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Our top headlines in case you missed one or two

Nov 14, 2024 04:28 am  .::. 
St Joseph-Ogden unbeaten run ends in playoff loss to Unity

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.



Nov 14, 2024 01:58 am  .::. 
Unity shocks St. Joseph-Ogden with dominant defense, advances to quarterfinal round

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.



Nov 11, 2024 12:02 am  .::. 
Rockets roll on in football playoffs, SJO's season ended



Nov 10, 2024 11:01 pm  .::. 
Don't get snowed by holiday scams

Scams are unfortunately a fact of life these days. If it's not identity or data theft, it's credit breaches and scam phone calls. Many of us are getting scam texts, too. As the holidays roll in, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) wants you to know we are on the job, working to protect you and your mail and packages.



Nov 10, 2024 09:36 pm  .::. 
Baby on the way? 5 ways to prepare first-time siblings

Welcoming a baby to the family can be an exciting time, but it also impacts the existing family dynamic and lifestyle. First-time siblings may be overwhelmed and confused by these sudden changes that come with a new baby.



Nov 10, 2024 02:56 pm  .::. 
Photo Gallery |Spartan win sets collision course with Rockets



Nov 04, 2024 10:12 pm  .::. 
Still running out front: Unity collects sectional title, SJO qualifies for XC state

MATTOON - The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 1A Sectional Cross Country Meet at Lake Land College in Mattoon saw area powerhouse Unity advance to the state meet for the fourth consecutive year, finishing in first place with a score of 79 points. This year’s event, held on Saturday, November 2, took place under cloudy skies and cool conditions, with crip temperatures in the upper-50s at race time.



Nov 04, 2024 05:48 pm  .::. 
Guest Commentary | Seasons come and go, your perspective colors them all

We are entering into a different season in America. It’s not a season everyone likes or voted for but the season is changing. For some it’s better, for some it’s worse. For some it’s good news, for some it’s bad news.

St. Joe-Ogden Athletics
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Nov 04, 2024 02:24 pm  .::. 
Unity, SJO, and Uni-High boys advance to IHSA State Cross Country State Finals

Nov 03, 2024 11:37 pm  .::. 
Recent study suggests childhood trauma could haunt Illinois adults for life

Nov 03, 2024 11:24 pm  .::. 
Editorial |Which candidate do we endorse for president? We're not the marrying type

Nov 03, 2024 10:28 pm  .::. 
Unity football team celebrates playoff win over Roxana, date with SJO set

Nov 03, 2024 09:46 pm  .::. 
Unity advances to Round 2 after ousting Roxana from playoffs

Oct 31, 2024 09:19 pm  .::. 
Seggebruch leads Spartans, SJO falls to St. Thomas More in regional title match

Oct 31, 2024 08:37 pm  .::. 
Voting in Illinois: Ensuring election integrity and voting security

Oct 31, 2024 02:19 pm  .::. 
Affordable storage ideas for small apartments, clever hacks to make more space

Oct 31, 2024 03:22 am  .::. 
Richardson leads Comet Cross Country team at Tuscola Regionals

Oct 31, 2024 01:05 am  .::. 
St. Joseph-Ogden outlast Unity in three-set battle to secure regional title berth

Oct 29, 2024 08:32 pm  .::. 
Stress-free Thanksgiving tips for those short on time this holiday season

Oct 29, 2024 07:31 pm  .::. 
Franzen leads Spartan girls at regional cross country meet, next stop sectionals for SJO

Oct 29, 2024 12:21 pm  .::. 
Unity claims another cross country regional title, Rockets positioned to make it a four-peat at state

Oct 28, 2024 06:47 pm  .::. 
Uni-High girls finish fourth at Tuscola cross country regional

Oct 28, 2024 03:47 pm  .::. 
Guest Commentary | "I believe she will be much worse"

Oct 28, 2024 03:38 pm  .::. 
Tigers exit soccer postseason in a heartbreaking thriller

KEYWORDS: SJO Football, Unity Rockets Football, State Cross Country, Sentinel High School Sports, Election 2024
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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.

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