A change in the preseason high school football practice policy is opening the door for new opportunities this summer.

The IHSA is allowing Illinois high school football teams to do non-contact 11-on-11 scrimmaging. Monticello High School football coach Cully Welter says this is going to add a new dynamic to preseason work.

According to Coach Welter, change can sometimes lead to asking too much of student-athletes but he feels this is a change that fits right in with what teams are already doing.

Monticello travels to St. Joseph-Ogden to open the 2023 football season on Aug. 25. In the meantime, the Sages will host three weeks of 7-on-7 competitions on the new turf of Monticello High School's football field each Wednesday night in July.