Kankakee Valley pulls out second OT win of season

Updated: May 9, 2012 9:50AM

WHEATFIELD — Kankakee Valley may have found a way to win, but it’s going to give first-year coach Brad Stewart gray hairs.

On Friday night, it was a 33-27 double-overtime victory over North Judson, its second overtime win this year.

The win came with junior fullback Tyler Birky’s bruising tackle-breaking run to give the Kougars the lead in the second overtime.

Tim Hiller’s second interception of the game KV its second dramatic overtime win.

“It was a really big game and may have put us on the right track and gave us a lot of momentum,” said junior quarterback Joel Bolen. “The offensive line gave us a great push. We struggled this year but found how to win. When Tyler was set up in the triple option, he saw a way to crash through and he broke quite a few tackles. He was hitting the end zone no matter what.”

Stewart said his team was well-prepared.

“We watched a lot of film,” he said. “We werent prepared for that reverse in the third quarter. We didn’t see it on film.”

That play gave North Judson a 21-14 lead. But Bolen, who was effective as the team’s leading rusher, scored in the fourth quarter to tie the game.

“Birky ran the ball hard (11 carries for 80 yards and a TD). He kept his feet moving , he’s got such a great attitude.”

Bolen finished with eight carries for 110 yards and a TD. His passing stats weren’t great, gaining just 7 yards in the air. But the pass to Hillers inn overtime was clutch, clutch clutch.

The Jays (3-3) just could not find a consistent offensive attack, and one big pass connection late in the game was called back on a penalty. They sent back into their own territory, rather than pushing towards the goal line in a drive that would have won them the game.

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.