DOVE CREEK – Dove Creek and Monticello won’t meet on the basketball court for another two months.
Their football encounter had all the scoring of an open gym, with touchdowns from all angles lighting up the Soper Sports Complex scoreboard. When the clock hit triple zeroes, the Bulldogs and Buckaroos compiled 99 total points in a wild 64-35 Homecoming win for Dove Creek.
Only three of their last 10 basketball games produced more points than Friday’s football shootout.
Breaking the half-century mark in the first half gave the homestanding Bulldogs enough breathing room for head coach Brennan Banks and his crew to savor their first home win of the season.
DCHS scored nine touchdowns, three of which came in the final 2:32 of the opening half to blow open a 30-15 game and turn it into a 52-23 margin. The scoring included a couple of special teams returns, with senior Nicholas Aragon and junior Cael Beanland each earning scores after Monticello had trimmed the deficit.
Senior Josh Kibel opened the scoring, accounting for the first two Bulldog touchdowns in a 14-0 surge. After the Buckaroos responded with a big pass play, Dove Creek came right back with Beanland’s return, followed by junior Teagan Larimore’s 15-yard burst to make it 30-7.
Beanland added another long run, breaking free from 81 yards to start the late-half scoring burst. Freshman Kycen Gritz’s catch and run on a pass from Beanland covered 70 yards and pushed the Bulldogs past 50 points before the break.
Monticello wouldn’t go away, scoring twice early in the third quarter to climb back to 58-35, after seniors Jackson Keyes and Tommy Morrison connected on a 90-yard strike. Dove Creek answered with a score on a halfback pass from Aragon to Kibel, restoring a four-score advantage. The Bulldogs’ defense did the rest – including a fumble recovery from senior Trevan Ivie – to seal the win.
After a sluggish start to the season, Banks has the Bulldogs’ offense humming, with 104 points in two straight wins.
Wrapping up their nonleague schedule at 2-2, Dove Creek faces a stern test to open Mountain League play. Mancos (3-1, 1-0) visits Thursday for a 7 p.m. kickoff. The Bulldogs and Bluejays have combined to win each of the past four league titles, and Thursday’s game could help decide the 2025 champion. Local radio station 98.7 FM KRTZ will provide play-by-play starting at 6:30 p.m.
