The Score from The Team Roping Journal

After eight years and more than 3 million downloads, Chelsea Shaffer is handing The Score’s reins to the Team Roping Journal’s newest hire, Calli Montague.Montague, known to most as “Frank’s daughter,” grew up with a rope in her hand and engulfed in the world of team roping from the beginning. A South Texas native who now calls the Texas Panhandle home, Montague came up through West Texas A&M before landing in the American Quarter Horse Association communications department.She spent years waiting for her shot at Team Roping Journal, even after getting told she wasn’t ready the first time she asked. She listened, got to work, and came back when another opportunity presented itself in the spring of 2025.On this episode, Shaffer and Montague sit down for a proper introduction before officially passing the torch. Montague opens up about growing up going to ProRodeos, having a front-row seat to the early 2000s team roping scene, and how she found her way from a communications job to covering jackpots and rodeos full time. She talks about the weekend jackpot crowd and what being a part of it means to her career, how special it is to tell the stories of the ones entering every weekend, and just how much she loves team roping—and talking.The TRJ ladies also dig into what the next chapter of The Score looks like, including Montague’s plans to dig into the existing archives, shine a light on the weekend warriors and build the kind of relationships where guys call her first when something happens instead of the other way around.---This episode is brought to you by The Dead Horse Ranch. The Dead Horse Ranch is an elite equine facility located outside of Santa Fe, NM. The property sprawls over +\- 6,100 acres and includes multiple houses, over 100 horse stalls, an indoor arena and multiple outdoor riding areas. This unique ranch is turnkey and offers usability as well as upscale luxury. The Dead Horse Ranch is proudly offered for sale by Michael Gregory Jr. Real Estate. To see more visit thedeadhorseranch.com.

Kolton Schmidt and Jonathan Torres were back for another round win at the 2025 NFR, this time on their own.Schmidt and Torres took the Round 5 with a 3.7-second run for $36,667.95 a man Dec. 8. The win pushed Schmidt to fifth in the world with $223,776.61 and Torres to fourth with $215,510.51 on the year. Schmidt and Torres join The Short Score to break down their win.___This episode is presented by Oz On A Hot Streak, the stallion that wins everywhere he goes. AQHA World Champion. PRCA champion. Calgary champion. And now the first AQHA World Champion stallion ever to rope at the NFR. Oz breedings are $500 

The third round of the 2025 NFR was crowded at the top of the team roping with a three-way tie for first.Dawson Graham and Dillon Graham took an early lead in the round with a 3.8-second run as the second team out. Lightning Aguilera and Kaden Profili and Kolton Schmidt and Jonathan Torres joined the 3.8-second club back-to-back. All six men pocketed $29,176.65.The Short Score caught up with the Grahams, Aguilera, Profili, Schmidt and Torres after their runs.___This episode of The Short Score is presented by Oz On A Hot Streak, the stallion who brings the same run every time. AQHA World Champion. Major rodeo winner. And the first AQHA World Champion stallion ever to rope at the NFR. Oz breedings are $500 off during the entire NFR. Lock

The first team out of the 2025 NFR took top honors in the team roping with Lightning Aguilera and Kaden Profili stunning the field.The pair of two-time NFR qualifiers set the pace with a 4.0-second run that stayed No. 1 for the remaining 14 teams. Aguilera and Profili pocketed $36,667.95 apiece to bump them to No. 8 and 7 in the world with $161,403.70 and $160,203.50, respectively. The round was a first for Aguilera and a second for Profili, and they join The Short Score to break down their win.__This episode is brought to you by Oz Ona Hot Streak, the 2015 grey stallion rewriting what a rope horse can do. Oz is the 2019 AQHA Junior Heading World Champion, a top-ten heeler the same year, and now the first AQHA World Champion stallion ever to compete at the NFR. Dec. 4, is officially National Oz Day, and Solo Select is celebrating with a Buy-One-Get-One breeding special, today only. Starting tomorrow Dec. 5, mare owners get $500 off every Oz breeding during the NFR. Lock your contract in at SoloSelectHorses.com or by calling Madison at 940-580-0156.

Clint Summers' Mr Joes Shadow Bar and Coleby Payne's Cut Off My Spots are the 2025 Nutrena Head and Heel Horses of the Year, presented by AQHA. This is Mr Joes Shadow Bar's second award and Cut Off My Spots first. ---This episode is presented by Fast Back Ropes. For close to thirty years Fast Back Ropes has been developing best selling ropes by listening to our customers. Fast Back offers a variety of ropes with a size, weight and style to fit every team roper.

In December 2025, Lightning Aguilera will back in the box for his second NFR, three years after his first qualification.The Florida transplant finished the regular season No. 15 in the PRCA world standings with $114,735.75 won on the year after battling it out near the bubble the last month of the season. On this episode of The Score, Aguilera talks about his 2025 season, returning to the Thomas & Mack and how he's preparing for his second NFR.Lightning Aguilera: From South Florida to San AntonioLightning Aguilera’s Jess A Moose is 2022’s Head Horse of the YearWithin Reach: Aguilera’s Team Roping Roots and AspirationsBrought to you by: The Hombre head rope from Fast Back Ropes—small, light, and built for performance. Available at fastbackropes.com or by calling (817) 279-1851.MORE FROM THE SCOREThe Short Score: 2025 Riata ChampionshipsFinally: The Score's Head Horse of the Year EpisodeThe $465K Added Solo Select Stallion Incentive FuturityWho Deserves the 2025 AQHA/PRCA Heel Horse of the Year Award?Ride Registered: Stressman and Canida of AQHA Talk Team Roping and Registered Horses on The Score