Spartans look to regroup after Monticello loss
By FRED KRONER
The first touchdown scored in a varsity football game at Dick Duval Field, which was dedicated on Friday (Aug. 20), was tallied by a St. Joseph-Ogden senior, Isaiah Moore.
The Spartans’ running back reached the end zone on a 6-yard run in the first quarter of the Friday (Aug. 27) football season-opener against state-ranked Monticello, which was ranked third in Class 3A.
A conversion run by Keaton Nolan lifted SJ-O in an 8-0 lead that held through the first quarter.
While the early going belonged to SJ-O, the game ultimately belonged to Monticello.
The Sages reeled off 43 unanswered points and posted a 43-8 win in an Illini Prairie Conference game.
The game was played about 36 hours after the death of Duval, SJ-O’s long-time football coach. He died on Thursday (Aug. 26) at age 64.
“We came out and played very well in the first quarter,” SJ-O head coach Shawn Skinner said, “and we missed a couple of opportunities to add points in the second quarter.
“They were able to hit some big plays to take the lead into the half, but I felt like we were in a great position going into the third quarter.”
The Sages’ halftime lead was 15-8.
“We just couldn’t sustain anything in the second half, and they hit three more big plays on us.
“Give credit to Monticello because if you make one mistake, they will exploit it.”
Monticello scored six touchdowns and those scoring plays averaged more than 55 yards per TD.
SJ-O’s Evan Ingram completed 6 of 14 passes for 37 yards.
Nolan (80 yards) and Ingram (71 yards) were the top rushers for the Spartans. Justice Wertz gained 33 yards on 11 carries.
Monticello quarterback Joey Sprinkle connected on 8 of 14 passes for 229 yards and three TDs.
He had passes picked off by Nolan and Coby Miller.
Monticello held a 445-235 edge in total yards.
SJ-O (0-1) will play at Tolono Unity (1-0) on Friday (Sept. 3). The Rockets, ranked fifth in Class 3A, won their opener, which was the 250th career win for head coach Scott Hamilton.
“We need to regroup and refocus quickly,” Skinner said. “We’ve got a big game with Unity, so there’s really no time to waste.”
