4th-quarter comeback propels Unity to Class 3A football championship game

The last time the Rockets played a semifinal football game at home there was three inches of slush on the grassy turf of Hicks Field. Brutally cold with a sustained 15 mile an hour crosswind gusting to 30 at times, last Saturday's weather conditions were in stark contrast to that of the Blizzard Bowl of 2015.

Under a cloudless blue sky and gentle rays of sunlight heating the barely two-year-old artificial turf, the outcome, played by seniors who were still in junior high during the Blizzard Bowl, was identical. Three quarters of solid defensive play yielded yet another shot at a football state title, the sixth since 1994 when head coach Scott Hamilton took the reigns, after defeating visiting Mt. Carmel, 28-21.

Head coach Scott Hamilton is congratulated by fans after Unity's 28-21 win over Mt. Carmel. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

"What a crazy game," Hamilton said while Unity players and fans celebrated the team's fourth 2021 playoff victory. The number one seed in the southern playoff bracket, the Rockets played all four postseason games at Hicks Field. "We'll enjoy this one and wake up tomorrow morning and give her hell."

The Rockets jumped out in front on their first possession on an 87-yard drive capped off with quarterback Blake Kimball sprinting three yards toward the southeast court of the end zone, and to the dismay of dozens of Golden Aces fans along the barrier behind the end zone, diving just inside the orange pylon for the first TD of the game.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

With a little help from teammate Camden Mette, Unity's Boden Franklin strips the ball from Mt. Carmel's Blayne Sisson during first quarter action. The Rockets recovered the fumble to set up their next scoring drive. See more game photos from iphotonews.com.

Three minutes later, thanks to a fumble forced by junior Boden Franklin, Kimball was back in the end zone after a two-yard run to put his team up 13-0. With another easy PAT and looking at 14-point first-quarter deficit, Mt. Carmel was shell-shocked. Or, so it seemed.

Shaking it off, the Golden Aces started pulling them out of their sleeve. The first, with less than a minute on the scoreboard, Zeke Hadra scored on an 11-yard run. Then, a second barely two minutes into the second quarter to tie the ballgame up at 14-all courtesy of Mt. Carmel quarterback Blayne Sisson's 70-yard gallop through the Rocket defense.

Mt. Carmel wasn't finished. Hadra threw down another ace in the form of a 10-yards touchdown sending both teams into the locker room with MTC looking golden at 21-14.

"Everything looked so bad the whole second quarter, the whole third quarter, and we couldn't do anything," Hamilton said.

Though it has been a rare occurrence for the Rockets to be behind on the scoreboard, teams don't win 17-straight football games by giving up.

"For whatever reason, whether it was the Monticello game, or if you look back to some of the other games last year, they just hung in there," Hamilton said. He also highlighted his team's struggle against Paxton-Buckley-Loda, whose football program loudly announced their entrance into the mighty Illini Prairie Conference this year. He was proud of how they responded with their 'it ain't over until its over' attitude. "They just don't ever give up on each other."

In the first series of the fourth quarter, Rockets' Will Cowan snags a interception in the Unity end zone. Taking full advantage of the opportunity, Kimball and Matt Brown, who broke out for a 56-yard run on the drive, move the ball down the field. Pushed out of bounds at the 15-yard line, the Rockets had to wait until Kimball barreled into the east end zone for a third time to tie up the score.

"These guys just don't quit," Hamilton said, holding back tears of joy. "Their character is unbelievable."

Re-energized the Unity defense squad created another scoring opportunity with another interception. Camden Mette comes up big with 6:40 left in the fourth quarter. Not long after that, Brown finds his way into the end zone and the Rockets get the PAT to go up 28-21. The Rockets are just 5 minutes, ten seconds away from going to state.

"As he does all the time, Coach (Tony) Reetz got it figured out upfront," Hamilton said. A couple of defensive stops, a little game-clock finesse, and Unity would be preparing to play their 14th game this season. "Coach (Dave) Fink and our defensive guys took care of it on that end, and it's off to DeKalb we go."

Refusing to give up ground, the Unity defense stood tall stalling Mt. Carmel's desperate efforts to get a first down. The Rockets take control of the ball on their own 40 and meticulously wind down the clock down for the win.

Next up, the final test. Unity, who will play its first postseason road game at Huskie Stadium on the campus of Northern Illinois University, will square off against Byron.

The Tigers, who will make their third consecutive state final appearance, lost both previous contests by four points. In 2018, Monticello prevailed at Memorial Stadium, 24-20, and Williamsville held on to beat Byron 46-42 in DeKalb for the 2019 title.

Game time is at 4pm.

Unity crushes Golden Aces, playoff rematch set for Saturday against the Monticello Sages

The Rockets rolled over Mt. Carmel in the first round and now prepare for a revenge-fueled playoff rematch with the Monticello Sages at Hicks Field.

Unity's Colton Langendorf celebrates a sack

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Unity's Colton Langendorf celebrates after putting Mt. Carmel quarteback River Deisher on the turf for a stop during first half action of their Class 3A first-round playoff game. Langendorf was a beast, leading the defensive unit to hold the Golden Aces to just 208 yards in the Rockets' seventh consecutive win.

by Clark Brooks

Sentinel Sports

TOLONO - The echoes of last November still linger in Tolono. A bitter 23-20 semifinal loss to Monticello ended Unity’s state title dreams and sent the Sages to the Class 3A championship game. Now, nearly a year later, the Rockets are rocketing toward redemption - and the rematch is set.

Unity made that clear Saturday afternoon at Hicks Field, where the fourth-seeded Rockets (9-1) dismantled Mt. Carmel 42-14 in a first-round playoff rout that felt over before it began.

Tyler Henry celebrates a second-quarter pass TD

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Unity's Tyler Henry celebrates his 46-yard TD catch in the east end zone at Hicks Field. The score came after his 35-yard pick-six less than two minutes earlier in the second quarter.

On a sun-splashed Saturday at Hicks Field, the Unity Rockets didn’t just win a playoff game - they made a statement. From the opening kickoff, it was clear that this wasn’t going to be one of those nail-biters fans talk about years later. It was domination, pure and simple, wrapped in maroon and white. The Rockets scored on their second play from scrimmage - just 28 seconds into the game - and never looked back, building a 42-0 halftime lead before turning the second half into a showcase for their freshman squad.

The win marked Unity’s seventh straight and punched their ticket to a second-round showdown with fifth-seeded Monticello, a rivalry game steeped in history, heartbreak, and high stakes.

But before we get there, though, the Rockets had business to take care of first. Let’s rewind to Saturday’s statement win.

Fast Start, Furious Finish

Crewe Eckstein wasted no time setting the tone. The junior running back sliced through the Golden Aces defense for a 21-yard touchdown run on Unity’s opening possession, then added a second score minutes later on a 10-yard burst. By the end of the first quarter, Unity led 21-0.

Tre Hoggard added to the fireworks with an 18-yard touchdown run in the first frame, then hauled in a 47-yard over-the-shoulder strike from quarterback Dane Eisenmenger in the second quarter. Eisenmenger was nearly perfect, completing 6 of 7 passes, while Hoggard finished with three catches for 70 yards.

Tyler Henry delivered the exclamation point before halftime. With 2:17 left in the second quarter, the senior intercepted a Mt. Carmel pass and sprinted 35 yards to the end zone, igniting the Unity bench and student section. Henry had already scored earlier on a 46-yard reception and finished with 55 yards on two catches.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Golden Aces' Jack Webb makes a leaping catch despite tight coverage by Rockets' Brayden Henry. Webb, a senior, finished the last game of his prep career with just three yards rushing on two touches and six yards on this catch.

Defense Dominates

Unity’s defense was relentless. The Rockets held Mt. Carmel to just 208 total yards on 48 plays - a stark contrast to Unity’s 306 yards on 34 plays. Chason Daly recorded two sacks, Desmond Winfrey added a tackle for loss, and Graydin Cler snagged an interception to cap a suffocating defensive effort.

Mt. Carmel’s lone bright spot came in the second half against Unity’s JV unit. Senior Elliott Acree led the Golden Aces (5-5) with 83 all-purpose yards, including a 22-yard reception and 61 rushing yards on 13 carries. Jack Webb and Owen Blake each scored late touchdowns, but the damage had long been done.

Looking Ahead: Monticello Awaits

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Tre Hoggard runs the ball for a Unity touchdown in the first half. The senior rolled up 24 yards rushing and 70 receiving yards. Hoggard and the Rockets turn to defeating Illini Prairie foe Monticello for a second time this season.

The last time the two teams met, Unity rolled to a 34-7 win on the road in their regular season contest back in September. But the memory of last year’s semifinal heartbreak, when Monticello edged Unity 23-20 to reach the state title game, still lingers and there is redemption that needs to be settled.

Last November, nearly 50 weeks ago, Monticello stunned Unity on the last play of the game on their home field, sending the Sages to the state final. Saturday, with revenge and redemption on the line, the Rockets are will put the 2024 game behind them once and for all.

Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Hicks Field, where the fence line is expected to be packed three deep with fans, for an Illini Prairie team advance to a quarterfinal game.

TAGGED: Unity Rockets playoff football, IHSA Class 3A second round, Unity vs Monticello rivalry, Tolono Illinois high school sports, Unity Rockets dominate Mt. Carmel 42-14, Unity football wins

Photo Gallery: Unity football is headed to state!

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Unity football head coach Scott Hamilton celebrates with players and fans after his 2021 Rocket team defeated visiting Mt. Carmel High School on Saturday at Hicks Field on Saturday. Unity prevailed in the seesaw battle to advance to the state title game after defeating the Golden Aces, 28-21. Heading to the Class 3A championship game, the Rockets will take their 17-game win streak to DeKalb to face the Byron Tigers who upset IC Catholic with a stunning fourth-quarter 15-14 comeback.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Clutching the game ball, Rockets' quarterback Blake Kimball congratulates members of the Mt. Carmel team after the game. Kimball scored three of the four Unity TDs on Saturday and finished the game with 142 yards.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Members of the Unity Dance Team perform during halftime. The Rockets trailed going into the locker room, 21-14.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

A Unity receiver nearly loses his helmet taking a hit from Mt. Carmel safety Gage Kennard on a pass play.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Rockets' lineman Austin McDaniel lays out Golden Aces' receiver Gage Kennard in the second half.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Unity student fans cheer for their team during the fourth quarter. The Rockets fourth-quarter rally secured one of two spots in the Class 3A title game.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Cameron Marvin celebrates the first of two fourth-quarter TDs for the Rockets.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Unity quarterback Blake Kimball rolls out looking for an open receiver in the third quarter. See more photos of Kimball from this game here.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Oran Varela, a 5-11, 225-lb lineman for the Unity Rockets, fights his way past Luke Laws into the Golden Aces' backfield in the first half.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Unity's Cale Rawdin carries the ball looking for more green turf to cover moving the ball up the field.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Golden Aces linemen Luke Dardeen and Noah Noble celebrate their team first touchdown in the second quarter.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Unity's Grant Albaugh and Kyus Root break through a banner before the start of their last home game of the season. The Rockets played all four of their 2021 postseason football games on their home field. Beating Mt. Carmel in the semifinals punched the Rockets' ticket to the Class 3A championship game this Friday at 4pm.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Rockets' Matt Brown and Karson Richardson head out to the field before the start of their team's final home of the season. The Rockets have not lost a contest at Hicks Field since August 30, 2019 against Illinois Valley Central. See more photos from this game using the preceeding link later this week.

State Basketball |
Peoria Notre Dame 32 minutes away from a repeat state title, Mt. Carmel sets sights on finishing 3rd

NORMAL - Peoria Notre Dame continued its dominance on the biggest stage, rolling past Mt. Carmel 61-35 in the Class 2A state semifinal at the IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals on Thursday at CEFCU Arena on the campus of Illinois State University.

The Irish, defending Class 2A champions, extended their winning streak to 15 games and remain undefeated in back-to-back state finals appearances. They advance to face the winner of the other semifinal between Phillips and Nashville in Saturday's championship game.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Peoria Notre Dame's Lexi Baer drives to the paint backdoor during the second half. The junior led all scorers with 18 points to help the Irish advance to Saturday's Class 2A title game.

Lexi Baer led the charge with 18 points and nine rebounds, powering Notre Dame's offense in key moments. Emy Wardle added 15 points, connecting on three of her four attempts from beyond the arc, while Julia Mingus chipped in 10 points to round out the team's top scorers.

Up by just three points at halftime, the Irish found another gear in the third quarter. Baer scored six points in the frame, while Alli Stickelmaier and Cora Heinz each contributed four points to help Notre Dame stretch its lead to 15. That surge put the game out of reach and sent the Irish back to the title game with a chance to repeat as state champions.

For Mt. Carmel, Maycee Randall delivered a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, while Madison Stevens added eight points and seven boards. The Aces were making their first-ever appearance in the Final Four after a convincing 61-42 victory over Kankakee McNamara at the Unity Supersectional.

Despite keeping pace through the first half, Mt. Carmel struggled to contain Notre Dame's offensive pressure after the break. The Irish's ability to spread the scoring across multiple players and tenacious defense left little room for a comeback.

The Aces are back on Doug Collins Court Friday evening, hoping to take home the division's third place trophy at 6:30 PM on Friday.

IHSA first-round playoff scores and results

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

TOLONO - Unity receiver Trey Hoggard is all smiles while celebrating in the end zone with teammate Tyler Henry during their Class 3A first-round playoff game at Hicks Field. The Rockets dominated on both sides of the ball in the first half on the way to a 42-14 victory. Back on their home turf again next week, Unity hosts Illini Prairie Conference rival Monticello, who defeated Paris soundly, 48-16.

Illini Prairie Conference scores

Unity 42, Mt. Carmel 14
Monticello 48, Paris 16
St. Joseph-Ogden 17, Benton 14
Central Catholic 41, Princeton 20

Big Twelve Conference scores

Oak Forest 38, Centennial 12
Bloomington 57, Mascoutah 26
Normal West 41, Thornwood 30
Carmel 60, Normal Community 44
Peoria Notre Dame 35, Marengo 21
Peoria 62, Decatur MacArthur 14

Scores from around the state

Games listed in bracket order.

CLASS 1A:

(1) Stockton 26, (16) Galena 0
(9) Heyworth 21, (8) Princeville 14
(4) Clifton Central 24, (13) Knoxville 6
(12) Dwight 29, (5) Rushville-Industry 26
(2) Annawan-Wethersfield 31, (15) Stark County 8
(10) Deer Creek-Mackinaw 52, (7) Crane 34
(3) Lena-Winslow 48, (14) Forreston 22
(6) Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 28, (11) Ottawa Marquette 6
(1) Calhoun 48, (16) Villa Grove 6
(8) Greenfield-Northwestern 42, (9) Sesser-Valier 14
(4) Casey-Westfield 35, (13) Red Hill 0
(12) Nokomis 28, (5) Tuscola 19
(2) Camp Point Central 44, (15) West Central 0
(7) Brown County 48, (10) Athens 0
(3) Dupo 28, (14) Salt Fork 7
(11) Carrollton 28, (6) Oakwood 14

CLASS 2A:

(1) Rockridge 56, (16) Illini West 12
(9) Tri-Valley 44, (8) Chicago Richards 0
(4) Seneca 35, (13) Riverdale 21
(5) Wilmington 70, (12) West Hancock 8
(2) El Paso-Gridley 43, (15) Marshall 20
(7) Sterling Newman 43, (10) Ridgeview-Lexington 8
(3) Farmington 10, (14) Eastland-Pearl City 8
(6) Aurora Christian 37, (11) Erie-Prophetstown 12
(1) Johnston City 38, (16) Wesclin 25
(9) Maroa-Forsyth 26, (8) Chester 14
(4) Flora 42, (13) Nashville 39
(5) Pana 43, (12) Bismarck-Henning 14
(2) Westville 49, (15) Shelbyville 6
(7) DuQuoin 48, (10) Carlinville 21
(3) Arthur-Lovington 27, (14) Marshall 14
(6) Cumberland 20, (11) Sullivan 6

CLASS 3A:

(1) Richmond-Burton 49, (16) North Boone 0
(9) Aurora Central 32, (8) Rauner 14
(4) Bloomington Central 41, (13) Princeton 20
(5) Monmouth-Roseville 39, (12) Manteno 14
(2) Byron 63, (15) Oregon 15
(10) Durand-Pecatonica 18, (7) Johnsburg 13
(3) Bishop McNamara 38, (14) Herscher 14
(11) IC Catholic 42, (6) Hope Academy 13
(1) Williamsville 53, (16) Hillsboro 20
(8) PORTA 9, (9) Fairfield 8
(4) Tolono Unity 42, (13) Mt. Carmel 14
(5) Monticello 48, (12) Paris 16
(2) Vandalia 42, (15) Christopher-Ziegler-Royalton 6
(10) Greenville 35, (7) Olympia 32
(14) St. Joseph-Ogden 17, (3) Benton 14
(11) Roxana 55, (6) West Frankfort 18

CLASS 4A:

(1) Montini 50, (16) Urban Prep 6
(9) Peoria Notre Dame 35, (8) Marengo 21
(4) Dixon 45, (13) Woodstock North 0
(5) Coal City 49, (12) Sterling 7
(2) Morris 54, (15) Woodstock 7
(7) Metamora 62, (10) South Shore 14
(3) Macomb 21, (14) Hillcrest 6
(6) Geneseo 16, (11) Rochelle 14
(16) Jacksonville 41, (1) Richland County 39
(9) Cahokia 44, (8) Centralia 22
(4) Breese Central 48, (13) Columbia 15
(5) Freeburg 46, (12) Highland 36
(2) Carterville 42, (15) Alton Marquette 14
(10) Sacred Heart-Griffin 27, (7) Quincy Notre Dame 18
(3) Rochester 56, (14) Taylorville 7
(11) Waterloo 14, (6) Mt. Zion 13

CLASS 5A:

(1) Prairie Ridge 46, (16) Vernon Hills 30
(9) St. Francis 35, (8) Morgan Park 28
(13) King 46, (4) Ag. Science 6
(5) Corliss 61, (12) Lake View 0
(2) Belvidere North 49, (15) Bulls Prep 20
(7) Kaneland 68, (10) Lakes 21
(14) St. Patrick 49, (3) Wauconda 28
(6) Cary-Grove 42, (11) Sycamore 14
(1) Washington, Ill. 45, (16) Normal U-High 13
(8) Mahomet-Seymour 35, (9) Marion 21
(4) Kankakee 19, (13) Lemont 3
(5) Providence 63, (12) Springfield 19
(2) Oak Forest 38, (15) Champaign Centennial 12
(7) Bloomington 57, (10) Mascoutah 26
(3) Peoria 62, (14) Decatur MacArthur 14
(6) Morton 35, (11) TF North 10

CLASS 6A:

(1) Nazareth 42, (16) Hononegah 13
(9) Wheaton-Warrenville South 42, (8) Highland Park 7
(4) Lake Zurich 46, (13) Grant 13
(5) Antioch 45, (12) Glenbard South 23
(2) Burlington Central 21, (15) Libertyville 17
(7) Harlem 62, (10) Mather 0
(14) Rolling Meadows 29, (3) Riverside-Brookfield 23
(11) Fenwick 42, (6) Kennedy 6
(1) Glenwood 17, (16) Joliet Catholic 12
(8) East St. Louis 63, (9) Plainfield East 7
(4) Normal West 41, (13) Thornwood 30
(12) Simeon 56, (5) Goode 8
(2) Bradley-Bourbonnais 42, (15) Shepard 21
(10) St. Laurence 49, (7) Oak Lawn 19
(3) Crete-Monee 73, (14) Quincy 34
(6) Dunlap 49, (11) Pekin 21

CLASS 7A:

(1) Richards 33, (32) Edwardsville 14
(16) Hersey 56, (17) Payton 0
(25) St. Rita 30, (8) Rockford Guilford 20
(9) Lincoln-Way Central 49, (24) Reavis 7
(4) Glenbard East 63, (29) West Chicago 29
(13) Batavia 56, (20) Hoffman Estates 0
(5) Moline 24, (28) Andrew 0
(21) Glenbard North 17, (12) Yorkville 0
(2) Glenbard West 63, (31) Willowbrook 21
(15) Downers Grove North 28, (18) Prospect 21
(7) Lincoln-Way West 56, (26) Lincoln Park 14
(10) Kenwood 62, (23) Prosser 6
(3) St. Charles North 42, (30) East Moline United 12
(14) Carmel 60, (19) Normal 44
(6) Brother Rice 57, (27) Rockford Jefferson 0
(22) Jacobs 36, (11) Addison Trail 27

CLASS 8A:

(1) Mount Carmel 21, (32) Loyola 17
(17) Belleville East 48, (16) West Aurora 34
(25) Palatine 29, (8) Young 8
(9) Lincoln-Way East 45, (24) Stevenson 0
(4) Fremd 41, (29) Huntley 14
(13) Lyons 24, (20) York 21
(5) Warren 35, (28) New Trier 7
(12) Bolingbrook 30, (21) Oswego East 20
(2) Barrington 72, (31) Elgin 13
(15) Glenbrook South 27, (18) Minooka 14
(26) Homewood-Flossmoor 56, (7) Curie 8
(23) Lockport 21, (10) Sandburg 14
(3) Maine South 56, (30) Downers Grove South 20
(19) Hinsdale Central 45, (14) South Elgin 15
(6) Lane 34, (27) Perspectives 6
(11) Oswego 17, (22) Naperville North 7

Week 7 IHSA football scores from around the state

SJO Wyatt Wertz runs the ball against BCC

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

BLOOMINGTON - St. Joseph-Ogden's Wyatt Wertz runs the ball in his first game back after a injury in SJO's Week 2 home game last month. Wertz had 11 carries for 54 yards against Central Catholic (7-0) on Friday. The Spartans (4-3) fell 67-28 on the road to the Saints, who became this year's conference champions with the victory.

Illini Prairie Conference scores

Central Catholic 67, St Joseph-Ogden 28
Illinois Valley Central 28, Rock Falls 0
Monticello 27, Pontiac 6
Prairie Central 40, Rantoul 6
Unity 47, Paxton-Buckley-Loda 0

Big Twelve Conference scores

Peoria Notre Dame 53, Bloomington 19
Normal Community 41, Danville 0
Normal West 48, Manual 0
Peoria 64, Champaign Central 27
Richwoods 0, Urbana 0
Champaign Centennial 40, Thornridge 17

Scores from around the state

Abingdon-Avon 31, Havana 26
Amboy 62, Ridgewood 12
Annawan-Wethersfield 17, Princeville 14
Antioch 49, Grayslake North 8
Arlington Heights Hersey 52, Buffalo Grove 2
Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond 43, Nokomis 20
Aurora. Christian) 49, Chicago Christian 7
Aurora Waubonsie Valley 51, Stagg 0
BHRA 49, Momence 0
Barrington 23, Fremd 7
Batavia 28, Wheaton North 7
Bensenville Fenton 33, Aurora (East) 6
Bishop McNamara 29, Wheaton Academy 14
Bradley-Bourbonnais 48, DeKalb 19
Brown County 66, Beardstown 0
Carbondale 52, Herrin 14
Carmel 54, DePaul 14
Cary-Grove 56, Crystal Lake South 13
Casey-Westfield 21, Mt. Carmel 20, OT
Central 18, Le Roy 8
Central 20, Huntley 7
Central 46, Routt 3
Central 54, Hoopeston 0
Christopher 48, Carmi-White County 14
Coal City 49, Peotone 7
Deer Creek-Mackinaw 46, Warrensburg-Latham 13
Dixon 50, Winnebago 15
Downers Grove North 41, York 28
Du Quoin 48, Anna-Jonesboro 13
Durand-Pecatonica 34, Forreston 20
El Paso-Gridley 40, Eureka 0
Elgin 25, Streamwood 6
Elk Grove 57, Wheeling 13
Erie-Prophetstown 40, Orion 14
Fenwick 48, Benet 7
Flora 28, Fairfield 20
Fulton 56, Southwestern, Wis. 40
Galva 38, Peoria Heights 12
Geneseo 31, Sterling 10
Glenbard East 41, West Chicago 6
Glenbard North 16, Geneva 13
Glenbard South 42, Ridgewood 7
Glenbard West 44, Hinsdale Central 20
Glenbrook South 42, Deerfield 0
Glenwood 56, Lincoln 0
Grant 65, Round Lake 17
Hampshire 19, McHenry 17
Herscher 19, Reed-Custer 13, OT
Highland Park 38, Niles North 13
Hoffman Estates Conant 43, Schaumburg 28
ICCP 57, Aurora Marmion Academy 14
Illini West 28, Bureau Valley 20
Johnston City 44, Hamilton County 6
Kankakee 48, Bloom 0
Lake Park 41, St Charles East 35
Lake Zurich 35, Mundelein 0
Lakes 46, North Chicago 7
Le Roy 14, Heyworth 12
Lena-Winslow 46, Galena 0
Libertyville 35, Zion Benton 20
Lincoln-Way East 42, Homewood-Flossmoor 14
Lockport 28, Sandburg 7
Macomb 42, Knoxville 19
Maine South 56, Glenbrook North 0
Maine West 49, Maine East 0
Manteno 35, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 13
Marion 48, Collinsville 35
Marshall 34, Lawrenceville 7
Metamora 49, Bartonville (Limestone) 13
Milledgeville 56, Orangeville 16
Minooka 10, Oswego 3
Monmouth-Roseville 57, Hall 14
Montini Catholic 49, Arlington Heights (St. Viator) 3
Morris 42, Ottawa 0
Morrison 48, Dakota 16
Morton 66, East Peoria 32
Mt Carmel 35, Joliet Catholic 7
Mt Prospect Prospect 35, Rolling Meadows 32
Mt Zion 31, Effingham 7
Naperville Central 28, Aurora Metea Valley 21, OT
Naperville North 29, Neuqua Valley 23
Nashville 55, Pinckneyville 7
Newman 24, Riverdale 14
Newton 24, Robinson 21
Oakwood 48, Iroquois West 0
Olney 41, Paris 22
Olympia 50, Maroa-Forsyth 36
Oregon 34, Winnebago 21
Ottawa Marquette 51, Elmwood 6
PORTA 22, Athens 18
Pekin 30, Canton 20
Plainfield East 27, Joliet West 7
Pleasant Plains 27, Pittsfield 14
Polo 50, River Ridge 8
Prairie Ridge 35, Crystal Lake Central 14
Quincy 44, Galesburg 22
Richmond-Burton 21, Woodstock North 0
Riverton 36, Auburn 33
Rochelle 21, Kaneland 20
Rochester 51, MacArthur 14
Rockridge 61, Aledo (Mercer County) 24
Springfield SHG 56, Springfield 33
Salt Fork 48, Georgetown-Ridge Farm 20
Seneca 48, St Bede 16
Shelbyville 42, Clinton 6
South Beloit 38, Abundant Life-St. Ambrose, Wis. 8
South Elgin 55, Bartlett 19
St. Francis 42, Marian Catholic 20
Stillman Valley 21, Oregon 15
Sycamore 34, La Salle-Peru 28
Tri-Valley 21, Tremont 13
United 54, Astoria South Fulton 18
University 55, Eisenhower 12
Villa Grove/Heritage 25, Sangamon Valley 24
Warren 28, Stevenson 13
Washington 23, Dunlap 15
Wauconda 53, Grayslake Central 27
West Carroll 70, Ashton (A.-Franklin Center) 8
West Hancock 62, LCSRV 6
West Prairie 46, Bushnell-Prairie City 8
Westville 55, Watseka 0
Wheaton Warrenville South 33, St Charles North 7
Wilmington 45, Streator 0
Woodstock 42, Sandwich 26

TAGS: Illinois high school football scores, Seneca beats St. Bede by 36 points, Oakwood blanks Iroquois West footballt team,St. Joseph-Ogden falls in flag fest, IHSA football scores

Week 9 IHSA football scores from around the state

Brennan Oleynichak stops Jayden Reed in his tracks in their football game

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

URBANA - St. Joseph-Ogden's Brennan Oleynichak and three teammates stop Pontiac running back Jayden Reed from advancing during the first quarter of their Illini Prairie Conference game. The Spartans scored 14 points in each quarter on their way to a much needed victory to solidify a spot in the 2025 IHSA football postseason. SJO won the home game at Dick Duval Field 56-21.

Illini Prairie Conference scores

Unity 55, Mt Vernon 37
St Joseph-Ogden 56, Pontiac 21
Central Catholic 41, Prairie Central 0
Illinois Valley Central 30, Rantoul 27
Monticello 14, Paxton-Buckley-Loda 6

Big Twelve Conference scores

Normal West 57, Urbana 15
Bloomington 37, Centennial 6
Champaign Central 55, Peoria Manual 16
Peoria Notre Dame 54, Danville 13
Peoria 36, Normal Community 14
Mahomet-Seymour 63, Richwoods 14

Scores from around the state

AddisonTrail 35, Willowbrook 0
Alden-Hebron 26, Ashton-Franklin Center 8
Arthur 49, Villa Grove/Heritage 26
Athens 55, Riverton 13
Aurora Waubonsie Valley 49, DeKalb 28
Aurora West Aurora 52, Streamwood 8
Bartlett 48, Elgin 0
Batavia 45, Wheaton Warrenville South 12
Benton 42, Harrisburg 7
Bishop McNamara 56, St Edward 0
Bolingbrook 26, Yorkville 21
Bradley-Bourbonnais 53, Andrew 41
Byron 38, North Boone 26
Byron Center, Mich. 38, Morris 26
Canton 50, Bartonville Limestone 28
Carmel 38, Fenwick 24
Carterville 55, Anna-Jonesboro 7
Cary-Grove 44, Algonquin Jacobs 29
Central 42, Dundee-Crown 6
Central 49, Salt Fork 30
Central Catholic 41, Prairie Central 0
Centralia 21, Effingham 16
Chester 29, Nashville 19
Christopher 50, Albion Edwards County 25
Crete-Monee 27, Kankakee 14
DePaul 35, Benet 6
Deer Creek-Mackinaw 50, Kelly, Mo. 13
Dixon 58, Genoa-Kingston 20
Downers Grove North 47, Proviso East 0
Du Quoin 47, Murphysboro 20
Dunlap 30, Metamora 23, OT
Dwight 41, Oregon 8
El Paso-Gridley 37, Shelbyville 6
Eldorado 42, Carmi-White County 30
Fairfield 44, Hamilton County 25
Flanagan-Cornell 64, Bushnell-Prairie City 20
Flora 29, Red Hill 6
Galena 26, Fulton 7
Galva 55, West Prairie 22
Geneseo 45, Quincy 7
Geneva 45, St Charles East 20
Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 55, Lexington 27
Glenbard East 45, Riverside-Brookfield 43
Glenbard North 39, Wheaton North 20
Glenbard South 35, Larkin 7
Glenbrook South 45, New Trier 0
Glenwood 38, Springfield 28
Grayslake Central 41, Round Lake 7
Herscher 35, Peotone 28
Highland Park 49, Maine East 0
Hinsdale Central 35, OPRF 15
Homewood-Flossmoor 50, Aurora (Metea Valley) 8
Illini West 34, Elmwood 24
Johnston City 36, Sesser-Valier 18
Joliet Catholic 30, Providence 27
Knoxville 55, Stark County 14
Lake Zurich 49, Stevenson 9
Lanark Eastland-Pearl City 53, Dakota 22
Lena-Winslow 40, Durand-Pecatonica 20
Leyden 21, Hinsdale South 19
Lincoln Way Central 49, Rich Township 0
Lincoln Way West 49, Stagg 0
Lockport 41, Neuqua Valley 17
Lyons 34, York 26
Macomb def. LCSRV, forfeit
Mahomet-Seymour 63, Richwoods 14
Manteno 33, Streator 6
Marion 49, Mattoon 21
Marist 42, Notre Dame 14
Maroa-Forsyth 44, New Berlin 34
Marshall 32, Newton 15
Minooka 15, Oswego East 14
Moline 63, Galesburg 6
Momence 29, Georgetown-Ridge Farm 20
Monmouth-Roseville 40, Newman 7
Montini Catholic 23, St. Laurence 0
Mt Carmel 35, Loyola 24
Mt Prospect 56, Elk Grove 28
Mt. Carmel 42, Lawrenceville 15
Naperville North 21, Naperville Central 15
Nazareth 42, St. Francis 16
Niles West 20, Maine West 14
Nokomis 63, Arcola 21
Normal West 57, Urbana 15
Oakwood 21, BHRA 13
Olney 43, Robinson 21
Oswego 37, Plainfield North 7
Ottawa Marquette 66, Morrison 23
Palatine 35, Hoffman Estates Conant 7
Paris 22, Casey-Westfield 17
Plainfield East 53, Plainfield Central 7
Prairie Ridge 54, Crystal Lake South 26
Princeville 47, United 8
Quincy Notre Dame 49, MacArthur 7
Reavis 42, Oak Lawn 0
Richards 51, Evergreen Park 0
River Ridge 46, Christian Life 8
Rochelle 27, Waterloo 6
Rochester 31, Sacred Heart-Griffin 28
Rockridge 48, Hall 21
Salem 32, Charleston 23
Sangamon Valley 34, Tri-County 0
Seneca 48, Carlyle 13
Southeast 26, Eisenhower 18
St Anne 61, Blue Ridge 12
St Charles North 35, Lake Park 16
St Joseph-Ogden 56, Pontiac 21
St Rita 38, ICCP 21
Sterling 42, Rock Island 14
Stockton 44, Forreston 6
Sullivan 34, Argenta-Oreana 27
Tremont 40, Clinton 0
Tuscola 38, Le Roy 28
Unity 55, Mt Vernon 37
Warren 49, Libertyville 21
Warrensburg-Latham 22, Fieldcrest 14
Washington 49, Morton 21
Wauconda 31, Lakes 14
West Carroll 43, Kirkland Hiawatha 26
West Chicago 44, Bensenville (Fenton) 34
Westville 52, Iroquois West 13
Wheaton Academy 42, Christ the King 0
Wilmington 44, Coal City 21
Pana 43, Carlinville 26
Greenville 42, Staunton 7
Hillsboro 56, Southwestern 20
North Mac 32, Gillespie 12
Vandalia 49, Litchfield 14
Calhoun 21, Brown County 12
Carrollton 35, Concord Triopia 12
Greenfield 47, Mendon Unity 44
Camp Point Central 70, North Greene 8 (Thursday)
Pleasant Hill 22, Jacksonville Routt 14
West Central 46, Beardstown 13
Highland 34, Alton 24
St. Louis De Smet 30, Edwardsville 15
Taylorville 24, Civic Memorial 17
Jersey 49, Columbia 21
Roxana 41, Marquette Catholic 7
Dupo 69, East Alton-Wood River 24
Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy 14, East St. Louis 13 (OT)
O’Fallon 34, LaSalle-Peru 0
Belleville East 27, Jefferson City (Mo.) Capital City 10
Belleville West 21, St. Louis Vianney 19
Collinsville 16, Triad 7
Rochelle 27 Waterloo 6
Mascoutah 47, Carbondale 28
Maple Park Kaneland 55, Belleville Althoff 28
Breese Central 55, Herrin 6
Ottawa 52, Granite City 0
Sycamore 30, Cahokia 28
Wesclin 70, Madison 32
Mount Zion 52, Breese Mater Dei 14

TAGS: Roxana crushes Marquette by 34 points, Illinois high school football scores in October, Week 9 IHSA football results, Camp Point Central runs up 70 points on North Greene, Central Catholic wins IPC with perfect record

Illinois high school football scores for Week 6

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

ST. JOSEPH - Monticello's Nolan Buehnerkemper pummels his way into the end zone through and SJO linebacker for a touchdown with 8:52 left in the third quarter. Cutting St. Joseph-Ogden's 21-7 first-half lead by seven, the Sages added two additional scores on the way to 28-21 win. Both teams finished the game 4-2 and need two more wins for guaranteed playoff spot. The Spartans hit the road to Bloomington to face undefeated Central Catholic while Monticello hosts the Pontiac Indians (2-4).

Illini Prairie Conference scores

Unity 46, Prairie Centdral 7
Paxton-Buckley-Loda 38, Illinois Valley Central 30
Pontiac 42, Rantoul 22
Monticello 28, St. Joseph-Ogden 21
Central Catholic 61, St. Teresa 21

Big Twelve Conference scores

Normal Community 56, Bloomington 42
Champaign Centennial 0, Urbana 0
Champaign Central 0, Danville 0
Peoria 80, Richwoods 30
Peoria Notre Dame 67, Peoria Manual 24
Normal West 40, Waubonseie Valley 35

Scores from around the state

Abingdon-Avon 34, Astoria South Fulton 27
Addison Trail 46, Leyden 6
Albion Edwards County 14, Hamilton County 13
Algonquin Jacobs 27, Crystal Lake Central 21
Amboy 68, Peoria Heights 0
Andrew 56, Stagg 6
Annawan-Wethersfield 48, Stark County 7
Antioch 62, North Chicago 12
Arlington Heights Hersey 54, Elk Grove 14
Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond 48, Arcola 6
Aurora Christian 26, Christ the King 0
Aurora West Aurora 49, Ridgewood 0
Barrington 42, Hoffman Estates Conant 14
Bartlett 41, Aurora East 2
Batavia 24, Geneva 21, OT
Benton 34, Nashville 24
Byron 42, Durand-Pecatonica 14
Carterville 39, Harrisburg 0
Cary-Grove 46, Dundee-Crown 27
Central 27, Brown County 6
Central 42, McHenry 13
Central Catholic 61, St Teresa 21
Centralia 55, Marion 28
Chicago Christian 45, St Edward 0
Christopher 36, Red Hill 28
Coal City 55, Manteno 0
Cumberland 41, Sangamon Valley 19
DePaul 36, Arlington Heights St. Viator 7
Deerfield 24, Glenbrook North 2
Dixon 55, Stillman Valley 0
Downers Grove North 21, Oak Park-River Forest 0
Downers Grove South 57, Proviso East 6
Du Quoin 30, Frankfort 28, OT
Dunlap 56, Canton 21
El Paso-Gridley 38, Tremont 6
Elgin 43, Larkin 21
Erie-Prophetstown 42, Riverdale 36
Farmington 30, Macomb 16
Fremd 35, Hoffman Estates 13
Fulton 55, Dakota 14
Geneseo 38, Galesburg 20
Genoa-Kingston 63, Lutheran 14
Glenbard East 49, Bensenville Fenton 0
Glenbard North 41, Lake Park 23
Glenbrook South 18, Evanston 6
Glenwood 42, University 0
Grayslake Central 28, Grayslake North 6
Herscher 28, Streator 14
Hope 28, Wheaton Academy 21
ICCP 35, St. Francis 28
Johnston City 46, Fairfield 22
Joliet Catholic 16, Notre Dame 7
Kaneland 34, Sycamore 14
Knoxville 32, Illini West 22
La Salle-Peru 28, Ottawa 14
Lake Zurich 31, Zion Benton 0
Lanark Eastland-Pearl City 51, Forreston 24
Le Roy 42, Fisher 14
Lena-Winslow 46, Morrison 7
Leo 46, De La Salle 13
Lift for Life Academy, Mo. 46, Murphysboro 34
Lincoln Way Central 28, Bradley-Bourbonnais 20
Lincoln Way West 52, DeKalb 21
Lincoln-Way East 42, Aurora Metea Valley 6
Lockport 14, Naperville Central 7, OT
MacArthur 61, Lincoln 20
Mahomet-Seymour 49, Effingham 7
Maine South 35, New Trier 7
Marian Catholic 34, Aurora Marmion Academy 20
Maroa-Forsyth 46, Pittsfield 6
Massac County 35, Herrin 20
Mendota 45, Kewanee 13
Metamora 37, Pekin 13
Milledgeville 54, West Carroll 28
Minooka 74, Plainfield Central 7
Monticello 28, St Joseph-Ogden 21
Morris 37, Rochelle 14
Mt Carmel 27, Brother Rice 14
Mt Prospect 70, Wheeling 19
Mt Zion 70, Charleston 0
Naperville North 36, Sandburg 35
Neuqua Valley 42, Homewood-Flossmoor 27
New Berlin 48, Olympia 32
Normal West 40, Aurora Waubonsie Valley 35
Olney 42, Mt. Carmel 26
Oswego 48, Joliet West 6
Oswego East 51, Romeoville 6
PORTA 44, Auburn 20
Palatine 49, Schaumburg 14
Paris 34, Newton 21
Paxton-Buckley-Loda 38, Illinois Valley Central 30
Pinckneyville 27, Anna-Jonesboro 0
Pleasant Plains 32, Riverton 16
Polo 54, Orangeville 8
Pontiac 42, Rantoul 22
Prairie Ridge 35, Huntley 34
Princeton 28, Hall 12
Princeville 42, ROWVA-Williamsfield 8
Quincy 23, East Moline United 21
Reed-Custer 31, Peotone 28
Richards 55, Argo 6
Ridgeview 17, Warrensburg-Latham 0
River Ridge 52, Ashton-Franklin Center 12
Riverside-Brookfield 21, Glenbard South 17
Robinson 39, Lawrenceville 19
Rockridge 50, Orion 7
Rolling Meadows 59, Buffalo Grove 27
Rushville-Industry 54, United 18
Salt Fork 16, Momence 14
Seneca 43, Ottawa Marquette 26
Sesser-Valier 38, Carmi-White County 6
Shelbyville 20, Eureka 17
South Beloit 49, Alden-Hebron 7
South Fork 58, Metro-East Lutheran 50
Springfield 28, Jacksonville 17
St Anne 54, Unity Christian 12
St Charles North 24, St Charles East 13
St Patrick 46, Benet 24
Stevenson 24, Lake Forest 7
Stockton 30, Galena 12
Taylorville 50, Mattoon 6
Tri-Valley 56, Clinton 6
Triopia 38, Beardstown 13
Tuscola 35, Central A&M 14
Unity 46, Prairie Central 7
Vernon Hills 42, Maine East 0
Villa Grove/Heritage 14, Argenta (A.-Oreana) 10
Washington 56, East Peoria 0
Wauconda 43, Grant 39
West Central 26, Galva 18
West Chicago 61, Elmwood Park 6
West Hancock 42, Elmwood 34
Westville 37, Central 14
Wheaton Warrenville South 14, Wheaton North 0
Williamsville 45, Athens 14
Willowbrook 48, Berwyn-Cicero Morton 6
Wilmington 47, Thornton 0
York 28, Hinsdale Central 18

IHSA football playoff quarterfinal scores from around the state

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. JOSEPH - Spartans' Cameron Wagner is all smiles after St. Joseph-Ogden Wyatt Wertz scores the winning nail in the Vandalia coffin in their Class 3A quarterfinal game. SJO defeated the Vandals 38-24 at home on Saturday.

Illini Prairie Conference scores

St. Joseph-Ogden 38, Vandalia 24
Unity 42, Williamsville 7

Big Twelve Conference scores

Oak Forest 34, Peoria 20