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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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

St. Joseph-Ogden 2025 football schedule set

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IHSA releases 2025 football schedules; SJO eyes another strong season with key games at home. See the Spartans' complete schedule below.

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Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

After taking a handoff from Kodey McKinney, St. Joseph-Ogden's Wyatt Wertz runs the football against Unity during their Class 3A second-round playoff game in 2024.

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ST. JOSEPH - The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) released the 2025 Illinois high school football schedules today for the upcoming fall season. This year's playoff pairings will be broadcast on Saturday, October 25. All eight classes will return to Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal. The Class 1A-4A title games will be played on November 28, and the Class 5A-8A games will follow a day later on November 29.

St. Joseph-Ogden is poised to repeat their undefeated 2024 Illini Prairie Conference run, opening their season on the road at Prairie Central behind senior signal caller Kodey McKinney, who scored once and threw four touchdown passes in last year's 49-20 victory in Week 3.

The Spartans play their first home game on September 5 against Paxton-Buckley-Loda. SJO rolled off two touchdowns in the first three quarters of last October's season finale. Returning senior Wyatt Wertz rushed for 152 yards, scoring three of the team's six touchdowns.

Two home games St. Joseph-Ogden football fans won't want to miss are against Unity and last year's Class 3A runner-up, Monticello.

The Rockets will travel to Dick Duval Field for the first time since 1994 under a new head coach, former assistant Tony Reetz. With 21 years of experience under the legendary Scott Hamilton, the stage is set for the storied rivalry between the two programs after the Spartans claimed bragging rights in a 24-21 nail-biter in Week 2. The two teams met again for a second-round playoff game, with Unity prevailing 35-7.

Monticello has a bone to pick with SJO, who ran up a 20-0 lead in the first quarter of last year's conference opener, leading to a 40-28 loss on their newly renovated field. The Sages, who will be without last year's seniors Ike Young and Carter Foran, won't be pushovers with possibly 14 battle-tested seniors who saw action in last year's state championship game against Montini.

In addition to the road opener against the Hawks, St. Joseph-Ogden will play four additional away contests, traveling to Chillicothe to face IVC, Rantoul, Bloomington, and for a program-first meeting against the Seneca Irish.

2025 St. Joseph-Ogden Football Schedule

• Aug 29 - 7:00 A Prairie Central
• Sep 05 - 7:00 H Paxton-Buckley-Loda
• Sep 12 - 7:00 A Illinois Valley Central
• Sep 19 - 7:00 H Unity
• Sep 26 - 7:00 A Rantoul
• Oct 03 - 7:00 H Monticello
• Oct 10 - 7:00 A Bloomington Central Catholic
• Oct 17 - 7:00 A Seneca
• Oct 24 - 7:00 H Pontiac

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Click image to download the 2024 schedule

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More SJO Football Stories ~

Photo Gallery: Spartans beat Rockets

Opening statement, Spartans send message to conference opponents

Spartans win game 7th game on the road

Unity shocks St. Joseph-Ogden with dominant defense

Sentinel St. Joseph-Ogden Sports Coverage

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Unity falls just short in thriller vs Bloomington Central Catholic

Rockets and Saints traded punches all night, but BCC had the last word. Unity drops tough 34-27 decision.

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Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Unity's Crewe Eckstein drags Central Catholic's Greyer Pirtz into the end zone for a touchdown in the third quarter. Eckstein finished the team's first conference loss with 151 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns.

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by Clark Brooks
The Sentinel

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TOLONO — It was a beautiful evening at Hicks Field. The temperature at game time started in the low 80s and gradually dipped into the lower 70s as the sun set across Central Illinois. With more than 800 fans in the stands, two unbeaten Illini Prairie Conference heavyweights went toe to toe. From the opening kick to the final horn, momentum swung wildly, but in the end visiting Bloomington Central Catholic caught the last wave to victory, defeating Unity 34-27 in a high-quality high school football clash.

"We knew that it was going to be a heavy weight fight with two very good teams," said Saints head coach Kevin Braucht. "In a game like that, there are many swings in momentum and our ability to stay calm and focused on our jobs say much about out mental toughness and resiliency. We preach every day about looking at every moment as an opportunity vs. a burden regardless of the outcome."

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Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Bloomington Central Catholic's Valshun Powe looks at Unity's Brayden Henry as he tries to scamper down the sidelines for a first down.

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Central Catholic found that opportunity when Unity’s first possession ended prematurely after a completed pass was fumbled near midfield. Central Catholic recovered and drove for a one-yard touchdown run. The Saints missed the extra point but struck again before the first quarter ended on a nine-yard run, extending their lead to 13-0.

The Rockets roared back in the second quarter. Dane Eisenmenger powered up the middle for Unity’s first score, followed by Crewe Eckstein’s four-yard burst that tied the game. Ty Rodems’ second extra point gave Unity a 14-13 edge. Minutes later, Brayden Henry’s interception set up Eisenmenger’s touchdown pass to Tre Hoggard, sending the Rockets into halftime with a 20-13 lead.

Central Catholic regrouped after the break, scoring on runs of nine and 26 yards to reclaim a 27-20 advantage.

"Coming out of halftime we wanted to limit their offensive snaps and wanted to control the clock better," Braucht said. A sound plan given how explosive the Unity offense had proven itself in the first two weeks of the season.

Eckstein punctuated that thought when responded with his second touchdown run of the night, dragging a defender across the goal line to even the score at 27 in third quarter.

"Our kids battled there to the end. I'm pretty proud of them," said Tony Reetz, now 2-1 as Unity's head coach. "They (BCC) were able to control the clock, control the ball, and kept our offense on the sideline. They kind of wore our defense down a little, so credit to them."

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Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Keegan Germano, Desmond Winfrey, and Coleton Langendorf defensive tactic to contain Central Catholic's run gam while taking a breather on the bench in the first half.

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The decisive drive came late in the fourth quarter. Facing 4th-and-1, Valshun Powe slipped away from Unity’s Adam Reedy to keep the Saints alive. Moments later, a leaping catch in double coverage put BCC on the Unity 12. Matthew Brady finished the drive with the go-ahead touchdown at the 2:50 mark.

Unity mounted one final push, reaching the Saints’ four-yard line. On the last play, Eisenmenger rolled left under pressure and lofted a pass toward Hoggard in the corner of the end zone. The ball glanced off his fingertips as time expired, sealing Central Catholic’s win.

Unity’s offense posted strong numbers despite the loss. Eckstein finished with 151 yards rushing on 17 carries, including a 56-yard breakaway. Eisenmenger added 40 yards on the ground while throwing for 196 yards. Henry led Rocket receivers with four catches for 92 yards, while Hoggard hauled in five for 87.

Overall, Unity ran 52 plays for 382 yards, while the Saints executed 70 plays for 405 yards and held a 31–22 edge in first downs. The Rockets lost the turnover battle 3-1.

"They played us in a little bit different coverage than we were anticipating, so it took us a while to get the passing game going," Reetz said. "I was happy with the way we executed when we figured out what we could take from them."

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Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Central Catholic receiver Crayton Schnierle makes a reception on a huge play between Unity defenders Brayden Henry and Graydin Cler. The catch set up the game-winning touchdown from Saints' Matthew Brady.

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Braucht praised his team’s balance and once again highlighted their overall resiliency. "When you have three players of their abilities, you need to make sure they are getting most of the calls," he said, pointing to Powe, Brady and Crayton Schnierle as difference-makers. "Those three are very good players, but the real difference in that game was our offensive and defensive lines and how we controlled the line of scrimmage in the second half."

Reetz said the Saints exposed a few weaknesses that the team will work on. The luxury of having a tough game early in the season is that it gives you plenty of time to turn those shortcomings into strengths.

"It is just week three of the season. We're in this for the long haul. We're not trying to be ready with everything Week 3," he said. "This will be a good case study to look at."

The loss drops Unity to 2-1 heading into a road trip to unbeaten St. Joseph-Ogden (3-0) next Friday at Dick Duval Field. The Spartans dominated Illinois Valley Central 51-16. Central Catholic improves to 3-0 and will host Rantoul.

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TAGGED: Unity Rockets football 2025, Bloomington Central Catholic Saints football recap, Unity vs Central Catholic Hicks Field 2025, Illini Prairie Conference week 3 football results, Illinois high school football Unity vs St. Joseph-Ogden preview

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Volleyball team's road to state blocked, Unity falls 2-1 in nailbiter against Monticello

Heading into Thursday's regional title match against Monticello, the #1 seeded Unity volleyball team enjoyed a six-match win streak and hadn't lost a match in 19 days. The clear favorite, with a 33-3 record to back it up, the Rockets suffered an unexpected, bittersweet ending in an otherwise promising postseason run in a 2-1 loss to the Sages.

Senior Maddie Reed makes a pass in the last match of her prep career during the Unity's regional title match against Monticello last Thursday. The Rockets, who beat the Sages earlier in the season 2-0, lost to the Sages on their home court at the Rocket Center, 2-1.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

It was clear from the get-go that fans from both teams were in for a gritty dog fight between the two Illini Prairie rivals.

"This is one of their rivals outside of St. Joe, I suppose. They were ready for that," said Unity first-year head coach Erika Yerry about her squad, which featured seven battle-tested seniors. Given the proximity of the two schools and their blooming rivalry, she anticipated a deafening and highly-charged match environment. "They were expecting that. We knew there would be a lot of fans and a lot of screaming."

What the Rockets were not prepared for were Monticello's tenacity and grit.

Yerry said, "We were ready for the battle. I don't think we ready for them to push us as much as they did."

Unity trailed on the scoreboard for the first 25 points in the opening set. Down by three at 14-11, Yerry called a timeout. Soon after, the Rockets pieced together a four-point run to tie things up at 17-all. A return error on the next serve gave the Rockets their first lead in the set.

There would be two more lead changes before the Sages prevailed, 25-23.

Yerry was not overly concerned after losing the first set by two points.

"I wasn't worried. I was more upset about some of the mistakes that we made," she said. "We just had way too many unforced errors in the first set and Monticello only beat us by two. We cleaned that up in the second set and then the third set was just a dogfight."

Behind Emma Bleecher's down-the-line kills and cross-courters from Katey Moore Unity took the second set easily, 25-11. Unfortunately, the shift in energy and momentum for the Rockets did not last.

(Left to right) Unity's Reagan Little, Ruby Tarr, Julia Ping, Jayci McGraw, an unidentified player and Katey Moore cheer for teamates after winning a point in the second set of their Class 2A regional title match. (PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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Before two teams entered the deciding third set, Monticello head coach Kim Allison delivered a message to her team that they took to heart.

"I told them: 'Go out there and put everything out on the court. Be competitive all the way through and truly believe you can beat Unity.'"

Allison told the Sages to focus on how they played in the opening set and to take the energy back out on the floor.

"It was nice to be able to say it 'it's a whole new match,'" she told her players. "Think about how you came out that first set. That's the way we're coming out this set."

Yerry had a different message for her squad between the second and third set of the evening.

"I thought we would be more in-system, be more in rhythm going into set three," she said. "But, you can never underestimate Monticello. I told them to be ready and that they would come out firing."

Unity senior Taylor Henry serves the ball during third set action against the Sages. (Photo: PhotoNews Media)

Monticello won the first three points in the final set, but the Rockets held their ground working their way back to their only lead of the game at 4-3. The Sages then scored six unanswered points to go up 9-4 for their largest lead of the do-or-die set.

With a renewed sense of urgency, Rockets' Macie Knudsen and Taylor Henry intensified their play. The burst of energy helped the Rockets outscore Monticello 7-1 and trail by one at 12-11. Bleecher & Co. would get within one to tie three more times but the Sages repelled their efforts each time to win the final set, 25-20.

"We played a tough Monticello team. I don't think we were ready for their defense on every single ball," Yerry said after her first season at Unity came to an unexpected close. "As the rallies go longer and longer, you get more and more tired, and you start to make mistakes. I think that threw us for a loop a little bit."

While their prep career had come to an end, she said three of her seniors plan to play at the collegiate level and were ready to "move on to the next step." Without their dedication, work ethic, and leadership the Rockets would not have concluded their season with an impressive 33-4 finish.

"Overall, our season was amazing," Yerry said.

Friday Night Forecast |Week 1 Illini Prairie Conference football predictions

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IPC football fans, grab your popcorn! IPC football fans test their prediction skills in The Sentinel’s first Friday Night Forecast of the 2025 season.

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Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Monticello’s Landon Carlisle tries to keep Unity’s Hunter Eastin from making a play during their Class 3A state semifinal game in 2024. Eastin has moved on, but Carlisle, now a sophomore, will be back to help the Sages contend for the top of the Illini Prairie Conference. Both programs received unanimous picks to win this week’s season opener in the Friday Night Forecast.

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URBANA - Ladies and gentlemen, football fans of Illini Prairie—brace yourselves! The Sentinel is kicking off the very first season of the Friday Night Forecast, and the stakes are higher than ever. We welcome four brave challengers—Alan, J, Denise, and Sara—ready to test their prediction skills and claim glory! But standing in their way is none other than Clark Brooks, Champaign-Urbana’s very own oracle of the gridiron, a titan of pigskin prophecy whose foresight has baffled, amazed, and humbled even the boldest fans.

Grab your umbrellas, grab your popcorn, and get ready for a clash of football wits! Here are the picks from the Sentinel’s inaugural Friday Night Forecast.

P.S. Best of luck to all IPC football programs this season—may your dedication, off-season training, and pursuit of excellence shine on the field!

Week 1 predictions

Illini Prairie Game of the Week
Paxton-Buckley-Loda vs Central Catholic

Alan: Central Catholic .::. 28-7
Denise: Central Catholic .::. 14-7
J: Central Catholic .::. 21-6
Sara: Paxton-Buckley-Loda .::. 27-26

Brooks Look: Last fall, Paxton-Buckley-Loda (7-4) shocked BCC (5-5), winning in overtime, 22-21. The Panthers will be without quarterback Conner Vaughn and Robert Boyd-Meents, who piled up 186 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries in the IPC thriller. Considering that the Saints haven’t posted a win in their last two visits to Paxton, and both programs are 2-2 since the dark days of COVID, PBL - with home-field advantage - takes this one, no overtime needed, with a second-half comeback.

Paxton-Buckley-Loda 28, Central Catholic 21

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Pontiac @ Coal City

Alan: Pontiac .::. 14-12
Denise: Pontiac .::. 28-14
J: Coal City .::. 35-6
Sara: Coal City .::. 40-14

Brooks Look: Pontiac returns just three starters on both sides of the ball from last year’s one-win season. The Indians, who have won four games in as many years, are rebuilding under former Unity star - and now Athletic Director and head coach - Zach Gadbury. Coal City, stocked with 17 seniors, finished 2024 with a respectable 10-3 record. Bench depth and experience should give them the edge here.

Coal City 42, Pontiac 14

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Unity vs Rantoul

Alan: Unity .::. 28-14
Denise: Unity .::. 32-7
J: Unity .::. 49-0
Sara: Unity .::. 39-6

Brooks Look: Improving from an 0-9 season in 2023 to 1-8 last year with a win over Pontiac, Rantoul faces a team hungry for a trip to the Class 3A state title game after a heartbreaking semifinal loss to Monticello last November. Unity’s tradition and culture of winning won’t be tested in their home season opener. Look for Rocket quarterback Dane Eisenmenger to put up big numbers early.

Unity 49, Rantoul 13

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Prairie Central vs St. Joseph-Ogden

Alan: St. Joseph-Ogden .::. 28-7
Denise: St. Joseph-Ogden .::. 28-21
J: St. Joseph-Ogden .::. 35-7
Sara: St. Joseph-Ogden .::. 48-21

Brooks Look: This game has the markings of a shootout, with Prairie Central’s Dalton Steidinger on one side of the ball and St. Joseph-Ogden’s Kodey McKinney on the other. Even with Steidinger passing for 992 yards last fall, the Hawks finished 5-5 overall and 4-4 in conference play. McKinney, on the other hand, hoarded 2,351 yards, resulting in 29 touchdowns, and led SJO to an undefeated conference run. If Prairie Central can’t contain SJO’s passing game and stop Wyatt Wertz on the ground, this could easily turn into a lopsided affair.

St. Joseph-Ogden 35, Prairie Central 16

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IVC vs Monticello

Alan: Illinois Valley Central .::. 35-32
Denise: Monticello .::. 21-14
J: Monticello .::. 21-14
Sara: Monticello .::. 32-27

Brooks Look:Illinois Valley Central (3-6) won three of its last four games at the end of the 2024 season and will give the Sages a run for their money early in the home opener. However, the Class 3A runner-up will shake off first-quarter jitters as last year’s juniors and sophomores adjust to their new roles before picking up where the team left off in November.

Monticello 42, IVC 21

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Get ready to weather the storm of predictions! Next week, the Friday Night Forecast rolls on, and it’s your chance to bring the sunshine—or stir up a little gridiron thunder. Will you be a clear-sky champion or get caught in a hailstorm of wrong picks? Drop back by to enter your picks for the Week 2 Illini Prairie football games.

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More sports news & photos
St. Joseph-Ogden Athletics | Unity Athletics | Illini Prairie Sports

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.

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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.

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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.

SJO tennis program overflowing with players and positive energy

St. Joseph-Ogden head coach Kevin Martlage talks to players during their first day of practice for the 2023-24 season. The Spartans' ranks have swollen to 29 players as the program enters its fourth competitive season.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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URBANA - On Monday this, the St. Joseph-Ogden girls' tennis team took up three courts at Atkins Tennis Center for their first official practice of the 2023-24 season. The program continues to grow in popularity as a fall sport. SJO welcomes 11 newcomers to the sport, filling their roster of 29 to the brim.

"We have 18 returning players this year. A lot of them took lessons over the summer and during the off-season," said head coach Kevin Martlage, who is entering his fourth season. "I'm looking forward to getting out there and seeing what we are capable of doing."

This year's squad has eight seniors. Led by three-year veteran Lauren Lannert, the class of 2024 includes Maya Chahine, Grace Getty, Brianna Grant, Addison Ross, Addison Seggebruch, Emma Thurman, and Ellie Ward. Chahine and Ward are first-year players, while the rest of the class has seen two years of action for the Spartans.

Senior Addison Saggebruch concentrates on a ball drill during opening day practice at Atkins Tennis Center on Monday. Last year's sectional qualifier hopes make another run toward competing at the IHSA state tournament in October. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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The juniors represent the largest contingent of players, with ten student-athletes. Audrey Benoit, Sara Kearney, Audra Marshke, Haley Rudolph, and Alexis Wirth enter their first tennis season under Martlage. The other five players returning for their second season include Madison Clampitt, Ella Dietiker, Olivia Getty, Makennah Hamilton, and Sonia Patel.

Martlage, overflowing with enthusiasm and an abundance of positive energy, is looking forward to the upcoming season.

"I'm really excited about the team," he said on Monday while his players jogged laps around three courts at Atkin's Tennis Center for their warmup. "I just want to go out there and teach these girls the game of tennis and also be very competitive in the tough division we are in here in central Illinois."

The Spartans have five home matches, the first on tap on August 17 at Atkins against Maroa-Forsyth. Then there are nine road matches lined up to played around central Illinois. Fans unable to catch a home match can watch the team play against local opponents on August 19 at the Charger Invitational (Atkins/Blair Park), on August 29 against Urbana, and on October 12 against Mahomet-Seymour (Illini Grove Tennis Courts).

Martlage said he enjoys coaching the girls' team because of the abundance of raw enthusiasm from the players while watching their appreciation and skill in the sport mature.

"This was never a sport [at SJO] before Covid," he explained. He recounted how a few students approached him to start the program during the pandemic. "Ten girls were like, 'Hey, want to play tennis because the IHSA says you can play tennis and nothing else.'"

Now, starting the program's fourth season, participation in the newest sport at St. Joseph-Ogden has tripled.

"The thing I like the most is the girls have the opportunity to learn a sport they probably would have never had the opportunity to learn, represent their school, and each other."

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Top left: Lily Rice and teammate Makennah Hamilton watch teamate execute a drill while waiting for their turn. The duo were sectional qualifiers last fall and look to make a repeat appearance in a bid to advance to the state tournament. Center: Addi Ross uses her racquet to bounce the ball during a team drill. Top right: Ella Dietiker focuses on bouncing the ball on the racquet during a team warm-up drill. Below: Totally in the zone, Caroline Aiden puts the ball back over the net with a backhand shot during the team's 3-on-3 hitting drill on Monday.

Photos: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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St. Joseph-Ogden's top returning players include Saggebruch and sophomore Lily Rice, who won their opening match at sectionals in the previous season. Double partners and sectional qualifiers Ross and Hamilton also return to this year's lineup.

Martlage is excited to see his top four players grow this season.

"They will be coming back strong," he said. "There are a handful of others I'm excited about. There are even some players today I haven't seen since last season, and I am pretty impressed with. I asked if they had been taking lessons, and they said, 'Yes, Coach!'"

The underclass has seven sophomores returning from 2022. Caroline Aden, Abby Getty, Claire Hartman, Samantha Kelso, Grace Preston, Ainsley Rhoton, and Lily Rice look to build on their success last season and help guide new classmates Sophia Vliet and Shelby Campbell, who join the team for their first season.

The roster is complete with three freshman, which includes Madison Farber, Audri Helfrich, and Isabella Santiago, who joined the team this year.

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Adapt, improvise and they'll overcome, SJO can win on Saturday

Above: SJO senior Jordan Hartman celebrates his 12-yard tackle-for-a-loss on Williamsville during their 2013 home playoff game. The Spartans, after shutting out Monticello 35-0 in their second round game, won the contest after a thrilling 38-26 finish. The Spartans would win the next game and advance to the state title game in DeKalb against Stillman Valley. Below: Dylan Koss celebrates the Spartans' win with assistant coach Marshall Schacht. This weekend the pair will coach together hoping to beat the Bullets and advance to week 2 of the playoffs. (Photos: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

By conventional wisdom, the #15 seeded St. Joseph-Ogden football team faces improbable odds of winning their first-round Class 3A game on the road this Saturday. Facing the undefeated #2 seed Williamsville at Paul Jenkins Field the Bullets have a high-powered offense that has produced touchdowns, lots of them, both on the ground and in the air all season long.

In their nine games so far, thanks to the efforts of two college caliber players and supportive cast of able-bodied linemen, the team averages an impressive 48 points/game.

Against Pittsfield (1-8) back on October 18, quarterback Connor McCormick went 10-for-10 in passing, good for 178 years and four touchdown. Williamsville ran the score up to win, 55-14.

The other marquee player the Spartans have to contain is Grant Ripperda. Listed at 5 feet 10 and 210 pounds, he was a state-qualifier in wrestling back in February and is quick enough at his size to run on 4x2 and 4x4 squads in track. In Williamsville's away contest at Auburn on September 13, Ripperda scored on a 6-yard run in the first quarter and he then preceded tack on three more TDs in the second. He finished the night out with 145 yards on 14 carries in Bullet's 34-17 victory.

In the same game, McCormick passed for 240 yards on a 15-for-22 effort and produced one touchdown during the regular season Sangamo Conference game.

The Spartans must also contend with a stingy defense that has held opposing offenses to two or less scores in seven of their nine regular season contests. North Mac (5-4) was able to break the barrier with three and Maroa-Forsyth (8-1) scored six times. In both cases, both teams suffered losses contributing to Williamsville's perfect season so far.

There is only one way to shutdown a versatile, high-powered high school offense like Williamsville. It's called a blizzard.

Remember 2015 semifinal game in Tolono when SJO had a similar offense, touting a 12-0 record, that would have easily advanced to the 3A title game had it not been for that unexpected, early season snowstorm with blizzard like conditions that put two inches of slush on the ground between the goal post at Hicks Field.

In 2015 when SJO faced the Unity Rockets on the road in the infamous Class 3A 'Blizzard Bowl' semifinal. See the Big Picture special edition from the game here . . . . (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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In more favorable conditions, the Spartans could have aired out the ball all day long against the Rockets had it not been for the sustained 20+ mph breeze out of the northwest. Freezing cold along with ankle deep muck made up of snow, wet grass and mud kept the SJO ground game in check. Throwing the ball against the variable wind direction and unexpected gusts, wasn't the answer.

Unity prevailed 30-8 in that contest ending the chance for St. Joseph-Ogden's first-ever back-to-back state championship game appearances.

That one hurt the Spartans, but Mama Nature has also been generous to SJO.

According to football alumnus Nathan Buss, St. Joseph-Ogden was #15 seed or so back during the 91-92 season. With the help of a blizzard on game day, the Spartans won their first-round game.

"We played Casey-Westfield at home," he said in a social media post. "They had to plow the out of bounds and 5-yard markers."

SJO narrowly won the game, 8-6.

"We had a punt return for a TD and a 2pt conversation," Buss wrote. "Didn’t have a lineman weighing over 200 pounds!!! Killer Dwarves !!! And a Sophomore QB! Hell of a year!!!"

After last Friday's loss to Monticello, head coach Shawn Skinner had a little trouble coming up with good things to say about the game. Despite that, he was happy that his team and coaching staff has one more game to prepare for this week.

"When the kids come in Monday, what they are going to understand is they are going to be excited and not going to have to leave with this being the last one they have in their mouth all off season," Skinner said last Friday. "They have another opportunity to fix this."

Short of divine interference from Mother Nature, the key to St. Joseph-Ogden advancing to the second round is playing smart, ball-control football.

"All we have to do is figure out how to go one and O next week," Skinner said. "That's what it's about. No matter who the matchup is we have another opportunity to play and that's good."

Brady Buss sheds one tackler and looks for more pasture while carrying the ball in the Spartans last regular season game for 2019. The Spartans (5-4) earned a first-round bid against 9-0 Williamsville. Game time is set for 1p on Saturday. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

There are four things Skinner & Co. need to reach that goal.

First, they can take a hint from Maroa-Forsyth (8-1), who nearly beat the Bullets in their week 4 game. The Trojans up on the scoreboard 41-37 late in the fourth quarter, the Bullets needed a score to win. With less than two minutes on the clock, they crafted a successful final drive for the go-ahead score and a 43-41 victory.

The takeaway is Maroa ran 71 plays and averaged seven yards per carry against the Bullets. If the Spartans can yield a little more than half that number, they will be in the position to hand out the upset the Trojans didn't. Pick up four yards per play, and SJO can be a close game.

That means coaches have to come up with some creative methods to keep the Williamsville's offense off the field and wear down their defense, which is stacked with a lot of one-way players. That won't be easy.

Jarrett Stevenson, Coby Miller and Keaton Nolan will have their work cut out for them on Saturday. However, if they can grind out those four yards on every play - nothing big, nothing fancy - they will set SJO up handsomely for the first playoff victory in the Skinner era.

Second, the offensive linemen need to become pesky gnats and force Williamsville defenders into longer engagements. The first two games of the season, SJO blocking was grade A. Opposing defenders were kept out of the play longer by Max Chatterton, Blake Dable and Conner Hodge. That allowed Stevenson to put up solid rushing numbers in those contests.

The O-line has to keep the Bullet defenders busy fighting them off longer. The 'bump and quit' will not create scoring opportunities for the SJO run or passing game. Blocking to the whistle will be key.

Third on the list, the Spartans need to capitalize on their strength as a team. St. Joseph-Ogden players are quick-thinkers, possess a combination of speed and strength, and are tenacious competitors.

The challenge for the coaching staff is to find a weakness in Williamsville's casings and exploit it using the talent they have. The bigger and strong guy doesn't win all the time. The odds are on their side, but usually it is the smarter - and there are some intelligent student-athletes at SJO, faster and most tenacious guy who wins. If coaches and can rapidly adapt, improvise and overcome as the game wears on, SJO could playing yet one more week.

Finally, the players on the sidelines must to feed the beasts on grass.

The surefire way to tell which team is going to win a football game, with 92.4% accuracy (that's the author's estimation and not exact science), is pay attention to the athletes not on the field. Players standing on the sidelines of really good teams are cheering for their teammates. They slapping pads, butting helmets and handing water when players come out. On E-V-E-R-Y play they are supplying their fellow beasts with a continuous flow of positive energy to get the job done. Those teams win almost every S-I-N-G-L-E time.

IBCA announces Class 4A girls' All-State Teams

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BEDFORD PARK - The Illlinois Basketball Coaches Association released this year's Class 4A all-state team selections on Friday. Here is the complete list of honorees from around the state below.

FIRST TEAM
(FIRST NAME LAST NAME, SCHOOL, YEAR)

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Brooke Carlson, Batavia, 12;
Amalia Dray, (LaGrange) Nazareth Academy, 12;
Paige Engels, (Wilmette) Loyola Academy, 12;
Meegan Fahy, (Park Ridge) Maine South, 12;
Aubrey Galvan, (Wilmette) Loyola Academy, 11;
Destiny Jackson, (Chicago) Whitney Young, 11;
Trinity Jones, Bolingbrook, 10;
Jarius Powers, (Alton) Senior, 11;
Kiyoko Proctor, (Alton) Senior, 11;
Ella Todd, (Palatine) Fremd, 11

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SECOND TEAM
(FIRST NAME LAST NAME, SCHOOL, YEAR)

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Olivia Austin, (LaGrange) Nazareth Academy, 12;
Lorena Awou, (East Moline) United, 12;
Olivia Corson, (Normal) Community, 12;
Ariella Henigan, (Chicago) Kenwood Academy, 11;
Emory Klatt, (Lincolnshire) Stevenson, 12;
Danyella Mporokoso, (Aurora) Waubonsie Valley, 10;
Molly O'Riordan, Barrington, 12;
Leah Palmer, Geneva, 12;
Hayven Smith, (Frankfort) Lincoln-Way East, 12;
Angelina Smith, Bolingbrook, 12

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THIRD TEAM
(FIRST NAME LAST NAME, SCHOOL, YEAR)

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D'Myjah Bolds, O'Fallon Township, 12;
Danielle Brooks, (Chicago) Kenwood Academy, 10;
Josie Christopher, O'Fallon Township, 10;
Gina Davorija, (Glenview) Glenbrook South, 11;
Nora Ezike, (LaGrange) Lyons, 11;
Morgan Feil, (Chicago) Mother McAuley, 12;
Kiaya Johnson, (Chicago) Whitney Young, 11;
Sela Klein, (Winnetka) New Trier, 12;
Jaeda Murphy, (Flossmoor) Homewood-Flossmoor, 12;
Kate Rule, Libertyville, 12;
Danielle Scully, (LaGrange) Nazareth Academy, 12;
Emilia Sularski, (Lisle) Benet Academy, 12;
Coco Urlacher, (Palatine) Fremd, 11;
Kylee Norkus, (Naperville) Neuqua Valley, 12;
Kailey Starks, Evanston Township, 12

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HONORABLE MENTION
(FIRST NAME LAST NAME, SCHOOL, YEAR)

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Quinn Arundel, (Chicago) Mother McAuley, 10; Anna Campanelli, Huntley, 11; Avery Cooper, Lake Zurich, 11; Brynn Eshoo, (Palatine) Fremd, 12; Grace Gambotz, (Chicago) Mother McAuley, 12; Gracen Gehrke, (New Lenox) Lincoln-Way Central, 12; Talesha Gilmore, Collinsville, 11; Erin Hackett, Naperville Central, 10; Lindsay Harzich, (Lisle) Benet Academy, 11; Ali Ince, (Normal) Community, 12; Jadea Johnson, Romeoville, 12; Lana Kerley, (Frankfort) Lincoln-Way East, 12; Kelsey Langston, (Wilmette) Loyola Academy, 12; Hannah Laub, (Aurora) Waubonsie Valley, 12; Alyssa Lewis, (Alton) Senior, 12; Caitlin Leyden, (Park Ridge) Maine South, 11; Alli Linke, (Mt. Prospect) Prospect, 10; Nisha Musunuri, (Lincolnshire) Stevenson, 11; Ally Pape, (Park Ridge) Maine South, 11; Kaitlyn Parker, Downers Grove North, 12; Layla Pierce, (Flossmoor) Homewood-Flossmoor, 12; Rachel Rule, Libertyville, 12; Stella Sakalas, (LaGrange) Nazareth Academy, 10; Ashley Schlabowske, (Mundelein) Carmel Catholic, 12; Lexi Sepulveda, Plainfield East, 12; Reagan Sipla, St. Charles North, 12; Brooke Spychalski, Yorkville, 11; Haeli Tart, O'Fallon Township, 10; Caitlin Washington, (Naperville) Neuqua Valley, 12; and Persais Williams, Bolingbrook, 12.

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Photo Gallery | Lightweights lift SJO in home win over Clinton

ST. JOSEPH - The St. Joseph-Ogden wrestling squad won seven out of the nine lightest weight classes on the way to a 56-36 win last night over Clinton. Here are photos from last night's action-packed meet against the Maroons.

Spartan's Hunter Ketchum rolls Clinton's Aric Oliver to his back in their 182-pound match on Thursday in the Main Gym at St. Joseph-Ogden High School. Ketchum, competing in second season, picked up his first varsity win with pin at 2:55.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Fans cheer after St. Joseph-Ogden 182-pounder Hunter Ketchum's win over Clinton's Aric Oliver. Ketchum's victory put the first six point on SJO's side of the scoreboard.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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SJO's Peyton Sarver tries to drive Kael Morlock face down into the mat during their 195-pound match. Sarver battled valiantly for nearly six minutes before suffering a loss by pin with 8 seconds left on the clock. Fall 5:52

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Peyton Sarver overpowers Clinton's Kael Morlock during second period action in their 195-pound match. Sarver is one for four seniors on this year's Spartan wrestling team.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Wrestling at 285-pounds, SJO wrestler Quincy Jones looks for a shot in on Clinton's Dawson Thayer. Thayer went on to beat the Spartan in the first period by pin.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Clinton's Dawson Thayer wrestles Spartans' Quincy Jones.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Jackson Walsh shoots in for a takedown on Clinton's Jeremiah Ortiz during the 106-pound match. Walsh prevailed with pin at 4:47. Earlier in the triangle meet on Thursday, Walsh suffered defeat by El Paso-Gridley's Nolan Whitman by way of a first period pin.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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With the crowd cheering behind him, 106-pound wrestler Jackson Walsh from SJO celebrates his win over Clinton's Jeremiah Ortiz. Walsh, a sophomore

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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St. Joseph-Ogden's Emmitt Holt dumps Clinton's Gabe Walker to the mat during their 120-pound bout. Holt, the only junior this year's squad, ran up the match score up to a 20-3 tech fall and tallied his second win of the day. Earlier in SJO's first match of the evening, Holt defeated El Paso-Gridley's Caleb Graham with a second period pin.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Spartans' Holden Brazelton somersaults out of a takedown attempt by Clinton's Cayden Poole in their 132-pound match. Brazelton, who finished 6th at last year's state finals as a 120-pound freshman, destroyed Poole by major decision, 11-2.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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SJO's Holden Brazelton tries force Clinton's Cayden Poole out of a neck bridge in their 132-pound match. Brazelton, who finished 6th at last year's state finals as a 120-pound freshman, destroyed Poole by major decision, 11-2.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Student fans and members of the St. Joseph-Ogden wrestling team cheer for Holden Brazelton at the end of the second period during his match against Clinton's Cayden Poole.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Holden Brazelton scores a takedown in his 132-pound match against Clinton's Cayden Poole.

Media/Clark Brooks

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Representing SJO in the 138-pound weight class against Clinton, Landen Butts was all business in his match against Maroons' Sable Taylor. Butts crafted a 16-0 techinical fall to win the bout. Earlier in the evening, the sophomore lost to El Paso-Gridley's Tyler Roth by pin. Tech Fall 16-0

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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After earning back points, Spartans' Coy Hayes looks for an attack on Clinton's Russel Stamp. Hayes won the 152-pound match in the second period by pin.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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SJO wrestler Maddie Wells tries score points on Clinton's Ariana Humes during their 120-pound match. Wells, a freshman, earned six points for the Spartans after pinning Humes at 2:48.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Maddie Wells is declared winner after pinning Clinton sophomore Ariana Humes.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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St. Joseph-Ogden wrestler nearly pins a Clinton grappler during the 120-pound exhibition match.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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