The Sentinel: St. Joseph-Ogden Football

Spartan football team to host four home games

St. Joseph -- The St. Joseph-Ogden football team will play just four regular-season home games at Dick Duval Field this season. The Spartans start their 2022 campaign on the road at Monticello this Friday.

The first home game of the season features SJO hosting long-time rival Unity on September 2; Nokomis for homecoming on September 23; Pontiac two weeks later; and end the regular season at home against the Panthers of Paxton-Buckley-Loda on Senior Night.

Senior Evan Ingram pivots to handoff the ball after the snap during SJO's 2021 home opener against the Sages. After scoring the Spartans lit the scoreboard with the first TD of the game, Monticello came back to score 43 unanswered points to win the Illini Prairie Conference opener. The two teams will square off again this Friday in Monticello. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

As in past years, Spartan head coach Shawn Skinner will begin his 6th season at the helm facing the toughest three teams in the Illini Prairie Conference. SJO opens the season on the road at Monticello on August 26. The Sages, who finished the 2021 season 7-3, won last year's season opener with a decisive 43-8 road win over SJO.

After facing last year's Class 3A runner-up Rockets in week 2, SJO is back on the road at Prairie Central. Looking for their first win against the Hawks since week 9 in 2016; the question is will the Hawks' home-field advantage be a factor?

The Spartans' game against Nokomis, possibly the first meeting between the two programs in more than two decades, will be interesting. Playing an independent schedule and despite having an enrollment of just 179 students, the program finished the past season with a 7-2 record.

2022 St. Joseph-Ogden Football Schedule

08/26/2022
@ Monticello
7:00 PM

09/02/2022
vs. Unity
7:00 PM

09/09/2022
@ Prairie Central
7:00 PM

09/16/2022
@ Illinois Valley Central
7:00 PM

09/23/2022
vs. Nokomis High School
HOMECOMING GAME
7:00 PM

09/30/2022
@ Bloomington Central Catholic
7:00 PM

10/07/2022
vs. Pontiac
7:00 PM

10/14/2022
@ Rantoul
7:00 PM

10/21/2022
vs. Paxton-Buckley-Loda
7:00 PM

Photo Gallery: Unity beats SJO at home, 33-8

6-foot-2, 225-pound lineman Karson Richardson puts his shoulder into St. Joseph-Ogden's Jack Setterdahl while playing during the second half of their conference football game at Hicks Field. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Unity receiver Tyler Hensch and quarterback Blake Kimball celebrate a touchdown against visiting St. Joseph-Ogden on Friday. The Rockets beat the Spartans in Illini Prairie Conference action, 33-8. Next up, Unity travels to Illinois Valley Central to take on the Grey Ghost on Friday. Click here to see more photos from this game. (PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

After he is flushed out of the backfield on his team's second snap of the game, Rocket QB Blake Kimball jets down the north sideline on his way to a 72-yard, first quarter touchdown. Kimball finished the night with 104 yards on nine carries and scored again later Unity's home game against the Spartans. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Rockets' Austin McDaniel cools off during a timeout against the Spartans. The senior defensive lineman veteran experience was crucial to his team ability to hold SJO to just 125 rushing yards. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

St. Joseph-Ogden quarterback Evan Ingram looks down field to throw a long pass during the second half. Ingram finished the night completing 5 of 14 passes for 32 yards against the host Rockets. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Quarterback Blake Kimball is brought down by St. Joseph-Ogden's Bryson Helfrich on Unity's first offensive play in the first quarter during the Rockets' home game on Friday, September 3. On the next play Kimball dashed down the field to score the first of the team's five touchdowns. Unity went on to improved to 2-0 record after beating the visiting Spartans, 33-8. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

SJO's Owen Birt leaps into action in an attempt to block a Unity extra point attempt in the fourth quarter. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Members of the Unity Dance Team entertain spectators while performing during halftime. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

A member of the Unity marching band's flag corp twirls her flag around shoulders during Friday night's halftime performance. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Together with Sophia Stierwalt to her left, Drum Major Elise Johnson lead the Unity Rocket Marching Band during their halftime presentation. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

A horn player marches with Unity marching band while playing the bands rendition of a Stevie Wonder tune during halftime. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Justice Wertz sheds a Unity tackler while trying to get the ball out of the SJO backfield during the fourth quarter. Wertz, a 5'-9', 135-pound running back, finished the road game with 9 yards after two touches on Friday. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

St. Joseph-Ogden senior Austin Cotter tries to work his way past Unity's Karson Richardson during the second half of their game. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Unity senior Nate Nosler and a teammate wrap up St. Joseph-Ogden ball carrier Keaton Nolan. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

After breaking away from would be tacklers Rowan Musselman and Alex Funk from St. Joseph-Ogden, Unity's Haidyn Hendricks picks up a few more yards on the fourth quarter play. Hendricks finished the game with a net 14 yards in his team's second home game of the season. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

SJO's Bryson Helfrich moves to block a Unity lineman. In search of their first win of the season, Helfrich and the Spartans will host Prairie Central this coming Friday.(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Finding a bit of green turf open, St. Joseph-Ogden's Keaton Nolan makes a quick cut to take advantage of the hole in Unity's defense. Nolan finished the game with 14 receiving-yards and 45 on his ground attack. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Spartans travel to Rocket country

St. Joseph-Ogden running back Isaiah Moore drags a Monticello defender during their season opener. The Spartans, who lost 43-8, look to bounce back tonight on the road at Hicks' Field against the Unity Rockets (1-0). SJO last victory against the Rockets was after a home game back in 2018. Moore's Spartans have not had a home game against the rival Rockets since that September 14 game. (PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Photo gallery: Friday night football is back

Coby Miller (left) and Isaiah Moore lead the St. Joseph-Ogden football team to the field before the start of the first home football game of the season. The Spartans opened the season at home against the Monticello Sages. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

SJO coaches (left to right) Dalton Walsh, Marshall Schacht and Ben Gorman along with head coach Shawn Skinner and longtime assistant Bob Glazier observe a moment of silence in honor of former head coach Dick Duval. Duval, who compiled a record of 251 wins and 75 losses during his 28-year tenure, passed away on August 26. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Seniors Griffin Roesch and Evan Ingram run through the team banner during team introduction. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Keaton Nolan slaps hands of students as he runs through the team tunnel. Nolan, a senior, went on to carry the ball 18 times for 80 yards against the Sages. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

SJO linebacker Bryson Helfrich (left) fights his way past Monticello's Ashton Wassom into the Sages backfield during first half action. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Senior Ethan Vanliew flows with the ball while playing on defense for the Spartans. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Maroon Platoon student fans cheer for the Spartans during first quarter action against Monticello. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Driving forward, Spartan Keaton Nolan takes a hit and stopped in his tracks by outside linebacker Blake Mcduffie. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

With assistant coach Ben Gorman looking on, SJO head coach Shawn Skinner yells instructions to players on the field between plays. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Taylor Hug tallies stats for the Spartans during the first half of the game. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Mask to mask, Spartan Peyton Sarver goes nose-to-nose in the trench with Sages' Kaleb Reid. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

SJO student fans cheer for their team during the first half. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Running back Isaiah Moore is wrapped up as he crosses the goal line for the first SJO touchdown of the season. Moore also finished his first game of the season with six yards on seven carries. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Jett Morris celebrates SJO's two-point conversion in the first quarter. Unfortunately, it would be the last opportunity the Spartan would get the ball in the end zone. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Finding a lot of open grass, St. Joseph-Ogden quarterback Evan Ingram sprints down the field for a 64-yard run against the Sages. Ingram finished the game with 71 yards rushing and completed six of 14 passes for 35 yards. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Playing on the offensive line, Bryson Helfrich picks up an incoming block during first half action. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Sophomore Braxton Waller comes up to block after snapping the ball. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Members of the 2020 St. Joseph-Ogden Hall of Fame pose for a photo during their recognition ceremony at halftime. The 8th class to be recognized by the school include (left to right) Gary Garrison, Amy Scharlau-Lewis, Greg Knott and Ron White. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Members of the SJO Marching Band perform during halftime. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Austin Cotter (left) and Robbie Huson, a junior, goes over their position assignments before the next play during the second half. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Spartan linebacker Luke Allen slips into the Monticello backfield looking to make a tackle. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Trying to stay hydrated, SJO's Robbie Huson drinks water while on the sidelines. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Five Monticello lineman stuff a hole to prevent Spartan running back Justice Wertz from getting past the line of scrimmage. Wertz finished the night with 33 yards on 11 carries. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

SJO's Peyton Sarver fights to get into the Monticello backfield. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

SJO wins! Spartans undefeated at Dick Duval Field

St. Joseph-Ogden linebacker Xander Rieches celebrates after sacking Bloomington Central Catholic quarterback Jadyn Ellison for a loss during the Spartans' last home football game of the 2020-21 season. The Spartan (2-3) defense held BCC to just 10 rushing yards and allowed just 165 yards passing on the way to a 22-3 victory on Friday. SJO plays their final game of the season this Saturday at Monticello. Game time is slated for 2pm.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Photo Gallery | St. Joseph-Ogden football rolls to 28-0 win over Pontiac

Senior Brady Buss prepares to leap into the air after scoring on TD pass from Evan Ingram to shoulder bump a member of the student section wearing his jersey number. Buss had a trio of catches for 82 yards against the visiting Indians.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Homing in like a Tomohawk cruise missile, Bryson Helfrich lays into Pontiac quarterback Cameron Gillette for a sack. At the conclusion of this season, the Spartan football program can expect big things on defense from the sophomore for two more seasons.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Keaton Nolan heads for the end zone after taking a handoff from quarterback Evan Ingram during the Spartans' first home game of the season. For a second consecutive meeting the St. Joseph-Ogden football team posted a shutout against the Indians posting a 28-0 victory. Improving to 1-1 on the season, SJO travels to Charleston on Thursday to take on the Trojans in a non-conference contest.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Ethan Vanliew slaps hands as he races down the tunnel during pre-game introductions. Later in his role as kicker, the junior delivered 215 yards on five kickoffs and punted for 39 yards on two attempts. On defense, Vanliew tallied five tackles, one for a loss, in the first home game of the season.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden High School student fans cheer after big play in the first half. The student fan section was moved from the bleachers to the east end zone. The new seating location made for a much more exciting and memorable high school game experience.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

SJO's Isaiah Moore sheds a Pontiac defensive player. Moore, a junior, finished 48 yards rushing on offense and was credited with one solo tackle and two assists.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Spartans Alex Funk, Hayden Brazelton and Keaton Nolan tie up Pontiac's Aaron Adcock during first quarter play. The St. Joseph-Ogden defense held the Indians to just seven first downs in the 28-0 shutout.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks