CHAMPAIGN | Both Crete-Monee and Mount Carmel brought home state titles on Saturday.
Under Armour All-American and Crete-Monee superstar Laquon Treadwell lived up to his billing while and he and his teammates beat Cary-Grove, 33-26, on Saturday at Memorial Stadium to win the Class 6A state title.
It was the first team state title for Crete-Monee in any sport.
Later in the evening, Mount Carmel won its 11th state title and 10th under Frank Lenti as it beat Glenbard North 28-14 to win the Class 8A title.
Crete-Monee finished 14-0, while Cary-Grove was 13-1.
After the game, coach Jerry Verde and his players had not come to the realization of their achievement.
"No," Verde said. "It's something I told the kids that a month, years from now, you will realize how special this is. I know from having won one as a player and now as a coach how special this is.
"I told them that they are bonded for life this group."
Verde was a starting linebacker on Marian Catholic's 1993 Class 4A state champs. It is the second undefeated football team in Crete football history as the 1952 team went 9-0. There were no state playoffs then.
Treadwell dominated. With his team leading 21-16 with 4 minutes, 41 seconds left in the third quarter, Treadwell fumbled and the Trojans recovered. On the next play, Treadwell picked off a Quinn Baker pass the Warriors' 11 and returned it 22 yards. A penalty on Cary-Grove gave Crete the ball on its own 48-yard line and on the next play, Marcus Terrell hit Lance Lenoir for a 52-yard touchdown to give the Warriors a 27-16 lead.
"Defense," Treadwell said of where he made the biggest impact on Saturday. "We needed big plays on defense and I had to step up."
Treadwell got Crete on the board with a 69-yard touchdown run. For the afternoon, he rushed for 93 yards and a score, caught six passes for 85 yards and a score, kicked the PATs, had 10 solos and two assists, plus an interception.
The Caravan (13-1) last won a title in 2002 and used two interceptions to stop two potential Glenbard North scoring drives.
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