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TOLONO, Ill. (WCIA) - Unity football won 12 games in 2025, culminating its season with a high-scoring thriller in the 3A state title game.
The Rockets lost to Byron 56-50 in the 3A championship game, only their second loss of the season.
Now, second-year head coach Tony Reetz has the challenge of helping Unity continue its winning tradition despite having graduated a senior class which will go down in history. The Rockets graduated quarterback Dane Eisenmenger, running back Crew Eckstein and multiple standout wide receivers, including Tyler Henry, Tre Hoggard and Mason O'Neill, who each had more than 100 yards receiving in that 3A title match.
"Those guys were awesome, and the guys we got now learned underneath them and watched them and saw the success that they had," Reetz said. "They don't have to be [last year's] guys. They can be themselves. I'm excited to watch them step into the spotlight and see what they can do on a Friday night, or Saturday afternoon, and see how far we go."
The Rockets are likely to start junior Carter Schmid at quarterback. He spent the 2025 season shadowing the now-Illini QB Eisenmenger.
"There was a lot to learn from Dane, it was great," Schmid said. "It's big shoes to fill for sure, but I have a lot of guys around me that I think I can step into his shoes and make it work pretty good."
Unity does bring back some key pieces of its 2025 playoff push, including its leading tackler Keegan Germano.
"Ever since I was younger, I was always taught to have a relentless pursuit of the football, run to the football, every play," Germano said. "That's what I try to do. I mean, I try to give the game everything I have on the field."
Germano and the Unity defense has a new leader. Conner Plotner takes over as defensive coordinator after spending multiple seasons in-waiting, learning behind longtime Unity assistant Dave Fink, who retired at the end of the 2025 season.
Unity opens its 2026 campaign on the road at Rantoul on Friday, Aug. 21, before an early rivalry contest against Monticello in week two.
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