Montini dominates Monticello to win the Class 3A state title

NORMAL—Senior Gaetano Carbonara didn't take a snap at quarterback in Montini's dominant 49-8 win against Monticello in the Class 3A state title game on Friday at ISU's Hancock Stadium.

Carbonara, who began the season as the Broncos' starting quarterback, had two carries. But current starter Israel Abrams, a sophomore, made sure everyone in the post-game press conference knew how vital Carbonara's contributions were to the team's championship season.

"Even if he didn’t care for me starting he was always there for me and was always a good teammate about it," Abrams said. "He always pushed me to be a better person and a better quarterback. When I had my head down in the Byron game after two picks he was there for me. He cracked a joke about it, how he had been there. He’s a real teammate and a good person and he’s going to go far in life."

Montini's win was never really in doubt. The Broncos entered as favorites. Their only losses were to larger Catholic League powers Marist and Fenwick.

Jeremiah Peterson scored on a five-yard run in the first two minutes and the Broncos rolled from then on. Peterson had 13 carries for 134 yards.

Abrams finished with a quarterback rating of 242.5. He was 10-for-16 for 225 yards and three touchdowns and connected with six receivers. CJ Harkins had 2 catches for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns. Peterson caught 1 pass for a 49-yard TD for the Broncos (12-2).

Montini started the season 2-2 and held a players-only meeting to get the season back on track.

"We all came together and decided to go to work," Montini's Nick Irion said. "We thought we could step it up another level and we definitely did. And once this team got rolling we didn’t stop."

Montini scored 49 unanswered points until Monticello (11-3) scored on a 29-yard pass from Nolan Buehnerkempter to Carter Foran with 30 seconds left.

"[Montini's] overall speed was impressive," Monticello coach Patrick Etherton said. "We thought they were fast on film but they took it to another level today. There were a number of times where it looked like we were there [to stop the play] and we weren't."

Montini won the Class 4A title in 2004, the Class 5A title in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 and the Class 6A title in 2015.

This was the second title game appearance for the Sages. Monticello won the Class 3A state title in 2018.