ST. JOSEPH - Spartans' defensive lineman Jameson Ennis shucks off a Monticello offensive lineman J.D. Bailey trying to shutdown a drive in the second half. SJO (4-4), suffering their first three-game slide since the 2021 season, needs a win over Pontiac (2-5) this Friday if they hope to find a spot in the 2025 playoffs.
Illini Prairie Conference scores
Seneca 39, St. Joseph-Ogden 36
Unity 48, Illinois Valley Central 14
Paxton-Buckley-Loda 46, Rantoul 0
Central Catholic 48, Pontiac 21
Monticello 18, Prairie Central 14
Week 7 Results
Rank
Name
Record
Notes
1
Mike Roy
5-0
Week 8 winner!!!
2
J
4-1
5-way tie
2
Denise
4-1
5-way tie
2
Alan
4-1
5-way tie
2
Sara
4-1
5-way tie
2
Brooks Look
4-1
5-way tie
Cumulative Standings (After Week 7)
Rank
Name
Total Record
Wins
Notes
1
Brooks Look
33-7
2
Week 2 & 5 winner
2
Denise
30-10
0
2
Alan
30-10
1
Week 7 winner
4
Sara
26-9
1
Week 3 winner
5
J
25-5
2
Week 1 & 4 winner
6
Lyman
10-5
0
7
Mike Roy
10-0
2
Week 6 & 8 Winner
8
Frank
7-3
0
9
Denise J
5-0
0
New participant this week
10
Keith
3-2
0
TAGS: Illini Prairie Conference weekly football predictions, Week 9 SJO football predictions, Prairie Central Hawks football predictions this week, IHSA football prediction for the IPC
Sunday’s exhibition highlighted the Illini’s depth and pace. Illinois shot 52% overall and limited ISU to 40%, while controlling rebounds 44-29, with Ty Pence standing out as a former St. Joseph-Ogden star.
Photo: Illinois Sports Information/Danny Mattie
Illinois' David Mirkovic goes up for a shot in his debut game at State Farm Center.
CHAMPAIGN — The Fighting Illini fans barely had time to settle into their seats Sunday at State Farm Center before Illinois seized control. With a flurry of fast breaks, crisp passing, and sharp shooting, the No. 17 Illini turned a tied game into a commanding lead and never looked back, cruising to a 92-65 exhibition victory over Illinois State in front of 15,180 fans.
Illinois built an early lead with a 34-10 run midway through the first half, turning a 9-9 game into a commanding advantage they never relinquished. By halftime, the Illini were up 47-24, and although Illinois State played better in the second half, dropping 41 points, the Redbirds could not close the gap.
Four Illini scored in double figures, highlighted by freshman David Mirkovic, who recorded a double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds while adding six assists in his unofficial Illinois debut. “The first time I’ve been to this arena was two days ago,” Mirkovic said. “I felt like I’ve been here before because I watched a lot of games. The environment was great. It was louder probably than I’ve ever played in a home game. I liked it.”
Freshman Brandon Lee scored 17 points on a perfect 5-for-5 performance from the floor and went 6-for-8 from the free-throw line. Junior Zvonimir Ivisic contributed 15 points and five rebounds, while senior Kylan Boswell added 14 points, three rebounds, and six assists to match Mirkovic. Illinois shot 52% overall, including 39% from 3-point range, while controlling the glass 44-29 and limiting the Redbirds to 40% shooting.
Illinois State was led by Jack Daugherty, who finished with 16 points on 5-of-11 three-point shooting. Brandon Lieb and Tyreek Coleman each scored nine points, and former St. Joseph-Ogden standout Ty Pence contributed 8 points in 22:28 of playing time, hitting 3-of-4 from beyond the arc and grabbing two of the Redbirds’ 29 rebounds. Pence, a local product, continues to make his mark after a decorated high school career at St. Joseph-Ogden, showing glimpses of the sharpshooting and versatility that earned him attention at the collegiate level.
“I thought we got out and kept a nice pace,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. “I’m really pleased with the freshmen. It was a good start and now we have a base.”
The Illini open the 2025-26 regular season at State Farm Center on Monday, Nov. 3, against Jackson State at 7:30 p.m. CT on BTN.
TAGGED: Illinois Fighting Illini exhibition win, Ty Pence Illinois State basketball, Illinois State Redbirds game recap, David Mirkovic double-double, St. Joseph-Ogden basketball alumni, Illini basketball 2025-26 season preview
Community members rallied in Urbana as part of the No Kings Day movement, urging government accountability and defense of democracy.
URBANA - A sizeable crowd of protesters carried signs with messages including “End ICE Thuggery,” “Hate Will Not Make U GREAT,” and “No Kings in America” as they gathered in front of the Urbana Courthouse on Main Street. The peaceful two-hour protest drew close to 2,000 people, young and old, who demonstrated against the Trump administration’s attacks on health care, immigration policies, and the threat of using the military against American citizens.
Photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Protesters line Vine Street between Main and Illinois solicting honks from supporters in passing vehicles. See more photos in our photo gallery below.
Organizers said there were about 2,600 No Kings demonstrations across the country. While some government officials labeled the protests “hate America rallies,” millions of Americans marched through the streets of major cities in solidarity to show strength in numbers against a government that many feel is drifting toward authoritarianism. There were 75 such rallies scheduled to take place Saturday throughout Illinois.
While the number of rallygoers appeared smaller than the June protest in Urbana, the sentiment was the same - central Illinoisans don’t want a king. The rally’s show of unity was co-organized by the ACLU of Champaign County, ACLU of Illinois, Bend the Arc: Jewish Action Champaign-Urbana, Champaign County Democrats, Champaign-Urbana Resistance Effort (CURE), Indivisible Illinois, Indivisible Vermilion County, Illini Democrats, and Young Democratic Socialists of America.
Gabriella DalSanto, a pre-law student at the University of Illinois in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, told the assembled protesters that despite the amount of hate in the world, their individual lights continued to shine.
“Our ancestors had to fight for every single ounce of liberty and justice we are awarded today,” she said. “It is our turn to take on the fight.”
The country wouldn’t be what it is today without its melting pot of people.
Kendell Harrison, a member of Champaign County Indivisible who kicked off the series of remarks and speeches at the rally, said he was worried about the situation in today’s America.
“Even though our politicians tell us not to be worried about America, I’m worried because our nation in 2025 is still sick with racism,” he said to protesters under gray skies and comfortable fall T-shirt weather. “Just think about it - the fact that we were a nation built on a principle that all men are created equal, but yet the Supreme Court is voting right now to see if we can still have those rights.”
Harrison pointed out that America is a diverse nation of people from many races and that the country wouldn’t be what it is today without its melting pot of people from around the world.
“America, be true to what you put on paper,” he said, alluding to the statement in Declaration of Independence. “And let my people grow.”
Urbana's October 'No Kings' photo gallery
Here's 20 more photos from the Urbana 'No Kings' rally by photographer Clark Brooks.
Photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Inflatable costumes were a popular to Saturday's No Kings protest in Urbana. The costumes were first used in Portland, Oregon, protests and now have become mainstream additions in an effort to keep tensions lower and draw attention without violence.
A protestor shouts at cars pass through the intersection at Main and Vine street in Urbana. While all most two thousand assembeled in Urbana for the national protest, Springfield reportedly had nearly the same number of people at the Abraham Lincoln statue in front of the Illinois Capitol, lining the sidewalks and lawns fronting the Illinois Supreme Court building and the Illinois State Library.
Marchers walk a long Illinois Street near Lincoln Square Mall on Saturday. Forecasted showers held off until after the No Kings protest ended.
LEFT: Tracey Dougan gives the opening remarks at the No Kings protest. CENTER: Protesters applaud during speeches by guest speakers. RIGHT: Protesters young and old brought signs to wave.
Hundreds of protesters gather in front of the Champaign County Courthouse. Around the state Illinois citizens came together for peaceful protests against masked and unidentified agents detaining people, the targeting of journalists, and immigration raids targeting adults and American citizens.
LEFT:Despite a serious threat to the American way of life, protesters found a way to take away the fear through laughter. CENTER: Gabriella DalSanto gives brief remarks at the beginning of the protest. She told the audience, "I understand if your patriotism is shakened right now. The state of our nation is bleak. Our tax dollars are being used for power grabs and authoritarian rule." RIGHT: A man holds a sign with a quote from J.D. Vance that reads, "Trump is America's Hitler".
LEFT: This was the second major No Kings event since Donald Trump was sworn in as the the 47th president. Organizers mobilized around 2,000 protests across the country in June with an estimated 5 million people marching nationwide. While not a King, Trump was convicted of 34 counts of First-degree falsifying business records. CENTER: A rally-goer records a speaker during the early part of the protest. RIGHT: As with June's protest, the sound system was sufficient enough for everyone to hear invited guest speakers. Thirty to forty people lined up along Vine Street in Urbana to give public support to the cause. According to research by Harvard, no government, with one exception of the 2011 Bahrain Uprising, have withstood 3.5% of its population mobilizing against it.
A protester records a moment during the protest's march along the streets around Lincoln Square Mall and the courthouse. Meanwhile in Chicago, the big sister protest enjoyed a procession that was an estimated 2 miles long, start to finish.
LEFT: A woman holds an "I Love America" sign. Republican politicians and talking heads, fearing the 50501 Movements increasing popularity, labeled the demonstrations as "Hate America Rallies". One needed to talk to one or two participants to get a sense of how far of the GOP messaging strayed. CENTER: A couple of hip hippos walk hand-in-hand at the start of the protest march down Main St. in Urbana. RIGHT: A demonstrator carried two signs on trek through the streets of Urbana. The protest was an opportunity for CU residents who believe the Trump administration is needlessly destroying the country they love to come together in solidarity.
LEFT: Popular right-wing social media platforms were beside themselves after the rallies, pointing out that attendance across the nation was overwhelming white baby-boomers. In Urbana, demonstrators of all ages and generations were equally represented. CENTER: The rallies around the country were about more than Trump's dictatorship aspirations, but more about protecting free speech, putting a spotlight on the crackdown on immigration, and weighing in on lawmakers’ government funding discussions. RIGHT: Demonstrators elicited honks from drivers passing them on Vine Street.
Urbana No Kings protest, Illinois civil rights rallies, Champaign County activism, No Kings Day of Action Urbana, democracy protests Illinois
