Spartan Senior Salute |12 and out with Kodey McKinney

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

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As one of 16 seniors, Kodey McKinney is the centerpiece of SJO's offense. Through a tough season, game after game, McKinney plays to win. No matter the score, even when the chips are down, he refuses to give up. Starting all eight games this season leading up to tonight’s season finale, McKinney has thrown for 1,760 yards and rushed for another 343.

Whether he’s calling for the snap, dribbling down the court, or hitting a line drive between the bases, the same three words—tenacious, decisive and focused—describe his performance in every game. Here are a few more words that help us get to know Kodey a little better.

Sentinel: What is your favorite class at St. Joseph-Ogden High School?

McKinney: Calculus

Sentinel: What is your go-to pregame meal?

McKinney: Cereal

Sentinel: What is your dream car?

McKinney: 64’ Impala

Sentinel: Name theree people you would invite to dinner if you won the lottery?

McKinney: Mom, Dad, and someone else

Sentinel: What is the best coaching advice you ever had?

McKinney: "Play fast, play physical" - Coach Walsh

Sentinel: Name an Instagram handle everyone should follow.

McKinney: @kodeymckinney.8

Sentinel: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you booking a flight?

McKinney: Cheyenne, Wyoming

Sentinel: What is your hype-song?

McKinney: March Madness by Future

Sentinel: If you were a superhero, what would your alias be and your two main super powers?

McKinney: I don’t know.

Sentinel: Favorite place to eat with you friends?

McKinney: Chipotle

Sentinel: If you could become a professional athlete, what sport would you be playing?

McKinney: Golf

Sentinel: What other sports have you played at St. Joseph-Ogden and for how long?

McKinney: Basketball for 3 years and baseball for 3 years.

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Photo Gallery |St. Joseph-Ogden suffers homecoming loss to Monticello

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The visiting Sages rally in the second half to spoil Spartans' homecoming weekend. Here's 20 photos from Friday night's Week 6 Illini Prairie game.

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First half | The Big Play: Kaden Wedig hauls in a pass on 42-yard touchdown play for St. Joseph-Ogden in Friday night's homecoming game against Monticello. Going up 21-7, it would be the last time the Spartans would be able to put the ball in the end zone. The Sages would go on to score three times in the second half to defeat SJO 28-21 in the Illini Prairie Conference game. After the contest, both teams need just two wins for a guaranteed spot in this year's IHSA football championships. See 19 more photso from this game below.

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Tim Blackburn-Kelley and Willis Canamore break through the Spartan banner during team introductions before the start of the game. Blackburn-Kelley finished the Week 6 game with three catches for 21 yards.

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Brennan Oleynichak lifts quarterback Kodey McKinney to celebrate the Spartans' first TD of the game against the Sages. The senior signal caller scored two of SJO's three touchdowns, finishing the game with 68 rushing and 230 passing yards in the home loss.

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SJO junior Jackson Ennis and Monticello's J.D. Bailey battle on the line of scrimmage in the first half.

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Monticello's Nolan Buehnerkemper finds an open receiver to throw to during first quarter action against the Spartans. After scoring on a 1-yard blast into the end zone with 13 seconds left in the first quarter, he added two more touchdowns to the Sages' side of the scoreboard in the third quarter on runs of 5 and 2-yards.

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Spartans' Coy Hayes tries to get around Sages' Will Osborne to make a tackle during the game.

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Monticello's Maddox Utley takes a handoff from quarterback Nolan Buehnerkemper during second half action against the St. Joseph-Ogden. Utley finished the game with 118 of the Sages' 167 rushing yards to help his team improve to 4-2 on the season.

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Monticello lineman J.D. Bailey celebrates with Nolan Buehnerkemper after the quarterback's touchdown, making the score 21-6 in the first quarter.

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Monticello lineman Nate Darnell tries block St. Joseph-Ogden defensive lineman Liam Carter who was blitzing on the play. Darnell was called for holding moving the ball behind the original line of scrimmage.

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With only one player between him and a touchdown St. Joseph-Ogden's Logan Umbarger carries the ball for a first down in the second quarter. Defensive back Nolan Buehnerkemper made the stop for the Sages. Umbarger, a sophomore, finished the game with 30 yards on seven carries for SJO.

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More about... Kodey McKinney Jackson Ennis Coy HayesLogan Umbarger

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St. Joseph-Ogden High School inducted four new members into their Hall of Fame. This year's inductees honored at halftime included (left to right) Bobbi (Duval) Busboom, Morgan (Finn) Gooding, Bianca (Truitt) Green, and former principal Mike McKenzie.

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A clarinet player from the SJO Marching Band performs during the halftime show.

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Keeping the beat, a St. Joseph-Ogden percussionist stays focused during the halftime performance.

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A marching band flag team member performs during halftime, adding color and precision to the show.

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SJO marching band flag team members add color and excitement during the final song of halftime.

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A St. Joseph-Ogden fan smiles as fans sing the school song with the band after halftime.

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St. Joseph-Ogden football fans and family clap during the school song before the second half.

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Monticello's Maddox Utley losses the ball after running into a wall of Spartan defenders. Maddux Musselman (not pictured) recovered the ball, but officials blew the whistle, ruling the ball dead before it slipped from Utley's grasp.

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Playing on the defensive side of the ball, Spartan Jameson Ennis quickly works his way around Sages' J.D. Bailey while trying to get into the Monticello backfield.

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4th Quarter | The Final Blow: Monticello's Maddox Utley avoids a tackle attempt by Lane McKinney. After slipping away, Utley took the ball 48 yards down the field for the go-ahead, game-winning touchdown with 7:24 left to play in the ball game.

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TAGS: St. Joseph-Ogden football photos, Monticello Sages football, Illini Prairie Conference Week 6, high school football photography, SJO homecoming 2025, Maddox Utley Monticello, Kodey McKinney SJO quarterback, Central Illinois prep football, The Sentinel sports gallery, SJO marching band halftime

St. Joseph-Ogden celebrates win, next on to IVC

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Spartans improve to 2-0 with a dominant 35-12 win over PBL behind McKinney’s 197 passing yards and strong team effort.

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Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden quarterback Kodey McKinney and teammate Tim Blackburn-Kelley high-five SJO fans after the Spartans' 35-12 home opener victory over Paxton-Buckley-Loda.

McKinney completed 16 of 18 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns, including a 70-yard connection with Kaden Wedig. He also ran for a touchdown, finishing with 26 yards on seven carries.

Blackburn-Kelley contributed six receptions for 40 yards and totaled 67 all-purpose yards for the game.

The Spartans (2-0) travel to Chillicothe tonight to face 0-2 Illinois Valley Central at 7 p.m. SJO leads the all-time series against the Grey Ghosts 5-3. The last time Illinois Valley Central defeated the Spartans was during the spring of 2021, amid pandemic recovery schedule.

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TAGGED: St. Joseph-Ogden Spartans football 2025, SJO vs Paxton-Buckley-Loda football recap, Kodey McKinney highlights, Illini Prairie Conference football, Tim Blackburn-Kelley stats

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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

St. Joseph-Ogden fall sports award winners

The fall of 2025 was one to remember for St. Joseph-Ogden athletics. Varsity letters were awarded to 129 student-athletes across sports and activities.

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ST. JOSEPH - St. Joseph-Ogden High School didn’t just wrap up a fall sports season. It closed the book on one of the most memorable stretches of athletic success the program has seen in years.

Last week, the Spartans announced 129 varsity letter winners from fall sports and activities, a number that speaks not only to wins and trophies, but to depth, commitment and consistency across the athletic department. From packed Friday nights on the football field to championship-caliber finishes on the cross country course and the soccer pitch, St. Joseph-Ogden athletes left their mark throughout the fall of 2025.

Football set the tone early.

After absorbing injuries to key players at the start of the season, the Spartans could have folded. Instead, they regrouped, leaned on grit and tenacity, and found their rhythm when it mattered most. St. Joseph-Ogden finished 8-5 and authored an impressive postseason run that reminded opponents the Spartans are rarely an easy out in November.

It was the kind of season that doesn’t show up fully in a record book. It showed up in long practices, next-man-up performances and a squad that stayed connected through adversity. For the players who earned letters, it was a season built on determination as much as talent.

Distance running brought statewide recognition.

Both the boys and girls cross country teams delivered top-10 finishes at the IHSA state meet in Peoria, continuing SJO's place among Illinois’ elite programs. The boys finished seventh overall, while the girls claimed sixth, a testament to months of disciplined training and steady progression.

Cross country success rarely comes overnight. It is built mile by mile, often before sunrise and long after the school day ends on the roads through and around town. The state finishes reflected not only strong front runners but complete teams that could pack together and score when it mattered most.

Soccer might have been the headline act.

Behind the combined scoring punch of senior Zach Harper and junior Tyler Hess, the Spartans rolled through much of their schedule, overwhelming opponents with pace, precision and confidence. St. Joseph-Ogden finished the season 24-2-2, with the only blemish coming in a hard-fought sectional championship loss to Williamsville.

Under head coach Chris Stevens, the Spartans put together a program-best 22-match unbeaten run, winning 20 matches and tying two. It was the kind of stretch that defines a season and leaves a lasting standard for what Spartan soccer can be.

While championships and records grab attention, the heart of the announcement rested with the 129 student-athletes who earned varsity letters. Those letters represent early mornings, late nights, and the willingness to balance academics with the demands of high-level competition. They also represent teammates who may not always appear in box scores but are essential to a program’s success.

Below is the complete list of award winners and varsity letter recipients at St. Joseph-Ogden High School. Each fall sport and activity contributed to that total, reinforcing the idea that St. Joseph-Ogden athletics is not built on one team or one season, but on a culture of excellence.

FOOTBALL

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Spartan running back Wyatt Wertz celebrates as he lands in the end zone for a touchdown against Pontiac. The senior shared this season's team Offensive Award with Kaden Wedig.

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Team Awards

MVP – Kodey McKinney
MIP – Jonathon Moore
Defensive Award – Coy Hayes
Offensive Award – Wyatt Wertz & Kaden Wedig
Scout Team Award – Holden Hausle
Special Teams Award – Lucas Smith
Lineman Award – Brennan Oleynichak
Spartan Team Player Award – Tim Blackburn-Kelley

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Letterwinners

Matt Alexander, Sr.
Tim Blackburn-Kelley, Sr.
Will Franklin, Sr.
Charlie Hale, Sr.
Coy Hayes, Sr.
Ryker Lockhart, Sr.
Kodey McKinney, Jr.
Jackson Mohr, Sr.
Jonathon Moore, Sr.
Brennan Oleynichak, Sr.
Colton Overstreet, Sr.
Logan Rosenthal, Sr.
Landon Smith, Sr.
Lucas Smith, Sr.
Hunter Van Meenen, Sr.
Wyatt Wertz, Sr.
Willis Canamore, Jr.
Jameson Ennis, Jr.
Paityn Mann, Jr.
Maddux Musselman, Jr.
Cameron Wagner, Jr.
Brayden Waller, Jr.
Kaden Wedig, Jr.
Liam Carter, So.
Caleb Courter, So.
Landon May, So.
Lane McKinney, So.
Mason Osterbur, So.
Logan Umbarger, So.
Ryder Van Meenen, So.
Owen Wall, So.
Lucas Waters, So.

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VOLLEYBALL

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Emma McKinney, Emerson Williams, Hadley McDonald and members of the SJO volleyball celebrate a point during set one of their regional semifinal match against Unity. Emerson received the team's Offensive Award this fall.

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Team Awards

MIP – Ally Schmitz
Defensive Award – Katie Ericksen
Offensive Award – Emma McKinney
Varsity Spartan Award – Emma Wells
JV Spartan Award – Greta Goldenstein
Freshman Spartan Award – Ella Buhs

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Letterwinners

Addi Childers, Sr.
Katie Ericksen, Sr.
Emma McKinney, Sr.
Ally Schmitz, Sr.
Emma Wells, Sr.
Lily Ahart, Jr.
Brynn Ikemire, Jr.
Alivia Learned, Jr.
Hadley McDonald, Jr.
Addi Stevens, Jr.
Emerson Williams, Jr.
Ava Alexander, So.
Megan Kearney, So.
Atleigh Miller, So.
Vivian Smith, So.
Raegan Wheatley, So.

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TENNIS

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Maddie Wells makes solid contact while play doubles in SJO's road match at Urbana in September. Starting wrestling season last month, look for the senior to qualify for the IHSA girls' state tournament this February.

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Team Awards

MVP – Sami Kelso
MIP – Shelby Warns
Mental Attitude Award – Madison Farber

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Letterwinners

Claire Hartman, Sr.
Samantha Kelso, Sr.
Ava Midkiff, Sr.
Ainsely Rhoton, Sr.
Lily Rice, Sr.
Karleigh Spain, Sr.
Maddie Wells, Sr.
Madison Farber, Jr.
Audrie Helfrich, Jr.
Sophie Schmitz, Jr.
Shelby Warns, Jr.
Avarie Dietiker, So.
Kenley Ray, So.
Nora Buckley, Fr.

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SOCCER

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Junior Yadie Acosta-Reyes dribbles the ball down the field in the Spartans home playoff match against Unity. Look for the midfielder to return next fall to help SJO duplicate their 2025 season greatness.

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Team Awards

MVP – Zach Harper
Offensive Award – Tyler Hess
Defensive Award – Steven Newman
Freshman MIP – Luke Dunn
Coaches Award – Quinn Stahl

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Letterwinners

Rudra Chaudhary, Sr.
Zach Harper, Sr.
Michael McDaniel, Sr.
Branson Pearman, Sr.
Quinn Stahl, Sr.
Hadley Sweet, Sr.
Yadiel Acosta-Reyes, Jr.
Lizzie Clark, Jr.
Jaxson Colvin, Jr.
Skyler Graham, Jr.
Nicholas Harris, Jr.
Tyler Hess, Jr.
Waylon Jones, Jr.
Steven Newman, Jr.
Jaxon Potts, Jr.
Miles Atwood, So.
Hunter Cler, So.
Luke Dunn, Fr.
Lucas Stevens, Fr.
Caleb Taylor, Fr.

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MARCHING BAND

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Emily Bird plays clarinet while performing with the SJO Marchng Band during the halftime show during the football team's home game against Paxton-Buckley-Loda.

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Band Awards

MVP – Sara Bytnar
Up and Comer Award – Ramsay Arnold
Spirit Award – Delaney Nekolny
Leadership Award – Sydney Steinbach
Spinner Award – Arianna Pecchenino
Heartbeat of the Band Award – Gregory Wells

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Letterwinners

Emily Bird, Sr.
Sara Bytnar, Sr.
Claire Hartman, Sr.
Cooper Kietzman, Sr.
Michael McDaniel, Sr.
Patrick McMahon, Sr.
Delaney Nekolny, Sr.
Kaleb Peoples, Sr.
Sydney Steinbach, Sr.
Carlee Taylor, Sr.
Zain Bialeschki-Hua, Jr.
Isabella Turner, Jr.
Cole Beckett, So.
Tyler Bonny, So.
Patrick Clark, So.
Aubrey Matheny, So.
Connor McMahon, So.
Alyssa Robinson, So.
Nayeli Steele, So.
Ramsay Arnold, Fr.
Reid Bewley, Fr.
Bailey Blakley, Fr.
Brady Blunier, Fr.
Jade Gains, Fr.
Arianna Pecchenino, Fr.
August Rosser, Fr.
Ryan Schmitz, Fr.
Taylor Vaughn, Fr.
Greg Wells, Fr.
Gwen Welsh, Fr.

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GOLF

Team Awards

MVP – Asher Pruemer
MIP – Trevor Ames

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Letterwinners

Trevor Ames, Sr.
Wade Clark, Sr.
Nathan Daly, Sr.
Asher Pruemer, Sr.
Graham Ray, Sr.
Devan Swisher, Sr.
Garrett Loschen, Jr.
Finn Miller, Jr.

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SIDELINE CHEERLEADING

Team Awards

MIP – Addison Wright
Spirit Award – Abby Reynolds
Lexi Barbour Award – Addison Walsh

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Letterwinners

Iris Davis, Jr.
Leah Gaines, Jr.
Faith Jackson, Jr.
Peighton Riem, Jr.
Ava Smoot, Jr.
Abby Reynolds, So.
Samantha Ryan, So.
Addison Walsh, So.
Sorena Welsh, So.
Presley Ideus, Fr.
Addison Wright, Fr.

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CROSS COUNTRY

Team Awards

Boys MVP – Colin Burnett & Lance Retz
Girls MVP – Grace Bressner
Boys MIP – Sam Zadeh
Girls MIP – Grace Bressner
Tim Mies Effort Award – Nate Farney
Ashley Wright Effort Award – Allie Bott
Rick Walden Most Consistent Award – Colin Burnett

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Letterwinners

Lance Retz, Sr.
Sydney Steinbach, Sr.
Cyrus Zadeh, Sr.
Abby Bello, Jr.
Colin Burnett, Jr.v Nate Farney, Jr.
Kyla Franckey, Jr.
Mark Harbourt, Jr.
Aiden Hundley, Jr.
Kiah Riesel, Jr.
Grace Bressner, So.
Hunter Dilley, So.
Eli Franklin, So.
Nathan Hinkel, So.
Tessa Walker, So.
Sam Zadeh, So.
Ramsay Arnold, Fr.
Charlene Barbee, Fr.
Adam Bello, Fr.
Allie Bott, Fr.
Brady Johnson, Fr.
Caylah Roberts, Fr.
Taylor Vaughn, Fr.

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St Joseph Ogden varsity letter winners 2025, St Joseph Ogden fall sports awards list, SJO football cross country soccer 2025 season, IHSA state cross country St Joseph Ogden results, St Joseph Ogden High School athletics feature

State Bound!Unity prevails over SJO in 3A semifinal clash

Unity topped St. Joseph-Ogden 51-44 in a playoff thriller loaded with big plays. The Rockets capitalized on two second-quarter interceptions to build a crucial lead.

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Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Members of the Unity football team celebrate their win over St. Joseph-Ogden. Winning the semifinal game, the Rockets earned the right to face Byron next Friday for the Class 3A title.

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ST. JOSEPH - Unity earned its ticket to the IHSA Class 3A championship game with a 51-44 win over St. Joseph-Ogden on a bright mid-November afternoon at Dick Duval Field. The matchup between two of central Illinois’ most consistent football powers delivered everything expected from a playoff showdown, with both teams trading big plays and momentum swings before the Rockets closed the epic battle out.

St. Joseph-Ogden struck early behind senior standout Wyatt Wertz, who found the end zone twice in the first quarter. Wertz continued to power the Spartans’ offense throughout the game, finishing with 94 rushing yards on 16 carries and adding a game-changing 99-yard kick return for another score in the third quarter. His 210 all-purpose yards fueled SJO’s effort to keep pace in a contest that rarely slowed.

Quarterback Kodey McKinney added two rushing touchdowns on runs of 16 and 18 yards while also throwing for 210 yards. The senior led the Spartans on the ground as well with 119 rushing yards, helping SJO briefly capture momentum as the teams traded long drives and explosive plays.

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Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

SJO's Kodey McKinney moves the ball closer to the end zone for a SJO first down in the third quarter.

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Unity’s offense matched the challenge with a productive day from Crewe Eckstein, who was a force between the tackles. Eckstein piled up 161 yards and scored twice on short runs of 2 and 5 yards, helping the Rockets keep the chains moving and maintain balance as the game tightened.

But the true difference came from the Unity defense, which delivered back-to-back lightning strikes midway through the second quarter. With St. Joseph-Ogden driving, Brayden Henry jumped a pass and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown. Just 78 seconds later, Caden Hensch intercepted another ball and sprinted 28 yards to the end zone, pushing Unity to a 25-17 lead that swung the game’s momentum for good.

St. Joseph-Ogden, the No. 14 seed entering the postseason, wrapped up a strong run with an 8-5 finish.

Unity (12-1), which has reached the playoffs 33 times and owns six runner-up trophies, now moves on to next Friday’s championship game at Illinois State University’s Hancock Stadium. First-year head coach Tony Reetz has his program one win away from its first state title.

Standing in the Rockets’ path is undefeated Byron (13-0), which advanced with a 44-10 win over Richmond-Burton. The Tigers have reached the postseason 31 times and carry three state championships and two runner-up finishes into the matchup. The teams last met in the 2021 title game, when Byron won 35-7, two years after falling 24-20 to Monticello in the 2018 final.

Photo Gallery

Unity's Crewe Eckstein celebrates his 5-yard TD run with the help of lineman Coleson Miller in the third quarter. He scored the Rockets' first touchdown of the game with a two-yard plunge to make up a 7-0 first-quarter deficit.

LEFT: SJO's Ryker Lockhart and Coy Hayes help Kodey McKinney bring down Unity running back Crewe Eckstein. MIDDLE: Unity's Brayden Henry tries to juke his way around Spartans' Logan Rosenthal on a kick return play. RIGHT: A SJO Maroon Platoon member leads the student section in a cheer during first half action.

LEFT: Spartan senior Ryker Lockhart breaks up a pass play on a Dane Eisenmenger pass to Tyler Henry. RIGHT: SJO's Ennis Jameson tries to fight his way past Rocket lineman Coleson Miller in the first half.

LEFT: Jonathon Moore records a tackle for a loss for the Spartans, putting Unity quarterback Dane Eisenmenger on the turf in the fourth quarter. MIDDLE: Eisenmenger leaps happily over the goal line, sealing the Rocket's victory on a 25-yard run to give Unity a 51-37 advantage with 2:28 left in the ball game. RIGHT: Feeling the agony of defeat, SJO center Brennan Oleynichak and quarterback Kodey share a hug after the game.

Spartans Wyatt Wertz runs the ball past the 50-yard mark on his way to a 99-yard kick return against the Rockets.

All photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

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Unity vs St. Joseph-Ogden Class 3A semifinal recap, IHSA 3A football state championship preview Unity vs Byron, Unity Rockets football playoff history and results, St. Joseph-Ogden postseason football performance analysis, Illinois high school football semifinal game highlights