In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, Tolono Unity scored two touchdowns in the first 30 seconds of the fourth quarter propelling the Rockets to a 42-28 victory over Monticello in Illini Prairie Conference high school football action in Tolono.
Monticello senior quarterback Ike Young was picked off twice in two pass attempts. Garrett Richardson scored the second of his two touchdowns on a six-yard run on the first play of the first quarter to give Unity a 35-14 lead.
On the first play of the next drive for the Sages, Young was picked off and the interception was returned for a touchdown to put Unity up 42-14.
Monticello made the score respectable scoring two late touchdowns. Young hit Carter Foran from four yards out and then scored on a 17-yard run with less than a minute left in regulation.
Monticello started the game with a goal line stop after it appeared Unity ran the opening kick 92 yards for a touchdown but the touchdown was called back.
Unity junior quarterback Dane Eisenmenger hit Mason O'Neill on the right side of the end zone on a fourth and goal from the 24-yard line to put the Rockets up 7-0.
Richardson scored his first touchdown to start the third quarter from six yards out to put Unity up 14-0.
Monticello got within a touchdown twice. Young used a quarterback sneak to score from a yard out to get within 14-7.
The Rockets led 21-7 at the half. Monticello got the ball to start the second half but turned it over on downs in the red zone.
Hunter Romano picked off an Eisenmenger pass deep in Unity territory and returned it 11 yards to get the Sages within 21-14.
The Rockets would score the next three touchdowns to go up 42-14 and put the game out of reach.
Richardson finished with 33 carries for 129 yards and two touchdowns. Eisenmenger was 9-for-15 passing for 116 yards with a touchdown and interception. He also had nine carries for 53 yards and a touchdown.
Despite a two-interception night, Young threw for 301 yards on 27-of-45 passing with a touchdown. He also had 11 carries for 41 yards and a touchdown.
Foran went over the 100-yard mark again Friday grabbing 11 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown. Russ Brown had seven receptions for 75 yards while Nolan Buehnerkemper added seven receptions for 36 yards.
The Rockets finish the regular season 6-3 overall and 6-2 in the Illini Prairie Conference.
Monticello finishes the regular season 7-2 overall and 6-2 in the Illini Prairie Conference.
Both teams will await their Class 3A playoff opponents on Saturday night.
