The Monticello Sages head to the postseason having lost two of its final three games.

It was no secret, the final third of the season was going to be a challenge with Paxton-Buckley-Loda, Prairie Central and Tolono Unity all loaded up at the end up of the schedule, and between the four teams, they comprised the top of the conference standings. 

The Sages lost 16-15 in week 7 action at PBL with a chance to take the lead as they were on the goal line with just over a minute to play, but an interception on first-and-goal in the end zone ended the game.

Monticello bounced back with a 12-0 at Prairie Central the following week but lost a heartbreaking thriller in overtime last Friday to the hands of the eventual Illini Prairie Conference champion Tolono Unity Rockets, 33-27.

Now the Sages face a potentially underseeded Greenville team that comes to Monticello 5-4 but riding the high of a big victory over rival Vandalia last Friday, 42-21 and punched its ticket to the postseason.

The Comets played without junior quarterback Ryan Jackson the week prior in a 37-7 loss to Carlinville. The win last week at Vandalia snapped a three game losing streak but the Comets still dropped four of the final six games they played. 

Game time is 2 pm on Saturday afternoon at Monticello High School. Hear all the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.

Playoff matchups across the area:

1A

#13 Ridgeview (5-4) at #4 Rushville-Industry (7-2)
#16 Villa Grove (5-4) at #1 Camp Point Central (8-1)
#9 Central A & M) (6-3) at #8 Nokomis (7-2)
#15 Shelbyville (5-4) at #2 Carrollton (8-1)
#14 Meridian (5-4) at #3 Athens (8-1)

2A

#15 Rockridge (5-4) at #2 Tri-Valley (9-0)
#10 Chicago North Lawndale (6-3) at #7 Dee-Mack (6-3)
 #14 El Paso-Gridley (5-4) at #3 Farmington (9-0)
#11 Momence (6-3) at #6 Tremont (7-2)
#16 Flora (5-4) at #1 Decatur St. Teresa (9-0)
#15 Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond (5-4) at #2 Pana (9-0)
#10 Westville (7-2) at #7 Maroa-Forsyth (7-2)
#14 North Mac (5-4) at #3 Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin (9-0)

3A

#10 Chicago King (6-3) at #7 Prairie Central (7-2)
#16 Newton (5-4) at #1 Tolono Unity (9-0)
#9 Eureka (6-3) at #8 Paxton-Buckley-Loda (6-3)
#13 Beardstown (5-4) at #4 Williamsville (8-1)
#15 St. Joseph-Ogden (5-4) at #2 Mt. Carmel (9-0)
#11 Greenville (5-4) at #6 Monticello (7-2)

4A

#16 Cahokia (5-4) at #1 Rochester (8-1)
#9 Paris (6-3) at #8 Mt. Zion (6-3)
14 Columbia (5-4) at #3 Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin (8-1)

5A

#9 Chicago Morgan Park (6-3) at #8 Peoria (7-2)
#13 Dunlap (5-4) at #4 Mascoutah (8-1)
#12 Metamora (5-4) at #5 Marion (8-1)
#10 Highland (5-4) at #7 Morton (7-2)
#14 Jacksonville (5-4) at #3 Mahomet-Seymour (9-0)

6A

#9 Springfield (6-3) at #8 Rock Island (6-3)
#10 Chatham-Glenwood (6-3) at #7 Crete-Monee (6-3)
#14 Champaign (Centennial) (5-4) vs. #3 Chicago Kenwood (8-1)
#11 Normal West (6-3) at #6 Washington (7-2)

7A

#30 Blue Island Eisenhower (5-4) at #3 Normal Community (9-0)
#18 Libertyville (6-3) at #15 Pekin (7-2)