The Monticello Sages return nine of 11 defensive regulars from last year's 5-5 squad that lost a heartbreaker to DuQuion in the first round of the high school football playoffs.
It's going to the force that leads a generally offensively explosive Monticello team under Hall of Fame Coach Cully Welter. Coach Welter says it'll be important his team be very good on defense this year.
Monticello's offense will be led by senior quarterback Ike Young. While a first-year starter, Coach Welter says Young's athleticism is unquestioned with a commitment to play college baseball at Illinois.
Monticello hosts St. Joseph-Ogden who's had the Sages number of late, winning the last two matchups. While the Spartans graduate a dynamic quarterback, they bring back what Coach Welter calls one of the best receiving groups in 3A.
With 18 seniors on this year's team, Coach Welter is hoping the experience of his team will guide them this fall.
Hear tonight's action starting at 7 pm on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.
Tonight in the Illini Prairie Conference
Bloomington Central Catholic at Pontiac
IVC at PBL
Tolono Unity at Prairie Central
Week 1 high school football matchups
Big Twelve
Bloomington at Danville
Champaign Centennial at Peoria
Normal Community at Peoria Richwoods
Peoria Notre Dame at Normaly West
Central State Eight
Springfield Lanphier at Lincoln
Lincoln Prairie
Arcola at Nokomis
Argenta-Oreana at Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond
Oakland Tri-County at Sangamon Valley
Toledo-Cumberland at Cerro Gordo-Bement
Villa Grove at Sullivan-Okaw Valley
Sangamo
Auburn at Williamsville
Maroa-Forsyth at Athens
Petersburg-PORTA at Olympia
Pleasant Plains at New Berlin
Non-Conference action tonight
Canton at Eureka
Champaign Central at Springfield
Charleston at Rantoul
Decatur MacArthur at Mattoon
Edwardsville at Chatham-Glenwood
Galesburg at Dunlap
Jacksonville at Pittsfield
Metamora at Sterling
Morton at Mahomet-Seymour
Mt. Zion at Limestone
Richland County at Taylorville
Peoria Manual at Normal U-High
Rolling Meadows at Pekin
Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin at St. Louis Christian Brothers (MO)
Springfield Southeast at East Peoria
Streator at Decatur Eisenhower
Urbana at Decatur St. Teresa
8-Man Football
South Fork at FBlue Ridge
Pawnee at Champaign St. Thomas More (Sat.)
