CHAMPAIGN -- Montini got a 12-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Pechloff to Christian Westerkamp with 32 seconds left and successfully got the two-point conversion as well to beat Joliet Catholic 29-28 today for the Class 5A state championship at Memorial Stadium.
Malin Jones went 18 yards over three Montini defenders to put Joliet Catholic ahead 28-21 after Josh Ferguson's two-point conversion. Joliet Catholic drove 80 yards in 12 plays to take the lead early in the fourth quarter.
Ryan Gorrell's 25-yard run with 3:36 left in the third quarter, plus the point after, gave Montini its first lead, 21-20. That lead held up for the rest of the quarter. Should Montini go on to win, it would become the second four-loss team to win a state football title. Immaculate Conception did it last season.
Joliet Catholic's Zach Dolph had returned a Nick Campanella fumble 43 yards for a touchdown with 4:58 left in the third quarter to give the Hilltoppers a 20-14 advantage.
The teams have combined for seven turnovers, five of which have resulted in scores.
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Because they have less than 1000 students maybe? Their enrollment puts them in 4A... the multiplier takes them up to 5A
Congratulations Coach Andriano and the 2009 Montini Broncos!
Why isn't Joliet Catholic in 7A?