Forest Bearcats Topple Monticello Devils, 22-10

Reprinted from The Clarion-Ledger

November 1970

By Palmer Manning

FOREST – The Forest Bearcats used control at the line of scrimmage and two last-period touchdown runs by halfback Billy Thompson for a 22-10 victory over Monticello and the Little Dixie Conference championship here Friday night.

The win gives Forest a final record of 11-0, while South Little Dixie champ Monticello completed the season at 7-4. (Forest was led by first-year head coach Gary Risher and first-year assistants James “Bo” Clark and Billy Ray Dill. Monticello was led by head coach Parker Dykes, a former Forest assistant coach with Ken Bramlett).

Monticello kicked off and put Forest in the hole when the Bearcats’ receiver had his knee touch the ground at the three. The Red Devils took over six plays later and put together a scoring drive that ended with a 32-yard field goal by James Wilson.

Monticello ran what amounted to an 11-man line and stopped the Forest offense cold until quarterback Mike Massey put the ball in the air to open up the Bearcat offense. A Forest drive was stopped at the Monticello five early in the second quarter.

Forest got on the scoreboard with 3:35 left in the half when Thompson crashed over from the one to cap a 65-yard drive. Thompson ran the conversion for an 8-3 Bearcat lead.

One minute later, end Jackie Calhoun tackled Monticello quarterback Joe Smith in the end zone for a safety and a 10-3 Forest halftime advantage.

Monticello tied it a 10-10 on an eight-yard run by Willie Harold Harris following a fumble recovery at the Forest 25 by Lynn Ray Smith. Wilson’s score tied the game with 2:45 left in the third quarter.

Thompson’s first touchdown in the fourth period came on the first play and from 13 yards out to end a 70-yard drive.

Another Forest drive was killed by a fumble at the Monticello 30, but the Bearcats came back to score again with 1:15 left in the game on a one-yard plunge by Thompson.

Controlling the line of scrimmage for Forest on offense were Bobby Latham, Bob Smiley, Terry Austin, Bubby Johnston, Rodney Russell, J. W. Clark, and Calhoun. On defense it was Ricky Dilley, Mike Vaughn, Lee Dukes and Elbon Johnston. Forest linebacker Ken Gordon was easily the game’s outstanding defensive ace, covering most of the field.

Thompson had 115 yards rushing and Dilley had 83 for the Bearcats. Forest led 19-5 in first downs and 272-90 in total yards.

The Little Dixie Conference championship was Forest’s second in a row, the Bearcats having beaten Magee 46-13 in 1969 season under head coach Ken Bramlett.