MONTICELLO — The North Crawford Trojans shut out the Monticello Ponies 56-0 in Ridge & Valley 8 high school football on Sept. 19. 

The Trojans scored two touchdowns in the first four minutes to take a 14-0 lead. The Ponies tried to run a fake punt on their second possession, but Tanner Hilliard’s pass fell incomplete and the Trojans took possession at the Monticello 34 yard line. A touchdown by Sawyer Stluka and a two-point extra point made it 22-0 in favor of the Trojans. The Ponies fumbled at their own one-yard line and North Crawford scored on the next play to take a 28-0 lead. Another touchdown and two-point conversion gave North Crawford a 36-0 lead. North Crawford got another touchdown on an Owan Blaha run to put them in front 42-0 at halftime.

With a running clock in the second half, North Crawford got a 10-yard TD run by Blaha and an 80-yard run by Francesco Petrilli to build the lead to 56-0. The Ponies had two promising drives on their last two possessions. They reached the 20 yard line, but a fourth down pass intended for Milo Smith went incomplete and their last drive ended at the two yard line as time ran out. It was the first time this season the Ponies have been shut out.

Monticello coach Tyler Smith said his team will just keep playing hard in an effort to get the program’s first victory. 

“We’re just gonna play hard. We’re all here, everyday, practicing hard, working on our routes, working on our blocking schemes, and it will come. We have faith in the guys that are on the field,” said Smith.

Monticello (0-5, 0-4) will travel for a 3 p.m. Ridge & Valley 8 Conference game on Friday, Sept. 26 at De Soto.