The Monterey football team did what it needed to do to give itself a shot at the district title.
The Plainsmen held Abilene High to one score in the second half in a 31-17 win Thursday at Lowrey Field. That, along with Kyree Baxter’s blistering performance, 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 over 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 have always believed in it,” Monterey coach Judd Thrash said. “We worked too hard to believe it. Those guys will tell you, I worked them pretty hard. … It’s unbelievable how far they’ve come. The most important thing about these guys is they’ve learned how important their team is, their teammates, and how much they love each other.”
Monterey’s Kyree Baxter takes on Abilene High during a District 2-5A Division I football game Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, at Lowrey Field.
Kyree Baxter closes out Monterey win
Baxter ran for 151 yards and two touchdowns, both coming in the second half to preserve Monterey’s halftime lead. After Abilene pulled within 24-17 late in the third quarter, Baxter ran five of 12 plays on a 70-yard drive. The senior capped the possession with a 2-yard touchdown.
Baxter recorded a sack and a quarterback rush on the ensuing drive. He then made five straight plays after a turnover on downs to salt away the win.
Thrash credited the offensive line for driving an offense without leading rusher Dez Williams. Deuce Moore also saw more action, adding 48 rushing yards.
Plainsmen turn up the heat for sophomore Abilene
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’s rush after halftime.
Monterey (5-4, 4-1) recorded five sacks in the second half, including Moore’s on the final Abilene drive. That forced a fumble and gave the Eagles a fourth-and-26.
“We were chasing that quarterback,” Thrash said. “We knew he was a sophomore, and we knew we had to put pressure on 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 committed no turnovers. The Eagles welcome their open week after ten 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 comes at a good time. We need to recover, rest. It’s tiring (playing 10-straight), yes, but we” We never will use as a crutch. We won’t be defeated twice.’
Monterey is in line for No. 1 if it takes care of Caprock. It would also give the Plainsmen their first district title share since 2006.
“There will 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
Monterey 31, Abilene High 17
Abilene 7 3 7 0 — 17
Monterey 7 10 7 7 — 31
SCORING SUMMARY
First quarter
MON – Cam Taylor 25 pass from Luke Arrington (kick from Gio Cardenas), 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
Rush yards: (A) 21-49; (M) 42-173
Pass:(A) 217; (M) 203
Comp-Att-Int: (A) 15-23-0; (M) 12-20-0
Point average: (A) 2-44; (M) 2-14.5
Fumbles-Lost: (A) 1-0; (M) 0-0
Sanctions-Yards:(A) 10-79; (M) 5-35
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
HAST: 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).
TO FIT: Abilene High, Beal 15-23-0-217. Monterey, Luke Arrington 20-12-0-203.
RECEIVED: 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.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Kyree Baxter powers Lubbock Monterey football past Abilene High