Montini beats Crete-Monee for Class 6A title
DEKALB, Ill. (AP) — Just when Crete-Monee appeared to be taking over the Class 6A championship game, Montini's Justin Blake took over.
Blake's 64-yard touchdown run down the left sideline late in the first half — the first of his two touchdowns — moved the Broncos back into the lead and marked the first of four straight scores as unbeaten Montini defeated Crete-Monee 38-15 in the Class 6A championship game Saturday.
A block by receiver Tyler Millikan was the springboard to the end zone.
"I saw Millikan's back, and I followed his blocking," Blake said. "It was real important to score. We needed the momentum back before halftime."
The Broncos built a 10-0 lead before the Warriors rallied to go ahead 15-10 on touchdown runs by Kevin Pate and Clint Radovich. Then came Blake's big run.
The momentum was on both sides of the ball. Blake score again on a 1-yard plunge, Prince Walker added his second and third touchdowns on 4-yard and 1-yard runs, and the Broncos defense stiffened. Crete-Monee (11-3) gained only 66 yards the rest of the game.
Blake finished with 192 yards and 26 carries, while Walker finished with 169 yards on 22 rushes.
"Montini, they're not going to stay on the canvas," Crete-Monee coach John Konecki said. "There's a lot of speed on both sides of the ball. We played our style of football. We just weren't able to convert."
Montini (14-0) lost in the Class 5A championship game the last two years after winning four straight from 2009 to 2012. Saturday's win marked the sixth championship overall for Montini and coach Chris Andriano.
"This is the best team we've ever had. We're at the top of the mountain," Andriano said.