Class 5A Shocker: Montini stuns Joliet Catholic in final minute

All week long Montini had talked about going for two if the opportunity presented itself late in the Class 5A title game. Little did the Broncos know that premenition would play out.

Photos by Karen Nuzzo
The Montini football team celebrates with its Class 5A state championship trophy Saturday in Champaign.

Christian Westerkamp catches the game-winning two-point conversion in Saturday's Class 5 state title game.

Jordan Westerkamp and teammates celebrate their Class 5A state championship title Saturday in Champaign.

Trailing by one with 32 seconds left, head coach Chris Andriano elected to bypass the extra point try and go for the win. The resulting two point-conversion pass from Brandon Pechloff to Christian Westerkamp in the left side of the endzone handed Montini a shocking 29-28 victory over Joliet Catholic and their second state championship in the last six years.

In the process of winning, the Broncos became just the second team to hoist the first-place trophy after entering the postseason with a 5-4 mark.

"We just beat one of the greatest programs in the state of Illinois," said Montini head coach Chris Andriano. "I've been waiting for this game my whole career and that is a pretty long career. This was the biggest win in program history. We made kind of a statement. Montini is a great program also. Now we want to keep it going."

The Broncos' last drive started at their own 17-yard line with 3:17 left in the fourth quarter. A Nick Campanella 36-yard run started off the possession, which was capped off by a 12-yard TD pass from Pechloff to Christian Westerkamp.

Joliet Catholic had taken a 28-21 lead early in the fourth quarter on an 18-yard run by Malin Jones and a two-point conversion scamper by Josh Ferguson.

As had been the case for much of the postseason, Montini found themselves trailing 14-0 after the opening quarter. But the Broncos responded in the second with a 5-yard TD run by Ryan Gorrell and a nine-yard scoring pass from Pechloff to Christian Westerkamp.

"This is awesome," Gorrell said. "This is what we have been working for our entire high school career. We've been working hard, working hard. The regular season a couple of games don't go our way. But we knew what our goal was and we accomplished that finally. It feels awesome.

"This should put Montini on the map. Joliet Catholic is a great school and has a great tradition. But we have a good tradition also."

The Hilltoppers regained the lead in the third quarter when Zach Dolph returned a fumble 43-yards for a score but the extra point was blocked. Montini answered with a 71-yard drive on four plays, finished off by a 25-yard run to the endzone by Gorrell.

Pechloff finished 16-of-28 for 189 yards while Jordan Westerkamp hauled in six passes for 80 yards. Nick Campanella rushed 13 times for 122 yards while catching four passes for 52 yards.

"I've been working 12 years for this," added Pechloff, who had thrown two interceptions in the first quarter before his second half heroics. "Twelve years of playing football, in and out-of-season. The first half was not how I wanted it to be but the final score is what I wanted it to be. I've never felt better in my entire life.

"Now hopefully people will expect Montini to win and not doubt us anymore."

Montini wins 29-28

:32 Christian Westerkamp 12-yard pass from Pechloff (Christian Westerkamp catch); 29-28 Montini

10:50 JC Jones 18-yard run (Josh Ferguson run), 80 yards in 12 plays 28-21 JC

KEY PLAY: Jones 5-yard run on fourth-and-four from own 43-yard line

4TH QUARTER

ANALYSIS: After a fumble returns gives Joliet Catholic a six-point lead, Montini answers with a 25-yard run by Gorrell to pull in front 21-20 heading into the fourth. But the Hilltoppers have the ball and are driving.

3:36 M Gorrell 25-yard run (Kersten kick); 71 yards in four plays 21-20

KEY PLAY: A 26-yard pass over the middle from Pechloff to Jordan Westerkamp

4:58 JC Zach Dolph 43-yard fumble return (kick blocked); Nick Campanella catches 7-yard pass on bubble screen, is hit and fumbles and ball pops into Dolph's hands who runs untouched into endzone.

3RD QUARTER

HALFTIME 14-14

ANALYSIS: Down 14-0 after the opening 12 minutes, Montini storms back with a pair of touchdowns off a pair of Joliet Catholic turnovers. Ryan  Gorrell ran one in from five-yards out to slice the deficit in half before quarterback Brandon Pechloff found Jordan Westerkamp for a 14-yard TD with 1:26 before halftime.

After a slow start, Pechloff finished the half 7-of-16 for 70 yards while Nick Campanella has gained 53 yards in five carries. On the other side, Joliet Catholic has yet to complete a pass but has rushed for 201 yards on 25 attempts.

1:20 M Jordan Westerjamp 14-yard pass from Brandon Pechloff (Kersten kick); 65 yards in 7 yards

KEY PLAY Pechloff 9-yard pass to Christian Westerkamp on fourth-and-3

4:32 M Ryan Gorrell 5-yard run (Matt Kersten kick); 19 yards in 5 plays 14-7

KEY PLAY: Montini recovers a fumble on a punt at the Joliet Catholic 19-yard line. Five plays later, Ryan Gorrell scores on a run around left-end.

2ND QUARTER

ANALYSIS: Montini turns the ball over three times in the first quarter, leading to 14 Joliet Catholic points.

1:13 JC Malin Jones 8-yard run (Cranmer kick); 64 yards in 11 play 14-0

6:56 JC Jordan Lyles 18-yard run (Rob Cranmer kick); 44 yards in 4 plays 7-0

1ST QUARTER

Three minutes until kickoff. Montini will receive.