Team effort fuels Unity's 15-point win over Paris

Coleton Langendorf dribbles down the baseline during Unity's home game against Paris. The junior scored 21 against the visiting Tigers. See more photos from the game here.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Less than 24 hours after beating the Tri-Valley Vikings by 19, Unity picks up a second victory by 15 over visiting Paris.
TOLONO - The Rockets (8-5) start 2025 with back-to-back wins, the latest coming on Saturday at home against Paris. It took a team effort, with nine members contributing to the victory, for Unity to reverse a first-half 13-point deficit in the 65-50 win over the Tigers.

Scoreless in the first quarter, Coleton Langendorf hit his stride in the last two frames to lead the Rockets' offensive effort with 21 points. Tre Hoggard reached double digits, dropping 15 points on the Tigers. Mason O'Neill rounded out the top three scorers for Unity with seven points.

Despite losing the opening tip, Paris took an early 6-0 and stretched it into a 20-7 advantage by the end of the first quarter.

"Give Paris credit. They played really good out of the gate," said Unity head coach Matt Franks. "We were just sluggish. I have to give credit where credit is due. They played really well."

Sluggish. Yeah, a less than 24-hour turnaround after a tough game the night before does that to young legs.

"We had a really hard-fought game at Tri-Valley," he explained. "You could see that in our legs early. We didn't make shots early and it kind of snowballed."

Unity knocked off the 10-4 Vikings on the road, 60-41.

Down by 13 at the start of the second quarter, Dane Eisenmenger started the Rocket comeback hitting two free throws. The junior delivered the next UHS bucket to cut the lead to nine. Making every trip to the free throw line count, Unity converted on six of nine attempts along with three shots from Langendorf and another from Hoggard. By halftime, Unity trailed by three, 26-23.

"Our guys settled down and settled into the game, and were able to make enough plays," Franks said. He credited Unity's brutal early season schedule for the comeback. "Our first 11 games, eight of them were either 3A or 4A opponents. We played a really tough schedule early. It's done a good job preparing us for this stretch."

The Rockets' momentum continued in the second half to a 31-30 advantage. The two teams exchanged leads briefly before Unity slid ahead by four after Hoggard banked a layup off the glass at the end of the third period to up 40-36.

Thanks to eight fourth-quarter points from Langendorf and six points from Brayden Henry, Unity racked up a 15-point lead while limiting Paris to just 11.

Jackson Rigdon scored 27 points for Paris, 15 of those coming in the first half. The 5'10" senior drained five treys and went 4-for-6 from the free throw line. Juniors Carter Eastham and Karic Vitale contributed eight points each in the non-conference loss.

Hoping for a packed house, the Unity is back in the Rocket Center on Tuesday at 7 PM, hosting Normal University High (9-6). Like the Rockets, the Pioneers started the season facing larger basketball programs. U-High, who enters the game 3-0 against Illini Prairie Conference teams, notched victories over Bloomington, Normal West, and Rochester.

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Illini Prairie clash: Unity drops heartbreaker to Central Catholic, 34-27

A packed Hicks Field witnessed Unity and Central Catholic battle in a thrilling Illini Prairie Conference matchup. The Saints edged the Rockets 34-27.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

With the help of teammate Coleton Langendorf, Unity's Keegan Germano tackles Central Catholic quarterback Matthew Brady for a loss in the first quarter of their Illini Prairie Conference game. Scoring the last touchdown of the game, Brady led the visiting Saints to a 34-27 win at Hicks Field on Friday.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Unity defensive players take a breather on the sidelines while getting advice and instructions from an assistant coach.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Central Catholic receiver Crayton Schnierle hauls in long pass between Unity defenders Adam Reedy and Graydin Cler. Schnierle's catch set up BCC's second first quarter touchdown moving the ball from their 18 yard line to Unity's 33.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Unity fans in the east end zone dance to music during a time out. Over 500 football fans were on hand for an exciting game between the conference's two potential champions this season.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Unity's Tre Hoggard is wrapped up from behind by a Central Catholic defender. Hoggard made five catches good for 87 yards and a touchdown for the Rockets.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Crewe Eckstein makes his way into the end zone in the second quarter for a Unity touchdown. Eckstein padded his stats with 151 yards on 17 carries against the Saints. The senior finished the game with two touchdowns.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Unity fans congratulate wide receiver Tre Hoggard after his touchdown on a 29-yard pass play in the second quarter.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Unity's Crewe Eckstein breaks away for a 56-yard romp down the sidelines late in the second quarter.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Unity student fans show their undying support for the Rockets after a big play.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Blasting his way into the Saints' backfield, Rockets' Coleton Langendorf wraps up Central Catholic's Valshun Powe for a loss in the second half.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Unity student fans celebrate a first down for the Rockets.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Rockets' Crewe Eckstein barrels his way to the goal line for touchdown, dragging Saints' Greyer Pirtz, who made the initial hit on the eight-yard line, with him into the end zone.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Matthew Brady is hoisted by teammates after scoring a touchdown for Central Catholic. Brady's TD broke a 27-all score with less than two minutes left on the clock. The extra point was good giving his team the 34-27 advantage.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

With very little time on their side, Unity crafted an impressive drive down the field toward the east end zone in response to BCC's go-ahead score. Dane Eisenmenger rolls out of the pocket looking to throw to Tre Hoggard. The pass tipped off the fingertips of Hoggard as the buzzer sounded, ending the Rockets' comeback effort. Unity dropped to 2-1 on the season while Central Catholic remains undefeated headed into Week 4 of IHSA football.

Unity vs Central Catholic football photos, Hicks Field Illini Prairie Conference, IHSA Week 3 football gallery, Unity Rockets 2025 football, Central Catholic Saints undefeated season
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Spartans beat Rockets in Week 2 thriller at Dick Duval Field

Tanner Siems bursts through the Spartan banner followed by the rest of the team during the pregrame introduction on Friday at Dick Duval Field. Hours later St. Joseph-Ogden would emerge victorious in the home game against Unity, 24-21.
Maroon Platoon

An SJO student fan cheers during first-quarter action against the visiting Rockets. It took a little under eight minutes for the Spartans to light up the scoreboard on their way to their second conference win.

Members of the St. Joseph-Ogden Maroon Platoon cheer for the Spartans during the first half of the game. SJO led the Illini Prairie Conferenc game at the half, 21-14 .

Unity running back Garrett Richardson finds plenty of running room against the Spartans in the first half.
Unity running back Garrett Richardson

Unity running back Garrett Richardson is brought down an 11 yard run.
St. Joe-Ogden Athletics
Kaden Wedig hangs on to pass

Kaden Wedig hangs on to pass during first half action against the Rockets.
Garrett Richardson

Virtually untouched, Rocket running back Garrett Richardson slides into the end zone on a six-yard run for a third-quarter touchdown to tie up the score at 21-all.

Unity's Tyler Henry shoves St. Joseph-Ogden's Tim Blackburn-Kelley out of bounds. Blackburn-Kelley finished Friday's game with seven yards rushing on four carries and two catches for 23 yards. He also tallied a 32-yard run on a kick return and two more on a punt return.

Members of the St. Joseph-Ogden's Class of 1994 are recognized between quarters. The alumni enjoy their reunion weekend with a Spartan football victory.

Drummer for the March Spartans pounds out beat during a break in the action on the field.

A Spartan cheerleader keeps an eye on the action on the field. This year's 20-member squad kept fans and the student section cheering all four quarters of the home game.
Brayden Waller block Unity's Coleton Langendorf

St. Joseph-Ogden linebacker Brayden Waller block Unity's Coleton Langendorf.
Wyatt Wertz scampers past a Unity lineman

Wyatt Wertz scampers past a Unity lineman. Wertz delivered 19 of SJO's 159 yards on the ground.
Unity's Tyler Henry

Unity's Tyler Henry avoids St. Joseph-Ogden's Tayton Gerdes while returning a kickoff. His only return on special teams, Henry took the ball 49 yard before being stopped by the Spartans.

SJO's Carson Sarnecki and Quincy Jones wrap up Unity running back Garrett Richardson during third quarter action.
Spartan receiver Kaden Wedig

Covered by Unity's Ryan Rink, Spartan receiver Kaden Wedig snags the ball for a fourth-quarter catch.
Brennan Oleynichak lifts teammate Coy Taylor

Brennan Oleynichak lifts teammate Coy Taylor into the air after his 26-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. Taylor tallied a game-high 105 yards with nine catches.

Kaden Wedig hauls in a pass despite in-his-face coverage from Unity's Graydin Cler during the fourth quarter. Wedig, who finished with three catches for 42 yards, fell out of bounds in what could have been the go-ahead touchdown for the Spartans.
Kodey McKinney checks out scoreboard

Waiting to go back in, Spartan quarterback Kodey McKinney gazes at the scoreboard at Dick Duval Field during the fourth quarter. The junior signal caller scored St. Joseph-Ogden's first TD on a one-yard run in the first quarter. He finished his second varsity game with 43 rushing yards and threw for 268 yards against the Rockets.

Spartan manager Cameron Kuchenbrod heads back to the sidelines after giving water to players during a timeout.
Brayden Henry breaks up a pass to Tanner Siems

Rockets' Brayden Henry breaks up a pass play to Spartans' Tanner Siems early in the fourth quarter. Siems finished the regular season contest with a 22-yard touchdown in the first quarter and 110 yards.
Dane Eisenmenger

Unity's Dane Eisenmenger looks to make a throw in the fourth quarter. The junior quarterback completed seven of his 12 passes for 110 yards and tacked on 15 rushing yards in the loss to the Spartans.
Garrett Richardson stiff arms

Rockets' Garrett Richardson stiff arms Tim Blackburn-Kelley on a carry during the fourth quarter. Richardson had 22 carries for 90 yards and a 19-yard catch in Unity's second game of the season.
Wyatt Wertz, Cameron Wagner, and Gabe Mata

Surrounded by teammates Wyatt Wertz, Cameron Wagner, and Gabe Mata, SJO kicker Charlie Schmitz enjoys the moment after kicking the game-winning field goal from 31 yards out with 1.2 seconds left on the clock to seal a 24-21 victory.
Spartan lineman Josh Courter

Spartan lineman Josh Courter celebrates with this team after SJO's second-straight regular season win over Unity.
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