Chicago-Area High School Football News and Scores | Season Pass

Andrew Harte kicked a 34-yard field goal as time expired to give Montini a 24-22 victory over Sycamore in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs.

With Sycamore trailing 21-14, quarterback Devin Mottet (22-of-29, 252 yards, 2 TDs) led the Spartans on an 80-yard touchdown drive and running back Austin Culton (33 carries, 143 yards, TD) scored the two-point conversion with 31 seconds left to give Sycamore a 22-21 lead.

After the kickoff was returned to the 50-yard line,Patrick Wills (12-of-16, 132 yards 2 TDs), who was pulled during last week’s game, connected with Joe Borsellino (five carries, 59 yards, TD, 6 catches, 35 yards) on a couple of quick passes along the sidelines allowing him to get out of bounds to stop the clock. Borsellino then took over at quarterback and lined up in the “JoeCat” taking the snap up the middle for a 12-yard gain setting up the 34-yard field goal by Harte.

“These kids believe in themselves and they believe in us,” said Montini head coach Chris Andriano.

Harte told his offense after the two-point conversion “give him a shot” and Borsellino, who has played varsity since his sophomore season, has learned that you’re never out of the game.  Both proved right on their words.

 “You just need to clear your mind and execute,” Borsellino said.
This was the second consecutive game for the Broncos in which the offense has struggled early on, but Andriano points to the effort of their opponent.

“They played great,” he said.  “They probably deserved to win the game.”

Even though the results were not what they wanted, the Spartans walked off the field with their heads held high.

“No one gave us a chance,” Sycamore head coach Joe Ryan said . “We’ve had a chip on our shoulder all season and we played that way today. I learned a lot about (our team) and I think we went from good to great today.  We just didn’t make enough plays.”