A Hall-a-Day for Kaneland

"The Red Devils unbelievable season ended Saturday against what probably will go down as the best 3A football team ever." That was the quote from long time Spring Valley Hall radio announcer and long time Hall fan Rich Bowden, who has seen his share of good games and great playoff teams, as the Kaneland Knights beat his beloved Red Devils from Spring Valley Hall 40-21.

This may be the best 3A team of all time, but halfway through the game even the bravest of Kaneland fans couldn't feel comfortable their team was going to win this one, as Hall kept making break-away runs against what is normally a very stingy Kaneland defense. And as a result Hall lead 21-20 at intermission.

The game started just the way Kaneland wanted when Hall took the opening kickoff and gained a minus 1 yard in three plays. Then on fourth down the Hall punt went straight up and bounced back netting the Devils another minus two yards.

Kaneland starting on the Hall 31 drove down to the eleven. However, the Devils got their first of three interceptions at the three yard line to stop the Knights.

The Knights got it right back when Ryan Schrader picked off Hall quarterback Bernie Larsen at the Hall 42. Nine plays later Kyle Schrader scored the game's first touchdown from one yard out and it was 7-0 Knights with 1:23 left in the first quarter.

The Red Devils got the score right back just 50 seconds later when the feared D.J. Glynn broke loose for a 63 romp and it was tied at 7. That run vaulted Glynn ahead of former standout Nick Guerrini for 3rd on the all-time Hall single season rushing record.

The Knights were not impressed and marched right down the field again and scored behind the brilliant passing of QB Eric Delaney and even better receiving by all-state P.J. Fleck. The duo combined for plays of 22, 8, and 18 yards. Schrader capped of the 78 yard drive with a 11 swing pass reception of his own and the Knights were back up 14-7 with 7:19 left to play in the half.

But a determined Hall team came right back with a 62 yard misdirection play by Jason Samolinski and score was tied again 14-14. This time the Red Devils took just 3 plays in 1 minute and 45 seconds to score.

Another Delaney interception and Hall had the ball again, this time at midfield. The offense minded Devils scored again as Nate Chandler, playing with some badly bruised ribs, made it to pay-dirt from 6-yards out. And Darn if the Knights weren't behind 21-14 with just 2:44 to play in the half. It was only the second time all year Kaneland had trailed.

The Red Devils had the ball three times after their first two possessions and scored three touchdowns taking a total of 12 plays and less than 6 minutes. It beginning to look like the Knights couldn't stop the team in Red.

But the Knights powerful offense wasn't going to take it easy. Delaney went to the air hitting Shaun Wenz for 7, Schrader for 24, and Fleck for 21 and 11. The last one was for a TD with just 34.7 seconds left in the half. The extra point was missed and that is how Hall lead at halftime.

Once in the locker room, life got even more unpleasant for the Knights. "The Coaches are a little more upset when you're down at half than they normally are." said Schrader.

But, Kaneland fans had faith that defensive coordinator Rich Kearney would make adjustments to stem the tide. "They were trying to cross-block us, along with a few other things, he said. "At halftime we had figured out what what they where trying to do. I just wish we had identified it earlier."

"We just believe," Thorgesen added. "You win and lose big games in the second half. We felt that it was still in our hands if we went out and won the second half. Our kids stepped up big and once you saw them get a little confidence, momentum swung our way."

Wherever happened at halftime, it didn't work to the Red Devils advantage as the Knights came out in the second half with one and only mission in mind. Play Kaneland Football.

And that they did.

The Knights got the second half kickoff at their own 41 complements of Kyle Schrader 31-yard return. Then one the greatest runs ever seen on a high school football field was performed for the 5000+ spectators, by a Mr. P.J. Fleck. Fleck caught a low pass just 3 yards ahead of the line of scrimmage where he turned, broke a tackle, and zigzagged his way down field for 59 glory yards. This is one run you have to see on film to appreciate.

"He (Delaney) put it a little out front," said Fleck of his catch. "I had to go get it. I got it and I just made the defender miss and had to make a couple more moves. I have to catch the ball, that's my job no matter where Eric puts it."

The Knights went for two points and Fleck again made a great catch falling out of bounds to move the score to 28-21 to the relief of Kaneland fans everywhere.

When Hall got the ball they went backwards losing 13 yards, punting for 27 yards and having Fleck return it for 15 yards netting a minus 1-yard. That's when it was Schrader's turn to perform, as he caught a screen pass and did his P.J. impression down to the 1-yard marker. (You got to get the film of this one just to see the two fantastic runs by Kyle and P.J.)

"We needed to the get the momentum back," said Schrader, "and we got it real quick."

Delaney (14-of 22 for 318 yards, 4 TDs and 3 Ints), who had a rough first half was back on track. "I made some bad decisions out there (in the first half), but once you start hitting them (completions) you get more and more confident."

From the one Delaney went in on a sneak and in just 4 minutes the Knights had scored two TD's. The extra point was missed again, and the Knights lead 34-21.

"In High School football, like any sport, momentum is such a big factor," said Hall coach Gary Vicini. "They just sort of blitzed us".

On the kickoff the shocked Red Devils failed to field the ball and an alert Mike Behrens fell on the ball at the Hall 23. It was a demoralizing moment for the Devils everything was going Kaneland's way.

"That play was Huge for us," said Thorgesen.

"The ball was there for me," said a happy Behrens. "I was kind of surprised. I pretty much saw it coming. It was my best play of the year and they weren't going to get the ball away from me."

From there the Knights moved to the 6 where on 4th and 5 Schrader caught a swing pass on the flat and scampered in to break the back of the Red Devils. The two point attempt failed making the score 40-21.

It had taken the Knights just 6 and a half minutes to score three touchdowns and gain control of the game.

Once Hall got the ball they went the wrong way again, losing 7 yards and were forced to punt to the Knights who started up their ball control offense that moved them into the final quarter. Kaneland had dominated the third quarter scoring three times while holding Hall to a minus 20 yards and the Red Devils stands were silent.

Once into the forth quarter it was two teams who feel they owned the forth quarter. Hall who had not lead going into the final quarter in their last two playoff games felt they can wear teams down with their size and take over as they have in the past. Kaneland on the other hand have their own goal to make the forth quarter theirs.

It ended up being a Kaneland forth quarter as Hall had to pass into the teeth of Kaneland's strength and as many teams before them, had little success.

They did manage to move the ball to the Kaneland 8 yard line, but on 4th and 1, Bryan Stacker and Ryan Schrader nailed Larsen for a 2-foot gain to stop the drive. After that without a 2-minute offense there was little Hall could do to get back in the game - and they didn't.

The celebration after the game was extremely thrilling for the Knights players and the fans as they had beaten the mighty Hall Red Devils in their own back yard and had done it after being down entering the second half.

D.J. Glynn who had 117 yards rushing in the first half, had only 7 yards rushing in second half! Eric Delaney who had thrown only four interceptions in the first twelve games throw three against Hall. Kyle Schrader was held to lowest rushing output of the year with only 56 yards on 19 carries.

Fleck had only five receptions in the game, but all them big. He needs eight on Friday to become first in IHSA history in pass receptions. Fleck did accumulate 113 yards however. Kyle Schrader also caught 5 balls for another 83 yards.

In the end Kaneland had 459 total yards in 54 plays compared to Hall with 317 yards in 51 plays. The Knights also lead in first downs by a wide margin 23-12.

"I thought our kids went toe to toe with Kaneland," said Vicini. "I thought we played a real good first half and we were running the ball, which we wanted to do."

And thus, the Knights who came into the game with a 26-game winning streak and defending state champs, left Nesti Stadium with a 27-game winning streak and a chance to repeat as 3A champions. And isn't that something to go back home with?

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