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State Football |
Monticello's dream season shattered, Montini clinches Class 3A title

Members of the Monticello football team celebrate with their runner-up trophy after Friday's Class 3A state championship game against Montini.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

NORMAL - On a frigid November afternoon at Hancock Stadium, Montini Catholic (12-2) showcased its championship pedigree with a dominant 49-8 victory over Monticello (11-3) to claim its first Class 3A football state championship. The Broncos, who previously captured six state titles in higher classifications, overwhelmed the Sages in a game that underscored their experience and depth.

Montini’s victory added another chapter to its storied history. The Broncos won the Class 4A title in 2004, Class 5A titles in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012, and the Class 6A championship in 2015. This was Montini’s first state title since moving to Class 3A last year, following a waiver granted by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) to compete in the smaller classification. Their last title-game appearance was in 2018, a narrow 35-27 loss to Joliet Catholic in the Class 5A final.

"This group of kids worked so hard, especially the seniors. We've had a couple of rough years," said Bronco head coach Mike Bukovsky. "They felt the pressure of living up to some of the past achievements of Montini teams. I don't know if I've had a tighter knit group than this group."

They seemed like a team of destiny. Secretly, I was very fearful of that.

Friday’s triumph marked Montini’s seventh state title overall, continuing the DuPage County private school’s reputation as an Illinois football powerhouse.

The Broncos wasted no time asserting their dominance. The offense opened with a 70-yard drive capped by Jeremiah Peterson’s 5-yard touchdown run just 1:42 into the contest. The onslaught continued with a 53-yard touchdown strike to CJ Harkins and a 49-yard scoring dash by Peterson in the first quarter, giving Montini a commanding 21-0 lead.

Bukovsky said Monticello looked impressive on-film. He dug deep into his bag of team motivational strategies to make sure his team did not enter the game overly confident, overlooking what he thought was a solid opponent.

"They had something. They won a couple of games in the playoff that maybe the shouldn't have won. We respected that," he said. "They have some playmakers. They seemed like a team of destiny. Secretly, I was very fearful of that."

Bronco quarterback Gaetano Carbonara looks for running room during second half action against Monticello. The senior moved the ball eight yards down the field. He also saw action on the other side of the ball, recording a solo tackle.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

By halftime, Montini had built an insurmountable 35-0 lead, adding two more scores in the second quarter. The Broncos’ balanced attack proved unstoppable, utilizing just 35 plays to generate seven scoring drives. Peterson finished with 183 all-purpose yards, Harkins added 123 receiving yards, and Santino Florio tallied 91 rushing yards and 100 total yards.

Monticello head coach Cully Welter said adjusting to Montini's size and quickness was difficult.

"Obviously, we saw them on film, and thought they were very good," he explained. "But, I thought they took it to another level today."

Bukovsky concurred with Welter's observation.

"Today, our guys just hit another level," he said, stating the rise in performance started two weeks earlier after the Broncos defeated Byron, avenging last year's 26-20 loss to last year's eventual Class 3A champions. "Since the Byron game, we've hit another level."

Monticello entered the championship game riding the momentum of three thrilling playoff wins, including a nail-biter against Unity. However, their hopes were quickly dashed by Montini’s suffocating defense and explosive offense. The Sages managed just 267 total yards, a stark contrast to Montini’s 545-yard effort, which included 320 rushing yards.

Adding to Monticello’s woes was the early exit of star quarterback Ike Young, who left the game in the second half due to injury. Young, who had amassed over 4,000 total yards this season, was visibly affected even before leaving the field. Without their leader, the Sages struggled to find rhythm.

A late fourth-quarter touchdown by Carter Foran prevented a shutout. Foran hauled in a 29-yard pass from Nolan Buehnerkemper with just 30 seconds left.

"On the last drive they were trying to get me in the end zone," Foran said. "That one throw hung up in the air a little bit. I was like, if these guys bobble it, I'll be in the back of it. That's what happen and I was able to get in [the end zone]."

Quan Nguyen’s two-point conversion capped a six-play, better late than never 77-yard drive that was one of the few bright spots for Monticello.

Montini's Payton Nelson breaks up a pass play to Monticello's Carter Foran in the fourth quarter.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Buehnerkemper led the Sages with 46 rushing yards and threw for 85 and one TD. Koyie Williams and teammate Quan Nguyen finished the game with 21 yards rushing each.

Senior Carter Foran hauled in a team-high nine passes for 110 yards. His longest catch resulted in Monticello's only touchdown. Before moving to quarterback, Buehnerkemper had four catches for 33 yards.

We gave it our best shot.

Montini’s defense played a pivotal role in the victory, limiting Monticello’s explosive offense. Douglas Mateo led the Broncos with 10 tackles, including six solo stops. Jaxon Lane and Nick Irion combined for 12 tackles, while Brody Boyer recorded a crucial sack for a 10-yard loss. In total, the Broncos recorded 54 tackles, showcasing their physicality and discipline.

Montini defensive back Max Bell tries to shed Sages' Hunter Romano after intercepting a Monticello pass. Bell, a senior who recorded one tackle, got the pick and ran the ball back 19 yards.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

On the other side, Monticello’s defense was led by Buehnerkemper, who tallied 12 tackles. Koyie Williams and Hunter Romano added five tackles each, while Carter Foran and Jack Helms contributed four apiece. Despite their best efforts, the Sages defense struggled to contain Montini’s multifaceted attack.

Monticello, a boundary school with a student enrollment of 485, was making its second title-game appearance. The Sages previously won the Class 3A championship in 2018.

Welter was proud of this year's squad. "We gave it our best shot. All I can say is what a remarkable year for these kids. I'm extremely proud of what they accomplished this year."

Keywords: Montini Catholic football championship Monticello vs Montini Class 3A final Montini state football champions 2024 Class 3A football state finals
Illini Prairie Conference

Area football players to play in all-star football game June 21

Record-setting Taylor, power back Boyd-Meents headline Shrine Game rosters.

ST. JOSEPH - Two of central Illinois’ top high school football talents and other members from the Illini Prairie Conference will join an elite group of players from across the state for one final game in their prep careers.

Coy Taylor of St. Joseph-Ogden and Robert Boyd-Meents of Paxton-Buckley-Loda will take the field June 21 at Tucci Stadium in Bloomington for the 51st Annual Illinois High School Shrine Game. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m., with pregame ceremonies beginning at 10 a.m. Tickets are $10 and available at the gate.

Illinois' leading high school receiver Coy Taylor runs the ball

Robert Boyd-Meents picks up yards against the Spartans

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

RIGHT: Coy Taylor looks for running room on punt return for SJO during their home game against Paxton-Buckley-Loda. Taylor made five catches for 72 yards and rushed for 102 more on Senior Night. LEFT: PBL's Robert Boyd-Meents runs the ball against the Spartans on the same night. Boyd-Meents averaged 5.1 yards per carry and finished the game with 70 all-purpose yards against a stout Spartan defense.

This all-star event, sponsored by the Illinois Coaches Association and the Shriners of Illinois, benefits Shriners Hospitals for Children, with all proceeds supporting pediatric specialty care. Last year’s game raised nearly $13,000 for the cause.

Taylor, who will continue his football career at DuPage College, leaves behind a record-setting legacy. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound receiver holds the IHSA all-time career receptions record with 259 catches, surpassing the previous mark held by Marist’s Nic Weishar. Taylor also ranks fourth in state history in career receiving yards with 3,658 and became only the second receiver in Illinois history to post three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. His senior year included 83 catches for 1,045 yards, highlighted by a postseason performance in which he had seven receptions against Unity in his final game.

Boyd-Meents, meanwhile, anchored PBL’s offense for three seasons. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound running back amassed 4,020 total yards over 31 varsity games, averaging 129 yards per contest. In addition to his ground attack, he hauled in 39 receptions for 747 yards, helping the Panthers reach the playoffs each of the last three seasons.

The Blue Team will feature both Taylor and Boyd-Meents alongside Milford’s Caleb Clutteur, an 8-man football tight end. They’ll be guided by one of their own: St. Joseph-Ogden head coach Shawn Skinner, who joins the Blue Team coaching staff.

Skinner brings a resume full of recent success. He led the Spartans to a 10-1 finish in 2024, including a perfect 8-0 record in Illini Prairie Conference play. Over the past three seasons, Skinner’s teams have gone 25-5 and made deep playoff runs, including a narrow second-round postseason loss last fall to Roxana. In an interesting twist, Skinner will coach alongside Roxana head coach Wade Devries, whose team ended SJO’s 2023 season with a last-minute defensive stand on a 2-point conversion attempt.

The Red Team will also include a solid contingent of area athletes:

George Rouse, QB, Champaign Central
Carter Foran, WR, Monticello
Mason High, NT, Monticello
Evan Parish, ILB, Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin
Matt Suaava, OL (G), Paxton-Buckley-Loda
Ryker Grauer, ILB, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley
Matt Allen, DE, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley

Monticello's Carter Foran takes a handoff from quarterback Ike Young (left) during their semifinal game against Unity. He will be joined at the All-Star game with teammate Mason High. The two seniors saw action in the Class 3A championship game against Montini after defeating the Rockets last November.

Now in its fifth decade, the Shrine Game continues to celebrate Illinois’ football tradition while raising awareness and support for young patients. This year’s banquet speaker will be Jared Williamson, newly appointed head coach at Illinois Wesleyan University, and a former Shrine Game MVP in his home state of Alaska.

Full rosters and game-day information are available online at IL HS Shrine Game.

Opening statement, Spartans send message to conference opponents

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Fighting his way past Monticello's Hunter Romano, St. Joseph-Ogden defensive back Tayton Gerdes flows across the field to contain the Sages quarterback. The Spartan proved stout, holding the host to just 90 yards on the ground.

MONTICELLO - Monday and Tuesday's weather forecast called for spotty rain for last Friday. By Wednesday, the updated forecast said rain after 9 p.m., and on Thursday it looked like St. Joseph-Ogden's season opener against Monticello would be rain-free. But no, said Mother Nature late Friday afternoon. A meandering storm system producing heavy rain—nearly 2 inches, according to a couple of Monticello residents—and frequent lightning forced the long-awaited game to Saturday.

After receiving the opening kickoff, like the lightning storm that passed through Piatt and Champaign County Friday evening, the Spartans struck frequently, scoring five times in the first half before Monticello could reply.

Thanks to solid offensive planning and execution, a balanced offensive effort, and four talented scoring weapons, SJO won the delayed season opener, 40-28.

Junior Tim Blackburn-Kelley caught a screen pass on the opening play and sprinted 80 yards to the south end zone at Monticello's Wilkey Sports Complex. "I caught the pass and my guys were blocking for me," Blackburn-Kelley explained. "I saw green grass and I just had to get on my horse and go."

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

SJO running back Wyatt Wertz take the ball through a hole in the Monticello defense. Wertz lead the Spartan ground game with 102-yards on 14 carries. See the Sentinel photo gallery for more pictures.

Blackburn-Kelley finished the game with 95 yards on three catches and added 28 yards on four carries.

On the Spartans' next possession, Jared Altenbaumer intercepted the ball with just under six minutes left in the first quarter. Kodey McKinney kept the ball on a draw play and dashed 67 yards through the Monticello defense to put SJO up 12-0.

The Sages' defense faltered again four minutes later. Coy Taylor carried the ball 37 yards to the 2-yard line and scored on the following play for a two-yard plunge to give SJO a 20-0 lead after Charlie Schmitz's PAT.

"We did a lot of things right. We came out very strong in the first quarter," Taylor said. "The first play of the game, we sent a message, and that's what we wanted to do."

Shawn Skinner's Spartans were on fire, unveiling another offensive weapon in Tanner Siems. His two catches totaled just 13 yards—each resulting in a touchdown. Siems announced himself as a playmaker, showcasing his wingspan and speed. Siems may be the first receiver in the Skinner era to join the ranks of exciting ball magnets like Cole Berry (2013-15) and Lukas Gones (2006-08).

Up 34-0, SJO pumped the brakes and relaxed a bit too early.

With a minute and a half left in the first half, Monticello's Ike Young scored on a 13-yard run to make it 34-7 at halftime.

Coming out of the locker room after the intermission, the Sages weren't quite ready to accept their first conference loss.

Showing both confidence and courage, Young threw back-to-back five-yard TD passes — one to Nolan Buehnerkemper in the third quarter and another to Carter Foran in the fourth—narrowing the deficit to two scores.

"I think the team, including myself, thought they would just roll over," Blackburn-Kelley said. "We had to get in each other's grill and finish the game."

One area he feels the team needs to work on for next week is staying focused for all four quarters.

"I think we need to work on staying focused and playing hard when we're tired," he said, looking ahead to Week 2 against Unity at home this Friday.

Taylor, who had nine catches for 82 yards and 43 yards on five carries, believes he and his Spartan teammates also need to work on leadership.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Senior Jackson Ennis celebrates the Spartans' first win of the season with the Maroon Platoon. His leadership was key in the victory and SJO will need more of it during the regular season to come out on top of the Illini Prairie.

"During the second half, we started out slow on both sides of the ball. We need to make sure we're not asleep or anything like that because a good team will take advantage of that."

With just over six minutes left in the game, McKinney found Taylor in the end zone for a 12-yard TD. Up 40-21, the Spartans missed on a few cylinders, giving Monticello the chance to score once more before the final buzzer.

McKinney finished his varsity quarterback debut spectacular fashion, going 12-for-14 passing for 208 yards, and four TDs.

Monticello drove down the field, and Young scored again on a keeper from the three-yard line, making the final score 40-28 after the PAT.

Spartan head coach Shawn Skinner attributed the second-half slump to the squad's youth and inexperience. He noted that for many players, it was their first extensive varsity experience.

"Good teams don't stop playing football, and that was true of our opponent today," Skinner said thoughtfully. "We need to learn that to be a good team. We can't just stop playing when we get up big early."

The Spartan offense totaled 454 yards for the day. The passing game barely skipped a beat from the previous season, with the receiving corps amassing 208 yards. Meanwhile, the ground attack added another 246 yards. The Sages finished with 405 total yards.

Skinner said he didn't think the Spartans could have played the first quarter and a half any better.

"We did a lot of things right. I think that's a credit to the work our kids have put in," he said. "We clearly have some guys who can play well on both sides of the football. They have to understand, they have to play all 48 minutes."

Box Score:

SJO 20 - 15 - 0 - 6 - 40
MONTICELLO 0 - 6 - 7 - 14 - 28