Football Loses Heartbreaker to Kaneland

The Sterling Golden Warriors saw their 2006 season come to a disappointing end at the hands of Maple Park (Kaneland) on Saturday night, 52-45 in two overtimes, in the quarterfinal round of the Class 5A playoffs. It was a game that featured a combined 97 points and 750 offensive yards, four ties, five lead changes, and countless momentum shifts.

The game started off perfectly for Sterling, as they took the opening kickoff and drained 6:49 off the clock while driving 13 plays and 76 yards for a TD. Cory Renner scored from 6 yards out to put the Golden Warriors on top. Raciel Ocampo was perfect again with the PAT to make the score 7-0 with 5:11 left in the 1st quarter.

Kaneland's high-powered offensive attack responded with a drive deep into Sterling territory, but was turned away thanks to a big stop by Colt Preston. Preston buried Kaneland’s Casey Crosby on a fourth-and-1 play on the 6-yard line to keep the Knights off the scoreboard near the end of the 1st quarter.

The Golden Warriors struggled offensively during the second quarter as they were forced into a “three and out” on their next two possessions. But, the Sterling defense was strong again and kept Kaneland off the scoreboard early in the quarter when the Knights had moved into Sterling territory. Joe Schneiderbauer grabbed the first of his three interceptions on the night with 9:08 left in the 2nd quarter to preserve a 7-0 Sterling lead.

Kaneland finally got on the board with 1:11 left in the half when Crosby scored on a run from less than one yard out on 4th down. The PAT tied the game at 7-7.

On the ensuing possession, Sterling took over near midfield with 1:02 left in the half and looked to get a quick score to re-take the lead. On the third play of the drive, a screen pass from Renner intended for Codtey Albright was tipped and intercepted by Kaneland’s Drew Nolan. Nolan returned the ball to the Sterling 35 and a late hit by Sterling moved the ball to the 20 with 0:17 seconds left in the half. On Kaneland's first play, Boone Thorgesen escaped the grasp of Eric Baker and hit Crosby in the left corner of the end zone for a TD. The PAT gave the Knights a 14-7 lead at halftime.

Kaneland struck first on their initial possession of the second half. The Knights drove 62 yards in seven plays and took a 21-7 lead as Crosby sprinted in from two yards out. But, the Golden Warriors had an immediate response in the form of Albright, who out-raced the Kaneland defense for a 64-yard TD run on Sterling’s first play of the 3rd quarter. Ocampo made the score 21-14 with the PAT kick.

On the ensuing kickoff, the ball struck a Kaneland player and was recovered by Sterling near mid-field. A 33-yard scamper by Aaron Cooksey helped the Golden Warriors move down to the Knights’ 12-yard line where the drive stalled. Ocampo came on a drilled a 29-yard field goal to close the gap to 21-17 with 6:57 left in the 3rd quarter. The field goal by Ocampo gave him five for the season, tying him with Kit Kyarsgaard for the school record for field goals in a season.

On Kaneland’s next drive, Schneiderbauer made a fantastic leaping interception to give Sterling the ball on their own 20-yard line. But, another three and out led to a punt for Sterling. The punt attempt, however, was blocked and resulted in a safety when Sterling punter Niko Rivera wisely kicked the ball out of the back of the end zone.

After taking a 23-17 lead and receiving the ball following the safety, Kaneland pushed the margin up to 30-17 with a 26-yard TD pass from Thorgesen to Adam Blazek late in the 3rd quarter.

As the fourth quarter started, Sterling found themselves with their backs against the wall and the season hanging in the balance. They responded in true Golden Warrior fashion.

Starting on their own 34-yard line, Sterling went on a nine-play, 66-yard TD drive that took only 2:46 off the clock. Mason Temiquel capped the drive off with a two-yard TD plunge and Ocampo made it 30-24 with the PAT with 9:30 left in the game.

Sterling then forced Kaneland to punt for the first time in the game and set up shop on their own 41-yard line. Again, the Golden Warriors marched right downfield and took the lead with 4:27 to play as Renner hit Michael Trobaugh with a 10-yard TD pass. Ocampo’s PAT gave Sterling a 31-30 lead.

The Golden Warriors looked like they had an opportunity to put the game on ice when Schneiderbauer picked off another Thorgesen pass near the Kaneland 40-yard line with 4:11 left to play. Aided by another big run by Cooksey, Sterling was able to add seven more points to their total as Temiquel scored again on a short run with 1:51 left in the game. Ocampo kicked the PAT to give the Golden Warriors a precarious 38-30 lead.

Kaneland took the ensuing squib kick and returned it to midfield. On the first play from scrimmage, the Knights reached into their bag of tricks. Thorgesen rifled a pass to Jody Henningson near sideline and, after making the catch, Henningson pitched the ball to Crosby who was eventually tackled at the 20. An 11-yard run by Crosby put the Knights inches from the goal line and three plays later he waltzed in for his fourth TD of the game. Still down by two points, 38-36, Kaneland went back to the air on the conversion attempt. Thorgesen threaded the needle to Crosby to tie the game with 0:25 remaining and ultimately forcing overtime.

The Golden Warriors scored first in the opening overtime on fourth down as Renner calmly hit Schneiderbauer with a three-yard TD pass. Ocampo added his 31st consecutive PAT conversion to give Sterling a 45-38 lead.

Thorgesen countered by taking the first down snap and racing ten yards for a Kaneland touchdown. Henningson kicked the PAT, barely sneaking it past the left upright, to force another OT.

Kaneland then scored on their first play of the second overtime, as Thorgesen hit Troy Jorgensen for a 10-yard TD pass. The kick by Henningson gave the Knights a 52-45 lead.

On Sterling’s second overtime possession, the Golden Warriors came up two yards short of tying the game. A two-yard run and an incomplete pass gave Sterling a third down from 8 yards away. After a timeout, Kaneland stopped Schneiderbauer at the 4, setting up the final play. Sweeping to the wide side of the field, Schneiderbauer attempted to get to the corner, but Henningson tackled him two yards shy of the goal line to end the game.

Cooksey led Sterling with 145 yards on 18 carries. Schneiderbauer added 79 yards on 15 carries and Albright had 73 yards and a TD on 7 carries. Sterling finished with 355 rushing yards and 397 yards of total offense.

Kaneland was led by Thorgesen, who rushed for 133 yards on 22 carries. He also connected on 20 of 31 passes for 196 yards and 3 TDs. Crosby caught six passes for 76 yards. The Knights ended with 353 yards of total offense for the game.

With the loss, Sterling ended the season at 9-3. Kaneland improved to 11-1 and will next face Woodstock (Marian) in the Class 5A semifinals.


Sterling Vs. Kaneland Boxscore