Champaign was cold and wet with all the rain coming in but that didn’t stop Alek Bundy and the rest of the Sages. The Monticello Sages would go to win their third game against St. Thomas More Sabers 35-6.
In the first quarter, the rain wouldn’t stop Bundy as he would find room to run on a couple power runs. Bundy alone in the first quarter would rush for 50 plus yards. Braden Snyder ran a read option giving to Bundy to the left side where he broke two tackles running for 20 yards for the first touchdown. Sabers found little luck moving the ball with Riley Austin crashing the line. Sabers quarterback Bryson Lee would scramble to find plays throwing passes up in the air finding no luck. Sages would get the ball back with Snyder throwing with great precision to split ends Luke Stringer, Asher Bradd, and Devin Graham. Snyder then led his team down to the one-yard line where he would get behind his center Cody Wienke driving in for the second touchdown making the score 14-0.
The second quarter started slower on both sides as Sabers defense stopped the Sages couple times forcing them to punt. Sabers still had no luck, as the wet ball got to their center. Lee received low snaps going straight into the mud. Sabers quickly punt away giving the ball back into Synder’s hands. Snyder looked to throw down the field on a corner route finding Graham, scoring another touchdown making the score 21-0.
Sabers got the ball back but, with bad weather and Austin attacking the offense Lee would turn the ball over on an interception to Asher Bradd twice. Monticello would then run the clock ending the first half, 21 to 0.
Sabers deferred in the first half so The Sages would get the ball back to start the third quarter. Snyder would continue to be smart with throws finding Stringer, Bradd, and Bundy. Snyder would try a rollout to his right throwing to Bundy but immediately turn around finding a pack of Sabers waiting to sack him in the backfield losing about 10 yards. Coach Welter wouldn’t let that stop them as they turned back around and ran the same play again finding Bundy on a wheel route getting huge blocks from Stringer and Graham. Bundy strolled into the end zone picking up his second touchdown of the night, extending the lead 28-0. Sabers looked to quarterback Lee for some plays but again struggled with a wet ball. Lee received more low snaps with him diving on the ball.
Sabers would punt it away to Asher Bradd as he would run towards Monticello sideline getting an opening from running back Alek Bundy. Devin Graham in front of Bradd at the 10-yard line would make a huge pancake block getting Bradd into the end zone. The punt return would set the game at 35-0.
Rolling into the 4th quarter, Monticello would slow down swapping players out. St. Thomas More continued to play hard as they ran the ball hard from running backs Hunter Howell and Eivory Shellman. They rushed for a combined total of 80 yards. Shellman caught a break around the 12-yard line finding an opening on a sweep left scoring the first points for the Sabers.
Monticello would just run the clock out ending the game making the final score 35-6. The win over St. Thomas More would get Coach Cully Welter’s 78th win making him the coach with the most wins in Monticello history.
Play of the game: Sabers would punt it away to Asher Bradd as he would run towards Monticello sideline getting an opening from running Alek Bundy. Devin Graham in front of Bradd at the 10-yard line would make a huge pancake block getting Bradd into the end zone. The punt return would set the game at 35-0.
