Mustangs Challenge the Knights

Kaneland fans went home with a victory in their pocket Friday night, but after being spoiled by 42-0 wins in recent games, a 30-13 triumph over Evergreen Park was not quite what they have become accustom too. But the Mustangs came from a long ways away and challenged the Knights in the last half of the game, which had both players and fans squirming.

But coach Joe Thorgesen put things in perspective saying, "We've had some early season blowouts and people are expecting that every time. But it's not going to be a blowout every time. We have to get back to being happy with the win and playing hard."

This was a game that started out with nearly a perfect beginning for the Knights. The Evergreen Park Mustangs got the opening kickoff and on their first drive were held to a minus one yard. Kaneland then drove 55 yards for a TD. And so it went.... -15 yards for EP followed by another Knights TD, 4 yards for EP and a EP stop of a Knights drive, then -4 yards for EP and a Knights field goal.

Kaneland 17 - Evergreen Park 0, with 1:51 left in the half.

Then it happen.

The Mustangs broke loose initiated by a 22 yard draw play. Then on 4th and 12 from the Kaneland 29, Dave Aggen caught the first of two TD passes and with just six seconds left in the half the Mustangs had pulled within striking distance 17-7.

Coming out the locker room Evergreen Park stopped the Knights offense in just 3 plays and punt to start the second half. The Mustangs then begun driving into Knights territory. "We thought we had them," said Mustang coach Brett Nelson. "I thought we had the momentum."

But a Colin Nolan fumble recovery on the Knights 37 yard line put the home team back on offense.

From there the Knights went into conservative play calling, running the ball repeatedly up the middle. But ultimately after nearly seven minutes and 12 plays Billy McKeown caught his second TD pass of the night from 5 yards out and the Knights had their 17 point lead again.

However, Evergreen Park struck right back on the second play from scrimmage as Aggen got his second touchdown against blown coverage and scored from 65 yards out. The PAT was missed and the third quarter ended 24-13.

In the final quarter it was time for defense as both teams dug-in. But Kyle Schrader the human battering ram kept running right up the gut and eventually broke down the Mustang defense as he scored from one yard out with just 1:40 to play in the game and it was lights out.

The Final score was set up by a Kurt Long Interception. Long also had two sacks and 5 rushes for 51 yards. But it was Schrader who was the workhorse carrying the ball 31 times (85% between the tackles) for 172 yards, including touchdown runs of 33 and 1 yards.

Following the game Schrader was asked how he felt and he responded, "A little sore."

The Knights, which usually present a balanced attack, ran the ball 42 times, while Eric Delaney threw only 20 passes completing 12, for 130 yards. McKeown who was covered by a much shorter cornerback had 6 receptions for 47 yards and two TD's, while P.J. Fleck pulled in 4 aerials for 60 yards and was shutout for the first time this year on the scoreboard.

Josh Dimitri kicked the first Kaneland field goal of the year in second quarter from 21 yards out and was 3 for 4 in extra point attempts.

Kaneland's 42 rushing attempts accounting for 217 yards compared to 70 yards for the Mustangs in just 19 tries. However, the two long TD passes from Evergreen Park's QB Tom Marsan to Aggen helped account for a rather unusual stat. That of an Kaneland opponent gaining more yards in the air (150) than the Knights (130).

But for a true picture of the game you have to turn to the next page of statistics which showed the Knights with 18 first downs to just 5 for the Mustangs. Moreover, the Knights ran nearly twice as many plays - 62 to 36!

"We weren't pleased tonight," said Nelson. "We were a little soft. (Kaneland's) speed makes you that way. But, they're just awful, awful good."

The Knights came up on the short end in the Sophomore game 7-6. The Knights drew first blood as Robert McGinnis scored from 2 yards out with 6:42 left in the second quarter. McGinnis set up the score with a nifty 25 yard scamper.

But the young Mustangs took the ensuing kickoff 78 yards to tie the score. But unlike the Knights their extra point attempt was good as all the scoring in the game happen within 17 seconds.

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