What is it you can't buy, you have to earn, everyone wants, and is so precious only a few have it. Then once you have it, it's always with you, cannot be stolen, is non-transferable and forever priceless.
It is - being a Champion. And for the 50 Kaneland boys and four coaches of the Kaneland Knights football team they earned that title Friday night as they were crowned champions by beating Harrisburg 31-7 to win the Illinois Class 3A state Championship.
But, this team is more than just state champs. They finished the season perfect at 14-0, to become the only Kaneland team to ever win a state championship and be undefeated.
Then to top it off, Kaneland won the IHSA Class 3A sportsmanship award. An award given to the school for the best overall sportsmanship of its coaches, participants and spectators, truly making Kaneland the class of the class.
State Champions, undefeated, best sportsmanship - A Perfect season, a season of dreams coming true.
After the mauling at Marengo the week before, Friday seemed to never come. But when it did there was a little surprise. A team built on speed and athleticism woke up to rain falling outside their windows. A wet field would mean a slower field and benefit the bigger and slower Harrisburg team.
"I almost had an heart attack when I woke up this morning up north and saw those great big rain drops," said coach Thorgesen after the game.
But the rain subsided and warm moist air dropped a blanket of fog around the countryside, creating a heavenly glow as the players boarded the buses for their long trip to Normal. It was the beginning of the final chapter of this season's dream story. Knight fans armed with confetti and cameras, cheered their team as they made their way to their bus.
By 9:45 the large coach buses carrying Kaneland's precious cargo pulled out the school parking lot, escorted by fire trucks and followed by an assortment of cars, vans and trucks. It took only seconds before they became consumed in a sea of white, not to be seen again until they entered the carpet of Hancock Stadium six hours later.
At ISU the atmosphere was electric. Kaneland fans lined the parking lot almost two hours early, waiting for the gates to open. Once they did it was a mad chaos as 9,340 excited fans tried to get to their seats. It was like Christmas, New Years, Mardi Gras, and July 4th all rolled into one.
Meanwhile the team was doing what they did all season - focusing on the task at hand.
Following the season long perfect script the rain quit falling, the temperature rose to a mild 55 degrees and fog encircled the stadium. But most importantly the Knights had half the community and student body to cheer them on.
After both bands shared in the playing of the national Anthem and the player introductions, the game was finally about to begin. This was the culmination of six months of hard work from the heat of summer to the cold and snowy days of winter. This was it, the chance to show the world what a Kaneland Knight is all about.
All-state Matt Gladd's kick opened the game and Harrisburg begun operations at there 40 yard line. But Snap Crackle and Pop (Kyle Schrader, All-state Ryan West and Rusty Pozen) ended operations after three plays.
Immediately the Knights went up top. On the first play quarterback Eric Delaney found the "P" (All-state P.J. Fleck) in the flat for 25 yards. Next a QB keeper for of 38 yards and then it was Delaney to Fleck again, this time "P" was wide open in the end zone - TOUCHDOWN. Like cutting butter with a warm knife it was 7-0, just three minutes into the game.
A Harrisburg fumble followed by a Gladd 37-yard field goal and it was ten-zip. Then on the first play of the second quarter West follows B.J. Mires and Brian Herra into the end zone and boom it was 17 to zip-a-rooney.
However, it was universally acknowledged that the 30 seconds before intermission was most critical part of the game.
With just 28 seconds left in the first half the Bulldogs tried some trickery - A double pass. Tight end Stephen Stiles caught a screen pass in the left flat, then turned and fired a bomb to Patton Segraves in the left corner of the end zone to reel in the runaway Knights at 17-7.
With the shutout gone, "Thorgy" had a few tricks of his own. After Mike Lemmer recovered a short kick at his 46-yard line, Delaney hit Fleck with a little 12-yard pass. Fleck then using the old "hook and ladder play", pitched a perfect lateral to a streaking Schrader who stormed down the sidelines to the Bulldog 16.
Bulldog linebacker Matt Hancock knew the importance of holding off Kaneland. "There as was about 20 seconds left in the (half) and all we kept saying was 'don't let them score, don't let 'em score'".
But with just 4 ticks left on the clock the "P" caught yet another pass. This time in the end zone and the Knights had put a dagger in the heart of the Bulldogs. Just 24 seconds prior the Harrisburg fans were cheering wildly. Now their side of the field sounded like air leaving a balloon.
"At that point I knew we were in trouble," commented Bulldog coach Al Way, knowing he was way behind. "We were down 24-7 and we weren't moving the ball offensively."
And he was right. In the second half the Knights allowed the Harrisburg offense only one first down as they never threatened the Knights again.
Kaneland meanwhile scored an insurance TD when West flew over the top his offensive line from one yard out, scoring his 37th and last career touchdown, for a final score of 31-7.
When it was over the Knights unsung hero, coach Rich Kearney had orchestrated a defensive plan that held the powerful Harrisburg running game to just 81 yards. But he had some help. Snap, Crackle and pop showed the world why they are considered the best linebacking trio in the state.
Luke Peterson picked a great time to play the best game of his life as the safety had 8 solo tackles. He along fellow safety Aaron Siebens plus corners P.J. Fleck and Shaun Wenz held quarterback Drew Logan to 9 (yep 9) yards passing.
On the defensive line Herra and Chad Hurst stopped nearly every outside run Harrisburg tried. And in the middle Brad Thrill was picking up offensive lineman and replanting them elsewhere, while Anthony Parrilli was playing sack-attack.
And there is no way anyone can not love the way the offensive line moved the bigger bulldogs backward as they gained 388 total yards. The left side made up of underclassmen Beef (Keith Snyder) and Stake (Brian Staker) teamed together to make Beef-stake of the Harrisburg line.
Wally (center Adam Wallace), played immense taking on the 6'-2" 255 pound giant Bulldog nose guard and introducing him to ISU Astroturf. B.J. and Poop (Herra) anchored the right side giving new meaning to the term "out of my way".
"It was all team, said Poop. We're a team through and through. That's how things get done."
Kaneland averaged 6.3 yards per play to 2.7 for the Bulldogs, causing Harrisburg Sports writer John Roark to comment, "The Bulldogs ran into a buzz saw, and were beaten by one of the strongest Class 3A champions, since perhaps the Belleville Althoff squads of 1989 and 1990.
"I told the kids (Before the game) that as dominant as we've been through the playoffs, I hoped that it would take a real good team to knock us off," Way said. "And it did."
As the dream ended and reality set in, long time Kaneland sports fan Ricky Thomas spoke for everyone when he stated, "I would like to congratulate and thank the Kaneland Knights football team, their coaching staff, and the athletic department for allowing me to participate in their dream."
It was FANtastic!
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