Football playoffs: Montini chases another championship

Montini Catholic opens its Class 4A playoff campaign at home Saturday, October 31, at 2 p.m. against Geneseo.

The Broncos enter with a 7–2 record and are seeking a third consecutive state championship after winning the Class 3A crown in 2024 and Class 4A title in 2025.

Geneseo is 7–3 following a 42–14 victory over North Chicago on October 24.

The winner could meet undefeated Morris in the next round.

Glenbard East advances with 42–14 win

Glenbard East beat Bartlett 42–14 in Lombard to improve to 7–3 and advance to Friday’s Class 7A matchup against Kenwood Academy at Lane Stadium in Chicago.

Sophomore quarterback Carter Pohlman completed 17 of 22 passes for 247 yards and four touchdowns.

Diamond Chew caught five passes for 97 yards and two scores; Malachi Miller added five catches for 63 yards and a touchdown, and Mason Wright had four receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Jaiden Javier energized the Rams with a 75-yard kickoff return touchdown to begin the second half.

Moises Velazquez converted all six extra-point attempts.

Despite two red-zone turnovers, the Rams pulled away after leading 21–7 at halftime.

Coach John Walters emphasized that the Rams must bring more energy and physical play against Kenwood, which enters at 6–3.

Willowbrook rolls past Amundsen

Willowbrook opened its Class 6A postseason with a commanding 42–6 home victory over Chicago’s Amundsen High School.

The Warriors led 35–0 at halftime and improved to 6–4.

Senior JJ Miulli delivered a memorable two-way performance, catching two touchdown passes and intercepting two passes.

Jax Chavez scored twice on the ground, while Benjamin Bates also added two rushing touchdowns.

Willowbrook travels to Rockton to face Hononegah, which enters Friday’s game at 8–1.

The winner advances to play Fenwick or Highland Park.

Cross-country: Sectional berths earned

Willowbrook’s boys placed fourth at the Class 3A Naperville North Regional to qualify as a team for Saturday’s Lyons Township Sectional in Western Springs.

Junior Legend Alka led the Warriors with a third-place time of 14 minutes, 48.94 seconds over three miles.

Thomas Thimo finished 15th in 15:38.04, followed by Jacob Alexander, Ryan Quinney and Kole Johanson among Willowbrook’s scoring runners.

Although Willowbrook’s girls finished seventh as a team, Bethany Yurich, Kate Borho and Rachel Simek qualified individually for the sectional.

Yurich finished 17th in 18:39.01; Borho ran 18:58.74 and Simek clocked 19:11.29.

Glenbard East junior Teigan O’Donnell also earned an individual sectional berth, finishing 12th at the Glenbard West Regional in 18:47.68.

She advances to the Lake Park Sectional.

At the Class 2A Kaneland Regional, Montini’s boys placed third and advanced as a team to Saturday’s Kaneland Sectional.

Nino Pesola led the Broncos with an 11th-place finish in 15:25.71, followed by Matthew Ferris in 12th and Owen Ferris in 14th.

Montini girls Natalia Pesola, Gia Csoke and Fiona Felten also earned individual sectional places.

Volleyball: Rams finish with a win; Broncos enter postseason

Glenbard East closed the girls volleyball regular season by defeating Bartlett 25–18, 26–24 on October 20.

Senior Belle McDermott posted 12 kills and eight digs, while Olivia Stieve supplied 11 assists and Taylor Griffith added 10.

The Rams finished the regular season 12–23 and entered regional competition against Naperville North.

Montini finished 25–10 after close three-set losses to Providence Catholic and Downers Grove South.

The Broncos entered the Class 3A Trinity Regional as the No. 1 seed in the St. Francis Sectional.

Boys soccer: Glenbard East season concludes

Glenbard East’s boys soccer season ended with a 3–0 defeat against Addison Trail in the Class 3A regional championship game.

The Rams finished with a 9–6–5 record.

They reached the final by defeating Schaumburg 4–2 on October 20, with senior Ryan Kummer scoring twice and Michael Szala and Brandon Garcia adding goals.

Best of luck to all our local athletes still competing in the postseason.

Glenbard South and Glenbard West join football playoff spotlight

Glenbard South defeated Chicago Payton 40–7 in its Class 5A preliminary-round game and now travels to undefeated Antioch for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday, October 30.

The Raiders bring a 6–4 record into the contest against 9–0 Antioch.

Glenbard West, 6–3, received a preliminary-round bye and opens its Class 7A playoff run at home against Moline on Saturday, October 31, at 1:30 p.m.

Moline advanced with a 42–38 victory over Benet Academy.

New volleyball playoff results through October 28

Glenbard East pulled off a Class 4A regional upset against Naperville North, winning 25–19, 8–25, 26–24 on October 27.

The Rams advance to face Oswego in Thursday’s October 29 regional championship match at 6 p.m.

Glenbard West swept Waubonsie Valley 25–16, 25–10 on October 27 and is scheduled to play Downers Grove South on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Glenbard South rallied past Fenton 19–25, 27–25, 26–24 and will face Timothy Christian in Thursday’s Class 3A regional final at 6 p.m.

Montini Catholic defeated Schurz 25–7, 25–5 in its Class 3A regional opener and advances in the Trinity Regional.

Willowbrook fell to Hinsdale Central 25–18, 20–25, 25–14 in a Class 4A regional semifinal, ending the Warriors’ postseason run.

Glenbard West and Glenbard South boys soccer reach sectional finals

Glenbard West survived a dramatic Class 3A sectional semifinal against Conant, advancing on penalty kicks after a 1–1 draw through two overtimes.

Senior Angel Garnica delivered the deciding kick in the 4–3 shootout, setting up a sectional final against Addison Trail at West Chicago on Friday, October 30, at 6 p.m.

Glenbard South celebrated its first boys soccer regional championship since 2017 with a 1–0 win over Timothy Christian on October 23.

The Raiders followed that milestone with a 2–0 sectional semifinal victory against Back of the Yards on October 28.

Glenbard South is scheduled to play Juarez in the Class 2A sectional final on Friday, October 30, at 4:30 p.m.