Thornridge upset prolongs final season

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:16PM

Rarely has a football team worked as hard as Thornridge to win a game, especially with so much riding on the outcome.

In the short term, a playoff berth. In the long team, keeping the Falcons on the football field.

Thornridge will become a freshman-only school next year, but the Falcons will play again next week, thanks to their 31-25 triple-overtime victory over district rival Thornton on Saturday before 1,500 fans in Dolton.

"Most exciting game I've ever been a part of," said Thornridge coach Mike Morrissey, who was 28 at the opening kickoff and might be 58 now.

"I always had faith in my team," said Falcons senior Mika'il McCall, whose injured right leg kept him out of part of the game, but not out of the overtime.

Thornridge improved to 5-4, 4-3 in the SouthWest Suburban Red. Thornton (7-2, 5-2) fell into a three-way tie with Lincoln-Way North and Lincoln-Way West for the league lead.

The outcome came down to a pair of improbable plays. Thornridge faced fourth-and-goal on the 26 in the third overtime following an 18-yard sack of quarterback Derrick Martin. Undeterred, Martin threw his best pass of the day, a 26-yard touchdown strike to receiver Gary Ford just inside the right sideline of the end zone. Ford, a track star, hauled in the pass and the Falcons led for the first time since midway through the third quarter.

Now they had to stop Thornton. Rather than go to runner Damien Bell (40 carries, 187 yards) or option quarterback Dimitrius Hardwick, who scored three rushing touchdowns, the Wildcats passed. Hardwick couldn't connect with Charles Knowles on first down, and was pressed hard on second down. His heave floated into the air.

"I just had to go get it," Thornridge middle linebacker Kentrell Reese said.

He did, and when he came down with Thornton's seventh turnover of the day – four of them interceptions – a three-hour drama ended, Thornridge's football life was extended at least one week, and the short wait for a playoff berth began.

"Any time you play a Thornton team, you've got your work cut out," Morrissey said. "It's that toughness. They breed it in Harvey. We had big plays today, but we needed a few breaks too."

McCall, who scored one touchdown amid gaining 60 yards on 25 carries, promised he'd be ready for next week.

"He's the rock," Morrissey said. "I don't think there's anything that's going to keep him out."

The sophomore game was ended with 4:31 remaining in the fourth quarter and Thornton leading 40-16. An excessive celebration penalty on each side, plus a shoving match after the first penalty, prompted the early finish.

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