MONTROSE – Montrose High’s Friday game against the Fruita Monument Wildcats got off to a rousing start Friday night, with both teams scoring touchdowns in the first 20 minutes of the game followed by a tie game and a hair-raising final minute of play.

Montrose won the game 27-21. “We knew it was going to be close, and we blew some opportunities in the first half,” Head Coach Todd Casebier said. “In the end, Fruita hung around and their kids played tough.”

After Montrose’s Cameron Jones made his first touchdown during the first quarter and the Wildcats got the ball, the Indians took it back in the end zone for a 2 point safety, with the score 9-7 at the end of the first quarter.

The Indians were ahead by two touchdowns going into the fourth quarter, but Fruita came back and tied the game 21-21. It was only in the last few seconds that Montrose pulled ahead, Casebier said.

“Fortunately, Glenn Fluker intercepted with a minute 30 (seconds) left and the offense had no time outs left,” he said. “We went 45 yards and scored with six seconds left. It was a lot of drama and an exciting win, but it didn’t feel like we played as good we could have played to get the win.”

But the bottom line, the coach said, is that Montrose, a 4A school, beat Fruita, which is in the 5A class.

Montrose averaged 263.6 rushing yards and 127.8 passing yards in the game with Indian quarterback Casebier completing 11 out of 18 attempts for a total of 167 yards. Angelo Youngren completed one pass for 28 yards and a total of 115 yards rushing. Casebier had 35 yards rushing and Cameron Jones had 35. The Indians rushed a total of 215 yards compared to the Wildcats’ 144 yards.

Near the end of the game, defensive linebacker Dell Oliver was injured with a broken leg. He has since undergone successful surgery, but he is out for the season.

Montrose next faces the Durango Demons at an away game where they will attempt to improve on their 8-1 record. The Indians lost last week to Grand Junction, 49-21, as did Durango at an earlier game this season, 41-6. The Demons record is currently 4-5.