Montini

It is one thing for a 5-4 team to make it to a state championship game.
But it is a whole different animal for that squad to knock off one of the top programs in the state once there.
 

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.

Walking off the field after a loss to end the regular season, some Montini players were chided by a group of Marmion supporters for their not-so stellar record.
Wonder what those Cadet fans are saying now.
 

Tying his own school record he set earlier in the year, Brandon Pechloff tossed five touchdowns on Saturday as the senior led Montini to a 42-24 victory over Woodstock in a Class 5A semifinal in Lombard.

Weekend watch
WHO Woodstock (9-3) at Montini (8-4)
WHAT Class 5A semifinals
WHEN 1 p.m. Saturday
WHERE 19W070 16th St., Lombard

OUTLOOK
Standing on the sidelines after a 20-14 loss to Marian Central evened his team’s record at 3-3, Montini coach Chris Andriano talked about everybody needing to examine himself in the mirror. Now six weeks later, he must like what he sees.

Matchups are in place for this weekend's IHSA state semifinals.

BOX:
Weekend watch
WHO No. 12 Montini (7-4) vs. No. 9 Sycamore (8-3)
WHAT Class 5A quarterfinals
WHEN 1 p.m. Saturday
WHERE 555 Spartan Trail, Sycamore

When Montini looks across the field on Saturday for its Class 5A quarterfinal matchup with Sycamore, don’t be surprised if the Broncos have shocked looks on their faces.
 

Third-round IHSA football playoff matchups are in place. Who stands in your team's path to the state semifinals?

WHO No. 4 Marian Central (8-2); No. 12 Montini (6-4)
WHAT Class 5A, second round
WHEN 1 p.m. Saturday
WHERE 19W070 16th St., Lombard

From one Suburban Christian opponent to the next. Fresh off an impressive road win over St. Francis that kept its postseason hopes alive, Montini did not get a lot of time to celebrate.

WHO No. 12 Montini vs. No. 5 St. Francis
WHAT Class 5A , first round
WHEN 2 p.m. Saturday
WHERE West Chicago High School, 326 Joliet St., West Chicago
RECORDS Montini (5-4); St. Francis (7-2)

OUTLOOK
The ride through the regular season for Montini was filled with obstacles and potholes. But the end result proved to be the same as the last 16 years: a trip to the postseason.