Choctaw stings Monterey, 40-25

September 4, 2024 |

J’mari White and the Choctaw defense leaves the field after scooping up a fumble opening night. (PHOTO BY RYAN HORTON)

By Ryan Horton
Choctaw Times

Choctaw High School opened the 2024 season Friday with a 40-25 win over Lubbock’s Monterey High School.

The Yellowjackets kicked off the season Aug. 30 with the program’s first win over a Texas high school as Choctaw returned to the gridiron looking to test themselves against some elite competition.

Cash Williams outruns the Plainsmen defense (PHOTO BY RYAN HORTON)

Choctaw shutout the visitor in the opening and third quarters.

The Yellowjackets jumped to a 14-0 lead in the first, but Monterey would fight back to outscore CHS in the second quarter, 16-13.

Choctaw would take a 6-0 third quarter to sit comfortably at 33-16 moving into the final period of play.

Choctaw had a 40-23 advantage as the clock was winding down, but Monterey wasn’t done fighting.

The Plainsmen marched toward the end zone and were looking to connect for six as the clock hit 38 seconds remaining, but Khaliq Grant would step up with a pick near the goal line.

Choctaw would take over at their own goal line, and Monterey would get the two-point stop instead of a touchdown to end the night.

Senior quarterback Cash Williams connected on 15-of-21 passes good for 225 yards and four TDs. He rushed for another 78 yards.

Mayor Morgan led rushing with 136 yards on 23 plays, and had 82 yards receiving.

Juju Smith had 90 yards receiving and 81 yards rushing.

Landon Gatson had 14 yards rushing.

Hayden Mounce had four receptions good for 42 yards.

Khaliq Grant picks off a Monterey pass near the Choctaw end zone with just 38 seconds left to play (PHOTO BY RYAN HORTON)

Choctaw moved to 1-0 with the 40-25 victory.

“I’m happy to get a win. We learned a lot tonight. I’m proud of the kids. They found a way, and got it done,” said Choctaw head coach Jake Corbin. “This was a good test for us. They’re really big up front, and their quarterback is a big time quarterback in Texas. They had a fast and physical defense, and I think they’ll be a good team down in Texas this year. We were able to execute when we needed to and made some stops when we needed to.”

The opening test wasn’t the only out-of-state competition on the non-district schedule, and competition will heat up in coming weeks.

Choctaw has a bye week to prepare, and then Sept. 13 the Jackets head to Kansas to face the Class 6A defending state champions at Gardner-Edgerton.

“They’re really good. We’re going to have our hands full,” said Corbin.

Embracing the “iron sharpens iron” philosophy, Choctaw will return from their skirmish with the Kansas state champs to host Oklahoma’s defending Class 6A champions the following Friday.

“We play a challenging non-district schedule. In my opinion, the hardest non-district schedule in the state of Oklahoma with two state champions,” said Corbin. “We definitely have our work cut out for us. We have to get better in a hurry.”