Montini second a second time
CHAMPAIGN - Montini gave juggernaut Sacred Heart-Griffin the best football game it's had all season. It was not enough.
A rematch of last year's Class 5A title game, Griffin allowed a first-quarter touchdown then reeled off 29 unanswered points to beat the Broncos 29-14 at University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium. The Cyclones won their second straight title and the program's fifth under coach Ken Leonard.
"I thought we played a really tough, physical game and we pushed a really good team to the limit. Our kids gave everything that they had," said Montini coach Chris Andriano, in a championship game for a record sixth straight year.
Sacred Heart-Griffin scored all its points in the second and third quarters. The Cyclones intercepted 4 passes, 2 of which led to touchdowns and the first halting Montini's initial drive at Griffin's 1-yard line.
"We threw it away and could not overcome some of those mistakes and that's what cost us," Andriano said. "And it set them up in the third quarter. The third quarter was the difference, I think, in the game."
Montini (10-4) trailed 12-7 at halftime, a far cry from the 13 running-clock victories Griffin (14-0) had enjoyed.
"In a state championship game it's about winning," Leonard noted.
Interceptions led to third-quarter touchdowns by Albert Okwuegbunam, on a 28-yard pass by Gabe Green; and Sam Sergent's 6-yard run. Cody Bowman added a 37-yard field goal on the third quarter's final play for a 29-7 Cyclones lead.
"When you come out here in a state championship you know the other team's going to be probably the best team you've played all year, and that's what it was," said Green, who ran for 72 yards and completed 14 of 21 passes for 207 yards.
On the day Montini ran for only 77 yards to Griffin's 231 but started quickly by forcing only the fourth punt by Griffin's first-team this season.
"We were really tough in the box and that was main point throughout the week this week, just trying to take away their inside run game and doing the best that we could with that," said Broncos linebacker John Embrey.
The wind at its back in the first quarter, Montini gained 4 first downs covering 40 yards. On third-and-goal from Griffin's 1-yard line quarterback Chuck Norgle got stuffed on a sneak, backed out of the pile and with defensive end Michael Zeigler closing fast threw a short pass picked off by Cole Hillestad.
"Just trying to make something happen," said Norgle, 22-of-36 passing for 234 yards.
He did next time out. Montini's Michael Reilley caused a fumble, Michael Hollingshed recovered, and Norgle hit Leon Thornton III for a 53-yard touchdown. Mason Weissenhofer's kick dealt Griffin its second deficit of the season, 7-0 at 2:18 of the first quarter.
As Green said, when the quarter ended the Cyclones used the wind to go up 12-7 at halftime on scoring drives of 81 and 83 yards.
Montini scored the last touchdown of the game, on a 4-yard Norgle laser to Thornton with 9:37 to play. Mitch West blocked a 24-yard field-goal try - his second block of the game - and the Broncos were still in it until a roughing call on punter Bowman with 2:29 to play.
"It just gets us more focused, fuels the fire," said Montini junior Tyler Millikan who led all receivers with 9 catches for 121 yards. "Come out next year and this off-season, work out really hard and get our team ready for next year."