Still undefeated! Spartans outlasts visiting Rockets in playoff win

The Unity defense held St. Joseph-Ogden to under 40 points again, something only one other team has done this season. Keeping their foot on the gas, the Spartan multi-faceted offense was relentless in moving the ball down the field against their archrivals.

---

Photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden's Ike Shelato erupts with joy while teammates Jameson Ennis and Lucas Waters join the celebration after Shelato's interception with 25 seconds left on the clock in the Spartans' second-round playoff game against Unity. SJO outlasts the Rockets 35-21, advancing to another home playoff game next Saturday.

---

LEFT: SJO's Lane McKinney avoids a tackle attempt by Garrison Cler. McKinney scored three times, finishing the day with 192 yards on 30 carries. MIDDLE: Unity's Jackson Cheely is lifted off his feet by Spartan Ike Shelato with the help of teammate Royce Loschen during a second-half play. RIGHT: Rockets' Beckham Brink hauls in a pass despite intense coverage by St. Joseph-Ogden d-back Lane McKinney.

Photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden student fan section celebrate with players after the Spartans' home playoff victory. The Maroon Platoon will be back Dick Duval Field next Saturday when SJO hosts Mt. Carmel in Class 3A quarterfinal battle of the unbeaten. More photos from this game dropping on Monday.

---

More SJO Sports Articles

---

TAGS: SJO quarterback Lane McKinney, Unity receive Beckham Brink, St. Joe-Unity playoff game, Illini Prairie football teams, IHSA football playoff game, Second round IHSA playoff football, SJO - Unity football

Playoff Pigskin Picks | 2026 Second-round IHSA football predictions

Round two of IHSA football features predictions for Loyola Academy, St. Joseph-Ogden, Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond and more. Twelve games, eight predictions each. See who our guest analysts picked to win their second-round games this weekend.

---

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

ST. JOSEPH - Three Althoff tacklers wrap up St. Joseph-Ogden's explosive running back Logan Umbarger. Umbarger score four times in the Spartans' 80-31 win over the visiting Crusaders in their Class 3A first-round game last week. This week, SJO faces rival Unity at Dick Duval Field looking to advance to the quarterfinals. See predictions for this week's SJO-Unity game and 11 more below.

---

#7 Salt Fork at #2 Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond

Ryker Cenzano	Salt Fork   35-21	.::.
Frank	Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond   35-21	.::.
Pigskin Prophet	Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond   28-24	.::.
Da Bears	Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond   34-21	.::.
SportsMom	Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond   48-14	.::.
Coltrane	Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond   34-20	.::.
DoubleJ	Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond   34-21	.::.
The Sentinel	Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond   21-13	.::. ALAH has been play great football all season.

---

#9 Oakwood at #1 Brown County

Ryker Cenzano	Oakwood   42-21	.::.
Frank	Brown County   45-14	.::.
Pigskin Prophet	Oakwood   32-27	.::.
Da Bears	Oakwood   21-14	.::.
SportsMom	Brown County   54-7	.::.
Coltrane	Brown County   38-36	.::. Brown County is good but they haven’t been overly tested but I think barely pull it out.
DoubleJ	Brown County   28-24	.::.
The Sentinel	Brown County   28-21	.::.

---

#5 Wilmington at #4 Tri-Valley

Ryker Cenzano	Tri-Valley   35-7	.::.
Frank	Tri-Valley   28-21	.::.
Pigskin Prophet	Tri-Valley   28-24	.::.
Da Bears	Tri-Valley   16-8	.::.
SportsMom	Tri-Valley   24-14	.::.
Coltrane	Wilmington   28-16	.::. I think Wilmington wins but I will not be surprised if Tri Valley keeps it close.
DoubleJ	Wilmington   21-20	.::.
The Sentinel	Wilmington   34-28	.::. Giving Wilmington the edge, thanks to their defense.

---

#16 Roxana at #8 Monticello

Ryker Cenzano	Monticello   40-21	.::.
Frank	Roxana   45-14	.::.
Pigskin Prophet	Monticello   21-17	.::.
Da Bears	Monticello   21-15	.::.
SportsMom	Monticello   35-14	.::.
Coltrane	Roxana   35-34	.::. Roxana is a dangerous team, Monticello will have to be on their toes.
DoubleJ	Monticello   34-14	.::.
The Sentinel	Monticello   42-28	.::. Monticello dominates, but holds off 4th quarter surge by the Shells.

---

#10 Unity at #2 St. Joseph-Ogden

Ryker Cenzano	Unity   35-21	.::. Mike Hardin is gonna be hard to stop also unity defense is looking great but st joesph has a pretty good QB
Frank	St. Joseph-Ogden   50-28	.::.
Pigskin Prophet	Unity   35-31	.::.
Da Bears	Unity   27-24	.::.
SportsMom	Unity   35-28	.::.
Coltrane	Unity   34-28	.::. Give me the rockets for a few reasons: 1. Over the past 5 seasons they are the most dangerous teams in the playoffs. 2. Unity is 6-1 all time in revenge games. 3. They haven’t been swept by a team since 1987. 4. They are the hottest team in the conference and they are 10 times of a better team since week 4 and if they can control the clock and force a turnover or two then I think Unity wins. Also Unity has won 8 of the last 10 vs SJO in the playoffs.
DoubleJ	St. Joseph-Ogden   54-42	.::. Take the over on this game!
The Sentinel	St. Joseph-Ogden   48-36	.::. SJO's offense is a well-oiled scoring machine.

---

#12 Metamora at #4 Sacred Heart-Griffin

Ryker Cenzano	Sacred Heart-Griffin   21-14	.::.
Frank	Sacred Heart-Griffin   45-13	.::.
Pigskin Prophet	Sacred Heart-Griffin   27-21	.::.
Da Bears	Sacred Heart-Griffin   30-14	.::.
SportsMom	Sacred Heart-Griffin   42-14	.::.
Coltrane	Sacred Heart-Griffin   34-14	.::.
DoubleJ	Sacred Heart-Griffin   28-7	.::.
The Sentinel	Sacred Heart-Griffin   42-14	.::.

---

#11 Cahokia at #3 Rochester

Ryker Cenzano	Rochester   42-35	.::.
Frank	Rochester   42-7	.::.
Pigskin Prophet	Rochester   35-21	.::.
Da Bears	Rochester   27-14	.::.
SportsMom	Rochester   42-21	.::.
Coltrane	Rochester   48-41	.::.
DoubleJ	Rochester   34-28	.::.
The Sentinel	Rochester   28-14	.::.

---

#8 Crete-Monee at #1 Mahomet-Seymour

Ryker Cenzano	Mahomet-Seymour   59-21	.::.
Frank	Mahomet-Seymour   45-0	.::.
Pigskin Prophet	Mahomet-Seymour   42-24	.::.
Da Bears	Mahomet-Seymour   34-17	.::.
SportsMom	Mahomet-Seymour   35-28	.::.
Coltrane	Crete-Monee   41-34	.::.
DoubleJ	Mahomet-Seymour   34-7	.::.
The Sentinel	Mahomet-Seymour   48-42	.::. Tenacity propels the Bulldogs into the next round.

---

#7 Pekin at #2 Normal Community West

Ryker Cenzano	Pekin   21-7	.::.
Frank	Normal Community West   28-21	.::.
Pigskin Prophet	Normal Community West   31-21	.::.
Da Bears	Normal Community West   31-28	.::.
SportsMom	Normal Community West   21-14	.::.
Coltrane	Normal Community West   42-20	.::.
DoubleJ	Normal Community West   22-14	.::.
The Sentinel	Normal Community West   36-14	.::. Normal West capitalizes on early turnovers for the win.

---

#11 Richards at #38 Glenbard North

Ryker Cenzano	Richards   45-34	.::.
Frank	Richards   21-14	.::.
Pigskin Prophet	Richards   34-14	.::.
Da Bears	Richards   24-14	.::.
SportsMom	Richards   56-21	.::.
Coltrane	Richards   34-14	.::.
DoubleJ	Richards   14-7	.::.
The Sentinel	Richards   14-7	.::.

---

#20 St. Patrick at #4 East St. Louis

Ryker Cenzano	East St. Louis   21-14	.::.
Frank	East St. Louis   55-14	.::.
Pigskin Prophet	East St. Louis   56-7	.::.
Da Bears	East St. Louis   35-7	.::.
SportsMom	East St. Louis   63-7	.::.
Coltrane	East St. Louis   48-28	.::.
DoubleJ	East St. Louis   21-7	.::.
The Sentinel	East St. Louis   54-21	.::.

---

#19 York at #3 Loyola Academy

Ryker Cenzano	York   41-21	.::.
Frank	Loyola Academy   38-28	.::.
Pigskin Prophet	Loyola Academy   35-17	.::.
Da Bears	Loyola Academy   24-13	.::.
SportsMom	Loyola Academy   48-21	.::.
Coltrane	Loyola Academy   55-20	.::.
DoubleJ	Loyola Academy   21-17	.::.
The Sentinel	Loyola Academy   48-12	.::. The Ramblers start the second half on cruise control.

---

Sentinel football playoff leaderboard

1. lg .::. 91.67%
2. Frank .::. 86.96%
3. Cory H - Steamers .::. 83.33%
4. Coltrane .::. 75.00%
4. Cory .::. 75.00%
6. KingsQueen .::. 72.73%
7. DoubleJ .::. 70.83%
8. SportsMom .::. 66.67%
8. Hillary .::. 66.67%
9. The Sentinel .::. 58.33%

Want to share your predictions and go head-to-head with the experts in our quarterfinal round next week? Visit OurSentinel.com on Monday for details.

---

TAGS: Sentinel Postseason Pigskin Predictions, High School football predictions, Mahomet-Seymour football, Sacred Heart-Griffin earns unanimous pick, ALAH football favored to defeat Salt Fork, Unity playoff game at St. Joseph-Ogden, Monticello takes on the Roxana Shells in playoff game

You pick 'em | What are your second-round IHSA football predictions?

Congratulations to LG, last week's Postseason Pigskin Prediction champion. Ready to join the team of analysts and give us your predictions for our 12 featured games?

---

Photo: Lori Garrett for the Sentinel

Unity's Beckam Brink drags a Central Catholic defensive back into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown in the Rockets first-round playoff game on Saturday. Defeating the Saints 21-14, Unity earned a postseason matchup against undefeated St. Joseph-Ogden. Using the form below, submit your prediction for this game and 11 others playing around the state this weekend.

---

See this week's predictions

See how last week's analysts performed here.

---

More Sentinel football stories

---

TAGGED: IHSA football predictions, Unity football prediction, opening-round playoff predictions, postseason football predictions, Illini Prairie teams

Flashback Friday | Photo Gallery: Rockets blast Bombers from football quarterfinals

Back in 2011, Unity's playoff run was ended by eventual state champion Aurora Christian but not before defeating visiting Macomb (8-4) at Hicks Field 35-7. Here is a look back at the players, fans and moments between the Rockets and Bombers.

---

All photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

1 / 23

---

See a photo you like? We'll email it to you. See details here ...

---

More Unity Sports

---

TAGS: Macomb playoff game at Unity, Macomb Bombers 2011 playoff game, Unity Rockets photo gallery, Macomb-Unity football playoff photo gallery, Michael Lafenhagen running the football in 2011, Unity's Scott Hamilton celebrates, Unity senior Alex Thorson, Unity Rocket football fans