Snow should be avoided Friday, but it will be cold with the temperature dropping into the 20's by the end of the 4A championship game. Some wind but the 13-mph current estimate should not have a major impact on the passing game.
4A Final-7 PM
#1 Montini (13-0) vs #3 Rochester (12-1)
Montini regular season vs playoff opponents: Beat Class 6 Finalist Lumen Christi (MI) 20-16, Beat 4A Qualifier Country Club Hillcrest 35-12, Beat 6A Finalist Fenwick 31-29, Beat 7A 2nd Round Mundelein Carmel 55-54, Beat 6A Semifinalist Saint Laurence 23-0.
Rochester regular season vs playoff opponents: Beat Class 3 Semifinalist Gibson Southern (IN) 42-21, Beat 4A Qualifier Mt Zion 28-24, Lost to 6A 2nd Round Chatham Glenwood 42-43 OT, Beat 5A Qualifier Normal U High 56-7, Beat 5A Qualifier Decatur MacArthur 51-14, Beat 5A Qualifier Springfield 55-10, Beat 4A Quarterfinalist Sacred Heart Griffin 31-28.
Montini playoffs: Chicago Urban Prep 50-6, Peoria Notre Dame 47-17, Coal City 35-0, and Morris 47-27.
Rochester playoffs: Taylorville 56-7, Waterloo 55-21, Sacred Heart Griffin 41-35 OT, Breese Central 43-42 OT.
Montini is averaging 39 points per game, while allowing 15. Since a 1-point win in Week 6 against Mundelein Carmel, the Broncos have won every game since by at least 20 points. Junior QB Israel Abrams has thrown for over 3,600 yards with 36 TDs and has also run for an additional 9 scores. Montini's two main Running Backs have run for over 1,200 yards and a total of 19 TDs. WR Damacio Ortegon has just over 1,000 yards receiving and 10 TDs, while 2 others have between 735-955 receiving yards and a combined 20 TDs. Very impressive when your 3rd leading Receiver has over 700 yards. The Broncos Offensive Line ranges from 260 to 285 pounds.
Rochester is averaging 48 points per game, while allowing 21. After big wins in the first two rounds, the Rockets have prevailed in the Quarterfinals and Semifinals only after being forced into Overtime. QB's Tanner Beal and JP Leonard have combined for over 2,800 yards passing and 26 TDs. RB Kaiden Stout has 1,155 yards rushing on the season and a total of 14 TDs. The Receivers are led by Tristan Stanton (826 yards/8 TDs) and Nate Swaney (668 yards/5 TDs). The Rockets Offensive Line ranges from 240 to 260 pounds.
Montini has won big in each of their four playoff games, while Rochester was forced into OT the last two weeks never leading in either game by more than a score and trailing Breese Central by 2 TDs early in the 4th Quarter. There's two ways to look at the playoff results so far in assessing the final. The first, and the interpretation that makes more sense, is that Montini having dominated all their previous opponents should have an advantage over Rochester who has only barely survived the last two weeks. The second, which is less likely but possible, is that having survived two consecutive OT thrillers Rochester might have a shot at victory, particularly if they stay close early, avoid turnovers, and/or generate a big special teams play.
Rochester has faced some excellent QBs this season: Chatham's Colten Knoedler, SHG's Cam Brinkman (twice), and Breese's Owen Kehrer last week, Abrams, however, looks to be at another level and elite QBs are very difficult for defenses to hold down. Montini also spreads the ball around very well making it difficult to cover all their receiving options. Edge to the Broncos in an exciting contest. Montini 45 Rochester 35. Massey: Montini 42-26.
4A Final-7 PM
#1 Montini (13-0) vs #3 Rochester (12-1)
Montini regular season vs playoff opponents: Beat Class 6 Finalist Lumen Christi (MI) 20-16, Beat 4A Qualifier Country Club Hillcrest 35-12, Beat 6A Finalist Fenwick 31-29, Beat 7A 2nd Round Mundelein Carmel 55-54, Beat 6A Semifinalist Saint Laurence 23-0.
Rochester regular season vs playoff opponents: Beat Class 3 Semifinalist Gibson Southern (IN) 42-21, Beat 4A Qualifier Mt Zion 28-24, Lost to 6A 2nd Round Chatham Glenwood 42-43 OT, Beat 5A Qualifier Normal U High 56-7, Beat 5A Qualifier Decatur MacArthur 51-14, Beat 5A Qualifier Springfield 55-10, Beat 4A Quarterfinalist Sacred Heart Griffin 31-28.
Montini playoffs: Chicago Urban Prep 50-6, Peoria Notre Dame 47-17, Coal City 35-0, and Morris 47-27.
Rochester playoffs: Taylorville 56-7, Waterloo 55-21, Sacred Heart Griffin 41-35 OT, Breese Central 43-42 OT.
Montini is averaging 39 points per game, while allowing 15. Since a 1-point win in Week 6 against Mundelein Carmel, the Broncos have won every game since by at least 20 points. Junior QB Israel Abrams has thrown for over 3,600 yards with 36 TDs and has also run for an additional 9 scores. Montini's two main Running Backs have run for over 1,200 yards and a total of 19 TDs. WR Damacio Ortegon has just over 1,000 yards receiving and 10 TDs, while 2 others have between 735-955 receiving yards and a combined 20 TDs. Very impressive when your 3rd leading Receiver has over 700 yards. The Broncos Offensive Line ranges from 260 to 285 pounds.
Rochester is averaging 48 points per game, while allowing 21. After big wins in the first two rounds, the Rockets have prevailed in the Quarterfinals and Semifinals only after being forced into Overtime. QB's Tanner Beal and JP Leonard have combined for over 2,800 yards passing and 26 TDs. RB Kaiden Stout has 1,155 yards rushing on the season and a total of 14 TDs. The Receivers are led by Tristan Stanton (826 yards/8 TDs) and Nate Swaney (668 yards/5 TDs). The Rockets Offensive Line ranges from 240 to 260 pounds.
Montini has won big in each of their four playoff games, while Rochester was forced into OT the last two weeks never leading in either game by more than a score and trailing Breese Central by 2 TDs early in the 4th Quarter. There's two ways to look at the playoff results so far in assessing the final. The first, and the interpretation that makes more sense, is that Montini having dominated all their previous opponents should have an advantage over Rochester who has only barely survived the last two weeks. The second, which is less likely but possible, is that having survived two consecutive OT thrillers Rochester might have a shot at victory, particularly if they stay close early, avoid turnovers, and/or generate a big special teams play.
Rochester has faced some excellent QBs this season: Chatham's Colten Knoedler, SHG's Cam Brinkman (twice), and Breese's Owen Kehrer last week, Abrams, however, looks to be at another level and elite QBs are very difficult for defenses to hold down. Montini also spreads the ball around very well making it difficult to cover all their receiving options. Edge to the Broncos in an exciting contest. Montini 45 Rochester 35. Massey: Montini 42-26.
