The 2009 campaign was a tale of two seasons for Montini Catholic. A tough regular season schedule saw the Broncos drop contests to Sacred Heart-Griffin, Marian Central Catholic, Marmion Academy, and defending IHSA Class 5A champion St. Francis, which had ended the Broncos’ undefeated season in the playoffs the year before. Montini finished the regular season with a 5-4 record and placed fourth in the newly-formed SCC Blue division. Having just barely qualified for the playoffs, Montini faced St. Francis in the first round and stunned the Spartans 28-3 in a game played at West Chicago High School. The Broncos then exacted more revenge in the second round, beating Marian Central 42-21. Montini then defeated Sycamore in the quarterfinals and Woodstock in the semifinals to reach a state championship game for the second time in program history.
The Broncos faced Joliet Catholic in the championship game, which many predicted would be an easy win for the Hilltoppers. Instead, the game became an instant classic, with many considering it the greatest game in the history of Bronco football. Despite falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter, Montini rallied to tie the score by halftime and later took a 21-20 lead in the third quarter. After Joliet Catholic scored in the fourth to take a 28-21 lead, the Broncos engineered a touchdown drive late in the quarter to pull within one. Montini elected to go for the win, and with 32 seconds left, quarterback Brandon Pechloff connected with receiver Christian Westerkamp on a two-point conversion to give the Broncos a 29-28 lead. The Bronco defense forced the Hilltopper offense into four straight incompletions to end the game, and Montini had shocked the IHSA with one of the most stunning upsets in state history. Pechloff set program records with 3,199 passing yards and 42 touchdown passes and was named to the all-state team along with Nick Campanella and Ryan Gorrell. No one knew it at the time, but the win would kick-start an unbelievable stretch for the Bronco football program.
Schedule:
08/30 vs. Sacred Heart-Griffin at Benedictine University–L 28-14
09/04 @ Benet–W 43-6
09/12 @ DC Everest (Weston, WI)–W 45-20
09/19 vs. St. Francis–L 51-31
09/26 vs. Aurora Christian–W 41-8
10/02 vs. Marian Central Catholic–L 20-14 (OT)
10/09 @ Aurora Central Catholic–W 41-10
10/16 @ Wheaton Academy–W 42-27
10/23 @ Marmion Academy–L 18-7
10/31 @ St. Francis at West Chicago HS–W 28-3
11/07 vs. Marian Central Catholic–W 42-21
11/14 @ Sycamore–W 31-17
11/21 vs. Woodstock–W 42-24
11/28 @ Joliet Catholic Academy at Memorial Stadium–W 29-28
Montini Bronco Football 