Late rally propels Rockets past the Sages into 3A quarterfinals

Unity edged Monticello 21-20 in a dramatic Class 3A playoff rematch at Hicks Field. The Rockets sealed the victory on a last-second interception by Tre Hoggard.

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Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Unity's Tre Hoggard makes a leaping catch in front of a pass intended for Monticello's Jake Robinson on a two-point conversion attempt by the Sages. The snag by Hoggard as time expired ended the game with the Rockets on top 21-20 and advancing to the Class 3A quarterfinals.

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TOLONO — The atmosphere was as electric and palpable as expected from the opening kickoff to the final interception that sealed Unity’s one-point victory over Monticello (8-3) at Hicks Field in their Class 3A second-round playoff game on Saturday. In a gritty, hard-fought battle, the Rockets avenged last year’s semifinal loss at Monticello with a dramatic finish of their own, winning 21-20 in a finale for the ages.

Unity, which advanced to the state quarterfinals for the fifth consecutive season and the 18th time in program history, will play at Williamsville (11-0) at 2 p.m. next Saturday.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Monticello's Zeke Young goes up for a pass between Unity defensive backs Tyler Henry and Adam Reedy early in the second half of their playoff game.

The matchup between the rival Illini Prairie Conference programs was a classic gridiron struggle filled with big plays and momentum swings on a gray, overcast day. Fueled by determination, athleticism, and sound fundamentals on both sides, “epic” might have been an understatement.

“Monticello is a great team with a great game plan,” Unity head coach Tony Reetz said. “We knew they would give us everything we could handle. They did a great job of making long drives and keeping our offense off the field. We never really got the field flipped the way we wanted. Hats off to them.”

Monticello senior quarterback Nolan Buehnerkemper’s swan song was bittersweet. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior played quarterback, safety and kicker, seemingly everywhere for the Sages. He completed 24 of 35 passes for 363 yards and two touchdowns.

Buehnerkemper scored Monticello’s first touchdown on a 1-yard plunge that gave the Sages a 7-0 lead with 5:56 left in the first quarter. Just over two minutes later, he connected with Zeke Young on a 75-yard touchdown strike, stunning the heavily favored Rockets with a 14-0 advantage.

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Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Crewe Eckstein pushes Sages' Drake Weeks away on his way to the tying touchdown before the end of the first half. The senior ran for 157 yards on 25 touches.

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Down two scores at the start of the second quarter, Unity responded immediately. On the first play of the quarter, Tre Hoggard ran nine yards for a touchdown. With 6:16 left in the half, Crewe Eckstein found the corner of the west end zone for another score. Kicker Ty Rodems converted both extra points to tie the game 14-14 at halftime.

“A lot of respect to them. They are a good team,” Eckstein said after posing for photos with friends. The senior finished with 157 yards on 26 carries. “They filled all their gaps. They hustle and they play hard.”

Neither team scored in the third quarter as both defenses stood firm.

Unity took a 21-14 lead with 9:41 left in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Dane Eisenmenger.

“We were all clicking in the second half. The first half was a little iffy,” senior defensive back Coleton Langendorf said. “But we picked it up in the second half.”

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Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Unity's Keegan Germano tries to fold Monticello tight end Jake Robinson in half with a solid tackle during third quarter action. Teammate Coleton Langendorf said Germano delivered an outstanding effort on defense for the Rockets. "He was just flying around everywhere. He was making things happen," Langendorf said singing praises.

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Monticello didn’t back down. With less than nine seconds remaining, Buehnerkemper found Heyden Ramano, who scooped the pass just inches above the ground for a touchdown to make it 21-20.

Instead of kicking the extra point to force overtime, Monticello head coach Cully Welter made the gutsy decision to go for two. Buehnerkemper threw over the middle to senior Jake Robinson, but before the ball could reach his neon-gloved fingertips, Hoggard leapt into the air and intercepted it — ending the Sages’ season and sending Unity to the quarterfinals.

“When the ball touched my finger, it was amazing,” Hoggard said. “I just knew the game was over.”

Not bad for a player who hadn’t played defense all year but stepped in for an injured teammate in the Sages' last drive in the third quarter. He was on the field for just six plays, but his presence made the difference.

“It feels good. I wouldn’t say I was responsible for the win. There are others on our team who stepped up when they needed to. Defense stepped up in the fourth quarter for sure.”

After the game, Monticello players, even after a heartbreaking loss, displayed an impressive level of class, sportsmanship and conference camaraderie during postgame handshakes, telling their opponents, “Go get the big win.”

“They were wishing us good luck,” Eckstein said. “A lot of respect to those guys. They are all nice. They are all great.”

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Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Desmond Winfrey and Coleton Langendor celebrate a defensive stop in the third quarter. The Rockets move on in the Class 3A bracket with a roadtrip to Williamsville next Saturday.

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Tags: Unity Rockets Class 3A football playoffs, Monticello Sages vs Unity playoff game recap, Illinois high school football quarterfinal preview, Unity football Hicks Field Tolono Illinois, IHSA Class 3A playoff highlights 2025

Paine Schwartz Partners Challenger serves up action starting today in Champaign

Champaign-Urbana's annual professional hard-court tennis tournament starts today at Atkins Tennis Center.

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CHAMPAIGN - The annual Paine Schwartz Partners Challenger is underway at the Atkins Tennis Center in Champaign, bringing professional men’s tennis back to central Illinois as part of the ATP Challenger Tour. The indoor hard-court tournament runs November 9–16 and features a mix of emerging talents and seasoned tour veterans competing for valuable ATP ranking points.

Today's opening draw for the the Paine Schwartz Partners Challenger starts at 10 a.m. Winners from these matches will advance to the main draw, which begins early this week and is expected to feature several ATP Top 200 players.

Among the challengers are University of Illinois players Jeremy Zhang and Mathis Debru, who take the court in today's qualifying singles round at Atkins Tennis Center. Both Fighting Illini players will start their run on the Schwartz Court.

General admission is $10 per person.

Hosted at the University of Illinois’ premier tennis facility, the Champaign Challenger continues to serve as a key late-season stop on the U.S. circuit, offering players a final chance to improve rankings before year’s end and giving local fans an up-close look at future stars of the sport. Follow the tournament online for the Paine Schwartz daily draw.

Sunday, November 9 Schedule

Starting at 10 a.m. on the Schwartz Court:
[3] Jacob BRUMM (USA) VS [Alt] Drew VAN ORDERLAIN (USA)

Starting at 10 a.m. on the Goldenberg Court:
Pranav KUMAR (USA) vs [7] Ryan FISHBACK (USA)

Followed by:
[WC] Marcel LATAK (USA) vs [8] Noah SCHACHTER (USA)
[1] Lui MAXTED (GBR) vs Preston BROWN (USA)
[WC] Jeremy ZHANG (AUS) vs [11] Enzo WALLART (USA)
[4] Shunsuke MITSUI (JPN) vs [WC] Benedict GRAFT (USA)
Ozan BARIS (USA) vs [10] Ryan SEGGERMAN (USA)
[Alt] Tom HANDS (GBR) vs [9] Maik STEINER (GER)
[5] Peter BERTRAN (DOM) vs [Alt] Taym AL AZMEH (GER)
[2] Quinn VANDECASTEELE vs [Alt] Alex KOBELT (USA)
[6] Pablo MARTINEZ GOMEZ (ESP) VS [WC] Mathis DEBRU (FRA)
Noah ZAMORA (USA) Vs [12] Brandon PEREZ (VEN)

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Tags: Paine Schwartz Partners Challenger Champaign 2025, ATP Challenger Tour Illinois tennis tournament, Atkins Tennis Center Champaign tennis matches, professional men’s indoor hard court tennis, University of Illinois ATP Challenger event, emerging ATP tennis players in Champaign

The Sentinel On This Day | November 9

In a month marked by remembrance and gratitude, we revisit stories that defined our region — local sports state championship runs, celebrating Thanksgiving, and spotlighting moments of unity, resilience, and spirited debate.

From local news, features, and community events to politics, and Opinion-Editorial viewpoints, discover archived posts published on November 9 in previous years, offering a rich tapestry of life in Champaign County and the broader community, curated by The Sentinel. Here are the headlines from local news, sports, community events, and editorial viewpoints in and around Champaign-Urbana.

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Featured photo on this day ~

Urbana University's Stefania Dzhaman runs to the finish line behind Eureka's Meika Bender in the Class 1A Cross Country State Finals on Saturday. Dzhaman, a senior, finished her run at 19:42.85. See more local athletes in action at the 2021 IHSA state cross country meet.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Sentinel Article Archive for November 9

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A season of triumphs: Heyworth's playoff run concludes

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Heyworth competited fiercely and represented their school with honor and pride.

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by Alan Look
Best Look Magazine

The Heyworth Hornets capped off an outstanding football season today, concluding their impressive playoff run against a formidable Stockton Blackhawks squad in the IHSA Class 1A Second Round. While the final scoreboard, Stockton 26, Heyworth 3, did not fall the Hornets' way, it cannot overshadow the tremendous accomplishments of this team and its community.

The Hornets fought hard, earning a valuable field goal and demonstrating the resilience and tenacity that defined their path to the second round. Playing against the number one seed is a testament to the level of success Heyworth achieved this year—a season marked by tenacity, skill, and the unified spirit of the entire town.

To the players, coaches, and the loyal Heyworth faithful: hold your heads high. You competed fiercely and represented your school with honor and pride. This deep run into the playoffs establishes a strong foundation and raises the bar for the program's future. The entire Heyworth community can look back on this season with immense pride. This is not an ending, but a springboard for even greater things to come.

..::.. Click here to see exclusive photos from this game ..::..

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Tags: GCMS Falcons Heart of Illinois Medium Division title, Ridgeview vs GCMS high school football highlights, Central Illinois high school football championship game, Alan Look Photography sports action shots, Senior Night high school football game

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IHSA second-round playoff scores and results

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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Help feed Champaign County families through the SNAP-Ed holiday food drive

The Holiday Food Drive runs through Nov. 26, accepting non-perishable items at the Champaign office. Each donation supports pantries and households across the county. Even small contributions can make a big difference this season.

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CHAMPAIGN - There’s something about the sound of a can dropping into a donation box - a small, metallic note that carries a quiet kind of hope. Each clang, each thud of a box of pasta or bag of rice, echoes louder this time of year when neighbors start thinking less about what’s on their own tables and more about how to fill someone else’s. That’s the spirit behind the University of Illinois Extension SNAP-Ed Holiday Food Drive, which is now underway to help stock pantry shelves across Champaign County before the holidays arrive.

Photo: Jacob McGowin/Unsplash

From Monday, November 10, through Wednesday, November 26, community members are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the Extension office at 801 North Country Fair Drive in Champaign. Donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. All contributions - from a single can of soup to a full grocery sack - will go directly to local pantries and families who could use an extra helping hand this season.

“We know that the holidays can be a challenging time for many families,” said Tracy Bowden, University of Illinois SNAP-Ed educator. “Every food item donated helps ensure that our neighbors have nutritious meals to enjoy during the season.”

The most helpful items are shelf-stable staples: canned vegetables and fruit, pasta, rice, cereal, peanut butter, and other non-perishables. A few simple items from one household can easily turn into a warm meal for another.

For many in the community, the food drive isn’t just about generosity - it’s about connection. It’s about slowing down long enough to remember that even a small gesture can ripple outward. As grocery costs rise and pantry shelves grow thin, every donation becomes a message that says, you’re not forgotten.

If you’re able, take a moment this week to drop something off. It may not seem like much, but to the family unpacking that bag later this month, it will mean everything.

For more information about the Holiday Food Drive, contact Tracy Bowden at tbowden@illinois.edu.

The Sentinel On This Day | November 8

In a month marked by remembrance and gratitude, we revisit stories that defined our region — honoring veterans, celebrating Thanksgiving, and spotlighting moments of unity, resilience, and spirited debate.

From local news, sports, and community events to politics, and Opinion-Editorial viewpoints, discover archived posts published on November 8 in previous years, offering a rich tapestry of life in Champaign County and the broader community, curated by The Sentinel. Here are the headlines from local news, sports, community events, and editorial viewpoints in and around Champaign-Urbana.

Sentinel Article Archive for November 8

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

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

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