IHSA second-round playoff scores and results

Unity Rocket Tre Hoggard carries the ball

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

TOLONO - After shaking three Monticello tacklers, Unity Tre Hoggard looks for a path around Sages'Nolan Buehnerkemper during first half action. Later, as time ran out in the fourth quarter, Hoggard intercepted a pass on a Monticello two-point coversion attempt to punch the Rockets' ticket to a quarterfinal playoff game against Williamsville in a barn burning 21-20 win on Saturday.

Illini Prairie Conference scores

Monmouth-Roseville 29, Bloomington Central Catholic 28
Unity 21, Monticello 20
St. Joseph -Ogden 42, Roxana 32

Big Twelve Conference scores

Montini 47, Peoria Notre Dame 17
Oak Forest 34, Bloomington 14
Peoria 38, Morton 34
Simeon 36, Normal West 21

Scores from around the state

Games listed in bracket order.

CLASS 1A:

Stockton 26, Heyworth 3
Dwight 43, Clifton Central 14
Kewanee Wethersfield 33, Mackinaw (Deer Creek) 26
Lena-Winslow 43, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 14
Hardin Calhoun 22, Greenfield-Northwestern Coop 14 (OT)
Casey (Westfield) 48, Nokomis 14
Mt. Sterling (Brown County) 16, Camp Point Central 8
Carrollton 34, Dupo 19

CLASS 2A:

Tri-Valley 24, Taylor Ridge Rockridge 17
Wilmington 42, Seneca 0
El Paso-Gridley 31, Newman Central Catholic 0
Farmington 21, Aurora Christian 14
Maroa-Forsyth 41, Johnston City 6
Flora 17, Pana 14
Westville 49, DuQuoin 13
Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond 41, Cumberland 22

CLASS 3A:

Richmond-Burton 57, Aurora Central Catholic
Monmouth-Roseville 29, Bloomington Central Catholic 28
Byron 38, Pecatonica 12
IC Catholic 37, Kankakee McNamara 27
Williamsville 53, Petersburg PORTA 14
Unity 21, Monticello 20
Vandalia 42, Greenville 21
St. Joseph-Ogden 42, Roxana 32

CLASS 4A:

Montini 47, Peoria Notre Dame 17
Coal City 49, Dixon 42
Morris 64, Metamora 50
Geneseo 29, Macomb 0
Cahokia 36, Jacksonville 13
Breese Central 42, Freeburg 7
Sacred Heart-Griffin 45, Carterville 15
Rochester 55, Waterloo 21

CLASS 5A:

Wheaton St. Francis 41, Prairie Ridge 38
Chicago King 21, Chicago Corliss [Coop] 6
Belvidere North 30, Kaneland 25
Cary-Grove 55, St. Patrick 21
Washington 38, Mahomet-Seymour 14
Providence Catholic 35, Kankakee 25
Oak Forest 34, Bloomington 14
Peoria 38, Morton 34

CLASS 6A:

Nazareth Academy 28, Warrenville South 7
Lake Zurich 35, Antioch 0
Burlington Central 24, Harlem 14
Fenwick 45, Rolling Meadows 7
East St. Louis 53, Chatham Glenwood 14
Simeon 36, Normal West 21
St. Laurence 35, Bradley-Bourbonnais 21
Dunlap 28, Crete-Monee 21

CLASS 7A:

Hersey 42, Richards 21
St. Rita 31, Lincoln-Way Central 28
Batavia 42, Glenbard East 21
Glenbard North 22, Moline 14
Downers Grove North 19, Glenbard West 7
Lincoln-Way West 43, Kenwood 20
St. Charles North 26, Carmel 23
Brother Rice 46, Jacobs 0

CLASS 8A:

Mt. Carmel 48, Belleville East 29
Lincoln-Way East 55, Palatine 13
Fremd 45, Lyons 21
Bolingbrook 20, Warren 14
Barrington 38, Glenbrook South 20
Lockport 21, Homewood-Flossmoor 20
Maine South 33, Hinsdale Central 29
Oswego 45, Lane 10

A Look Back |
Spartan volleyball falls in regional title game

Photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball players Emerson Williams and Hadley McDonald celebrate a point for SJO during the third set of their regional championship game against the Unity Rockets. After a dominating 25-14 victory in the first set, the Spartans battled to the end in the final two sets, losing 25-21, 25-22. The volleyball team finished a tough campaign with a 13-21 record. Here are a dozen more photos from their best performance of the season.

This season's Spartan Volleyball Team included seniors Adelyn Childers, Katie Ericksen, Emma McKinney, Ally Schmitz, and Emma Wells. Juniors on this year's squad were Brynn Ikemire, Alivia Learned, Hadley McDonald, Addi Stevens and Emerson Williams. The roster rounded out with five sophomores, including Ava Alexander, Megan Kearney, Atleigh Miller, Vivian Smith and Raegan Wheatley.

2025 Season Schedule & Results

8/25 @ Maroa-Forsyth (L) 2 - 0
8/28 @ Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin (L) 2 - 0
9/2 Mahomet-Seymour (L) 2 - 0
9/3 @ Armstrong (L) 2 - 0
9/4 @ Teutopolis (L) 2 - 1
9/6 Centralia (L) 2 - 0
9/6 Pana (W) 2 - 1
9/6 Taylorville (L) 2 - 0
9/6 Neoga (W) 2 - 1
9/6 Pana (L) 2 - 0
9/9 @ Casey-Westfield (W) 2 - 1
9/10 Oakwood (L) 2 - 0
9/15 Hoopeston (W) 2 - 0
9/16 @ St. Teresa (W) 2 - 0
9/17 Danville (W) 2 - 0
9/22 @ Marshall (L) 2 - 1
9/23 Tuscola (W) 2 - 1
9/25 @ Tolono Unity (L) 2 - 0
9/30 Monticello (L) 2 - 1
10/1 Cissna Park (L) 2 - 0
10/2 @ Prairie Central (L) 2 - 0
10/7 Paxton-Buckley-Loda (W) 2 - 0
10/8 @ Salt Fork (L) 2 - 1
10/9 @ Pontiac (L) 2 - 0
10/14 Bloomington Central Catholic (L) 2 - 0
10/15 Villa Grove (W) 2 - 0
10/16 @ Rantoul (W) 2 - 0
10/18 Kankakee (W) 2 - 0
10/18 Newark (L) 2 - 0
10/18 Beecher (L) 2 - 1
10/18 Rock Island (W) 2 - 1
10/21 @ St. Thomas More (W) 2 - 1
10/23 Illinois Valley Central (L) 2 - 0
10/28 Tolono Unity (L) 2 - 1

After Spartans stun Benton, it's on to face Roxana in second-round redux

In a thrilling finish, senior Lucas Smith drilled a 43-yard field goal as time expired to lift St. Joseph-Ogden over previously undefeated Benton. Quarterback Kodey McKinney threw for 194 yards and a touchdown to lead SJO’s offense. The Spartans now head to Roxana for their second-round playoff game.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden kicker Lucas Smith kicks a PAT in the Spartans' road game against Bloomington Central Catholic back in October. The senior's 4th quarter heroics propelled SJO into a second-round playoff game at Roxana.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Lucas Smith watches his kick against Pontiac.

SNS - Before the bus even pulled out of St. Joseph last Saturday, there was a question hanging in the air — could the Spartans win a playoff game without a true field goal kicker? Turns out, the answer was waiting three hours south in Benton, on the right foot of senior Lucas Smith. With the score tied and the clock drained to its final second, Smith’s 43-yard field goal cut through the wind and through Benton’s perfect record, sending St. Joseph-Ogden home with a 17-14 upset over the third-seeded Rangers.

For three quarters, it looked like the Spartans had found their stride at exactly the right time. Senior quarterback Kodey McKinney led a crisp opening drive, finishing with a 46-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Kaden Wedig. Late in the second quarter, senior running back Wyatt Wertz muscled through the Benton defense for a three-yard score, giving SJO a 14-0 halftime lead. But Benton, who came in averaging over 40 points per game, wasn’t going to stay silent. Two fourth-quarter touchdowns evened the score and tightened the crowd’s pulse — setting up Smith’s defining moment.

The story of the game, though, may have been SJO’s defense. Benton’s offense, which had racked up 418 points during the regular season, was bottled up for most of the day. The Spartans allowed just 14 points and forced the Rangers to work for every yard on their 62 offensive plays. Logan Rosenthal and sophomore Logan Umbarger each finished with seven tackles, while Brayden Waller and Lane McKinney helped anchor a defense that collected five tackles for loss — a season high.

Landon Smith blocks on defense in SJO's Pontiac home game

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Landon Smith (right) is blocked by a Pontiac offensive lineman. Not afraid of contact, the senior's physicality and confidence has grown since the start of the season, making him a valuable asset on defense.

McKinney finished with a steady hand under pressure, completing 16 of 19 passes for 194 yards. Wedig was his top target, pulling in 10 catches for 169 yards, while Tim Blackburn-Kelley added three more receptions. On the ground, Wertz and McKinney each chipped in 36 rushing yards, helping chew the clock and keep the Benton defense guessing.

Now, the Spartans (7-3) head into the second round with momentum and belief. They’ll travel to Roxana (7-3) for a Saturday afternoon showdown at 2 p.m. The matchup is a reunion of sorts — the two programs last met in the postseason two years ago, a 48-47 shootout that ended with Roxana on top. The Shells rely on a deep backfield led by sophomore Mekhi Shorter, who has topped 100 yards three times this season, and wideout Sean Maberry, who has a knack for turning receptions into touchdowns.

But this Roxana team hasn’t faced the kind of gauntlet SJO just survived. Every team that beat the Spartans this year — Unity, Monticello, Bloomington Central Catholic and Seneca — is still alive in the playoffs. All four Illini Prairie Conference qualifiers won their openers, strengthening the argument that no one in Class 3A is more battle-tested than SJO.

If the Spartans can push past Roxana, they’ll earn a quarterfinal matchup against either Vandalia or Greenville — and, for the first time this postseason, a playoff game at Dick Duval Field.

SJO's Will Franklin moves to make a tackle

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

SJO's Will Franklin plays defense for the Spartans in their road game at Bloomington Central Catholic.

TAGS: St. Joseph-Ogden football playoff win, Lucas Smith field goal, Roxana Shells vs Spartans, IHSA Class 3A playoffs, Illinois high school football news

Illini Prairie Conference 2025 All-Conference Soccer Team

The 2025 All-IPC soccer honors highlight the best players from the Illini Prairie Conference season. St. Joseph-Ogden, Bloomington Central Catholic, St. Thomas More and Illinois Valley Central each earned first-team selections.

SJO Hess and IVC Brody Garceau battle for ball control

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden's Tyler Hess and Illinois Valley Central's Brody Garceau battle for ball control during their regular season match in September. Both players earned recognition from the Illini Prairie Conference coaches and named to this year's First Team.

SNS - With the season over until next August, the Illini Prairie Conference has announced its 2025 All-IPC soccer team, selected by coaches from member schools.

This year’s first team includes seven seniors, four juniors and one freshman among the honorees who showcased their skill and talent throughout the season, which began in August.

Following a thrilling regular season, three players from St. Joseph-Ogden, the Williamsville Sectional runner-up, made this year’s top team. The Spartans finished the season as conference champions with an impressive record of 24 wins, two losses and two ties.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Spartan's Zach Harper celebrates his game-winning goal against the Grey Ghost in September. The senior, who averaged 2.3 goals per match was St. Joseph-Ogden's most-prolific scorer this season.

Bloomington Central Catholic, whose only loss came against SJO, finished the season 9-11-3 and second in the Illini Prairie. The Saints had three players named to this year’s first team.

Meanwhile, coaches agreed that two players each from St. Thomas More and Illinois Valley Central, instrumental to their teams’ success, also deserved recognition for their talent and contributions in downstate Illinois’ toughest small-school conference.

Here is the list of this year's conference teams.

1st Team All-Conference

Jack Wyse - Junior, #7, Central Catholic
Lucas Beck - Junior, #2, Central Catholic
Sam Allen - Senior, #8, Central Catholic
Andrew Scheirer - Junior, #5, Illinois Valley Central
Brody Garceau - Senior, #4, Illinois Valley Central
Oscar Valera Echeverria - Junior, #8, Rantoul Township
Zach Harper - Senior, #24, St. Joseph-Ogden
Tyler Hess - Senior, #77, St. Joseph-Ogden
Lucas Stevens - Freshman, #10, St. Joseph-Ogden
Riley Hogan - Senior, #4, St. Thomas More
Owen Yeager - Senior, #17, St. Thomas More
Matthew Hollett - Senior, #25, Unity

2nd Team All-Conference

Benjamin Dappen - Junior, #10, Central Catholic
Mason Clark - Junior, #11, Central Catholic
Jonathan Blankenship - Junior, #1, Central Catholic
Ryan Urbanc - Senior, #8, Illinois Valley Central
Drew Marquis - Senior, #3, Illinois Valley Central
Sully Beccue - Junior, #7, Monticello
Issack Ocadiz - Junior, #11, Monticello
Steven Newman - Junior, #21, St. Joseph-Ogden
Quinn Stahl - Senior, #22, St. Joseph-Ogden
Will Grissom - Sophomore, #16, St. Thomas More
Raphael Enzo Dongo Kengue - Junior, #10, St. Thomas More
Nicholas Ribeiro O’Grady - Junior, #00, St. Thomas More
Jacob Yeager - Junior, #11, St. Thomas More
Caden McCaskill - Senior, #26, Unity
Tyler Huntington - Senior, #35, Unity

All-Conference Honorable Mention

Leo Triveno - Freshman, #14, Central Catholic
John Urbanc - Senior, #10, Illinois Valley Central
Jackson Lopotko - Junior, #12, Illinois Valley Central
Logan Sullivan - Senior, #7, Illinois Valley Central
Channing Morris - Senior, #11, Illinois Valley Central
Chris Clavey - Sophomore, #12, St. Thomas More
Alex Kessler - Junior, #30, Monticello
Walter Saiger - Sophomore - Monticello
Waylon Jones - Junior - St. Joseph-Ogden
Chris Clavey - Sophomore- St. Thomas More

Matthew Hollett dribbles the ball for the Unity Rockets

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Unity's Matthew Hollett dribbles the ball down the field in the Rockets' postseason match against St. Joseph-Ogden. The senior and two other teammates earned spots on this season's all-conference list.

Tags: 2025 Illini Prairie Conference All-IPC soccer selections, High school soccer all-conference team Illinois, St. Joseph-Ogden Illini Prairie soccer champions 2025, Top Illinois high school soccer players 2025 season, Bloomington Central Catholic and SJO All-IPC honorees

Photo Gallery |
2025 SJO Senior Night

Back on October 24, seniors from the Spartan football team were honored before the start of the Spartans' home game against Pontiac. Seniors from the SJO Marching Band and other fall sports were also recognized before kickoff. Here's a look at the members of this year's fall sports senior class at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

Football Seniors

SJO Senior Football Salutes

Wyatt Wertz ~

Few players run harder — or think faster — than Spartan Wyatt Wertz. At a solid 5'11", 180 pounds, the senior back has combined quick reads with relentless determination ... >> Get know Wyatt

Landon Smith ~

For Landon Smith, physical play in the trenches define what football is all about — toughness, teamwork, and trust. The senior lineman ... >> Get know Landon

Ryker Lockhart ~

Fierce and tenacious, Lockhart delivered four solo and was in on six more tackles in a career night against Seneca. >> Get know Ryker

Read more SJO senior salutes