2000 Sophomore Football

RESULTS

Kaneland 14 - Marengo 6

The Kaneland Knights Sophomore football team kicked off their season opener against the Marengo Indians Friday night. The first quarter was a scoreless. But in the second quarter the Indians scored a touchdown to take the lead. Their attempt for the extra 2 point conversion failed.

With the score being 6-0 Kaneland's Kevin Probst scored on a quarterback sneak from a yard out with just 2 seconds to play in the half. Shawn McKeown kicked the extra point giving the Knights 7-6 halftime lead.

Then mid-way through the 3rd quarter Kaneland scored again on a 55 yard punt return by Scott Miller. McKeown kicked the extra point bringing the Knights to a 14-6 advantage. The 4th quarter was scoreless, giving the Kaneland Knights their 1st win for the season.

Kaneland 0 - Sycamore 9

With the temperature at 100 with the heat index, the Sycamore Spartans played host to our Kaneland Knights. The Spartans has possession of the ball first but the Knights held them. After rush attempts by Mangers and Fabrizius and a holding call against the Spartans, the first quarter ended 0-0.

The second quarter also ended 0-0 but not without the Knights recovering 3 fumbles from the Spartans and Drew Olson blocking a pass intended for the Spartans end zone.

With 7:30 remaining in the 3rd quarter the Spartans ran the ball to their own 7 yd. line, 5 yd. line, 2 yard line and into the end zone. The quarter ended 7-0.

During the 4th quarter the Spartans held our Knights rushes to a minimum and even with Drew Olson's QB sac on the Spartans own 20 yd. line, our Knights were still yet to score. One final attempt by the Knights, with 21.8 left on the game clock left Probst working out of the end zone and after the Spartans came in for the sac, they extended the final game score to 9-0.

Kaneland 14 - Evergreen Park 8

The Knights played host to the Evergreen Park Mustangs on a much cooler note than last weeks game with the Knights receiving the ball first. After moving the ball to the 15 yard line of the Mustangs with 4th down the kick by Shawn McKeown left the ball at the Mustangs 30 yard line. Even after Probst covered a pass and their other rushes were held to minimum yardage the Mustangs were still able to score along with the 2 pt. conversion to take a 8-0 with 4:19 to go in the 1st quarter.

On the punt return Mangers was able to return to ball to the 39 yard line but our next pass lead to a fumble with the Mustangs recovering the ball. The Knights were determined to turn the game around and 2 plays later the Mustangs fumbled and the Knights recovered. After Mangers carried the next three rushes Kaneland's next pass was intercepted by the Mustangs. The 1st quarter ended with an 8-0 Mustangs advantage.

The Knights went into the 2nd quarter with a slightly different strategy. After Jahns blocked a Mustangs pass and the Knights received their next opportunity to move the ball, Probst was able to get some passes with good yardage behind them. The Mustangs clued into the strategy and blocked our next 3 passes to receive the ball back. But, with McKeown blocking one of their passes and McGinnis sacing the QB the ball was back in our hands. Scott Miller was able to move the punt return to our own 48 yard line, then to the 41 yard line. Stralka caught the next pass on our own 4 yard line and with Mangers rush on the next play the Knights scored ! Stralka kicked the extra point to make the score 8-7 with 2:51 to remain in the first half.

But Kaneland were not done yet ! On the punt return the Mustangs were at the Knights 20 yd. line. With the team of Barnett, Jahns and Miller and a clipping call against the Mustangs, they were sitting on the Knights 6 yd. line. Their next pass was intercepted by McKeown on the Knights 9 yd. line. With Probst successful pass the DeKing the Knights got their next Touchdown. Stralka kicked the extra point to end the first half 14-8 (Knights lead).

The second half of the game our strong defensive players Pitstick, Miller, McGinnis, McKeown, Barnett, Jahns, Davis, Sauber, Olson kept the tackles coming ! The Mustangs weren't able to score in the 3rd or 4th quarter but neither could the Knights as the game ended 14-8.

Kaneland 0 - Ridgewood 26

On a much cooler note than the last few weeks, the Sophomore Kaneland Knights suffered a disappointing lose to the Ridgewood Rebels. The 1st quarter was scoreless for both teams thanks to Dale Pitstick of the Knights for stopping the Rebels at 1st/goal on their own 2 yd. line. But the Rebels came back in the 2nd quarter determined to make it happen and on a 50 yard punt return ran the ball in for their 1st TD. The Knight were able to stop the extra point(s) making the score 6-0 going into half-time.

The second half began with Ridgewood in possession of the ball and after several tackles by the Knights they were still able to score their 2nd TD of the evening. The Knights were able to block the Rebels 2 pt. conversion. With 2:32 remaining in the 3rd quarter the score was now 12-0. On the punt return the Knights had the ball but on the 34 yard line a fumble was recovered by the Rebels. The Knights regained possession when the Rebels fumble was recovered by Kaneland on their 24 yd. line.

The 4th quarter started with Probst getting some good yardage in on a few passes but then a penalty and an interception on the 12 yd. line gave Ridgewood the ball. Two plays later the Rebels ran from 38 yards for a TD and the 2 pt. conversion was good this time advancing their lead to 20-0.

The kick return was taken to the 25 yd. line of Ridgewood by Stralka and then advanced to the 28 & then 29 yard line by Mangers. After Probst was sached by the Rebels the ball went back to them for a punt return that lead to another TD for Ridgewood. The Knights were again able to block the extra points making the score 26-0. With 1:31 left in the game the Knights were not able to pull it off. The Final Score being Rebels 26-0 Knights

Kaneland 21 - Yorkville 7

The sky was lightning free but the Knights were full of energy as they met up with the Yorkville Foxes on Monday evening after Friday's game was cancelled due to lightning at Kaneland's Peterson field. The 1st quarter ended scoreless after McKeown blocked a Foxes pass into their end zone and then Sauber held them for no gain on the next play. Stralka tackled them for a 3 yd. loss and then the Foxes field goal attempt failed. The second quarter also ended with a half time score of 0-0 after Pitstick and Barnett held the Foxes to their 29 yard line getting credit for the final tackle and after Probst made the electricity level rise with some great successful passes to McKeown for 28 yds and DeKing for a 13 yd. gain. McKeown's field goal attempt was short however, leaving us to turn up the notch a bit going into the second half of the game.

The Foxes came out into the 3rd quarter with the notch also turned up and in the first 1:11 were able to carry the ball into the end zone for the first score of the game. The extra point was good making the score 7-0 with 8:49 to go in the 3rd qtr. On the punt return the Knights were determined to make it happen ! Stralka started us out by returning the ball for an 8 yd. gain. Then Milo added 6 yds to it, then it was McKeown for 8 yds., Mangers for 14yds on two plays. Probst threw a 14 yd. pass to the Knights own 40 yard line that Jahns caught successfully. Scott Miller took the next pass to the 17 yd line. Then Probst was moved back to the 24 for a sac. The Foxes offsides call moved us back to the 19 yd line but again they moved Probst back to the 27 for another sac. Probst sent the next pass off to McKeown who ran into the end zone for our first TD and also kicked the good extra pt. making the score 7-7 with 2:14 to go in the 3rd qtr.

McKeown's energy level was definitely up and his punt to the Foxes left the ball in the end zone. The Knight defense turned up the heat and held the Foxes. The 4th quarter started for the Knights with a series of handoffs to Mangers and Jahns with Mangers picking up 27 yds. and a successful 13 yd pass to McKeown but the Foxes were able to get through to Probst for a sac and the ball went back to them. After McKeown and Probst held them to only 6 yds and then Probst and Jahns blocked 2 passes, Pitstick went after their QB for the sac, the QB was able to avoid Pitstick but the pressure aloud McKeown to intercept his pass and run the ball 45 yds. into the end zone. McKeown's extra pt. was good making the score 14-7 with 3:24 left in the game.

Again, the Knights defense held the Foxes on the punt return and the ball was back in our hands with 1:03 left in the game. Probst handed the ball off to Mangers for a 25 yd. gain and then again for a 21 yd run into the end zone. McKeown's extra pt. was good raising the threshold to 21-7 with :13 to go in the game. The Foxes were only able to move the ball for 8 yds. when the buzzer sounded.

Kaneland 14 - Elmwood Park 8

The drive to Elmwood Park is not fun but the Knights made it all worth while with great weather and a 14-8 victory over the Tigers. The first quarter ended scoreless after ball posession changed 7 times. The Knights defense held the Tigers to a total of only 11 yards.

The second quarter Mangers moved the ball to the 50 yd line. Probst next hand off went to Dan Marr for a gain of 13 yds. But with 2 penalties against the Knights and a sac on Probst the ball went back to the Tigers. Drew Olson stopped the Tigers on the punt return at the Tigers own 41 yd line and despite the efforts of Sauber, Davis, Barnett, Probst, Scott Miller, Wilson and Jordan the Tigers ran the ball in for a TD. McKeown tackled the Tigers on their attempt for 2 pts. leaving the score 6-0 with 5:09 to go in the first half.

Dan Marr returned the punt 13 yards to the Tigers 49 yd. line. Probst passed the ball to McKeown for a 16 yd. gain taking it to the Knights own 33 yd line. The efforts of Walker, Mangers and McKeown continued until the ball was on the 5 yd. line. Probst ran in for the TD and McKeown kicked a good extra pt. putting the Knights on top 7-6 with 1:39 to go in the first half.

One the best highlights of the game was not the Tigers returning the punt to the 32 yd. line of the Knights, but the next play when Sauber intercepted the play and ran towards the end zone only to miss the TD but 1 yd. McKeown took the next pass into the end zone and also kicked a good extra pt. stretching our lead 14-6 with 1:21 to go in the first half. The Knights defense held the Tigers for a half-time score 14-6.

The 3rd quarter began with the Tigers returning the punt to the Knights 32 yd. line and then a fumble recovered by the Knights. Mangers was able to get the ball to the 26 yd line and the next pass went to McKeown for a TD however the "holding" penalty called on the Knights took that 6 pts. away and moved us back to the 36 yd line. Our efforts to get the ball into the end zone failed. The ball posession changed 6 times during the 3rd qtr. with no additional pts. scored by either team.

The 4th qtr. the Tigers came on a little tougher and made several first downs moving the ball to their own 11 yd. line but they needed to be on the 10. Good efforts by Davis, Wilson, McKeown, Probst and Pitstick on defense. On the return Mangers ran the ball to the 14 of the Tigers and then two "offsides" calls by the Refs. left us at the 3 yd line. Walker moved it to the 4 yd. line and rather than punt the Knights opted to give the Tigers a safety making the score 14-8 with :22 to go in the game. The Tigers then returned the punt to the 50 yd. line and with the clock winding down McKeown blocked their next pass intended for a receiver at their own 20 yd. line. Myles Barnett put pressure on the Tigers QB who ran the ball himself to the 48 yd. line as the buzzer sound.

Final score was 14-8 - with the Sophmore Knights improving their record to 4-2.

Kaneland 25 - Herscher 0

There was a definite chill in the air, in fact with 2:27 to go at the end of the game, the snow flurries came blowing in. But, there was heat on the field as the Sophomore Knights sent the Herscher Tigers home with their tail between their legs.

The Knights received the initial punt on the Tigers 38 yd. line. Mangers rushed the next play to the 44 yd. line. The next two carries by Wilson got the ball to the 50 but an offsides call sent the Knights back to the 35. Mangers rushed the next play into the end zone for a 65 yd. carry and our 1st TD ! Stalka kicked the extra pt. putting the Knights on the board with 7-0 and 5:24 to go in the first quarter.

The defense held the Tigers to only 7 yds. after their punt return attempts. The Knights received the next punt on the Tigers 41 yd. line. Mangers carried the next two plays to the 48. Then Wilson took it to the 32, Probst to the 27, McKeown to the 11, Mangers to the 10 and the 1st quarter came to an end. At the start of the second quarter, McKeown picked up where we left off and carried the ball into the end zone for our 2nd TD of the night. McKeown dedicated that TD to Bill McKeown (former Kaneland star athlete). Stralka's extra pt. was unsuccessful bringing the score to 13-0 with 9:52 to go in the first half.

The Tigers brought on the steam and moved the ball a total of 33 yds. but McKeown and Miller were able to cover their last few plays to turn the ball back over to the Knights. The Tigers kept their energy level up and held the Knights to only 5 yds. The punt to the Tigers left the ball sitting on the Knights 46 yd. line with Miller on the tackle. Probst tackled the next carry at the 49 yd. line. Then Miller covered for an incomplete pass. McGinnis went for the sac on the next play but the QB was able to escape moving the ball to the 38 until Probst came in for the tackle. An illegal block call on the Tigers sent them back to the 48. Barett tackled them on the 46 and the ball was fumbled by the Tigers and recovered by the Knights lineman Mike Sauber with 2:56 to go in the first half. McKeown carried the ball to the Knights own 46 yd. line and then into the end zone for a TD ! Stralka's extra pt. was unsuccessful but the Knights were now 19-0 with 1:22 left in the half.

On the punt return DeKing tackled the Tigers on the 35 yd. line of Kaneland. Scott Miller tackled the next carry on the 40 and recovered a Tigers fumble and took the ball into the end zone but a holding call against the Knights brought us back to 50 yd line. The buzzer sounded with the Knights unable to get back into the end zone. Half Time score 19-0 .

The 3rd quarter began with McKeown kicking the punt to the 15 yd. line and Pitstick tackling the Tigers at the 20 of Kaneland. The next several plays the Tigers were able to gain a total of 55 yds. until Kiley tackled them at their own 24 yd. line and Pitstick recovered a fumble. Wilson carried the ball to the 32 of Herscher and the ball was fumbled but recovered by Mangers on the 28 yd. line. Probst's next pass to DeKing at the 40 was good but an illegal receiver downfield for the Knights sent us back to the 24. An incomplete pass to Olson gave ball possession back to the Tigers. The punt left the ball at the 50 yd. line. Olson and Kenny held them to a 1 yd. gain and the the next play McKeown went in to sac the QB at the 40 for a loss of 9 yds. and the end of the 3rd quarter.

The 4th quarter the Knights held the Tigers for 4 more yds. to turn the ball back over to us. The punt was received at the 37 of Herscher. The Tigers moved Mangers back for a loss of 7. McKeown recovered 2 yds. Then Probst sent the next pass off to Olson for a 10 yd. gain at the 48 yd. line. Mangers, Probst and McKeown were able to get the ball down to our own 18 yd. line and then Scott Miller took the next play into the end zone for a TD ! Stralka's extra pt. was unsuccessful but the Knights were now 25-0 with 3:17 left in the game.

McKeowns long and low punt left the ball at about the 10 of the Knights. Miller tackled the Tigers at the 15 on the next play. Miller tackled the Tigers next run at the 39 and Wilson recovered the Tigers fumble.

And then the snow came............. The Knights Dan Marr was able to move the ball a total of 27 yds. in three plays, to the Knights own 12 when the clock ran out with an awesome homecoming victory for the Sophomore Kaneland Knights !!!

Kaneland 20 - Westmont 8

With the temperature in the 70's and the sun shining, it was a great morning for football aside from the wind. The Sophomore Knights met up with the Westmont Sentinels in Westmont to increase their season record to 6-2 after they beat Westmont 20-8.

Westmont received the ball first on the Kaneland 26 yd. line and our defense held them to absolutely 0 yds. in all their attempts to move up-field. McKeown took the punt return from the 45 of Kaneland to the 36 yd. line. With the next handoffs to Mangers and Walker and a pass to McKeown the Knights were at the 6 yd. line. Walker took the next handoff into the end zone and McKeown kicked for the successful extra pt. to put the Knights on the board with a 7-0 score and 4:24 left in the first quarter of play. Westmont took the punt return to the 36 yd. line of Kaneland. Prosbt tackled the next play at the 46 but an offsides call on Westmont sent them back. Molitor held the next run to a 1 yd. gain. Then the Sentinels broke loose for a run to the 16 yd. line of Westmont until McKeown stopped them. Mangers held them for a 3 yds. gain and their next play sent them into the end zone for a TD. The 2 pt. conversion was successful putting Westmont on top 8-7 with :41 to go in the 1st quarter.

On the punt return the Knights were unsuccessful in getting the ball down field and after 2 sac's on Probst the quarter was over. The second quarter the Sentinels received McKeown's punt on the 46 yd. line but after their player touched the ball but didn't move with it the Knights had the ball and gained posession. Wesmont's defense responded and held the Knights for a 1 yd. gain. The Sentinels were only able to move the ball 1 yd. after the ball went back to them due to our strong defensive efforts.

Probst received the punt return on the 15 of Westmont. McKeown took the next pass down to about the 50 but a holding call against Kaneland sent us back to the 17. The team of Olson, Mangers and McKeown were able to gain 13 yds on the next 3 plays but an offsides call against Kaneland sent us back to the 20. McKeown ran the next pass to the 30 but the ball was to end up back in the Sentinels posession after they intercepted out pass intended for a Knight at the 48 yd. line of Westmont. The Knights defense turned up the heat and held the Sentinels along with a holding call against Westmont they actually lost 1 yd. during their entire posession. Probst received the punt return and took the ball to the 23. Mangers took the next hand-off to the 30 just as the half time buzzer sounded with the score being 8-7 in favor of Westmont.

The pep talk during half time must have worked. The Knights came out ready to make it happen for sure ! The next several carries by Stralka, Mangers, Scott Miller, Walker and McKeown got the ball down to the 3 yd. line of Kaneland. Probst took the next ball into the end zone himself for the TD. McKeown's extra pt. was unsuccessful but the Knights were on top once again 13-8 with :54 to go in the 3rd quarter of the game. McKeown's punt to Westmont left the ball in the end zone.

The Knights defense held the Sentinels for 17 yds. over the next few plays and then Probst went for the next tackle and regained ball posession after the Sentinels fumbled the ball at the 44 yd. line of Kaneland. Westmont's defense fired up and held us for a 3 yd. gain. McKeown's punt to the 17 yd. line was returned to the 21 and taken down by the Knights defense. The Sentinels next pass was intercepted by McKeown and run in for a TD. McKeown's extra pt. was also good increasing our lead to 20-8 with 5:21 left in the game.

The Knights held the Sentinels on their next drive attempts for a total loss of 4 yds. The Knights received their final punt at the 32 of Westmont and Mangers took the next play to the 35. Probst was moved back to the 30 with a sac and Olson took the next pass to the 37. McKeown sent his final punt down field and out of bounds at the 28 of Kaneland. The Knights defense was still tough and the Sentinels were held for a total of 20 yds. in several plays and then Alex Miller took the QB down for a sac on the 44 yd. line. The next pass attempt by the Sentinels was intercepted by Probst and run out of bounds at the 43 yd. line of Westmont just before the final buzzer sounded. Final score 20-8.

Kaneland 27 - Riverside-Brookfield 6

With the grandstands packed with loyal Knight fans, the Sophomore Knights made sure they ended their season with yet another win to make their 2000 record 7-2. There was little wind and the temperature reached over 80 today! You couldn't ask for a nicer night.

The Knights put the Bulldogs down with a 27-6 victory!! The Bulldogs received on the kickoff at the 13 yd. line and after a penalty against the Knights the ball was at the 18. However, the defensive Knights players Jahns, Probst, Kiley and Barnett moved them back for a total loss of 8 yds. during their first possession. Scott Miller received on the punt to the Knights and carried the ball from about the 35 down to the 5 yd. line. McKeown took the next pass from Probst into the end zone for our first TD. McKeown's extra point was also good putting on the board 7-0 with 7:41 to go in the 1st quarter.

Mangers and Scott Miller assisted on the punt return tackle at the 17 yd. line of the Bulldogs. Pitstick and McGinnis held them for a gain of 5 yds. Then the Bulldogs QB threw a 17 yd. pass that was complete but again Scott Miller made sure it didn't move from there. Davis covered for an incomplete pass, Pitstck & McGinnis moved the QB back to the 35 for another tackle and Jahns covered for another inc. pass. The Bulldogs punt return landed the ball into Scott Miller's hands at the 40 yd. line and he ran the return all the way downfield for another Knights TD !! McKeown's extra point was good bring the Knights up to a 14-0 lead with 5:19 remaining in the 1st qtr.

McKeown sent the next punt to the end zone. The Bulldogs were able to move a total of 18 yds. during 3 carries and instead of punting back to the Knights went for it and caught us off guard to get a first down at the 48 yd. line. Jahns tackled them after the next 9 yd. gain but then the Knights defensive Mike Sauber intercepted the next Bulldogs pass and took the ball to the 40 yd. line. The Bulldogs defense got a little fired up and held out next plays to a total additional 5 yds. McKeown's punt to the Bulldogs was downed by Scott Miller at the 10 yd. line. Molitor, Probst, Wilson and Sandalsky held them on 2 plays for 22 yds. The 2nd quarter Jahns, Sauber, Wilson and Davis only aloud the Bulldogs 4 additional yds to get the ball back in Knights territory.

On the punt to the Knights a clipping call left us at the 49 yd. line instead of the 34. Probst on the keeper took the ball to the 39. Another penalty moved us back to the 44. Probst next pass to Olson at the 42 was good but the next pass was incomplete giving the Bulldogs the ball. McKeown's punt was downed by Scott Miller at the 1 yd. line. After several plays our defense was able to allow a couple 1st downs for the Bulldogs but that was it and after a total gain of 30 yds. the ball went back over to the Knights. at the 31 yd. line. McKeown moved the ball for 1 yd. but an offsides call against the Bulldogs moved us up to the 37 yd. line. Mangers carried for an additional 5 yds. but another illegal procedure call against the Knights took us right back to the 37. Probst's pass to DeKing was incomplete. After Scott Miller downed the punt to the Bulldogs at the 37 the buzzer sounded for half-time with the Knights on top 14-0 .

The Knights defense came back and covered every Bulldogs pass they attempted and the ball turned back over to the Knights at the 35 yd. line Wilson carried for a loss of 1 but Probst's next pass to McKeown picked up 7 yds. Pressure on Probst made the next pass to McKeown incomplete but a call against the Bulldogs moved us down to the 14 yd. line. Probst on the keeper took the ball to the 6, Mangers for another yard and then Probst took the next play into the end zone himself. McKeown's extra point was blocked by the Bulldogs. With 4:21 remaining in the 3rd quarter the Knights were at a 20-0 advantage.

The Bulldogs punt return was to the 25 yd. line. After a couple really good passes by the Bulldogs QB the ball was down to the 15 yd. line. Davis on the tackle at the 3 yd. line. Jahns forced the receiver out of bounds of the next carry at the 1 yd. line. After attending to Jahns injury from the play, the Bulldog's tried again but Probst held them for no gain. The next play took the Bulldogs into the end zone but an illegal procedure call moved them back out to the 5 yd. line. The 4th quarter began with the Knights Shawn McKeown intercepting their next pass and he took the ball back to the 10 yd. line.

The Dogs began to growl and they held the Knights for a 1 yd. gain after that. The Bulldogs were fired up and returned McKeown's punt out to the 40 yd. line. McKeown and Prosbst on the tackled at the 20. Walker held them for 1 yd. Stralka forced the receiver out of bounds on the next pass at the 13 yd. line. Davis took them down at the 10. Scott Miller held them for 1. Jason Davis tackled them at the 3, Probst held them for 1 but the next attempt the Bulldogs were able to score. Their 2 point conversion was no good. With 5:46 left in the game the score was 20-6.

The next Knights possession McKeown was tackled at the 38 yd. line. Wilson took the ball to the 42 and Mangers to the 45. The punt to the Bulldogs was downed by Ryan Wilson at the 11 yd. line Our defense held them for a total 3 yds. and a couple incomplete passes. The Knights received their final ball posession of the game at the 14 yd. line. Jahns carried for a yard. Wilson and Jahns again for no gains but then Scott Miller took the next pass from Probst into the end zone for a TD. McKeown's extra point was good and the Knights were really on top 27-6 with 1 minute to go in the game.

Molitor and Kenney tackled the Bulldogs on the punt return at the 41 yd. line. The Knights held them for 2 yds and Stralka covered the next incomplete pass attempt. Probst covered their last incomplete pass attempt as the final buzzer sounded.

Sophomore players season stats to follow on this website next week.

This Sophomore Football page was made possible by the efforts of reporter
Gina Fabrizius