![At Monticello Middle School in a game between Monticello H.S. and St. Michael-Albertville, Isaiah Weston(81) looked to break into the open field in the first half. ] Richard Tsong-Taatarii/rtsong-taatarii@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/M2PNOV75KLUXJXBGFCNNKLQ4DY.jpg?&w=1080)
This is the way to end a regular season.
St. Michael-Albertville, No. 4 in Class 5A, was looking to protect its No. 1 seed in Section 6. No. 5, 5A Monticello was hoping to complete an undefeated season and snatch that top seed from the Knights. And, of course, bragging rights among two northwest metro neighbors.
It proved too much for a regulation-length game to contain.
St. Michael-Albertville, on the strength of two touchdown receptions by Isaiah Weston beat Monticello 27-26 in overtime. The victory clinched a No. 1 seed for the Knights and dropped Monticello to 7-1.
Isaiah Weston, St. Michael-Albertville's fabulous wide receiver, caught two touchdown passes — one with 1:06 left in regulation that tied the game 20-20, one in overtime for the game-winner. Weston, who will play at Northern Iowa next year, caught nine passes for 92 yards.
"I'm a playmaker and my team depends on me to make plays," Weston said. "I couldn't let them down."
Monticello, in the midst of its best season since 1987, led twice in the second half but St. Michael-Albertville rallied to tie both times. The Magic had a 14-3 lead after taking the opening kickoff of the second half and driving 81 yards for a score, but St. Michael-Albertville scored 11 points in a span of 6 minutes in the third quarter to tie the game.
The Magic answered, regaining the lead 20-14 on a 42-yard run by Aaron Hanson but missed the extra point. St. Michael-Albertville got the tying touchdown on Weston's first scoring reception, a 17-yarder in which he split the defense for the final 5 yards. But the Knights missed the extra point, too, sending the game to overtime.
