Whitehorse is 0-6 against Monticello since August of 2019 but things could change on Friday. The Raiders will face off against the Buckaroo at 7:00 p.m. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty point totals in their previous games.
Whitehorse is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Utah's top teams: Water Canyon, who was ranked ninth at the time (Whitehorse was ranked third). The Raiders claimed a resounding 52-14 victory over the Wildcats. Give some credit to the fans of both teams: the last four times they've met, the home team has come away the winner.
Tristan Black had another great game (as he tends to do), throwing for 206 yards and three touchdowns on only ten passes, while also rushing for 55 yards on only six carries. He also put in work on the defensive side of the ball, making four total tackles and defending two passes.
Black was just one part of a punishing run game: Whitehorse was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 290 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 235 rushing yards every time they've taken the field this season.
Meanwhile, Monticello took a blow against Dove Creek on Friday, falling 64-35. The Buckaroo have struggled against the Bulldogs recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive lost matchup.
Even if they lost, Monticello's defensive line still kept up the pressure with four sacks. The team can thank two different players for their defensive prowess: Tristan Burtenshaw and John Leber, who each picked up 1.5 sacks apiece.
Whitehorse pushed their record up to 4-0 with the win, which was their third straight at home. The home victories came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 49.3 points over those games. As for Monticello, their loss dropped their record down to 2-4.
Friday's contest might be decided in the trenches. Whitehorse has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 284.5 rushing yards per game. It's a different story for Monticello, though, as they've been averaging only 81.7 rushing yards. How will they fare against such a dominant running game?
Whitehorse took a serious blow against Monticello in their previous matchup back in October of 2024, falling 42-14. Can the Raiders avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
