Thornridge wins in offensive shootout

Updated: March 22, 2011 4:20PM

In a game the featured 783 yards in offense, Kankakee senior quarterback Marcus Pope may have got the most important two yards.

Pope gained the two yards with a keeper on a fourth-and-one play from his own 31 with 3:14 to play. That allowed the Kays to keep possession and eventually run out the clock as they held on for a 28-26 win over Thornridge in a nonconference tussle Saturday afternoon in Dolton.

"I knew we were going to go for it," said Pope of the fourth down play. "It was go hard or go home and the offensive line was key, they did their job."

The line of Cassius Anderson, Christepher Anderson, Alex Griffin, Christopher Jackson and LaRoy Ruffin, allowed Kankakee (1-1) to gain 285 of its 340 yards on the ground. Senior Calvin Phillips led the way with 15 carries for 115 yards.

Senior Lamont Hawkins (18 carries, 75 yards) capped the opening drive of the second half with a one yard run to give the Kays a 28-6 lead with 9:35 left in the third quarter.

But Thornridge (1-1) rallied behind senior running back and Michigan State recruit, Mika'il McCall - who finished with 26 carries for 240 yards.

McCall had third quarter touchdown runs of 45 and 56 yards. But the Falcons missed the extra point kick on his second TD run, leaving the score at 28-19.

"Everyone was a little unfocused and I think we may have overlooked them," said McCall of Kankakee. "They came out tough and give them their props. Next week (SouthWest Suburban Red opener at Thornwood) we'll do a lot better."

Thornridge closed within 28-26 on a 31-yard touchdown pass from Derrick Martin to Gary Ford with 5:12 remaining. But the Kays were able to run out the clock.

Martin finished 12-of-21 passing for 162 yards with an interception and two touchdowns. Both of those were to Ford (5 catches, 92 yards), who hauled in a 26-yard scoring strike in the first quarter to tie the game at 6-6.

The Kays recovered a fumble by McCall in the games opening minute and put together a 45-yard drive that was capped off by a one-yard run from Brandon Sykes.

One minute into the second quarter, Terrence Moore had an eight-yard run to put Kankakee ahead for good at 12-6. Later Demetrius Jones capped off an 81-yard, 11 play drive with a one yard run to give Kankakee a 20-6 halftime lead.

"After our loss last week (42-12 to Bradley) we were so embarrassed," Pope said. "We knew we had to win this week and we had our minds set."

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