The Monticello Sages scored four unanswered touchdowns and shut out a dynamic North Boone offense in the second half in rout to a 35-14 win Saturday in the first round of the IHSA 3A football playoffs at Monticello High School.
Then it was all Sages after that.
North Boone drove 82 yards on eight plays on the opening drive to lead 7-0 but Monticello would answer on their second drive with a Nathan Harman 3-yard touchdown run.
The Vikings answered with a 29 yard touchdown pass from star quarterback Britton Morris to Hayden Corson to take a 14-7 lead.
Then it was all Sages after that.
Quarterback Braden Snyder scored on a keeper from a yard out to tie the game at 14. Nathan Harman took it in from 18 yards out to give Monticello the 21-14 advantage.
In the third quarter, Lucas Lieb scored from 13 yards out and Snyder had another touchdown run, this time from 13 yards.
Head Coach for the Sages, Cully Welter, felt his team forced Morris and his receivers out of their comfort zone with physical play.
The Sages compiled 291 yards of offense on the ground and Welter says his trio of Lieb, Snyder and Harman all ran hard on a cold day in Monticello.
The Sages opponent, Byron, will be another power run football team.
Byron won Friday night to advance to the second round and host Monticello.
For the Vikings, Morris compiled 332 yards and two touchdowns. He was 11 for 21 for 232 yard and a score through the air and 16 carries for 100 yards.
For Monticello, Snyder finished 17 for 23 through the air with 252 yards and added 49 yards on the ground with two touchdowns.
Lieb carried the ball 16 times for 157 yards and a score while Harman finished with a touchdown and 50 yards with a touchdown.
Devin Graham had five catches for 114 yards while Johnny Dawson had sixc catches for 83 yards.
The Sages are 9-1 on the season.
Hear next week's game at Byron on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.
Class 3A postseason scores:
Bloomington Central Catholic 35
Beardstown 21
Decatur St. Teresa 34
Marshall 8
Williamsville 52
Spring Valley Hall 6
Class 1A scores:
Argenta-Oreana 56
Central A & M 12
Athens 49
Warrensburg-Latham 20
Decatur LSA 21 (FRIDAY)
Toledo Cumberland 26
Class 2A playoff scores:
Tri-Valley 42
Bunker Hill 6
Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 50
Eastland-Pearl City 14
Maroa-Forsyth 56
Illini West 28
Shelbyville 44
Villa Grove-Heritage 6
Taylor Ridge Rockridge26
El Paso-Gridley 29
Westville 42
Dee-Mack 0
Class 4A first round playoff games:
Taylorville 42
Coal City 7
Unity 61
Pontiac 42
Rochester 42 (FRIDAY)
Prairie Central 6
Class 5A:
Centralia 33
Morton 41
Chatham Glenwood 29
Mahomet-Seymour 8
Decatur MacArthur 34
Peoria Notre Dame 33
Washington 42
Tinley Park 18
Hillcrest 31 (FRIDAY)
Peoria 12
Dunlap 64 (FRIDAY)
Streator 20
Triad 13 (FRIDAY)
Peoria Richwoods 15
Class 6A:
LaGrange Park Nazareth Academy 55
Springfield 37
Normal West 43
Blue Island Eisenhower 30
Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin 56
Chicago Hubbard 13
Class 7A:
Normal Community 42
Downers Grove North 0
