Kaneland did it!!! First undefeated season!!!! 9-0!!!! Sixth shutout of the season. Most in the state!!! Sixth game scoring over 40 points!!!! Least points ever allowed by a Kaneland team - 47!!!! Longest shutout streak in the state!!!! A number two seed in Class 3A!!!! Highest state ranking ever - 3rd in Class 3A!!!!
It was parents Knight last Friday night and the Knights made history in front of their folks, trouncing Westmont 42-0.
Kaneland scored on their first possession for the 6th time this year when Bill McKeown ran a 27-yard counter just 3:48 into the game. However, the Knights didn't score again until the second quarter when Eric Delaney ran 23 yards on QB keeper.
Brad Thill deflected a Sentinel pass that Chad Herst intercepted and on the next play Ryan West broke three tackles from 18 yards out for another Kaneland touchdown. Then with only 46 ticks left on the clock before half time, West scored again. Thanks to the extra point kicks of Matt Gladd Kaneland lead 28-0.
Kaneland "D" continued to shine in the first half holding Westmont to a minis 3 yards and just one first down.
Kaneland special teams which haven't allowed a score all year where dazzling again as Kyle Schrader opened the second half returning the kick off 95 yards for a touchdown.
"It felt pretty good after that one. But, I was a little tired though," commented Schrader.
West who had punt returns of 50 and 59 yards scored his third touchdown of the night tying the school career touchdown record held by Bill Streid. Gladd who was a perfect for the second game in a row in extra point boots (6 for 6), made the score 42-0 and it was running clock time again for the fifth time this season.
But the Sentinels didn't quit. They made two second half scoring drives. The first, a 16-play drive, ended when Pop (Rusty Pozen) recovered a fumble on the Kaneland 35-yard line.
The second drive started with five minutes left in the game at the Westmont 30-yard line and ended when Aaron Siebens intercepted a Sentinel pass in the end zone with no time left, to preserve the shutout.
The Knights "D" continued to impress causing 4 turnovers - a fumble and three pass interceptions by Herst, Pozen, and Siebens. Of the 60 plays Westmont ran only 22 were for positive yardage. The longest Sentinel play was 13 yards. In addition, Westmont never crossed midfield until the Knights had the game in hand, leading 42-0.
"We love to play defense," said Schrader.
"I'm real proud of our defense," said coach Joe Thorgesen. "All the kids have worked really hard. But, we're anxious see how we do in the playoffs."
Some where along the way P.J. Fleck caught his 5th pass on the evening giving him 44 receptions for the year breaking the Kaneland single season pass receiving record he set last year.
Westmont senior running back Dave Chorney ran the ball 36 times for 91 yards (the rest of the team had a -1), breaking the Sentinels season rushing record, but fell just 34 yards short of the school's career record.
And how does it feel to go undefeated for the first time?
Ryan West, (only a few hours after the game), "I don't know yet."
Kyle Schrader "Awesome."
Adam Wallace "Great, but we're not done yet."
P.J. Fleck "It's a special feeling. It's just so neat to be part of a team that's 9-0."
Keith Snyder "Pretty trilling, really exciting. Wow."
Return to the beginning of Football