The Monticello Sages entered Friday night unbeaten and made sure they stayed that way, producing an explosive offensive performance in a 61-38 victory over the Rantoul Eagles at Monticello.
The Sages improved to 3-0 with the win after entering the matchup 2-0 following victories over Illinois Valley Central and Tolono Unity.
Monticello wasted little time establishing control. Quarterback Colton Schubert connected with Zeke Young for a 53-yard touchdown with 8:34 remaining in the opening quarter, putting the Sages ahead 6-0.
The combination struck again later in the first. With 4:22 remaining, Schubert found Young for another explosive touchdown, this time covering 54 yards. Monticello carried a 12-0 advantage into the second quarter, and its offense was only beginning to find its rhythm.
Schubert continued directing the attack in the second quarter. He scored on a two-yard quarterback run with 11:24 remaining before finding Young for the third time, connecting on a 75-yard touchdown pass that pushed Monticello’s lead to 26-0.
Young wasn’t finished.
With 4:45 remaining before halftime, Schubert hit him for a 69-yard touchdown, giving the duo four touchdown connections in the first half alone. Schubert then added a 50-yard rushing touchdown with 34 seconds remaining in the half, sending the Sages into the locker room with a commanding 39-0 lead.
It was a remarkable first half for Monticello’s passing game. According to the provided game statistics, Schubert finished the night 7-of-10 passing for 285 yards and four touchdowns, with all four scores going to Young.
Young turned just four receptions into an eye-catching 251 receiving yards and four touchdowns, averaging more than 62 yards per catch. His scoring receptions covered 53, 54, 75 and 69 yards, making him the centerpiece of Monticello’s explosive start.
But Rantoul refused to let the game quietly slip away.
The Eagles finally broke through in the third quarter when Iyseen Autman returned an interception approximately 50 yards for a touchdown with 11:06 remaining. Monticello quickly answered, however, as Daniel Moore broke free for a 50-yard touchdown run less than a minute later to make it 46-6.
Rantoul quarterback Jordyn Rice then helped the Eagles generate some offensive momentum. Rice scored on a four-yard run with 5:37 remaining in the third quarter before JaTaevious Washington added a one-yard rushing touchdown with 1:25 left.
Autman provided another major spark on special teams just seconds later, returning a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown. Suddenly, an Eagles team that had been shut out throughout the first half had produced 22 third-quarter points.
Monticello still entered the fourth quarter comfortably ahead, 53-22, but Rantoul’s second-half response forced the Sages to continue producing.
Autman struck again with 7:59 remaining, breaking loose for a 63-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 53-30. He finished as one of Rantoul’s biggest playmakers, recording five carries for 62 yards while finding the end zone offensively, defensively and on special teams.
Monticello answered once again.
With 4:02 remaining, Blickenstaff broke free for a 48-yard rushing touchdown, extending the Sages’ total to 61 points and effectively putting the game out of reach.
Rantoul continued battling until the end, with Rice connecting with Jayden Odell for a late touchdown that brought the final margin to 61-38.
While Schubert and Young delivered the night’s biggest offensive numbers, Monticello’s ground game gave Rantoul another problem to solve. The Sages accumulated 193 rushing yards, led by Schubert’s 73 yards on seven carries. Jax Bailey added 46 yards on two attempts, Moore contributed 47 yards on two carries, and Kendall Lipp recorded 15 yards on four attempts.
Combined with Schubert’s 285 passing yards, Monticello finished with approximately 478 yards of offense.
Rantoul, meanwhile, showed considerable fight after halftime. The Eagles were held scoreless through the first two quarters before erupting for 22 points in the third and 16 in the fourth. Rice led the Eagles with 50 rushing yards on eight attempts while also completing a 33-yard touchdown pass to Odell. Rantoul totaled 120 rushing yards and 33 passing yards in the provided offensive statistics.
The difference ultimately came from Monticello’s overwhelming first-half production. The Sages scored on explosive plays through both the air and on the ground, building a 39-point halftime cushion that proved too large for Rantoul to overcome despite its impressive second-half response.
For Monticello, the 61-38 victory continues an unbeaten beginning to the 2026 campaign. After opening with a 26-6 win over Illinois Valley Central and following with a 27-23 road victory over Tolono Unity, Friday’s offensive outburst moved the Sages to 3-0.
The Sages will now look to carry that momentum forward after a night in which their offense showed just how quickly it can change a football game.
