The Sentinel: Monticello Sages

State football |
Sages are state football runner-up, last minute score not enough to fend of loss to Montini

NORMAL - Monticello's Kasen Baker and Landon Carlisle carry the team's runner-up trophy after their Class 3A title game against Montini (12-2). The Sages (11-3) were outgunned by the suburban Chicago Catholic School at Hancock Stadium, 49-8.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

State football |
Monticello quarterback finds a moments to shine, Sages still trail at half

Monticello's Ike Young runs the ball during second quarter action at the IHSA Class 3A Football State Finals. Unable to ignite their offensive scoring machine, the Sages trailed in the first half 35-0, going into the locker room at halftime against the Broncos. Young left the game in third quarter.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

State football |
Monticello struggles to score, Montini leads Sages at the half

Monticello's Koyie Williams is wrapped up from behind by Montini's Nicky Castaldo behind the line of scrimmage. Unable to ignite their offensive scoring machine, the Sages trailed 35-0 heading into the locker room at halftime against the Broncos.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Photo Gallery |
Strong first half cements victory for SJO at Monticello

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

After hauling in a screen pass on the first play of St. Joseph-Ogden's road game at Monticello, Tim Blackburn-Kelley races down the field for the first TD of the season while playing running back in Saturday's 40-28 win. The quick score that burned just 20 seconds off the game clock set the tone for the first half before the Spartans ripped off three more scores before halftime.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

SJO's Ryker Lockhart nails Monticello's Matt Swartz to the turf during first quarter action on Saturday. The first game for the two Illini Prairie Conference members was postponed until noon due to a large storm system passing through Piatt and Champaign county Friday evening.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Spartans' Nolan Earley rushes into the Monticello backfield looking to tackle the Sages' quarterback for a loss.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

SJO's Nolan Earley latches on to Monticello's Ike Young on his way to record a TFL in the first half.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Spartan's Coy Taylor barrels his way into the endzone on a 1-yard play for his team's second touchdown in the first quarter.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Tayton Gerdes celebrates a big play for the Spartans during the third quarter.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

SJO quarterback Kodey McKinney looks to the northeast corner of the field for an open receiver. The junior signal caller scored on 67-yard run in the first quarter and tossed three TD passes in his first varsity start. See all the photos from the game here . . .

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Wyatt Wertz looks for running room while following his blockers on a 37-yard dash through the Sages' defense. The junior running back rushed for 103 yards on 14 carries.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden senior Jared Altenbaumer lunges forward to pounce on Monticello quarterback Ike Young.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Almost a nailbiter as Monticello's momentum grows in the second half after another touchdown, SJO head coach Shawn Skinner strolls down the sideline while the Spartans get a lesson in tenacity during their season opener. See all the photos from the game here . . .

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Sages' Ike Young unloads a pass before Spartans' Gabe Mata can disrupt the third-quarter pass play.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

SJ0 linemen Cameron Wagner and Brodie Harms stack pancakes in the trenches with Monticello's Ryan Frazee and Brody Billedo during fourth-quarter action. See more photos from the game here . . .

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Monticello's Ike Young looks for running room on a keeper. The senior finished 27 of 44 for 292 yards and threw two second-half touchdown passes in his first varsity start at quarterback. He also led Monticello in rushing with 18 carries for 66 yards and scored two of the Sages' four touchdowns.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Leaping above Sages' Zeke Young, Spartan Coy Taylor hauls in a pass for second-half touchdown in the southeast corner end zone at Wilkey Sports Complex. See more photos from the game here . . .

Finet and Allen bouy Sages in soccer win over Tigers

CHAMPAIGN - Monticello forward Addison Finet tries to dribble the ball around Urbana's Noa Brugger during second-half action at the 2nd Annual Girls Soccer Showcase. Finet scored a goal in each half to help lead the Sages past the Tigers, 5-2. Megan Allen, not pictured, also booted in two goals for the Sages. See more Sentinel photos from the Sages' match U of I's Demirjian Park here.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Photo Gallery | SJO defeats Monticello in Week 1 at Dick Duval Field

St. Joseph-Ogden quarterback Logan Smith dives into the end zone to score the first touchdown on Dick Duval Field's newly installed turf surface on Friday. Smith scored five times and three a 31-yard TD in the Spartans 40-14 win over visiting Monticello.