Trailing 28-27, Hank Cain plunged into the end zone from two yards out with 1:45 to give Tolono Unity their third and final lead of the night and forced a turnover with less than a minute left on a near-heroic play by Hayden Graham in a 33-28 win over Monticello in Illini Prairie Conference football action Friday night from Tolono.
Andrew Ellison drilled a 28-yard field goal to put the Sages ahead 28-27 but the Unity Rockets methodically moved the ball down the field on the ensuing possession. Cain found the end zone for the first time on the night with his 37th and final carry and the two yards were the biggest of his 224 rushing yards.
Monticello converted a 4th down and 11 to Matt Kerr. After an incomplete pass brought up 2nd and 10 with 38 seconds left, Nic Tackels hit Hayden Graham over the middle. Eluding tacklers, Graham was on his way down at the 33-yard line and lost control of the football and Unity recovered. Both teams were without timeouts and all the Rockets had to do was kneel on the football and time expired.
Monticello led 25-20 at the break, however, while leading 25-13 in the waning moments of the first half, a 38-yard touchdown from Unity quarterback Nate Reinhart to Jared Routh (ruth) got the Rockets within 25-20 despite what appeared to be an early start by the Unity receivers before the snap. In fact, some players on both sides of the ball appeared to briefly pause, waiting for the flag while others played on and ultimately Routh snatched a wobbly pass from Reinhart out of the air and escaped to the end zone for the score.
Much like their 21-14 win over Bloomington Central Catholic last Friday night, the Sages had opportunities to put the game out of reach but were unable to make enough plays in the second half.
Nic Tackels had perhaps his best game of the season as the Sages signal-caller. Despite an early interception, he finished 9-for-19 with 297 yards through the air with three touchdowns. Tackels found Matt Kerr twice on big plays of 61 yards and 65 yards. He also hit Spencer Brown for a five-yard score.
Chris Brown finished with 89 yards on 14 carries and had a crucial 71-yard catch on a misdirection screen pass that set up Spencer Brown’s five-yard touchdown.
Graham finished with four catches and 63 yards. Kerr finished with three receptions and 137 yards with two touchdowns.
Unity’s Reinhart was an efficient 16-for-19 with 180 yards through the air and two touchdowns and rushed for 23 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.
Routh caught eight passes for 89 yards and a score and rushed for 27 yards on three carries.
Dalton Roberts caught a ten-yard touchdown pass for the Rockets.
Unity improves to 5-1 overall and Monticello drops to 4-2.
The Sages host Pontiac next Friday night. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.
