In a game that came down to the final minute, the Monticello Sages made the plays they needed when it mattered most Friday night, holding off Pontiac for a 19-12 Illini Prairie Conference victory on the Indians’ Homecoming night.
Senior Ayden McCool delivered two of the biggest plays of the game for Monticello. His 29-yard reception on a crucial fourth down helped set up the Sages’ eventual game-winning touchdown, and his interception with less than a minute remaining sealed the victory.
Neither offense found much room to work during a defensive opening half, with the game remaining scoreless until the closing minutes of the second quarter.
Monticello finally broke through with 1:08 remaining before halftime. Senior quarterback Colton Schubert connected with McCool on a 13-yard slant for a touchdown, giving the Sages a 7-0 advantage.
Pontiac responded quickly.
The Indians drove down the field in the final minute, and quarterback Corban Dyke found Cesar Gutierrez for a 15-yard touchdown with just 15 seconds remaining. Pontiac initially appeared to take an 8-7 lead on a successful two-point conversion, but a holding penalty wiped it away. The Indians’ second attempt failed, allowing Monticello to carry a narrow 7-6 lead into halftime.
The defensive battle continued through the third quarter before the game opened up late.
With 8:31 remaining in the fourth, Schubert kept the ball on a quarterback read and broke free for a 28-yard touchdown, extending Monticello’s advantage to 13-6.
Pontiac needed less than a minute to answer. Gutierrez broke loose for a 44-yard rushing touchdown, his second score of the night, pulling the Indians back within a point at 13-12.
With the game hanging in the balance, Monticello responded with one of its most important drives of the night.
Facing a critical fourth down, Schubert found McCool along the Sages’ sideline for a 29-yard completion. McCool stayed in bounds and continued upfield for additional yardage, putting Monticello in position to add to its lead.
Daniel Moore finished the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run, giving the Sages some much-needed breathing room and a 19-12 advantage late in the fourth quarter.
Pontiac still had one final opportunity.
The Indians regained possession with just under two minutes remaining and all of their timeouts available. Pontiac moved the ball out near midfield before McCool stepped up one final time. With Dyke looking down the sideline, McCool intercepted the pass with less than a minute remaining, allowing Monticello to close out the 19-12 victory.
McCool finished an impressive two-way performance with five receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown, in addition to the game-clinching interception.
After a slow start offensively, Schubert finished 19-of-30 passing for 192 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing 15 times for 86 yards and another score. Will Osborne provided another reliable target with seven receptions for 65 yards, while Maddux Utley contributed 45 rushing yards on nine carries.
For Pontiac, Gutierrez accounted for both of the Indians’ touchdowns and finished with 89 total yards. Dyke stepped in at quarterback after starter Josh Hartke left with an injury during the first half, completing 6 of 11 passes for 90 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
The win improves Monticello to 5-2 overall and 4-2 in the Illini Prairie Conference, while Pontiac falls to 3-4.
It was far from an easy victory for the Sages, but Monticello delivered in the biggest moments. Schubert helped generate two fourth-quarter touchdowns, Moore finished the decisive drive, and McCool made key plays on both sides of the football to ensure the Sages left Pontiac with a 19-12 conference win.
Monticello returns home next Friday night to host Prairie Central, while Pontiac will take on Bloomington Central Catholic.
