By Bobby Narang
Right before a snowstorm snarled the second day of the IHSA State championship football games, Montini started the flurry of points Friday, Nov. 28.
The Montini Broncos, last year’s Class 3A State champions, added to the program’s growing trophy case with Class 4A victory over Rochester. It was another memorable performance on the big stage.
Montini junior quarterback Israel Abrams overcame a bad game by bouncing back to complete 20 of 30 passes for 418 yards and four touchdowns. For the season, Abrams finished with 4,065 yards and 40 touchdowns. He ended the season with 10 rushing touchdowns for a total of 50 touchdowns.
The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder, one of the top high school quarterbacks in the country, led the Broncos to a 47-33 victory over Rochester in the Class 4A State championship game at Hancock Stadium on the campus of Illinois State University.
The Broncos (14-0) claimed the program’s eighth State title, and it marked the second undefeated season. In all, Montini has won 24 straight games dating back to last year’s Class 3A run.
Abrams overcame a sluggish game by leading the Broncos in the fourth quarter, helping take the sting away from tossing a pick-six interception.
“Coach (Mike Bukovksy) prepared us for moments like that,” Abrams said. “When the crap hits the fan like that, and everything goes crazy, we fall back on our training.”
Montini junior linebacker Orlando Greco had a big game, recording a team-best 11 tackles, including seven solo stops. Senior running back Charles Flowers had 11 carries for 103 yards, including touchdown runs of 31 and 24 yards. Junior wide receiver Damarcio Ortegon had seven receptions for 167 yards. Luca Florio had four catches for 130 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Bukovsky said Abrams showed his toughness in the win. “After he threw that pick and you know he hadn’t thrown one in a long time, but this is football and that’s what makes him great,” Bukovsky said. “You get in situations like that, you got to be great.
“It was a special year. We set out with lofty goals. We said we were going to be undefeated and now we sit her with a 24-game winning streak.”