Nov. 29--DEKALB, Ill. -- Missed tackles turned into a missed opportunity for Crete-Monee.
Montini reeled off 28 straight points and collected 506 total yards to post a 38-15 victory over Crete-Monee on Saturday in the Class 6A state championship at Huskie Stadium.
The Warriors (11-3) led 15-10 in the second quarter following a 1-yard touchdown run by Clint Ratkovich, but Montini's speed eventually spoiled Crete-Monee's quest for a second state title in four years.
"We just didn't make the right angles, and they were fast," Crete-Monee senior linebacker Drew Harvey said.
Montini coach Chris Andriano called his 14-0 squad the fastest team he's coached in his 37 years at the school.
After a solid first-half showing, the Warriors soon discovered that the Broncos' speed, in particular in their read-option offense, would become the big difference.
"We were just a half step too late," Crete-Monee coach John Konecki said. "Those micro-small units of measure are huge. They were able to capitalize. They had tremendous team speed."
The Warriors were held to 215 total yards, with just 64 after halftime. Ratkovich had a been a weapon all season for the Warriors, often taking direct snaps at quarterback. Ratkovich, who had a team-leading 1,724 rushing yards entering the 6A final, was bottled up all game. He finished with 69 yards on 25 carries and did not catch a pass. The Warriors tallied 39 rushing attempts for 92 yards.
"They were a really good defense," Ratkovich said. "They flew around, went to the ball and were really fast."
The Warriors' inability to convert -- or stop -- fourth down attempts turned the momentum of the game in the third quarter. Crete-Monee, which converted one of four fourth-down attempts, trailed 18-15 early in the third quarter.
Blake scored on a 1-yard run on fourth down to pad Montini's lead to 25-15. Eight plays later, Ratkovich came up one yard short on an fourth down running play. Walker added a 5-yard touchdown run on Montini's next drive to put the game out of reach.
"It was a big play," Ratkovich said of his failed fourth down run. "We got stopped. It was a turning point from there and they kept moving the ball."
Bob Narang is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
