6-50             3-20

MONTICELLO STATISTICS

     Rushing – Ries 8-31, Lambert 5-29, Roher 4-21, T. Luensman 1-7.

     Passing – Lambert 19-27-343-5-0.

     Receiving – T. Luensman 7-198, Recker 2-77, Sauser 6-66, Petersen 3-25, Roher 1-5, Lambert 1-4, Ries 1-3.

     Interception – Sauser.

     Fumble recoveries – Gillmore, Ries, Roher.

     Sacks – Cleeton 1.

     Tackles-for-loss – Ries 1, Cleeton 1, T. Luensman 0.5, Tallman 0.5, Thomas 0.5.

     Tackles – Ries 8.5, T. Luensman 6.5, Tallman 6, Cleeton 5.5, Recker 4.5, Sauser 3.5, Petersen 3.5, Jesenovec 2.5, Thomas 2.5, K. Luensman 2, Manternach 2, Roher 2, Cooper 1.5, Gillmore 1.5, McAtee 0.5.