​Rewritten:
Jul. 10 — MONTICELLO — Zeke Young, Jake Motsegood and Braden Wood grew up with memories of the Monticello football team’s 2018 Class 3A state championship. They were sophomores when the Sages came within one win of another state title in 2024 before falling to Montini in the Class 3A title game. And they believe they have what it takes to embark on another successful season as seniors this fall. “They were all always locked in every practice,” Motsegood said. “They also had a really good connection. I feel like we’re pretty similar to them in our connection and effort in practice.” Monticello will enter the 2026 season as the No. 7 team in The News-Gazette’s preseason rankings thanks in large part to Young, Motsegood and Wood. Young will join Will Osborne in a deep group of wide receivers, while Motsegood will line up at offensive left tackle and defensive nose tackle and Wood will play defensive end and fullback. And the Sages have a senior class nearly as large as the group of 18 players who helped the program reach its second state championship game two seasons ago. “I feel like we can do something pretty special this year,” Wood said. “Last year, we were pretty light on seniors, so we have a lot of returning starters this year. I feel like we all have a really good connection.” Now-graduated quarterback Nolan Buehnerkemper led the Sages in 2025 with 2,036 passing yards and 10 touchdowns through the air, plus a team-leading 837 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns. Maddox Utley racked up 548 rushing yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore to lead the Sages’ returning options. “I feel like this year he has the potential to be a first-team all–Illini Prairie Conference running back,” Wood said. Young is confident in Monticello’s group of receivers, too. “We return two of our receivers and then we get a new tight end and a new wideout,” Young said. “But I think they’ll fill in that role. I think they’re pretty experienced.” Young and Buehnerkemper led the Sages defensively with four interceptions apiece. Utley tied with Forrest Rawdin with 47 tackles and senior Colton Shubert recorded 32 1/2 stops. “I feel like we’ve just got to lock in this year,” Wood said, “and we can definitely have the best defense in the conference.” Motsegood will be one of the most experienced players on Monticello’s offensive line. “I think being one of the only seniors on the offensive line, I’m going to have to be more of a leader for all the younger kids and kind of set an example for all of them,” Motsegood said. “And just make sure I’m pushing them to be the best they can.” Quarterback is among the positions veteran coach Cully Welter and his staff will decide on in the weeks leading up to the season, which begins for the Sages on Aug. 21 with a home game against Chillicothe IVC. The kickoff will mark the start of a season that Monticello hopes can build on past glories and forge new memories for a program that has long prided itself on culture, competition and a relentless pursuit of excellence.