It's been an exciting year for Monticello High School football, as the Sages entered a new look Okaw Valley Conference that is sending four of the six teams into the postseason.
The Sages bring an exciting offensive attack into the playoffs off a 6-3 regular season that featured wins over Okaw Conference Champion Tolono Unity and Nokomis. Coach Cully Welter says he's always preached having a balanced offensive attack, but this year, his personnel has allowed the opportunity to open up his playbook more than in years past.
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The Sages faced a daunting middle-third of their schedule, with Tolono Unity, Maroa-Forsyth and St. Joseph-Ogden all in succession and two of the three on the road. The Sages lost two of the three but Coach Welter feels his team remains calm in almost any atmosphere and no matter the situation.
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The Sages will travel to Elmwood to take on 7-2 Elmwood at 3 pm on Saturday afternoon. You can hear the game live on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.
Other Class 3A playoff games include:
#7 Peru (6-3) at #2 Tolono Unity (8-1) Sat. 2:00 pm
#6 Erie-Prophetstown (6-3) at #3 St. Joseph-Ogden (8-1) Sat. 4:00 pm
#8 Hillsboro (5-4) at #1 Williamsville (9-0) Fri. 7:00 pm
#5 New Berlin (7-2) at #4 Decatur St. Teresa (7-2) Sat. 1, 1:30 pm
#7 Pleasant Plains (6-3) at #2 Carlinville (8-1) Fri. 7:00 pm
#6 Auburn (7-2) at #3 Sullivan-Okaw Valley (8-1)Sat. 2:00 pm
Class 1A playoff matchups include:
9 Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond (7-2) at #8 LeRoy (7-2) Sat. 1:00 pm
#15 Flanagan-Cornell (5-4) at #2 Abingdon-Avon (9-0) Sat. 1, 6:00 pm
#14 Astoria South Fulton (6-3) at #3 Arcola (9-0) Sat. 1:30 pm
Class 2A playoff matchups include:
#8 Dee-Mack (5-4) at #1 Fieldcrest (9-0) Fri. 7:30 pm
#5 El Paso-Gridley (8-1) at #4 Momence (8-1) Sat. 2:00 pm
#6 Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley (6-3) at #3 Clifton Central (8-1) Sat. 7:00 pm
#7 Sangamon Valley (6-3) at #2 Villa Grove (7-2) Sat. 2:00 pm
#6 Maroa-Forsyth (6-3) at #3 Tri-Valley (7-2) Sat. 1:00 pm
#8 Nokomis (6-3) at #1 Lawrenceville (8-1) Sat. 3:00 pm
#5 Tuscola (7-2) at #4 Shelbyville (7-2) Sat. 2:00 pm
Class 4A playoff matchups include:
#8 Bloomington Central Catholic (5-4) at #1 Greenville (9-0) Sat. 1:00 pm
#5 Effingham (6-3) at #4 Canton (7-2) Sat. 2:00 pm
#7 Olympia (6-3) at #2 Quincy Notre Dame (7-2) Sat. 2:00 pm
#6 Mt. Zion (6-3) at #3 Rochester (7-2) Sat. 6:00 pm
Class 5A playoff matchups include:
#8 Morris (5-4) vs. #1 Normal U-High (9-0) at Normal @ ISU Hancock Stadium Sat. 3:00 pm
#5 Washington (7-2) at #4 Mahomet-Seymour (7-2) Sat. 1:00 pm
#7 Champaign Central (6-3) at #2 Metamora (8-1) Sat. 1:00 pm
#6 Decatur MacArthur (6-3) at #3 Peoria (8-1) Sat. 7:00 pm
#8 Jerseyville (5-4) at #1 Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin (9-0) Fri. 7:00 pm
#6 Troy (6-3) at #3 Taylorville (8-1) Sat. 7:00 pm
