Monticello 24
Bryon 20

By Jim Hagerty
Reporter

CHAMPAIGN – The Byron Tigers came up short in their bid to bring home the IHSA Class 3A football championship in a battle of unbeatens Friday afternoon.

In a strong defensive contest, Byron tied the game 7-7 with 3:50 left in the first half. However, with only 23 seconds remaining, a Monticello field goal attempt banged off the upright then fluttered through the uprights to give the Sages the 3-point lead at the break.

Momentum shifted toward Byron in the third when Ricky Messling made it 14-10 with a 5-yard touchdown run. But that would be the only lead the Tigers would enjoy. Monticello’s Alek Bundy scored two touchdowns in the second half to put the Sages up 24-14.

Bryon made it 24-20 with a Drake Snodagrass score and were in position to pull ahead in the fourth quarter. Bundy stopped that effort on the Tigers’ final series by picking off a halfback pass to ice the contest.

Bryon finishes the season 13-1. R.

This story will be updated.