NORMAL - Monticello running back Koyie Williams finds an open lane during his team's state title game against Montini on Friday. Williams finished with 32 all-purpose yards in the Sages' 49-8 loss to the Broncos in the Class 3A state title game on Friday. (Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks)
Tolono - Members of the Unity football team and student fans celebrate the football team's upset victory over St. Joseph-Ogden at Hicks Field on Saturday. The Rockets advance in the Class 3A bracket to host Nashville next Saturday after defeating the Spartans, 35-7. (Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks)
St. Joseph - St. Joseph-Ogden's Brodie Harm and James Barron bring down West Frankfort quarterback Lucas Parker during their first-round IHSA playoff football game. The Spartans earned their 10th win, defeating the visiting Redbirds, 48-0. SJO advances through the bracket to face the Unity Rockets on the road next Saturday at 2pm. (Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks)
PEORIA - Unity's Ashlyn Denney runs the first lap of her run at the IHSA Cross Country State Finals in 2023. Without her at Tuesday's Illini Prairie Conference Meet, the 3X consecutive state champion Rockets still dominated the field, taking first place in the team standings with 31 points.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
TOLONO - Kicker Nick Krisman puts the pigskin through the uprights during St. Joseph-Ogden's quarterfinal playoff game at Hicks Field against Unity on November 12, 2005. The Spartans, who entered the game 10-1 and lost their earlier regular season battle 28-26, fell in another heartbreaking barnburner, 21-20 in double overtime. Unity (13-1) eventually advanced to the Class 3A title game, falling 34-7 to the Bureau Valley Storm (14-0).
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
CORRECTION: Part of the original caption for this photo was incorrect. It said, "The Spartans, who entered the game 11-0 and had shutout the Rockets 43-0 earlier in the season, fell in a heartbreaking barnburner, 18-14. Rival football nomads, SJO and Unity (9-4) played tough independent schedules that season while looking for new conferences to call home." This was incorrect. The caption above reflects the correct game and moment.
Tayton Gerdes watches the ball sails away after holding for Lucas Smith during a second-half kick-off in St. Joseph-Ogden's home game against Carterville. The Spartans, who went 5-0 after the 26-20 home victory over the Lions, travel to Bloomington to take on a 3-win, 2-loss Central Catholic team this Friday.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
St. Joseph-Ogden's Alex Acosta and Logan Mills celebrate Mills' second-half score on their way to 9-0 shutout over Illini Prairie Conference foe Central Catholic. Acosta led all scorers with four goals and one assist. Mills record four assists during SJO's home match on Tuesday, October 1.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
