Unity wins volleyball regional championship, faces BCC next at sectional

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

ST. JOSEPH - Unity student fans rush the floor after the Rockets defeated regional host St. Joseph-Ogden in an exciting three-set affair in Tuesday's Class 2A semifinal match. Two days later, fans had another reason to celebrate after Unity defeated Westville in straight sets 25-22, 25-15. The Rockets advance to the Clinton sectional semifinal to face Illini Prairie Conference foe Bloomington Central Catholic at 6 p.m. this Tuesday.

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More match photos

Claire Meharry celebrate her kill for the Rockets in set two. Unity trailed by as many as four points early in the set, finally tying the contest at 12-all. The two Illini Prairie Conference foes would knot the score five more times until the Rockets scored four unanswered points from a 21-21 score late in set.

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LEFT: Emily Osterbur sets the ball for the Rockets. After losing the first set 25-14, Osterbur's passing was a critical factor in Unity's second set rally. MIDDLE: Trying to erase a three-point deficit on the scoreboard, senior Jillian Schlittler serves midway in Set 2. RIGHT: Unity head coach Leah Luchinski gives instructions to her front row players after her team narrows the gap on the scoreboard.

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Deri Behm, the bench and student fans celebrate a critical point for the Rockets. Behm is one of eight seniors on this season's Unity volleyball squad.

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LEFT: Jillian Schlittler keeps the ball in play for the Rockets. Unity fought back after a slow start to take command of the match, taking set two from the Spartans, 25-21. MIDDLE: Unity fans sat on the edge of their seats as Rockets fought valiantly to hold off St. Joseph-Ogden's mini-rally to the score at 19-all as Schlittler makes a pass to their outside hitter. RIGHT: Schlittler back sets to middle hitter to start a four-point run. After tying the match 1-all with a 25-21 second set victory, the Rockets hit their stride to take the second 25-22, eliminating rival St. Joseph-Ogden from the postseason.

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SJO wins 'Senior Night' game with 56-21 win over Pontiac

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

ST. JOSEPH - Spartan running back Wyatt Wertz gets a solid block from teammate Willis Canamore during first half action against visiting Pontiac (2-7). Despite a couple of scares, St. Joseph-Ogden (5-4) two TDs in each quarter on the way to defeating the Indians 56-21. Wertz finished the night with 180 yards rushing and 13 more from two pass receptions. SJO must now wait to see if they made the playoff cut and who will be their first-round opponent.

Week 8 IHSA football scores from around the state

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

URBANA - Urbana's Marquan Dunn looks to throw a deep pass during the Tigers' 2025 opener against St. Teresa. Facing Peoria Manual for their Senior Night opponent, the Urbana football program won their first game since the fall of 2021, beating the Rams big, 42-26.

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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

Big Twelve Conference scores

Peoria 42, Bloomington 14
Normal West 34, Champaign Central 14
Normal Community 56, Champaign Centennial 6
Danville 41, Richwoods 22
Urbana 42, Peoria Manual 26

Scores from around the state

Civic Memorial 21, Jersey 7
Waterloo 21, Triad 14
Highland 13, Mascoutah 10
Roxana 55, East Alton-Wood River 0
Breese Central 41, Columbia 8
Freeburg 45, Salem 18
Carlinville 35, Hillsboro 28
Staunton 27, Gillespie 8
Greenville 42, Southwestern 13
Vandalia 49, North Mac 0
Pana 63, Litchfield 21
Greenfield 35, Concord Triopia 12
Brown County 63, North Greene 0
West Central 58, Mendon Unity 50
Camp Point Central 60, Pleasant Hill 8
St. Louis St. Mary’s 23, Belleville Althoff 0
Cahokia 34, Collinsville 14
Doniphan (Mo.) 21, Granite City 13
Breese Mater Dei 65, Decatur St. Teresa 39
Chester 42, Red Bud 18
Wesclin 34, Carlyle 0
Dupo 29, Sparta 23
Amboy 68, West Prairie 8
Andrew 47, DeKalb 28
Annawan-Wethersfield 42, ROWVA-Williamsfield 6
Arlington Heights Hersey 38, Mt Prospect Prospect 34
Athens 29, New Berlin 27
Aurora Christian 28, Wheaton Academy 27
Barrington 42, Schaumburg 0
Batavia 31, St Charles East 13
Benton 56, Pinckneyville 7
Bradley-Bourbonnais 35, Lincoln Way West 13
Brother Rice 48, St. Laurence 6
Byron 77, Rockford Lutheran 0
Carterville 28, Murphysboro 7
Cary-Grove 40, Hampshire 7
Central 41, Crystal Lake Central 6
Central 44, Iroquois West 8
Central 60, Pleasant Hill 8
Centralia 48, Mt Vernon 44
Coal City 56, Herscher 7
Crete-Monee 52, Bloom 7
Danville 41, Richwoods 22
Deer Creek-Mackinaw 28, Lexington 19
Dixon 65, Streator 0
Downers Grove South 42, Leyden 3
Du Quoin 28, Nashville 18
Effingham 36, Mattoon 16
Elk Grove 10, Buffalo Grove 4
Erie-Prophetstown 27, Mendota 14
Fairfield 56, Christopher 12
Flanagan-Cornell 42, Peoria Heights 30
Flora 39, Hamilton County 23
Fremd 23, Palatine 13
Galena 46, Dakota 6
Galva 50, Ridgewood 44
Genoa-Kingston 62, Rock Falls 6
Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 34, Fieldcrest 6
Glenbard East 21, Glenbard South 14
Glenwood 35, Sacred Heart-Griffin 31
Grant 54, Grayslake Central 20
Harrisburg 14, Herrin 7
Heyworth 30, Tuscola 14
Homewood-Flossmoor 29, Naperville Central 10
Huntley 48, McHenry 36
Illini West 42, United 22
Jacksonville 36, MacArthur 33
Johnsburg 24, Woodstock 21
Joliet West 31, Plainfield Central 7
Kaneland 23, La Salle-Peru 21
Lakes 35, Grayslake North 0
Libertyville 31, Lake Forest 6
Lincoln Way Central 37, Aurora Waubonsie Valley 3
Lockport 34, Aurora Metea Valley 21
Lyons 24, Downers Grove North 20
Macomb 42, Elmwood 13
Mahomet-Seymour 49, Charleston 0
Manteno 25, Peotone 20
Marion 39, Carbondale 35
Marist 51, Aurora Marmion 6
Metamora 63, East Peoria 20
Milledgeville 54, Alden-Hebron 22
Momence 44, Watseka 19
Monticello 18, Prairie Central 14
Morris 50, Sycamore 10
Morrison 31, Fulton 21
Morton 20, Dunlap 19
Mt. Carmel 35, Marshall 0
Naperville North 14, Lincoln-Way East 6
Nazareth 42, Benet 14
Newton 34, Lawrenceville 20
Oakwood 28, Salt Fork 7
Olney 28, Casey-Westfield 27
Olympia 54, Pleasant Plains 13
Orangeville 56, Christian Life 29
Oswego 33, Oswego East 21
PORTA 38, Riverton 8
Paris 41, Robinson 19
Pawnee 21, Metro-East Lutheran 20
Paxton-Buckley-Loda 46, Rantoul 0
Peoria 42, Bloomington 20
Peoria Notre Dame 47, St Bede 13
Pittsfield 34, Auburn 21
Plainfield South 49, Joliet Central 0
Polo 54, Kirkland Hiawatha 14
Princeville 48, Stark County 7
Providence 48, Marian Catholic 13
Richards 54, Lemont 27
Richmond-Burton 42, Marengo 13
Ridgewood 35, Bensenville Fenton 27
Riverdale 34, Hall 25
Riverside-Brookfield 31, West Chicago 14
Rochelle 42, Ottawa 3
Rochester 55, Springfield 10
Rock Island 41, Galesburg 6
Rockridge 48, Monmouth-Roseville 12
Rolling Meadows 63, Wheeling 0
Sandburg 24, Neuqua Valley 21
Saxony Lutheran, Mo. 42, Massac County 27
Seneca 39, St Joseph-Ogden 36
Sesser-Valier 24, Eldorado 20
St Charles North 31, Glenbard North 20
St. Francis 35, DePaul 14
Sterling 38, Quincy 17
Stockton 18, Durand-Pecatonica 14
T.F. North 31, T.F. South 12
Tri-Valley 50, Shelbyville 6
Unity 48, Illinois Valley Central 14
University 50, Southeast 14
Urbana 42, Manual 26
Vernon Hills 14, Maine West 7
Warren 27, Lake Zurich 17
Washington 48, Canton 12
Wauconda 25, Antioch 20
West Carroll 41, South Beloit 22
West Central 59, Bushnell-Prairie City 36
West Hancock 48, Bureau Valley 12
Westville 59, Hoopeston 0
Wheaton North 21, Geneva 20
Wilmington 54, Reed-Custer 6
York 21, Glenbard West 20

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TAGS: Illinois high school football scores in October, Week 8 IHSA football results, Urbana wins first game in two years, SJO loses tight game to Seneca on the road, Wilmington crushes Reed-Custer

You pick 'em, make your Week 8 Illini Prairie Conference football predictions

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

BLOOMINGTON - St. Joseph-Ogden's Will Franklin tries to fight his way through the Central Catholic offensive line to get to ball carrier Valshun Powe during the first quarter of their conference game last Friday. The Spartans fell 67-28, dropping to 4-3 on the season. SJO looks to rebound this week at Seneca to secure their fifth win for a possible playoff bid.

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Illini Prairie Conference scores

Central Catholic 67, St Joseph-Ogden 28
Illinois Valley Central 28, Rock Falls 0
Monticello 27, Pontiac 6
Prairie Central 40, Rantoul 6
Unity 47, Paxton-Buckley-Loda 0

Week 7 Results

Rank	Name	Record	Notes
1	Alan	5-0	Week 7 winner via tiebreak!!!
2	J	5-0	3-way tie
2	Denise	5-0	3-way tie
2	Denise J	5-0	3-way tie
5	Sara	4-1	2-way tie
5	Brooks Look	4-1	2-way tie

Cumulative Standings (After Week 7)

Rank	Name	Total Record	Wins	Notes
1	Brooks Look	29-6	2	Week 2 & 5 winner
2	Denise	26-9	0
2	Alan	26-9	1	Week 7 winner
4	Sara	22-8	1	Week 3 winner
5	J	21-4	2	Week 1 & 4 winner
6	Lyman	10-5	0
7	Frank	7-3	0
8	Denise J	5-0	0	New participant this week
8	Mike Roy	5-0	1	Week 6 Winner!
10	Keith	3-2	0

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TAGS: Illini Prairie Conference weekly football predictions, Week 8 Unity football predictions, Rantoul football predictions this week, IHSA football predictions in Central Illinois

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Photo Gallery |St. Joseph-Ogden suffers homecoming loss to Monticello

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The visiting Sages rally in the second half to spoil Spartans' homecoming weekend. Here's 20 photos from Friday night's Week 6 Illini Prairie game.

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First half | The Big Play: Kaden Wedig hauls in a pass on 42-yard touchdown play for St. Joseph-Ogden in Friday night's homecoming game against Monticello. Going up 21-7, it would be the last time the Spartans would be able to put the ball in the end zone. The Sages would go on to score three times in the second half to defeat SJO 28-21 in the Illini Prairie Conference game. After the contest, both teams need just two wins for a guaranteed spot in this year's IHSA football championships. See 19 more photso from this game below.

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Tim Blackburn-Kelley and Willis Canamore break through the Spartan banner during team introductions before the start of the game. Blackburn-Kelley finished the Week 6 game with three catches for 21 yards.

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Brennan Oleynichak lifts quarterback Kodey McKinney to celebrate the Spartans' first TD of the game against the Sages. The senior signal caller scored two of SJO's three touchdowns, finishing the game with 68 rushing and 230 passing yards in the home loss.

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SJO junior Jackson Ennis and Monticello's J.D. Bailey battle on the line of scrimmage in the first half.

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Monticello's Nolan Buehnerkemper finds an open receiver to throw to during first quarter action against the Spartans. After scoring on a 1-yard blast into the end zone with 13 seconds left in the first quarter, he added two more touchdowns to the Sages' side of the scoreboard in the third quarter on runs of 5 and 2-yards.

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Spartans' Coy Hayes tries to get around Sages' Will Osborne to make a tackle during the game.

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Monticello's Maddox Utley takes a handoff from quarterback Nolan Buehnerkemper during second half action against the St. Joseph-Ogden. Utley finished the game with 118 of the Sages' 167 rushing yards to help his team improve to 4-2 on the season.

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Monticello lineman J.D. Bailey celebrates with Nolan Buehnerkemper after the quarterback's touchdown, making the score 21-6 in the first quarter.

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Monticello lineman Nate Darnell tries block St. Joseph-Ogden defensive lineman Liam Carter who was blitzing on the play. Darnell was called for holding moving the ball behind the original line of scrimmage.

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With only one player between him and a touchdown St. Joseph-Ogden's Logan Umbarger carries the ball for a first down in the second quarter. Defensive back Nolan Buehnerkemper made the stop for the Sages. Umbarger, a sophomore, finished the game with 30 yards on seven carries for SJO.

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More about... Kodey McKinney Jackson Ennis Coy HayesLogan Umbarger

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St. Joseph-Ogden High School inducted four new members into their Hall of Fame. This year's inductees honored at halftime included (left to right) Bobbi (Duval) Busboom, Morgan (Finn) Gooding, Bianca (Truitt) Green, and former principal Mike McKenzie.

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A clarinet player from the SJO Marching Band performs during the halftime show.

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Keeping the beat, a St. Joseph-Ogden percussionist stays focused during the halftime performance.

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A marching band flag team member performs during halftime, adding color and precision to the show.

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SJO marching band flag team members add color and excitement during the final song of halftime.

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A St. Joseph-Ogden fan smiles as fans sing the school song with the band after halftime.

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St. Joseph-Ogden football fans and family clap during the school song before the second half.

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Monticello's Maddox Utley losses the ball after running into a wall of Spartan defenders. Maddux Musselman (not pictured) recovered the ball, but officials blew the whistle, ruling the ball dead before it slipped from Utley's grasp.

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Playing on the defensive side of the ball, Spartan Jameson Ennis quickly works his way around Sages' J.D. Bailey while trying to get into the Monticello backfield.

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4th Quarter | The Final Blow: Monticello's Maddox Utley avoids a tackle attempt by Lane McKinney. After slipping away, Utley took the ball 48 yards down the field for the go-ahead, game-winning touchdown with 7:24 left to play in the ball game.

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What to see more photos?

Ask here for more great photos from this game.

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TAGS: St. Joseph-Ogden football photos, Monticello Sages football, Illini Prairie Conference Week 6, high school football photography, SJO homecoming 2025, Maddox Utley Monticello, Kodey McKinney SJO quarterback, Central Illinois prep football, The Sentinel sports gallery, SJO marching band halftime

Illinois high school football scores for Week 6

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

ST. JOSEPH - Monticello's Nolan Buehnerkemper pummels his way into the end zone through and SJO linebacker for a touchdown with 8:52 left in the third quarter. Cutting St. Joseph-Ogden's 21-7 first-half lead by seven, the Sages added two additional scores on the way to 28-21 win. Both teams finished the game 4-2 and need two more wins for guaranteed playoff spot. The Spartans hit the road to Bloomington to face undefeated Central Catholic while Monticello hosts the Pontiac Indians (2-4).

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Illini Prairie Conference scores

Unity 46, Prairie Centdral 7
Paxton-Buckley-Loda 38, Illinois Valley Central 30
Pontiac 42, Rantoul 22
Monticello 28, St. Joseph-Ogden 21
Central Catholic 61, St. Teresa 21

Big Twelve Conference scores

Normal Community 56, Bloomington 42
Champaign Centennial 0, Urbana 0
Champaign Central 0, Danville 0
Peoria 80, Richwoods 30
Peoria Notre Dame 67, Peoria Manual 24
Normal West 40, Waubonseie Valley 35

Scores from around the state

Abingdon-Avon 34, Astoria South Fulton 27
Addison Trail 46, Leyden 6
Albion Edwards County 14, Hamilton County 13
Algonquin Jacobs 27, Crystal Lake Central 21
Amboy 68, Peoria Heights 0
Andrew 56, Stagg 6
Annawan-Wethersfield 48, Stark County 7
Antioch 62, North Chicago 12
Arlington Heights Hersey 54, Elk Grove 14
Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond 48, Arcola 6
Aurora Christian 26, Christ the King 0
Aurora West Aurora 49, Ridgewood 0
Barrington 42, Hoffman Estates Conant 14
Bartlett 41, Aurora East 2
Batavia 24, Geneva 21, OT
Benton 34, Nashville 24
Byron 42, Durand-Pecatonica 14
Carterville 39, Harrisburg 0
Cary-Grove 46, Dundee-Crown 27
Central 27, Brown County 6
Central 42, McHenry 13
Central Catholic 61, St Teresa 21
Centralia 55, Marion 28
Chicago Christian 45, St Edward 0
Christopher 36, Red Hill 28
Coal City 55, Manteno 0
Cumberland 41, Sangamon Valley 19
DePaul 36, Arlington Heights St. Viator 7
Deerfield 24, Glenbrook North 2
Dixon 55, Stillman Valley 0
Downers Grove North 21, Oak Park-River Forest 0
Downers Grove South 57, Proviso East 6
Du Quoin 30, Frankfort 28, OT
Dunlap 56, Canton 21
El Paso-Gridley 38, Tremont 6
Elgin 43, Larkin 21
Erie-Prophetstown 42, Riverdale 36
Farmington 30, Macomb 16
Fremd 35, Hoffman Estates 13
Fulton 55, Dakota 14
Geneseo 38, Galesburg 20
Genoa-Kingston 63, Lutheran 14
Glenbard East 49, Bensenville Fenton 0
Glenbard North 41, Lake Park 23
Glenbrook South 18, Evanston 6
Glenwood 42, University 0
Grayslake Central 28, Grayslake North 6
Herscher 28, Streator 14
Hope 28, Wheaton Academy 21
ICCP 35, St. Francis 28
Johnston City 46, Fairfield 22
Joliet Catholic 16, Notre Dame 7
Kaneland 34, Sycamore 14
Knoxville 32, Illini West 22
La Salle-Peru 28, Ottawa 14
Lake Zurich 31, Zion Benton 0
Lanark Eastland-Pearl City 51, Forreston 24
Le Roy 42, Fisher 14
Lena-Winslow 46, Morrison 7
Leo 46, De La Salle 13
Lift for Life Academy, Mo. 46, Murphysboro 34
Lincoln Way Central 28, Bradley-Bourbonnais 20
Lincoln Way West 52, DeKalb 21
Lincoln-Way East 42, Aurora Metea Valley 6
Lockport 14, Naperville Central 7, OT
MacArthur 61, Lincoln 20
Mahomet-Seymour 49, Effingham 7
Maine South 35, New Trier 7
Marian Catholic 34, Aurora Marmion Academy 20
Maroa-Forsyth 46, Pittsfield 6
Massac County 35, Herrin 20
Mendota 45, Kewanee 13
Metamora 37, Pekin 13
Milledgeville 54, West Carroll 28
Minooka 74, Plainfield Central 7
Monticello 28, St Joseph-Ogden 21
Morris 37, Rochelle 14
Mt Carmel 27, Brother Rice 14
Mt Prospect 70, Wheeling 19
Mt Zion 70, Charleston 0
Naperville North 36, Sandburg 35
Neuqua Valley 42, Homewood-Flossmoor 27
New Berlin 48, Olympia 32
Normal West 40, Aurora Waubonsie Valley 35
Olney 42, Mt. Carmel 26
Oswego 48, Joliet West 6
Oswego East 51, Romeoville 6
PORTA 44, Auburn 20
Palatine 49, Schaumburg 14
Paris 34, Newton 21
Paxton-Buckley-Loda 38, Illinois Valley Central 30
Pinckneyville 27, Anna-Jonesboro 0
Pleasant Plains 32, Riverton 16
Polo 54, Orangeville 8
Pontiac 42, Rantoul 22
Prairie Ridge 35, Huntley 34
Princeton 28, Hall 12
Princeville 42, ROWVA-Williamsfield 8
Quincy 23, East Moline United 21
Reed-Custer 31, Peotone 28
Richards 55, Argo 6
Ridgeview 17, Warrensburg-Latham 0
River Ridge 52, Ashton-Franklin Center 12
Riverside-Brookfield 21, Glenbard South 17
Robinson 39, Lawrenceville 19
Rockridge 50, Orion 7
Rolling Meadows 59, Buffalo Grove 27
Rushville-Industry 54, United 18
Salt Fork 16, Momence 14
Seneca 43, Ottawa Marquette 26
Sesser-Valier 38, Carmi-White County 6
Shelbyville 20, Eureka 17
South Beloit 49, Alden-Hebron 7
South Fork 58, Metro-East Lutheran 50
Springfield 28, Jacksonville 17
St Anne 54, Unity Christian 12
St Charles North 24, St Charles East 13
St Patrick 46, Benet 24
Stevenson 24, Lake Forest 7
Stockton 30, Galena 12
Taylorville 50, Mattoon 6
Tri-Valley 56, Clinton 6
Triopia 38, Beardstown 13
Tuscola 35, Central A&M 14
Unity 46, Prairie Central 7
Vernon Hills 42, Maine East 0
Villa Grove/Heritage 14, Argenta (A.-Oreana) 10
Washington 56, East Peoria 0
Wauconda 43, Grant 39
West Central 26, Galva 18
West Chicago 61, Elmwood Park 6
West Hancock 42, Elmwood 34
Westville 37, Central 14
Wheaton Warrenville South 14, Wheaton North 0
Williamsville 45, Athens 14
Willowbrook 48, Berwyn-Cicero Morton 6
Wilmington 47, Thornton 0
York 28, Hinsdale Central 18

Unity girls golf team finishes 6th at first IPC golf conference meet

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Unity placed sixth, led by Claire Zorns’ 99, their first conference golf tournament. Monticello set a school record to win the IPC Girls Golf Tournament at Wolf Creek with a 330.

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PONTIAC - The Unity Rockets girls golf team showed determination and grit at the Illini Prairie Conference Tournament on Tuesday at Wolf Creek Golf Course. Facing the league's toughest competition in their first conference meet appearance with 31 players ready to make their mark on the links, Unity finished sixth with a team score of 445.

Leading the Rockets was Claire Zorns, who carded a 99 to place 17th overall. Teammates Olivia Witheft and Olivia Styan each shot 113, with Haley Ennis (120), Ellery Merkle (122) and Addison Mohr (124) contributing to the team’s total. Each player gained valuable experience competing against some of the top golfers in the small school division.

While Monticello captured the team championship with a record-breaking 330 and junior Cate Sanders earned individual medalist honors with a 75, Unity’s focus remained on the progress of its own roster. St. Thomas More and Bloomington Central Catholic rounded out the top three teams, demonstrating the depth of the Illini Prairie Conference.

Final Team Standings

1. Monticello                  330
2. Bloomington Central Catholic 333
3. St. Thomas More             376
4. Prairie Central             403
5. Pontiac                     408
6. Unity                       445
7. Rantoul                     349

Top 10 Individual Finishers

1.  Cate Sanders, Monticello                  75
2.  Caroline Braucht, Central Catholic        76
3.  Sydney Braucht, Central Catholic          82
3.  Maddie Bradbury, Central Catholic         82
5.  Rachel Ross, Monticello                   84
6.  Isabella Beery, Monticello                85
7.  Taylor Wells, St. Thomas More             86
8.  Claire Foster, Monticello                 86
9.  Jenika Biggs, St. Thomas More             90
10. Ella Farrell, Prairie Central             92

Unity Results

17. Claire Zorns       99
27. Olivia Witheft     113
28. Olivia Styan       113
32. Haley Ennis        120
33. Ellery Merkle      122
35. Addison Mohr       124

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TAGGED: Unity girls golf 2025, Illini Prairie Conference girls golf results, Monticello IPC golf champions, Wolf Creek Pontiac golf tournament, Unity Rockets golf team standings

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Spartans blank Rockets 7-0, pushing season record to 17-0

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St. Joseph-Ogden rolled past Unity 7-0 for its 17th straight win, extending its shutout dominance so far this season.

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Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Hunter Cler settles the ball during the Spartans' home match on Saturday against IVC. Cler delivered two goals in St. Joseph-Ogden's game against Unity on Tuesday.

ST. JOSEPH - The St. Joseph-Ogden soccer team rumbled to a 5-0 first half start against visiting Unity on Tuesday. Adding two more goals in the second frame, the Spartans defeated the Rockets 7-0 in Illini Prairie Conference play at Dick Duval Field.

Hunter Cler opened the scoring with a finish off a Lucas Stevens pass, and the goals came quickly after that. Tyler Hess buried one, Cler struck again—again with Stevens providing the setup—and Stevens himself joined the party with a goal of his own. Before halftime, Zach Harper dished an assist to Skyler Graham, who closed the first-half scoring with the Spartans up 5-0.

The second half played out much the same way. Harper found the net and later turned provider again, assisting Waylon Jones to close out SJO’s seven-goal shutout win.

The victory only added to a remarkable run under head coach Chris Stevens, who has led the Spartans to 55 wins against just 11 losses in his two and a half seasons at the helm. Ranked by both the Associated Press and MaxPreps, the Spartans are a perfect 17-0 this fall. For context, the Illinois high school record for consecutive wins belongs to New Trier, which strung together 88 victories between 2002 and 2005. While SJO isn’t there yet, the streak has put them in rare company.

Even more eye-catching than the win-loss column is the team’s defensive dominance. Tuesday’s clean sheet was their 12th of the season, and between August 29 and September 18 they stacked nine straight to enter the IHSA’s consecutive shutouts list. The Spartans have scored 98 goals so far this season while surrendering just seven—yes, you can still count them all on two hands.

SJO’s schedule doesn’t slow down. They’ll host Georgetown-Ridge Farm-Westville on Sept. 27, face Danville in a non-conference match on Sept. 29, and return to league play Oct. 1 at St. Thomas More. Four more regular season games remain before the Spartans turn their focus toward postseason play.

For Unity, the night was another tough outing. The Rockets fell to 1-5-2 overall and 0-2 in the Illini Prairie. They’ll travel to Rantoul on Sept. 25 and then host Illinois Valley Central Saturday morning at 10 a.m.

Box Score

Scoring Summary
St. Joseph-Ogden 7, Unity 0

First Half
SJO – Hunter Cler (assist Lucas Stevens)
SJO – Tyler Hess
SJO – Hunter Cler (assist Lucas Stevens)
SJO – Lucas Stevens
SJO – Skyler Graham (assist Zach Harper)

Second Half
SJO – Zach Harper
SJO – Waylon Jones (assist Zach Harper)

Team Records
St. Joseph-Ogden: 17-0 (2-0 IPC)
Unity: 1-5-2 (0-2 IPC)

More sports news & photos
St. Joseph-Ogden Athletics | Unity Athletics | Illini Prairie Sports

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TAGS: St. Joseph-Ogden soccer 2025 season, Unity Rockets vs SJO soccer recap, Illini Prairie Conference boys soccer scores, Illinois high school soccer shutouts, unbeaten high school soccer teams Illinois

Locked in after loss to BCC, Unity defeats St. Joseph-Ogden 40-10

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Crewe Eckstein (left) and Tre Hoggard (left) celebrate with Josh Heath in the end zone at Dick Duval Field after piling points on the scoreboard against St. Joseph-Ogden. The Rockets won the regular season contest 40-10, tying for second with SJO in Illini Prairie Conference with three wins and one loss. Next up, Unity hosts Pontiac for their 2025 homecoming game next Friday at Hicks Field.

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More sports news & photos
St. Joseph-Ogden Athletics | Unity Athletics | Illini Prairie Sports

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SJO places fourth at IPC golf tournament, Prairie Central wins team title

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Strong finish for SJO — Spartans take 4th at Illini Prairie tourney with 343 strokes. Pruemer leads SJO with 11th-place finish 11 over par.

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PONTIAC - St. Joseph-Ogden turned in a steady team performance to finish fourth at the 2025 Illini Prairie Conference Golf Tournament on Monday at Wolf Creek Golf Course. The Spartans posted a team score of 343, just behind third-place Bloomington Central Catholic at 332 and runner-up Monticello at 327. Prairie Central captured the conference championship with a team total of 322 strokes.

Saints' Vaughn Oakey led the field with an even-par 72, claiming the individual title. Sages’s Max Henrard and Prairie Central’s Easton Friedman tied for second with rounds of 73. St. Thomas More’s Wyatt Kirby carded a 75 to finish fourth overall.

SJO was paced by senior Asher Pruemer, who fired an 83 to finish in a four-way tie for 10th place, dropping to 11th thanks to a tie-breaker. Teammate Trevor Ames followed with an 84, while Garrett Loschen and Devan Swisher each shot 88. Graham Ray (94) and Nathan Daly (103) rounded out the Spartan lineup.

Team Leaderboard (Top 5)

1. Prairie Central                322
2. Monticello                     327
3. Bloomington Central Catholic   332
4. St. Joseph-Ogden               343
5. St. Thomas More                348

Top 10 Individual Finishers

1. Vaughn Oakey, Bloomington Central Catholic   72
2. Max Henrard, Monticello                      73
2. Easton Friedman, Prairie Central             73
4. Wyatt Kirby, St. Thomas More                 75
5. Cayden Masching, Pontiac                     77
6. Tyler Clarkson, St. Thomas More              79
7. Kaleb Hendrix, Monticello                    81
8. Keller Schrock, Illinois Valley Central      82
8. Tucker Stoller, Prairie Central              82
10. Spencer Stockwill, Rantoul                  83
11. Asher Pruemer, St. Joseph-Ogden             83

St. Joseph-Ogden Scores

Asher Pruemer     83
Trevor Ames       84
Garrett Loschen   88
Devan Swisher     88
Graham Ray        94
Nathan Daly      103
Team Total: 343 (4th place)

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Illini Prairie Conference golf results, St. Joseph-Ogden golf tournament finish, Prairie Central golf team 2025, Wolf Creek Pontiac golf IHSA, Illinois high school golf conference championship

Friday Night Forecast |Week 4 Illini Prairie Conference football predictions

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It is time for another week of IPC football predictions in The Sentinel’s weekly Friday Night Forecast.

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Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden's Cameron Wagner provides pass protection during a play in last year's home game against Unity. The Rockets are back at Dick Duval Field for this year's Illini Prairie Conference regular season football game.

URBANA - Each week, we invite Illini Prairie Conference fans to predict the winners from conference matchups. New experts are welcome every week. Here what the team of experts say this week.

Week 4 predictions

Illini Prairie Game of the Week

Prairie Central (2-1)
vs Paxton-Buckley-Loda (1-2)

Sara: Paxton-Buckley-Loda .::. 24-21
Alan: Paxton-Buckley-Loda .::. 24-21
J: Paxton-Buckley-Loda .::. 35-14
Lyman: Paxton-Buckley-Loda .::. 34-27
Denise: Prairie Central .::. 27-14

Brooks Look: Last week, Prairie Central proved it could contain St. Teresa's balance attack when it needed it most. Despite allowing 407 yards, the Hawks walked away with a 14-13 win in the non-conference game last Saturday. Meanwhile, PBL quarterback Sam Hall threw 11 passes for 265 yards and six - yes, six TD passes in last week's game against Pontiac. The Panthers' star running back Mason Vaughan average 6.9 yards a carry for 125 yards. If the Paxton-Buckley-Loda's defense can bring their A-game this week, they'll have have win #2 in their back pocket.

Paxton-Buckley-Loda 27, Prairie Central 14

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Monticello (2-1) @ St. Teresa (1-2)

Sara: St. Teresa .::. 27-24
Alan: Monticello .::. 28-14
J: Monticello .::. 35-14
Lyman: Monticello .::. 21-7
Denise: Monticello .::. 24-10

Brooks Look: This is an exciting football match-up that will be worth twice the price of admission. The question: Can the Sages shutdown the Bulldogs' offense on their home field? This has all the markings of an overtime win for St. T in Monticello.

St. Teresa 28, Monticello 21

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Pontiac (0-3) vs Illinois Valley Central (0-3)

Sara: Illinois Valley Central .::. 32-13
Alan: Illinois Valley Central .::. 35-13
J: Pontiac .::. 22-12
Lyman: Pontiac .::. 7-0
Denise: Pontiac .::. 14-6

Brooks Look: Easy choice here. After putting up a season-high 22 points on PBL last week, Pontiac comes out on top in this pairing with their first win of the season.

Pontiac 24, Illinois Valley Central 13

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Rantoul (0-3) @ Central Catholic (3-0)

Sara: Central Catholic .::. 50-6
Alan: Central Catholic .::. 42-6
J: Central Catholic .::. 41-0
Lyman: Central Catholic .::. 56-0
Denise: Central Catholic .::. 21-0

Brooks Look: Central Catholic is one of three IPC teams in the top ten of the AP Class 3A polls. With the speed, size, and athleticism this team brings to gridiron, it will be hard for them to lose this one.

Central Catholic 56, Rantoul 6

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Unity (2-1) @ St. Joseph-Ogden (3-0)

Sara: St. Joseph-Ogden .::. 36-27
Alan: St. Joseph-Ogden .::. 31-28
J: Unity .::. 27-20
Lyman: St. Joseph-Ogden .::. 31-24
Denise: St. Joseph-Ogden .::. 24-17

Brooks Look: There has never been a boring St. Joseph-Ogden - Unity game. Last year, the Spartans came out on top thanks to kicker Charlie Schmitz booting the game-winning field goal from 31 yards out with 1.2 seconds left on the clock to seal a 24-21 victory at Dick Duval Field. The Rockets extracted revenge with a 35-7 second-round playoff victory eliminating SJO. This year, the game comes down to which team has the better defense. The Spartans will come close to making it three-consecutive regular season wins against the Rockets but won't be able to finish the job in overtime.

Unity 28, St. Joseph-Ogden 21

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Week 3 Scores

Central Catholic 34, Unity 27
St. Joseph-Ogden 51, Illinois Valley Central 16
Prairie Central 14, St. Teresa 13
Monticello 36, Rantoul 14
Paxton-Buckley-Loda 48, Pontiac 22

Week 3 Results

Rank	Name	Record	Notes
1	Sara	4-1	Week 3 winner ** Tie-Break
2	Alan	4-1
2	Denise	4-1
3	Brooks Look	3-2
3	Lyman	3-2
3	Keith	3-2
3	J	3-2

Cumulative Standings (After Week 3)

Rank	Name	Total Record	Wins	Notes
1	Brooks Look	12-3	1	Week 2 winner
2	Denise	11-4	0
3	Alan	10-5	0
4	Sara	9-1	1	Week 3 winner
5	J	8-2	1	Week 1 winner
6	Keith	3-2	0
7	Lyman	3-2	0

Previous predictions:

Week 1 Predictions | Week 1 Results
Week 2 Predictions | Week 2 Results
Week 3 Predictions |