Montini knocks off another ranked foe
EAST ST. LOUIS - Perhaps it's too early to say Montini should yet again contend for a state championship this season, but the early indications are promising.
The Broncos, state runners-up the last two years after winning four consecutive titles, knocked off a top-10 opponent from a higher classification for the second time in as many games Saturday night. This time they pulled away for a 24-14 win against a fast and physical East St. Louis team playing in its home stadium, a week after starting the season with a 20-17 victory at home against Maine South.
Maine South is ranked seventh in Class 8A, while East St. Louis is the No. 3 team in Class 7A. Montini is ranked second in Class 6A.
"We're excited," said Montini linebacker John Embrey, named as the game's defensive most valuable player. "It's going to be a fun bus ride home."
The Broncos (2-0), after traveling nearly five hours to play the Flyers (1-1), were stagnant offensively early on. But they started to come to life after East St. Louis took a 7-3 lead midway through the second quarter on a 34-yard touchdown run by Jeff Thomas.
Montini quarterback Justin Blake led a 6-play, 64-yard scoring drive on the ensuing possession, connecting with Tyler Millikan for a 17-yard completion on third down and then throwing a perfect spiral to Mitch West for a 36-yard strike to the East St. Louis 4-yard line.
Prince Walker scored the first of his two rushing touchdowns from there, giving the Broncos a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Walker capped the scoring and helped put the game way with a 12-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter, and Blake broke free for a 41-yard scoring scamper midway through the third period.
Blake, named offensive MVP, rushed for a game-high 98 yards on 21 carries while completing 16 of 23 passes for 136 yards.
"The offensive line was great," Blake said. "They gave me so much time. I didn't get sacked once today. I think I owe them a doggone pizza dinner or something."
The Broncos, who gained 309 total yards, did not commit a turnover. The Flyers finished with 290 yards, but quarterback Rey Estes fumbled two snaps and threw three interceptions.
Caleb Stevenson had the first pick, which squashed East St. Louis' last drive of the first half, and West caught a tipped passed in the end zone in the third quarter. The third interception came from Jake Karczewski, who batted a pass at the line and secured it to let Montini run out the clock and end the game.
"(Five) turnovers in this ballgame, and every last one of them by your quarterback, you're not going to beat a team of Montini's caliber," East St. Louis coach Darren Sunkett said. "Every time we get some positive things going, we turn the ball over."
Montini coach Chris Andriano said he thinks East St. Louis, which got 87 second-half yards and a touchdown rushing from Perez Hall, will still end up in the mix for its eighth state title as a program. The same could be said of the Broncos, who have five state championships and have played in the title game each of the last six years.
A third consecutive win against the Flyers - the Broncos beat them 46-32 at home last year and 34-6 in East St. Louis two years ago - could prove to be another springboard.
"This is a huge win. This is one of the biggest wins," Andriano said. "This is going to propel us a long way."