Preston Ries stars again as Monticello advances in Class 2A Iowa high school football playoffs

MONTICELLO — After the plays were called, the final whistle blew and all the postgame interviews concluded, Preston Ries made his way to a pack of young fans.

The Monticello multi-sport standout mingled with children, posed for pictures, exchanged high-fives and even let a couple excited boys wear his helmet, producing ear-to-ear smiles.

People of Monticello are used to his actions. They are also used to the stellar performance he posted in the Panthers’ postseason opener.

Ries rushed for four touchdowns, passed for two more and amassed about 400 yards of offense, leading No. 4 Monticello to a 42-13 victory over North Fayette Valley in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs Friday night at Dean Nelson Field.

“It was a great win,” Ries said. “The coaches put us in a great spot. They called some great plays. (Assistant) Coach (Jon) Kyte formed a great defensive scheme. We couldn’t do it without them.

“It was a great overall team win.”

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Photos: Monticello vs. North Fayette Valley in Class 2A first round

Ries ran for 196 yards, passed for 203 more and had his hands on all six of the Panthers’ TDs. He even hauled in a 2-point conversion in the second half. Monticello Coach Wes Wilson said he can sit back in awe of the rare talent.

“He’s a guy you don’t see very often in high school football,” Wilson said. “He’s a competitor. He wants the ball in his hands. When it comes down to it, he’s the guy who is going to make a play for us.

“He always finds new ways to step up. We use him all over in different situations.”

Monticello (8-1) took control with touchdowns on three straight possessions from 5:13 left in the first quarter to 2:02 remaining the first half.

Ries took over the game on the Panthers’ second possession. He demonstrated his vision and explosiveness, starting left and cutting back to the center of the field and splitting defenders for a 61-yard TD run.

“The offensive line did a good job of washing down,” Ries said. “The cutback lane opened up and I took it. It was just green grass ahead.”

The Panthers drove 20 yards on 14 plays on the next possession, capping it with a 1-yard Ries TD dive. When NFV mishandled a punt snap and was stopped short, Monticello took over at the TigerHawk 35. Five plays later, Ries ran in from 11 yards out for a 21-0 halftime advantage.

“You want to keep the hammer down and the pedal to the metal at all times. All gas, no brakes,” Ries said. “It’s our motto is to keep going and going. We’re never going to stop, even when you’re up big like that.”

After Ries did damage with his legs, he found success through the air. He hit Peyton Schilling for a 44-yard score in the third, which was set up by a 50-yard pass to Easton Prull. Ty Hallman caught an 8-yard score in the fourth. Ries completed 12 of 19 passes, connecting with at least five receivers. Prull had three catches for 96 yards.

“We’ve got guys that can make plays,” Wilson said. “Easton Prull made some big plays tonight. Everyone knows Peyton Schilling and he made some big plays. People have keyed on him and we’ve been able to make it hurt with some other guys.”

NFV ended the season at 3-6. Decklyn Heins passed for 216 yards, hitting Cael Reichter for a 34-yard TD to pull the TigerHawks within 21-7 with 8:50 left in the third. Heins added a 13-yard TD pass to Tate Germann to cap the scoring.

The Panthers advanced and started the postseason path with a strong outing. Monticello will get right back to work and stick with a formula that works.

“We have to continue to get better,” Wilson said. “We have to stay healthy. We have to have a good week of preparation and continue to let No. 5 (Ries) make plays for us.”

Monticello 42, North Fayette Valley 13

AT MONTICELLO

NFV MON

First Downs 17 16

Rushes-yards 33-125 33-187

Passing yards 216 203

Comp-att-int 14-26-1 12-19-0

Total yards 341 290

Fumbles-lost 2-0 0-0

Punts-avg. 2-23.0 1-28.0

Penalties-yards 5-27 4-34

North Fayette Valley 0 0 7 6 -- 13

Monticello 7 14 14 7 -- 42

MONT – Preston Ries 61 run (Ty King kick)

MONT – Ries 1 run (King kick)

MONT – Ries 11 run (King kick)

NFV – Cael Reichter 34 pass from Decklyn Heins (Lincoln Aeschliman kick)

MONT – Ries 5 run (kick failed)

MONT – Peyton Schilling 44 pass from Ries (Schilling pass to Ries)

MONT – Ty Hallman 8 pass from Ries (King kick)

NFV – Tate Germann 13 pass from Heins (kick failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – North Fayette Valley: Ayden Turner 12-62, Germann 6-33, Kyler White 14-28, Ben Bodensteiner 1-2. Monticello: Ries 6-196, Conner Jordan 3-7, Hallman 1-(-5), Team 3-(-11).

PASSING – North Fayette Valley: Heins 14-26-1-216. Monticello: Ries 12-19-0-203.

RECEIVING – North Fayette Valley: Reichter 6-116, Germann 5-45, Bodensteiner 1-37, Team 1-10, Turner 1-8. Monticello: Prull 3-96, Schilling 3-59, Hallman 2-16, Jordan 2-16, Carson Lambert 1-10, Team 1-6.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com