Friday Night Forecast |
Week 9 Illini Prairie Conference football predictions

Here are Week 9 predictions from Illini Prairie football pundits for this edition of The Sentinel’s Friday Night Forecast.


Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

ST. JOSEPH - Lucas Smith boots the ball on kickoff for the Spartans. Smith and 15 other seniors will be honored tonight before the start of the Spartans' home game against Pontiac.


Week 9 predictions

Illini Prairie Game of the Week
Rantoul vs Illinois Valley Central

Sara C: Illinois Valley Central .::. 36-12
Alan: Illinois Valley Central .::. 45-20
Denise: Illinois Valley Central .::. 21-0
Denise J: Illinois Valley Central .::. 21-14
J: Illinois Valley Central .::. 18-6
Mike Roy: Illinois Valley Central .::. 24-7
C: Illinois Valley Central .::. 32-0
Brooks Look: Rantoul .::. 21-14

Monticello vs Paxton-Buckley-Loda

Sara C: Paxton-Buckley-Loda .::. 32-27
Alan: Monticello .::. 35-14
Denise: Monticello .::. 28-7
Denise J: Monticello .::. 36-14
J: Monticello .::. 24-22
Mike Roy: Monticello .::. 27-7
C: Paxton-Buckley-Loda .::. 21-18
Brooks Look: Monticello .::. 28-21

Central Catholic vs Prairie Central

Sara C: Central Catholic .::. 48-27
Alan: Central Catholic .::. 42-17
Denise: Central Catholic .::. 42-14
Denise J: Central Catholic .::. 67-24
J: Central Catholic .::. 42-7
Mike Roy: Central Catholic .::. 55-7
C: Central Catholic .::. 67-14
Brooks Look: Central Catholic .::. 56-7

St. Joseph-Ogden vs Pontiac

Sara C: St. Joseph-Ogden .::. 48-21
Alan: St. Joseph-Ogden .::. 52-10
Denise: St. Joseph-Ogden .::. 56-7
Denise J: St. Joseph-Ogden .::. 42-27
J: St. Joseph-Ogden .::. 42-26
Mike Roy: St. Joseph-Ogden .::. 35-6
C: St. Joseph-Ogden .::. 32-21
Brooks Look: St. Joseph-Ogden .::. 42-16

Unity @ Mt. Vernon

Sara C: Unity .::. 30-27
Alan: Unity .::. 49-28
Denise: Mt. Vernon .::. 28-21
Denise J: Unity .::. 48-12
J: Unity .::. 34-7
Mike Roy: Unity .::. 46-14
C: Unity .::. 32-0
Brooks Look: Unity .::. 36-28

Last week's 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

Week 8 Results

Rank Name Record Notes
1 Mike Roy 5-0 Week 8 winner!!!
2 J 4-1 5-way tie
2 Denise 4-1 5-way tie
2 Alan 4-1 5-way tie
2 Sara 4-1 5-way tie
2 Brooks Look 4-1 5-way tie

Cumulative Standings (After Week 8)

Rank Name Total Record Wins Notes
1 Brooks Look 33-7 2 Week 2 & 5 winner
2 Denise 30-10 0
2 Alan 30-10 1 Week 7 winner
4 Sara 26-9 1 Week 3 winner
5 J 25-5 2 Week 1 & 4 winner
6 Lyman 10-5 0
7 Mike Roy 10-0 2 Week 6 & 8 Winner
8 Frank 7-3 0
9 Denise J 5-0 0 New participant this week
10 Keith 3-2 0


TAGS: Illini Prairie Conference weekly football predictions, Week 9 SJO football predictions, Prairie Central Hawks football predictions this week, IHSA football prediction for the IPC

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Pick your Week 9 Illini Prairie Conference football winners

Jameson Ennis play defense for the SJO football team
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

ST. JOSEPH - Spartans' defensive lineman Jameson Ennis shucks off a Monticello offensive lineman J.D. Bailey trying to shutdown a drive in the second half. SJO (4-4), suffering their first three-game slide since the 2021 season, needs a win over Pontiac (2-5) this Friday if they hope to find a spot in the 2025 playoffs.


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

Week 8 Results

Rank Name Record Notes
1 Mike Roy 5-0 Week 8 winner!!!
2 J 4-1 5-way tie
2 Denise 4-1 5-way tie
2 Alan 4-1 5-way tie
2 Sara 4-1 5-way tie
2 Brooks Look 4-1 5-way tie

Cumulative Standings (After Week 8)

Rank Name Total Record Wins Notes
1 Brooks Look 33-7 2 Week 2 & 5 winner
2 Denise 30-10 0
2 Alan 30-10 1 Week 7 winner
4 Sara 26-9 1 Week 3 winner
5 J 25-5 2 Week 1 & 4 winner
6 Lyman 10-5 0
7 Mike Roy 10-0 2 Week 6 & 8 Winner
8 Frank 7-3 0
9 Denise J 5-0 0 New participant this week
10 Keith 3-2 0


TAGS: Illini Prairie Conference weekly football predictions, Week 9 SJO football predictions, Prairie Central Hawks football predictions this week, IHSA football prediction for the IPC

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Week 8 IHSA football scores from around the state

Marquan Dunn unloads a deep pass in the Urbana Tigers home game
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.

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


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
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Friday Night Forecast |
Here's how tonight's Illini Prairie team will fare

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

BLOOMINGTON - Central Catholic quarterback Valshun Powe carries the ball for a first down against St. Joseph-Ogden last Friday. The Saints averaged two TDs per quarter to beat the visiting Spartans 67-28. BCC is on the road tonight against Pontiac.
Here are Week 8 predictions from Illini Prairie football pundits for this edition of The Sentinel’s Friday Night Forecast.


URBANA - Each week, we invite Illini Prairie Conference fans to predict the winners from conference matchups. New experts are welcome every week. Below is what this week's team of experts think they have figured out.


Week 8 predictions

Illini Prairie Game of the Week
Paxton-Buckley-Loda vs Rantoul

Denise: Paxton-Buckley-Loda .::. 63-21
J: Paxton-Buckley-Loda .::. 27-7
Alan: Paxton-Buckley-Loda .::. 38-7
Sara C: Paxton-Buckley-Loda .::. 38-21
Mike Roy: Paxton-Buckley-Loda .::. 35-7

Brooks Look: The Panthers might not make it to 4-4 overall if they fall asleep on the Eagles.

Paxton-Buckley-Loda 42, Rantoul 21

Monticello @ Prairie Central

Denise: Monticello .::. 28-7
J: Monticello .::. 33-18
Alan: Prairie Central .::. 35-21
Sara C: Monticello .::. 28-27
Mike Roy: Monticello .::. 21-13

Brooks Look: The Sages doing Sages stuff, secure a spot in the playoffs.

Monticello 35, Prarie Central 14

Unity @ Illinois Valley Central

Denise: Unity .::. 32-14
J: Unity .::. 50-0
Alan: Unity .::. 31-20
Sara C: Unity .::. 38-21
Mike Roy: Unity .::. 47-0

Brooks Look: The playoff eligible Rockets will use this game to tighten up their defensive execution and get a lot of young players on the field in the second half.

Unity 49, Illinois Valley Central 7

Central Catholic @ Pontiac

Denise: Central Catholic .::. 54-14
J: Central Catholic .::. 46-7
Alan: Central Catholic .::. 42-14
Sara C: Central Catholic .::. 60-14
Mike Roy: Central Catholic .::. 63-7

Brooks Look: The undefeated Saints are just two games away from duplicating SJO's perfect 2024 IPC season. At this point, there is no reason to believe they can't do it.

Central Catholic 35, Pontiac 7

St. Joseph-Ogden @ Seneca

Denise: St. Joseph-Ogden .::. 42-28
J: Seneca .::. 49-28
Alan: St. Joseph-Ogden .::. 28-24
Sara C: St. Joseph-Ogden .::. 32-20
Mike Roy: Seneca .::. 56-14

Brooks Look: For a second straight week, the Spartans face another undefeated team. Seneca has scored at least 35 points per contest this season. SJO has struggled to score in the second half in their last three games and it feels like this week, the second-half drought is finally over with Wyatt Wertz back on the field.

St. Joseph-Ogden 28, Seneca 21


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


TAGS: Week 8 Illini Prairie football, Weekly IPC football predictions, SJO football, Unity football predictions, IHSA high school football predictions
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Week 7 Illini Prairie football, submit your Friday Night Forecast predictions

SJO's Lane McKinney dives in to break up a pass play
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden's Lane McKinney dives in to break up a Unity pass play to Brayden Henry during their regular season game last month. SJO (5-1) takes on undefeated Bloomington Central Catholic this week while the Rockets (5-1) host Paxton-Buckley-Loda (3-3) for senior night.

Illini Prairie Conference scores

Unity 46, Prairie Central 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

Week 6 Results

Rank Name Record Notes
1 Mike Roy 5-0 Week 6 winner
2 Alan 4-1 3-way tie
2 Sara 4-1 3-way tie
2 Brooks Look 4-1 3-way tie
5 Frank 3-2 2-way tie
5 Denise 3-2 2-way tie

Cumulative Standings (After Week 6)

Rank Name Total Record Wins Notes
1 Brooks Look 25-5 2 Week 2 & 5 winner
2 Denise 21-9 0
2 Alan 21-9 0
4 Sara 18-7 1 Week 3 winner
5 J 16-4 2 Week 1 & 4 winner
6 Lyman 10-5 0
7 Frank 7-3 0
8 Mike Roy 5-0 0 Week 6 Winner!
9 Keith 3-2 0

Cumulative Standings Win % (After Week 6)

Rank Name Precentage
1 Mike Roy 100%
2 Brooks Look 83.33%
3 J   80%
4 Sara 72%
5 Alan 70%
5 Denise 70%
5 Frank 70%
8 Lyman 66.67%
9 Keith 60%


TAGS: Weekly Illini Prairie Conference football predictions, Week 7 SJO football predictions, Unity football predictions this week, IHSA football predictions this season
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Illini Prairie Football
Week 2 Friday Night Forecast

PBL's Dameion Olivero tries to tackle Kodey McKinney
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

ST. JOSEPH - Spartan quarterback Kodey McKinney runs by Paxton-Buckley-Loda middle linebacker Dameion Olivero during their 2024 regular season finale. The Panthers return to Dick Duval Field searching for the first victory of the season and retribution for last season's 42-14 loss to St. Joseph-Ogden in their Week 2 game on Friday.
Submit your picks for this week's forecast and see how your calls stack up against other Illini Prairie Conference football fans. Drop back by OurSentinel.com Friday morning to see which teams are predicted to win as they work to qualify for this year's state football playoffs.

Leaderboard:
Rank Player Overall Record Contest Wins Notes
1 J 5-0 1 Week 1 Winner
2 Sara 5-0 0 Perfect start, lost tiebreaker
3 Brooks Look 4-1 0 Strong debut
4 Denise 4-1 0 Solid opening week
5 Alan 3-2 0 Winning record

Previous predictions:
Week 1 Predictions / Week 1 Results

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Illini Prairie Football
Week 1 Friday Night Forecast

Unity quarterback Dane Eisenmenger
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Quarterback Dane Eisenmenger rolls out behind a solid wall of Unity blockers during their second-round playoff game against St. Joseph-Ogden. Eisenmenger, who was 9-for-14 passing, threw four TD passes to advance the Rockets past the Spartans last November. The senior announced his commitment on August 1 to continue is football career for the Mules of the University of Central Missouri.
URBANA - High school football season is here, and we’re kicking off something new for our readers — Friday Night Forecast. Each week, we’ll highlight the top Illini Prairie Conference matchups and invite you to put your football instincts to the test.

Less reliable than the weatherman, but twice as fun, join us in predicting the Illini Prairie Conference wins and upsets. May your predictions be slightly more accurate than a coin flip!

With the opening kickoff for the conference just two weeks away, we've opened up voting early to see who IPC fans think will start their 2025 campaign with the 'dub'.

Think you can spot the upsets before they happen? Ready to back your hometown team with more than just school spirit?

Submit your picks for the opening week forecast and see how your calls stack up against fellow Illini Prairie Conference football fans all season long. Drop back by OurSentinell.com Friday morning to see which teams are predicted to win as they work to qualify for this year's state football playoffs.

More stories ~
  • Unity shocks St. Joseph-Ogden with dominant defense, advances to quarterfinal round
  • A perfect season, SJO goes 9-0 into 2024 IHSA football playoffs
  • Opening statement, Spartans send message to conference opponents
  • St. Joseph-Ogden tumbles at Central Catholic, slideshow & recap

    • Illini Prairie Conference football predictions 2025, Friday Night Forecast high school football picks, Small-town Illinois high school football rivalries, Weekly high school football score predictions Illinois, Fan contest Illini Prairie Conference football games
    Published on

    Unity football coach announces retirement after 31 seasons

    Unity football coach Scott Hamilton
    Unity head coach Scott Hamilton talks to players after their home game against Althoff Catholic on September 20, 2024. After the game, Hamilton said the eventual Class 1A state champions was the best team his program has faced on the gridiron. See 19 more photos of Hamilton from his final season below.

    All photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
    TOLONO - The end of an era has come. Unity head football coach Scott Hamilton announced today that he will retire from the helm of Central Illinois' football powerhouse.

    He made his future plans known via a post on social media thanking the school board, community, all the players he coached the past 31 years, and, of course, his family. He said his future plans included spending more time with his family, golfing, and the Florida sun.

    Hamilton took the reigns to the Rockets' football program starting 1994, amassing a record of 291 wins against 74 losses in his 31-year tenure. He guided Unity to six state championship games, starting in 2000 in Class 2A, and made five more appearances in Class 3A in 2005, 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2021. In all five cases, his team finished with runner-up trophies.

    Thanks to Hamilton, Unity won its first playoff game back in the 1996 season, knocking off St. Joseph-Ogden in a 42-6 thrashing. The contest cemented the intense legendary rivalry between the two programs that continues to this day. The Rockets went on to finish 11-1 after the quarterfinal loss.

    Under the Roxana native and 2017 Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Famer, Unity has seen just one losing season. In 2018, the Rockets finished 4-5. The only other year the team missed the playoffs was in the spring 2021 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.



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    St Joseph-Ogden unbeaten run ends in playoff loss to Unity

    Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

    Cameron Wagner and Tanner Siems hug after SJO's 35-7 second-round playoff loss to Unity. The Spartans' magical season featuring an impressive 10-win streak and conference title ended on Saturday.
    TOLONO - St. Joseph-Ogden's impressive 10-game winning streak came to an abrupt halt on Saturday as they fell 35-7 to Unity in the Class 3A second-round football playoffs.

    The Spartans, who demonstrated their confidence and enthusiasm all season long, appeared uncharacteristically flat even before the opening kickoff. Unity immediately capitalized on SJO's lackluster performance, landing four solid punches, scoring twice in each of the first two quarters to take a commanding 28-7 lead at halftime.

    The game showcased Unity’s improved physicality and discipline on both sides of the ball, contrasting with the regular-season matchup when St. Joseph-Ogden narrowly edged Unity 24-21. Unity head coach Scott Hamilton attributed the win to the rigorous schedule his team faced with teams like Althoff Catholic, saying the experience prepared them for postseason intensity.

    "I think defensive we are tackling a lot better. Offensively, I think our edge, parameter stuff, and blocking has got a lot better," Hamilton said.

    SJO's sideline, usually full of energy and vocal support, appeared subdued, a rare sight for a team that dominated its competition all season. The Spartans came out uncharacteristically flat, similar to their brief third-quarter lapse in their season opener against Monticello, though that lapse didn’t cost them a win. However, this time, Unity capitalized on SJO's lack of momentum and decisively took control of the game to avenge the earlier loss.

    Garrett Richardson led the Unity offense with 215 rushing yards on 42 carries, including a touchdown. Tre Hoggard was a force in the passing game, catching four touchdowns for 124 yards.

    Spartan defense wraps up Garrett Richardson
    Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
    Unity's Garrett Richardson is stopped in his tracks by St. Joseph-Ogden linemen Jackson Ennis, Ryker Lockhart, and Jared Altenbaumer.

    In his postgame assessment, Spartan head coach Shawn Skinner stated that his team performed "uncharacteristically" in the first half, leaving them in a hole they could not escape.

    "There were so many things that didn't happen in this game that we've done all year," Skinner said after giving his team their last postgame talk on the gridiron. "We didn't convert in the red zone. We dropped interceptions that hit us on the hands. The field position game was in their favor for most of the first half. We haven't done that all year. We controlled the field position game."

    St. Joseph-Ogden's normally explosive offense was stifled by Unity's defense. Wyatt Wertz, Tanner Siems, and Coy Taylor, who have combined for 34 touchdowns this season, were held in check. Siems finished with 77 receiving yards, while Taylor, who became the state's all-time leading receiver during the game, had 34 yards.

    Cameron Wagner
    Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

    Tracking the ball carried by Unity Garrett Richardson, Spartan sophomore Cameron Wagner plays on defense in his team's last game of the season.

    "We couldn't really establish a run or pass the whole game. Throwing into the wind was a little difficult," Taylor added. "They had a good defensive plan for us. You can definitely tell that they put in a lot of work."

    Unity's physicality and determination were evident throughout the game. They tallied 61 tackles, including 36 solos, and held SJO to just 59 rushing yards.

    "We talked about running the ball, being physical, and that's what it takes this time of the year," said Unity head coach Scott Hamilton, happy to have his program advance to the quarterfinals.

    Despite the disappointing loss, St. Joseph-Ogden head coach Shawn Skinner praised his team's effort.

    "This game does not define this season," said Skinner. "We won ten games in a row. That's hard to do."

    Unity will host Nashville in the quarterfinals on Saturday, while St. Joseph-Ogden's season ends with a 10-1 record.

    Subscribe St. Joe-Ogden Athletics
    KEYWORDS: St. Joseph-Ogden football, Unity Football, Class 3A playoffs, Garrett Ricardson, Tre Hoggard, Coy Taylor
    Published on

    Unity shocks St. Joseph-Ogden with dominant defense, advances to quarterfinal round

    Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

    Quarterback Dane Eisenmenger rolls out behind a solid wall of Unity blockers during their second-round playoff game against St. Joseph-Ogden. Eisenmenger, who was 9-for-14 passing, threw four TD passes to advance the Rockets past the Spartans.
    TOLONO - In a second-round playoff matchup Saturday that saw both defensive grit and offensive fireworks, the Unity Rockets (8-3) defeated the previously unbeaten St. Joseph-Ogden Spartans (10-1) with a commanding 35-7 score. Unity’s defense held the Spartans, who averaged five touchdowns per game during their undefeated regular season, to their lowest scoring output since 2022, shutting down a high-powered, dominant offense that many thought would be difficult to contain.

    Unity’s ground attack was fueled by Garrett Richardson, who powered through the Spartans’ defensive line for 215 yards on 42 carries. Richardson's relentless rushes brought his season total to 1,635 yards. He found the end zone once in the first half, adding to his total of 103 yards at the break. Matching his impressive ground performance was Tre Hoggard, who provided a receiving spectacle with three first-half touchdown catches. He finished the game with 124 yards and a fourth touchdown that brought Unity’s lead to a decisive 35-7 with just over eight minutes left in the game.

    Quarterback Dane Eisenmenger also turned in a strong showing, completing 9 of 14 passes for 152 yards and connecting repeatedly with Hoggard to keep Unity’s offense pushing forward. Eisenmenger’s accuracy and strategic playmaking helped Unity establish a 28-7 lead by halftime putting SJO's back on the ropes.

    Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

    Rockets' Garrett Richardson looks for running room around St. Joseph-Ogden's Tanner Siems. Despite not finding his way into the end zone, the senior running back ate up 215 yards of turf on SJO.

    The true spotlight, however, belonged to the Rockets' defense. With 61 tackles, 36 of which were solo efforts, Unity suffocated the Spartans’ potent offense, led by the prolific SJO quarterback Kodey McKinney. St. Joseph-Ogden, a team known for its effective running game, was limited to just 59 rushing yards, rendering their offense one-dimensional and struggling to keep pace.

    Unity’s defensive unit, anchored by disciplined tackling and an aggressive pass rush, applied constant pressure, forcing quick decisions from McKinney and keeping SJO’s star receivers, Tanner Siems and Coy Taylor, in check.

    The Spartans' only score of the game came in the first quarter when McKinney powered through for a 7-yard rushing touchdown with 3:45 left. Siems, SJO's version of San Francisco 49ers great Jerry Rice, finished with four catches for 77 yards. Meanwhile, Taylor, who now holds Illinois’ all-time career receptions record with 259, managed seven catches but was limited to 34 yards in Unity’s tightly controlled defensive scheme.

    Unity head coach Scott Hamilton credited his team’s win to their experience and resilience, honed through a demanding schedule.

    Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

    Big pushes by the Unity front line enabled ball carriers to pick up first downs almost at will against St. Joseph-Ogden. Rockets' Jaden Dene and Spartans' Carson Sarnecki mix it up nose-to-nose in the trench.

    "You play guys like Belleville Althoff, you learn to get better and stick to the process," he said while players and fans celebrated near the east end zone. "We talked about running the ball, being physical and that's what it takes this time of the year."

    After a narrow 24-21 regular-season loss to St. Joseph-Ogden, Unity made noticeable improvements, especially in tackling and defensive discipline, which Hamilton attributed to focused preparation.

    "I think defensive we are tackling a lot better. Offensively, I think our edge, parameter stuff, and blocking has got a lot better."

    Hamilton also credited the big plays by special teams. The Rockets recorded three sacks and consistently enjoyed solid field position that kept the game’s momentum in their favor.

    "It was all three phases. It was a huge special teams win."

    The win not only solidifies Unity’s postseason run but also continues an impressive record against St. Joseph-Ogden in playoff meetings. In eight postseason encounters, Unity has emerged victorious seven times, with the Spartans’ lone win occurring in the 2006-07 season. Hamilton, who has led Unity’s program for 31 seasons and holds a remarkable 290-73 record, may have another opportunity to chase the state championship title that has eluded him thus far, with six runner-up finishes across his storied career.

    St. Joseph-Ogden head coach Shawn Skinner acknowledged that his team’s execution faltered in the face of Unity’s balanced attack.

    "There were so many things that didn't happen in this game that we've done all year," Skinner said after giving his team their last postgame talk on the gridiron. "We didn't convert in the red zone. We dropped interceptions that hit us on the hands. The field position game was in their favor for most of the first half. We haven't done that all year. We controlled the field position game."

    While the loss marks the end of SJO’s season at 10-1, the Rockets will face the Nashville Hornets (10-1) in the quarterfinals at Hicks Field on Saturday. Nashville advanced after a decisive 41-21 win over Greenville and brings its explosive offense to Tolono looking to step over Unity for a spot in the Class 3A semifinals.

    As the Rockets gear up for another round, Hamilton remains focused on Unity’s disciplined approach and urging his team to deliver the same intensity and physicality demonstrated against the Spartans.

    "Playmakers have got to make plays and we had some guys do it today," said Hamilton, who will be looking for more of the same this Saturday.

    Subscribe St. Joe-Ogden Athletics

    KEYWORDS: Unity Rockets football, SJO football, high school football playoffs, IHSA football, Scott Hamilton
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