By ERIC VICCARO
bnewssports@gmail.com

Two years ago, Bowie High School football player Josh Monkres was transferred to a spot on the Jackrabbit offensive line.
Bowie head football coach Dylan Stark said Monkres was totally receptive to the idea, and he helped transform the Jackrabbit wall into a formidable one.
For the second straight season, the Associated Press Sports Editors of Texas recognized Monkres’ talent, garnering him honorable mention all-state accolades.
For this accomplishment, Monkres was selected to be the team captain on The Bowie News All-Montague County team.
“Josh was very unselfish when he switched to the offensive line,” Stark said. “He’s got good feet. He knows how to move because he’s so quick and strong off the ball.”
This marks the second straight year for the newspaper to field an all-county team.
There were some modifications this year. The team roster was bumped up from 27 to 30 players, and there also is a list of honorable mentions.
The roster features 13 offensive players, 13 defensive players and four specialists. In modern football, more emphasis has been placed on special teams, and that’s why there are four slots.
This season provided a mixed bag for local teams.
Bowie ventured into unchartered territory by winning its first playoff game since Hall & Oates’ “Private Eyes” was No. 1 back in 1981. The Jackrabbits downed Clyde 44-40 in a Conference 3A Division I area contest.
“It didn’t happen overnight,” Stark said. “The senior class bought in, worked hard and stuck with it, and it paid off.”
Forestburg had just as historic a season, with first-ever district and bi-district championships before falling to Motley County in the Conference 1A Division II’s area round.
“We made history,” Forestburg head coach Wayne Tuckwell said. “I told the three seniors (Taten Vann, Malaci Moore and Nate Shepherd) three years ago if they stuck with me they would be able to do something special, and they did.” Read more in The Bowie News.

ALL-MONTAGUE COUNTY TEAM 2015

Team Captain
Josh Monkres, Bowie

Offense
Quarterback: Trace Hardee, Bowie
Running backs: J.D. Moore, Forestburg; and Brandon Hutto, Bowie
Wide receivers: Jeffery Howard, Bowie; Blake Anderson, Saint Jo; and Skyler Sandusky, Forestburg.
Tight end: Taten Vann, Forestburg
Offensive linemen: Jonathan Chancellor, Bowie; Nate Shepherd, Forestburg; Jared Roberts, Bowie; Josh Monkres, Bowie; Barkley Hayes, Nocona; and Tilghman Parr, Bowie
Kicker: Mario Lopez, Saint Jo
Specialist: Tanner Cable, Nocona

Defense
Defensive line: Malaci Moore, Forestburg; Kevin Stallcup, Bowie; Emmanuel Gaytan, Nocona; and T.J. Lindenborn, Saint Jo
Linebackers: Cayden Cox, Bowie; Matthew Wallace, Forestburg; Peyton Crabtree, Nocona; Billy Rogers, Gold-Burg; and L.B. Clement, Bowie.
Defensive backs: Chase Hall, Bowie; Robert Hawkins, Nocona; Stevie Carroll, Forestburg; and Blake Allen, Gold-Burg
Punter: Coplin Miller, Gold-Burg
Specialist: Wyatt Park, Forestburg

Honorable mentions
Carter Shackelford, Daniel Mosley, Gage Posey and Saul Landaverde, Bowie; Preston Lyons, Saint Jo; Brandon Lee, Ethan Hellman, Bruce Mueller and Ryan Downs, Gold-Burg; Bear Osteen and Fernando Gonzales, Forestburg; Marcus Carter, Brendan Ramsey and Parker Marshall, Nocona.
Editor’s Note: Weight was added for all-state and all-district honors as well as overall team performance.

Bowie’s Tilghman Parr (55) and Jared Roberts (78) spring Brandon Hutto (5) for the game-winning touchdown over Clyde on Nov. 13. The Jackrabbits defeated Clyde 44-40 for the bi-district championship, their first playoff victory in 34 years. Parr, Hutto and Roberts all made the All-Montague County team. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)