Top-seeded Kaneland outlasts Belvidere

Updated: October 28, 2011 11:50PM

In a Class 5A playoff game filled with big plays, Kaneland senior Quinn Buschbacher called the biggest one Friday night.

Knights coach Tom Fedderly decided to listen, pulling place kicker Matt Rodriguez off the field to try for a first down on 4th-and-2 with the outcome of a barnburner still in flux against visiting Belvidere.

Buschbacher took a right sweep and powered through two defenders for a 3-yard run, allowing No. 1-seed Kaneland to run out the clock in a 51-45 win over the No. 16-seed Bucs.

“I wanted the ball,” Buschbacher said. “I wanted the game to end without any risks. Our offensive line was getting a great push all game. I felt like we could get it.”

The play came not long after Rodriguez drilled a 40-yard field goal from the same spot to extend the lead.

“We were going to kick the field goal and he said he wanted the first down, so we listened to Quinn,” Fedderly said. “He got it for us as well as our line, which had been huge all game.”

Kaneland (10-0) jumped out to a 13-0 lead, before Belvidere (5-5) scored 17 unanswered points.

The Knights responded with their own push and took a 27-24 lead to halftime.

Quick scoring plays — a 43-yard run by Buschbacher, and an 80-yard run by the Bucs’ Marcus Gooden — only added to the first-half drama.

Kaneland built a 41-24 lead in the third quarter on a 3-yard run by Buschbacher only to watch as Belvidere quarterback Troy Vandenbroek tossed a fourth-quarter 17-yard touchdown to Reed Greiter. Then the Bucs recovered an onside kick and Vandenbroek took the first play 40 yards for a touchdown.

Buschbacher wasn’t done, however, taking the ensuing kickoff back 94 yards to the 1, leading to Jesse Balluff’s third 1-yard plunge of the game.

“Our offense needed to get something going,” Buschbacher said. “We needed some momentum. They were driving the ball well on us. I just wanted to make something happen.”

It proved to be a crucial touchdown after Vandenbroek connected on a 38-yard touchdown to Kyle Harris with eight minutes left, making it a 48-45 game.

After Rodriguez’s field goal, Vandenbroek hit Greiter on a 50-yard pass to the Kaneland 27, with plenty of time to get the potential game-winning score.

That’s when Knights defensive back Kory Harner came up with his team’s only true pass stop of the night, intercepting Vandenbroek and leading to Kaneland’s final drive.

“We’re moving on,” Fedderly said. “I don’t care if it was one point or whatever. We’re moving on.”

Knights receiver Sean Carter caught four balls for 134 yards, but the best offensive progress came from sophomore quarterback Drew David, Buschbacher and Balluff’s use of the ground to move the ball against the stingy Bucs’ pass defense, rushing for 203 yards combined.

“We knew they were a good team, but I had no idea it was going to be 51-45 at the end of the game,” said a relieved David, who also threw for 247 yards and a 14-yard touchdown to Zach Martinelli. “That was crazy. I’m just glad that we won.”

Kaneland meets the winner of Saturday night’s Burlington Central at St. Francis game.

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