Abrams shines under pressure as Montini clinches eighth state championship.
In an electrifying finish to Friday's Class 4A state semifinal game, Montini quarterback Israel Abrams demonstrated why he is considered one of the nation's top quarterbacks. With his team trailing by three points in the fourth quarter, Abrams led a crucial drive that culminated in a 47-33 victory over Rochester.
The turning point came when Nate Swaney intercepted Abrams' pass and returned it for a touchdown, but Abrams responded with two stunning plays that showcased his smarts, athleticism, and arm talent. On third and 19 from the Montini 6-yard line, Abrams dodged pressure and launched a dart downfield to junior Damacio Ortegon for a 32-yard gain. Three plays later, Abrams lofted another beautiful pass to Ortegon, who somehow managed to twist and turn his body while maintaining focus on the ball. The 36-yard catch sealed the win.
Abrams' performance earned him four touchdown passes, tying the Class 4A state title game record. He finished 20-for-30 for 418 yards with two interceptions, cementing Montini's reputation as a formidable force in the sport. "Great players make great plays in the biggest situation," Rochester coach Derek Leonard said of Abrams.
The win marked Montini's eighth state championship and its first since last season when they won the Class 3A title. The team will return most of its talented juniors, including Abrams and Ortegon, next season, setting up a strong foundation for future success.
Montini's victory also marked a historic moment for the program, which has now won more championships than any other team in school history. "It's been a special year," Montini coach Mike Bukovsky said. "We set out with lofty goals and we said we were going to be undefeated. Now we sit here with a 24-game winning streak."
For Rochester, the loss was its first state title game defeat since 2015. The Rockets have won nine state championships but fell short this time around.
In an electrifying finish to Friday's Class 4A state semifinal game, Montini quarterback Israel Abrams demonstrated why he is considered one of the nation's top quarterbacks. With his team trailing by three points in the fourth quarter, Abrams led a crucial drive that culminated in a 47-33 victory over Rochester.
The turning point came when Nate Swaney intercepted Abrams' pass and returned it for a touchdown, but Abrams responded with two stunning plays that showcased his smarts, athleticism, and arm talent. On third and 19 from the Montini 6-yard line, Abrams dodged pressure and launched a dart downfield to junior Damacio Ortegon for a 32-yard gain. Three plays later, Abrams lofted another beautiful pass to Ortegon, who somehow managed to twist and turn his body while maintaining focus on the ball. The 36-yard catch sealed the win.
Abrams' performance earned him four touchdown passes, tying the Class 4A state title game record. He finished 20-for-30 for 418 yards with two interceptions, cementing Montini's reputation as a formidable force in the sport. "Great players make great plays in the biggest situation," Rochester coach Derek Leonard said of Abrams.
The win marked Montini's eighth state championship and its first since last season when they won the Class 3A title. The team will return most of its talented juniors, including Abrams and Ortegon, next season, setting up a strong foundation for future success.
Montini's victory also marked a historic moment for the program, which has now won more championships than any other team in school history. "It's been a special year," Montini coach Mike Bukovsky said. "We set out with lofty goals and we said we were going to be undefeated. Now we sit here with a 24-game winning streak."
For Rochester, the loss was its first state title game defeat since 2015. The Rockets have won nine state championships but fell short this time around.
Abrams is literally the real MVP right now! His performance under pressure is insane, and I'm loving how he bailed out his team in the clutch 
! Montini's got a bright future ahead of them with all those talented juniors returning next season, can't wait to see what they do! 
. the way Abrams dodged pressure and made those insane throws was pure artistry 
. i'm not surprised they won 24 games in a row, this team has some serious chemistry 
. congrats to Montini on their eighth state championship, that's amazing 
!
I'm not surprised Abrams came through in the clutch, he's been showing that kind of magic on the field all season. It's crazy to think about how much experience Montini has gained over the years, now they're just building on that. Eight state championships is impressive, but I reckon it's only going to get bigger from here. The talent they've got coming back next year is huge 
The way he dodged pressure and launched that 32-yard pass to Ortegon was pure magic 
. And yeah, Montini's gonna be tough to beat next season with all those talented juniors returning 
. This win is like a dream come true for the program - they're already breaking records and setting new standards 
.
! Four TD passes in one game? That's insane!! And those two plays to Ortegon were like something out of a movie 
! The way he dodged pressure and just launched it downfield was pure magic 
! he's got the skills and the clutch gene for days 
. i'm not surprised he led montini to that epic comeback win - that guy's been on fire all season 
, how does he even do that?! 
.
.
. He can take the heat and still deliver clutch plays like a pro 
. Montini's lucky to have him on their team - they're basically unbeatable with him leading the charge 
, dodging defenders and making catches that are straight impossible