The Monticello Sages are sitting at 5-3 overall entering tonight's senior night game against St. Joseph-Ogden at Monticello High School with more than enough points for a playoff spot but a win tonight would be more than just the security of knowing their name will be called Saturday evening.
The defending 3A state champions had a loaded back-end of the schedule and after losses in two of their last three games, Monticello needs to find something to feel good about heading into the 3A playoffs. Head Coach Cully Welter challenged his team after their 59-37 loss at Prairie Central last Friday.
Coach Welter says his team has gotten a healthy dose of the St. Joe film in scouting throughout the year. He calls the Spartans a solid team with a good defense.
Indeed both teams will be fighting for that sixth win after St. Joe dropped Olympia from playoff contention with a 41-21 win last week.
Game time tonight from Monticello kicks at 7 pm. Hear all the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.
Other action in the Illini Prairie Conference:
Illinois Valley Central at Olympia
Prairie Central at Champaign St. Thomas More
Pontiac at Rantoul
Tolono Unity at Bloomington Central Catholic
Big Twelve
Bloomington at Champaign Centennial
Champaign Central at Peoria Manual
Normal Community at Peoria
Peoria Notre Dame at Danville
Central State Eight
Decatur Eisenhower at Normal U-High
Rochester at Chatham-Glenwood
Springfield at Jacksonville
Springfield Lanphier at Springfield Southeast (Sat.)
Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin at Decatur MacArthur
Heart of Illinois (Large)
Downs Tri-Valley at Eureka
G.C.M.S at Dee-Mack
Fieldcrest at El Paso-Gridley
Heart of Illinois (Small)
LeRoy at Fisher
Tremont at Heyworth
Lincoln Prairie
Argenta-Oreana at Blue Ridge
Oakland Tri-County at Cerro Gordo-Bement
Toledo-Cumberland at Sangamon Valley
Villa Grove-Heritage at Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond
Mid-Illini
Metamora at Canton
Morton at Dunlap
Pekin at Limestone
Washington at East Peoria
Sangamo
Athens at New Berlin
Auburn at Maroa-Forsyth
Petersburg PORTA at Williamsville
Pittsfield at Pleasant Plains
Riverton at Virden North Mac
Non-Conference action tonight...
Ridgeview at Nokomis (Sat.)
Lincoln at Macomb
Peoria Richwoods at Mahomet-Seymour
Peoria Heights at Abingdon-Avon
Taylorville at Civic Memorial
Troy-Triad at Mt. Zion