Positive experience can go a long way in sports–especially when you’re playing your biggest game of the year in hostile territory. Kaneland can testify to that.
Before Saturday night’s 41-7 pounding of Marengo, coach Joe Thorgesen had looked to the past to help his team get through the pressure of playing in a Class 3A state semifinal.
“I told the kids to remember when we went to (4A semifinalist) Morris early in the season, and I reminded them of how we came out on top,” Thorgesen said. “I knew after winning that game we could beat anybody on the road.”
Kaneland (13-0) will take on Harrisburg (12-1) in Friday’s 3A championship game at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Ill.
Marengo (12-1) struck for its only score after the opening kickoff. Mark Dochterman capped off a 4-minute, 55-yard drive with a 22-yard touchdown run.
But Kaneland answered on the ensuing possession as Eric Delaney (6 of 12, 175 yards, two touchdowns) hit Kyle Schrader for a 20-yard TD pass to even the game at 7-7.
Then, after a Marengo three-and-out series, Schrader (19 carries, 139 yards) scored his second TD of the game as he ran 40 yards untouched around left end.
Kaneland’s defense held again on Marengo’s next series, and Ryan West ran the Marengo punt back for a 42-yard touchdown. The Knights led 21-7 after one quarter, and the rout was on.
In the second quarter, Delaney connected with tight end Bill McKeown on a 45-yard TD strike and West added his second TD on a 1-yard plunge with 2 minutes to go for a 35-7 halftime lead.
For the game, Kaneland intercepted Marengo quarterback Tim Moehling four times and sacked him five times. This will be the Knights’ first title-game appearance.
“A lot of experts didn’t give us a chance,” West said. “But what we lack in size and speed we make up for in heart.”
Class 4A
Metamora 24, Pontiac 14: Fullback Bryan Murphy (29 carries, 149 yards) and quarterback Jamie Dishroom (24 carries, 114 yards) accounted for all of Metamora’s points. Murphy ran for a touchdown while Dishroom had two short TD runs. The Redbirds (13-0) jumped out to a 16-6 halftime lead bolstered by Murphy’s 1-yard scoring run in the second quarter. Jake Frey completed 21 of 39 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns for Pontiac (12-1). Metamora earns a rematch of last year’s championship game with Providence and makes its fifth appearance in the title game.
Class 3A
Harrisburg 34, DuQuoin 14: Harrisburg (12-1) scored all five touchdowns on the ground in advancing to the title game for only the second time. Adam Tomkow scored three touchdowns and Deke Rivers ran for two scores–including a 64-yarder–for Harrisburg, which appeared in the championship game in 1980. DuQuoin finishes at 10-3.
Class 2A
Moweaqua Central A&M 33, Monticello 30: Running back Perry Jordan scored four touchdowns–two rushing, one on a 16-yard reception and one on an interception return–to lead Central A&M (13-0) to the title game. Jordan rushed for 252 yards on 37 carries. Monticello finished 11-2.
St. Joseph-Ogden 39, Stillman Valley 14: Mike Benso threw three touchdown passes and Ryan Jones scored three TDs to lead St. Joseph-Ogden (12-1) to its first state final appearance since 1989. Jones scored on a 97-yard run and returned a fumble for a touchdown. The Spartans had three interceptions, leading to two scores. Stillman Valley (11-2) opened the scoring on Shawn Babcock’s 2-yard run in the first quarter.
Class 1A
Galena 30, Arcola 6: Michael Gratton (31 carries, 292 yards) rushed for four touchdowns, including an 82-yarder, to advance Galena (13-0) into its first title game. Gratton, filling in for the injured Michael Cox (hamstring), also scored on runs of 13, 24 and 31 yards. Kolin Peterson scored on a 77-yard touchdown run for Arcola (11-2).
Toulon Stark County 14, Villa Grove 12: J.L. Newton threw a game-winning 19-yard touchdown pass to Zach Anderson with 5:06 left for Stark County (12-1). Newton added a 49-yard touchdown pass to Beau Austin. Villa Grove (9-4) had an opportunity to win, but Matt Jones was short on a 33-yard field-goal attempt. Scott Faust passed for 133 yards for Villa Grove.
