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Monticello wins first state championship

In its first trip to a football state championship game, Monticello held off Byron 24-20 Friday to win the Class 3A title at Memorial Stadium in Champaign.

The Sages (14-0) saw their lead dwindle to the eventual final score when Byron (13-1) got a 1-yard touchdown run from Drake Snodgrass with 2:20 left to play.

After leading 10-7 at halftime, Monticello fell behind 14-10 in the third quarter before coming back to score twice, once on a 20-yard pass from Braden Snyder to Alek Bundy, and then on a 3-yard Bundy run.

Byron outgained the Sages on the ground 307-141, but Monticello quarterback Snyder was 12-for-21 for 213 yards, including a 95-yard TD pass to Bundy in the second quarter.

Bundy finished the game with 58 rushing yards and 136 receiving yards.

Isaac Stickler led Byron with 139 rushing yards, including a 14-yard TD run.

The Tigers were seeking their first state title since they won the 3A crown in 1999.

Class 2A

Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 35, Maroa Forsyth 16: The Falcons won their 28th straight game and second straight 2A title despite giving up more yards (405-307) than they gained. The GCMS defense shut out Maroa in the second half. Jared Trantina (24 carries, 145 yards) scored 3 touchdowns for the Falcons. Maroa-Forsyth (13-1) got 123 rushing yards from Gavin Clifton and 142 passing yards and 2 TDs from quarterback Ian Brenner.

Class 1A

Forreston 44, Camp Point Central 6: Forreston (12-2) bolted out to a 30-0 halftime lead in winning the 1A championship, the Cardinals' third title since 2014. Kelsey Evan and Ethan Mulder each scored 2 touchdowns for Forreston, which had 404 yards rushing in a game in which it only threw one pass. Evan had 148 yards on the ground to lead the way. Camp Point, which also finished 12-2, was held to 226 yards of total offense.

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