Prep Football

Montini to face tough East St. Louis

Posted September 03, 2015 1:01 am

By David Oberhelman and Kevin Schmit

doberhelman@dailyherald.com

kschmit@dailyherald.com

Montini (1-0) at East St. Louis (1-0)

Nonconference

Game time: 6 p.m. Saturday.

Last week: Montini 20, Maine South 17; East St. Louis 28, Simeon 21.

Last year: Montini 46, East St. Louis 32.

Outlook: Montini is No. 2 in The Associated Press Class 6A poll, East St. Louis No. 3 in 7A.

Montini, which last week got 184 yards passing and another 111 rushing from quarterback Justin Blake, took a 14-6 halftime lead over Maine South and held on with the help of sophomore kicker Michael Cooney, who hit a 31-yard field goal to win it.

East St. Louis rallied past Simeon, getting 3 touchdown passes from junior quarterback Rayondus Estes to junior receiver Jeff Thomas, one of the top-rated receivers in the country whose short list of colleges includes Alabama, Ohio State and Florida State.

Thomas is a 4.40 burner, about the same as Montini cornerback Mitch West, providing a great matchup. In last year's game Montini overcame a 26-17 second-quarter deficit as the Broncos seemed to wear down the Flyers. Speed and stamina are concerns for Montini coach Chris Andriano, playing in the downstate heat with Broncos linemen Joe Spivak and Michael Ross going both ways.

Next week: St. Rita at Montini; East St. Louis at Alton.

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