The Montini Catholic football team improved to 2-1 with Friday’s (Sept. 4) 35-28 win at Marist in Chicago. The Broncos scored three touchdowns in the first quarter to take an early 21-0 lead over the RedHawks. Marist, which dropped to 2-1 with the loss, scored two touchdowns during the second quarter and cut Montini’s lead to 21-14 by halftime.
The Broncos scored a touchdown on their first drive of the second half to build a 28-14 lead. Marist responded with a touchdown of its own to reduce Montini’s lead to 28-21 in the middle of the third quarter. Montini scored its fifth and final touchdown of the game in the final minute of the third quarter. Marist scored its final touchdown of the evening with about two minutes left in the contest.
The Broncos earned their 35-28 win over Marist one week after losing a 35-28 decision at Sandburg. The Aug. 28 loss at Sandburg ended the Montini program’s 25-game winning streak. Montini won its last 10 games of the 2024 season and captured the IHSA Class 3A state title. The Broncos posted an undefeated 14-0 record and won the Class 4A state championship in 2025. Montini opened its 2026 season with a 48-0 home win over Hoopeston Area High School on Aug. 21.
Senior quarterback Israel Abrams tossed a 53-yard touchdown pass to senior Donovan Evans to give the Broncos a 6-0 lead with 8:05 left in the first quarter. Senior Johnny Louise added the extra-point kick to push Montini’s lead to 7-0.
Abrams scored the Broncos’ next touchdown of the game on a 9-yard run with 2:20 to play in the first quarter. Moments later, on the next play from scrimmage, Montini senior linebacker Ben Evenson tipped a Marist pass in the air and made an interception at the RedHawks’ 32-yard line. Evenson delivered a 22-yard return on his interception to advance the ball to Marist’s 10-yard line. On Montini’s next offensive play, Abrams threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Evans. The extra-point kick gave the Broncos a 21-0 lead with 1:59 remaining in the first quarter.
Montini received the second-half kickoff and quickly drove 60 yards for a touchdown. Abrams and senior Damacio Ortegon connected on a 35-yard touchdown pass to complete the scoring drive. The extra-point kick raised the Broncos’ lead to 28-14 with 10:55 left in the third quarter.
Marist trimmed Montini’s lead to 28-21 after it scored a touchdown and made the extra-point kick with 8:20 to play in the third quarter. Abrams scored the Broncos’ fifth and final touchdown of the night on a 9-yard run with 39.8 seconds left in the third quarter. The extra-point kick raised Montini’s lead to 35-21.
Abrams completed 12 of 23 passes for 252 yards and three touchdowns the Broncos' win over Marist. He did not throw any interceptions. Abrams gained 44 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns on nine carries.
Louise, a linebacker on Montini’s defensive unit, provided a team-leading 13 tackles. He also made all five of the Broncos’ extra-point kicks. Evenson supplied nine tackles, as well as his first-quarter interception that set up Montini’s third touchdown of the game.
“It was great to be able to jump out to an early lead,” said Montini coach Mike Bukovsky in his post-game comments. “Our guys really battled tough, and many guys had to play extra snaps that they don’t usually play, because of the effect the heat was having on numerous players. Winning a road game against any CCL [Chicago Catholic League] opponent is a chore, especially one from the Blue Division, and I am very pleased with our overall preparation and resiliency to be able to bounce back this week from a tough loss [at Sandburg] last week.”
Montini’s season continues with this Friday’s (Sept. 11) CCL Green Division game at Nazareth Academy (1-2) in La Grange Park. The Broncos and the Roadrunners join St. Rita and St. Francis to make up the four-team Green Division this season.
