Monticello, a 16-seed in the south bracket of the Class 3A high school football playoffs, gave top-seed Du Quoin all they could handle in a 28-21 loss Saturday afternoon in Du Quoin.

After the game, an emotional Cully Welter expressed how proud he was of his team for not only their effort Saturday but how much of a joy they were to coach all season.

In Saturday's loss, Monticello had an early miscue on special teams that led to a Du Quoin score but Coach Welter felt when they were able to pin them back, their defense did a good job.

The momentum Saturday was back and forth all day. Monticello got up 14-6 before Du Quoin immediately answered with a score. The Indians got the first score of the second half to up 20-14 but the Sages answered and went up 21-20 but Du Quoin scored late and Monticello turned it over to seal the win for the top-seed.

For Coach Welter, getting to watch a lot of the kids grow up with his youngest son, Trey, was a big part of his closeness to this group and he's thankful his son got to grow up with a good group of kids.

It's the second straight year the Sages finished 5-5 but it's also the second straight year Monticello was a heavy underdog on the road in the playoffs and kept a higher seed within a score.