In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, Ike Young hit Carter Foran in the back right corner of the end with 13 seconds left and Monticello held off chaos at the end to beat Tolono Unity 23-20 in Class 3A high school football semifinal action Saturday in Monticello.

With the score 20-15, Monticello had a third down and one to go at the four-yard line. Young spun out of pressure in the pocket and on the run fired to his favorite target on the season to put the Sages ahead for the second time in the fourth quarter. 

Foran took a reverse over two Unity defenders to convert the two-point conversion to make the score 23-20.

On the kickoff, Unity got the football to the 40-yard line with six seconds left in regulation. 

On the first and ten play, the Rockets tried a wide receiver screen to Tre Hoggard but gained just two yards. Time expired on the play but officials put one second back on the clock as players, fans, and students stormed the field in celebration, drawing a 15 yard penalty - moving the football to the Monticello 40-yard line. 

On the first down play, Unity junior quarterback Dane Eisnemenger's hail mary into the end zone was actually caught but a flag was thrown as the Rockets were penalized for an ineligible receiver downfield, finally ending the game.

As fans and students tried to storm the field, there was confusion as to whether Unity would get another untimed down but the officials were racing towards the north end zone to get off the field, ending the football game.

Neither team scored through the first 12 minutes of action. But Unity started the second quarter with a fourth down and goal to go from the three-yard line and elected to go for the fourth down try rather than kick the field goal.

Senior tailback Garrett Richardson ran it in for a touchdown putting the Rockets up 7-0.

On the first play of Monticello's next possession, Young and Foran took the top off the Unity defense for a 70-yard touchdown pass. The Sages missed the extra point for a 7-6 score - giving each squad a touchdown in the first 30 seconds of the frame.

Neither team would score again until Eisenmenger found Hoggard for a 57-yard touchdown pass on a well-executed play action pass over the top of Monticello's defense to make the score 14-6 with 3:37 left in the second quarter and was the score at the intermission. 

Monticello got the ball to start the second half and drove the length of the field and settled for a 30-yard Nolan Buehnerkemper field goal with 8:35 left in the quarter to make the score 14-9.

Starting the fourth quarter, Monticello drove the ball to the six-yard line and opened the quarter with a Foran six-yard pass to Hunter Romano to make the score 15-14 - the first lead of the season for Monticello over its rival.

It did not take Unity long to get back in the end zone as Eisenmenger scrambled for an eight-yard touchdown run to put the Rockets back on top 20-15 with 9:39 left for the game. 

Unity's Eisenmenger finished 12-of-18 for 194 yards with a touchdown. Richardson had 23 carries for 76 yards with a touchdown for the Rockets.

Hoggard hauled in five catches for 85 yards and a touchdown while Oliver Rawlings had had four catches for 38 yards for Unity.

Young finished 29-of-43 for 338 yards with two touchdowns and an interception to lead Monticello. The all-stater also had 66 yards rushing on 17 carries.

Buehnerkemper and Foran each hauled in 13 receptions. Foran had 211 yards receiving with two touchdowns, threw for another, and converted a two-point conversion to earn the ServPro of Piatt/DeWitt Counties Player of the Game.

Buehnerkemper had 102 yards receiving and kicked a 30-yard field goal.

Unity ends its season 9-4 overall.

Monticello goes to 11-2 and will play for the Class 3A state championship on Friday in Normal opposite Lombard Montini Catholic at 4 pm.

Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.