845 Program Watch • Week 5 follow-up
Monticello opened 2026 with four losses and no points. Two games later, the Panthers have two wins, 46 points and a different question to answer: can they keep this going against the next part of the schedule?
Friday’s 22–8 win at Poughkeepsie followed last week’s 24–22 victory at Liberty. Monticello is 2–4. The first breakthrough now has a second result behind it.
The change is clear on both sides of the score
| Stretch | Record | Points scored | Points allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First four games | 0–4 | 0 | 171 |
| Last two games | 2–0 | 46 | 30 |
The first four opponents were Burke Catholic, FDR, Goshen and Wallkill. Liberty and Poughkeepsie were different tests, and that matters when evaluating the turnaround. Still, Monticello had to finish both opportunities. It did.
The Liberty win came by two points. Friday’s margin was 14, with Poughkeepsie held to eight. That gives the Panthers something more substantial to build on than simply having escaped the winless column.
Why Friday mattered to this program
In our pregame look at Monticello–Poughkeepsie, the focus was on what a win could mean for two programs trying to move forward. Monticello leaves with consecutive wins. Poughkeepsie remains 0–6.
For Monticello, the next measure is consistency. Can the Panthers produce enough offense again? Can they keep the opponent’s scoring down? The recent scores show progress; the coming games will show how far it carries.
Saugerties is next — Thursday, not Friday
Monticello visits Saugerties on Thursday, October 15, at 3:30 p.m., according to the current schedule. The Sawyers are 2–3 after Thursday’s 49–6 loss to unbeaten Beacon.
That is an opportunity for Monticello to build a third win and for Saugerties to respond to a difficult stretch. Neither team can assume the last result settles the next one.
After Saugerties, Monticello’s remaining scheduled road games are Dover on October 22 and Rondout Valley on October 30. The Panthers have given the rest of their season a reason to be followed.
Monticello–Saugerties Game Center → · Monticello team page → · Full Friday wrap →
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