MONTICELLO –– Saturday afternoon’s non-league game between Monticello (1-2) and Liberty (0-3) could be described as a rubber match. The programs, both in the rebuilding stages, traded victories over one another in recent years, with Monticello winning in 2020, and Liberty taking last year’s showdown. When the final whistle sounded, it was Monticello that came out on top, winning 22-14, despite a late surge by the visiting Indians.

The Panthers, who lost their first two games to Rondout Valley and Wallkill, held a 22-8 lead entering the fourth quarter. They were once again threatening when Liberty’s Cody Ricco picked off freshman Seth Jackson’s pass.

Liberty took advantage of the opportunity, as Ricco capped off a successful drive with a touchdown run. The two-point conversion was no good, and with less than four minutes remaining, the Indians tried for the onside kick. However, it was recovered by Monticello, who was able to run out the clock, and pick up the win.

The key to Saturday’s victory, as described by Monticello Coach Arthur Johannes, was discipline. 

“Everything we did in practice, we had to carry it over onto the field,” said Johannes. “ Know your cues, know your assignments, understand your alignments … Preparation meets opportunity and we prepped all week for this opportunity today.”

Liberty entered the game short-handed, as standout linemen Andrew McPhillips suffered a season-ending femur injury in last week’s 41-0 loss at James I. O’Neill.

The visitors struggled early, as their first two possessions ended with a tenacious Monticello defense forcing and recovering fumbles. The Indians had fumbles on two more plays in the remaining minutes of the game (Monticello recovered another in the second quarter). 

Monticello started the scoring with Jackson finding Rafael Liciaga on a TD pass from about 15-20 yards out. Then, Xavean Mitchell ran in the two-point conversion to put Monticello up 8-0.

Monticello held that eight point advantage for a good part of the second quarter, until Liberty’s Tanner Bury, in his first play from behind center, found Ricco on a long TD pass. Liberty’s Jorge Reyes ran it in for two, and the game was tied 8-8.

However, the Panthers answered. Mitchell found Liciaga in the end zone on a pass play as time expired. Instead of going for the PAT, the Monties opted to once again go for two, and Jackson connected with JJ Clemons on a short pass for the successful conversion, so the Panthers led 16-8 at the break.

Monticello turned to the ground game in the third, as senior Aidan Rausch wore down the Liberty defense before capping off a long drive with a TD run. The two-point conversion was no good, and Monticello took a 22-8 lead that they had entering the final quarter of play, before staving off the Indians.

Liberty has the opportunity to bounce back next Saturday when they host a tough 1-2 New Paltz  team that’s coming off a 20-16 win versus Marlboro.

Monticello will look to build on their momentum when they head to Poughkeepsie on Friday night to face a red hot Our Lady of Lourdes team, who are 3-0 with wins over New Paltz (50-13), Kingston (40-0) and Wallkill (49-7).