Kays' run continues with win over Morris

The Kankakee defense stops Morris' Adam Tondini just short of the end zone in the first half.
(Scott Powers/For the Sun-Times News Group)

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It’s been all about momentum for Kankakee this season.

It’s what propelled the Kays into the playoffs after three losses in their first five games. It also brought them back from a two-touchdown deficit last week.

So when Kankakee fell behind to Morris in Saturday’s Class 5A quarterfinals, Kays senior Jalon Banks didn’t panic. He knew the momentum was coming.

Banks and his teammates caught it late in the first half and held on to it the last rest of the day as they scored 30 unanswered points and defeated Morris 36-21 to advance to their first state football semifinal. The Kays were behind 21-6 at one point.

“Man, like we say ever week, once we get the momentum rolling,” Banks said. “We caught our momentum.”

Banks played a large role in the rally.

Kankakee (9-3) began its comeback with a 28-yard touchdown run by Banks with 1:25 left in the second quarter. He rushed for 136 yards on nine carries in the opening half.

After Banks’ score, Kankakee forced Morris (7-5) to go three-and-out and regained possession on the Redskins’ 41-yard line with 48 seconds remaining. Three plays later, Charles Smith hit Julian Bogan with a 28-yard touchdown pass with 14 seconds left. Banks added a two-point conversion on a run, and the Kays took a 22-21 lead and never looked back.

That momentum carried over into the second half as Morris’ offense continued struggle and Kankakee’s didn’t. The Kays intercepted two passes in the second half, while Michael Wright and Runder Smith added touchdowns.

“It’s big,” said Kankakee coach Cornell Middlebrook of his team’s semifinal advancement. “I really think it’s going to get kids who aren’t playing football more interested in it. Now we got a leg to stand on. The further we go, the bigger the expectations are.”

Morris quarterback Matt Hussey threw touchdown passes to Kevin Henry and Tyler Thetard in the first half. Adam Tondini scored the Redskins’ other touchdown.