For the first time in 20 years, the district football championship plaque is back at Montgomery County High School.

The Wildcats won their first district crown since 2005 after cruising to a 42-6 win over the Bowling Green Bobcats in a Class 2, District 2 championship game on Friday at Jim Blacklock Field.

MCHS improved to 9-2, won its seventh straight game and knocked off Bowling Green for the second time this season. The Wildcats beat the Bobcats by the same exact score as the district final – 42-6 – in a Week 7 game, snapping a six-game losing streak to the Pike County school.

The win advanced MCHS to the state quarterfinals against the St. Pius X Lancers in an afternoon game at St. Pius X High School, located in Crystal City. The Lancers defeated Caruthersville 28-14 in the Class 2, District 1 championship game on Friday at Caruthersville.

The winner between the Wildcats and Lancers will take on the winner of Mid-Buchanan and Monroe City in the state semifinals. MCHS lost to Monroe City 32-8 in a Week 2 game.

The Wildcats won their 12th district title in program history. Friday marked the first time since 2007 MCHS played for a district championship. Between 2008-2024, the Wildcats reached the district semifinals only twice (2013 and 2020).

Last week, the Wildcats climbed out of the district semifinal hurdle by crushing Hermann 44-7 in a district semifinal game at Jim Blacklock Field. 

Adrian Combs scored three touchdowns, Lafe McCurdy had two touchdowns and Wyatt March had a touchdown for the Wildcats, who broke the 40-point mark for the fifth time this season.

March scored a 15-yard touchdown catch with 1:36 to go in the second quarter to give MCHS a 6-0 lead. He caught Combs’ pass on fourth down and four.

MCHS scored 36 points in the second half to pull away from Bowling Green. McCurdy started the second half with a 75-yard touchdown kickoff return to increase the Wildcats’ lead to 12-0. A three-yard touchdown run by Combs and a two-point conversion with 2:18 left in the third quarter boosted the lead to 20-0.

The Wildcats got a 38-yard touchdown run by Combs, a 62-yard punt return by McCurdy and a a two-yard touchdown run by Combs in the fourth quarter to increase their lead to 42-0.

MCHS’ chance for its second shutout of the season ended in the closing minutes, when Bowling Green’s Chase Buffington scored a 64-yard touchdown run.

The Bobcats, who won district titles in each of the last four years, ended their season at 4-7. 

The Wildcats reached the nine-win mark for the first time since 2013. They haven’t lost since Week 3 against North Callaway.

MCHS was the No. 1 seed in the seven-team district tournament. The Wildcats received a quarterfinal-round bye before beating fourth-seeded Hermann and second-seeded Bowling Green to advance out of districts.

With a win over St. Pius next week. MCHS will reach the state semifinals for just the third time in program history.

The 2005 team went on to finish second in the Class 2 state tournament. It was honored during a 20th anniversary event on Oct. 24.