Kaneland's defense turns tide

It went from a famine to a feast for the Kaneland defense Friday night in Olympia Fields.

Rich Central needed all of 10 plays on its five first-half scoring drives.

But the second half would belong to the Knights.

The Knights' defense forced four consecutive three-and-outs after the intermission, and the Kaneland offense took advantage of its ideal field position.

Kaneland scored on all four of the drives - all of which began in plus territory - and used the 28-point unanswered outburst to subdue the Olympians 42-36.

Both teams are now 2-1 after the Knights' nonconference win.

Five of the Olympians' 12 plays to begin the second half from scrimmage resulted in Kaneland tackles for losses.

"I think it was the just the fact that we knew we could do it," Kaneland linebacker Jacob Urban said of the Knights' dramatic turnaround on defense. "That first tackle for a loss on the first (Rich Central) drive of the second half (signaled the momentum changing)."

Jonathan Alstott was truly the workhorse for the Kaneland offense.

The Kaneland freshman scored three consecutive touchdowns in the third quarter and finished the night with a game-high 169 yards on 32 punishing carries.

Jake Marczuk never truly engineered the Knights' historically strong passing attack, but the senior quarterback called his own number 22 times to finish with 102 more rushing yards.

The last Alstott third-quarter score provided Kaneland with a 35-30 lead, and the freshman feature back bulldozed his way into the end zone from a yard out to give Kaneland the breathing room it would need.

"The linemen were incredible," Alstott said. "Every play they pushed them back. I couldn't have asked for a better game. We got the ball moving and were ready to go. The first half we were off."

Kaneland would need its 12-point cushion as Deshawn Jones' 90-yard kickoff return accounted for the final score.

Rich Central would have one final possession, but like the Olympians' first four after intermission, it ended without a single first down.

Kaneland salted the game away as Alstott had a pair of critical conversions to run out the clock.

Rich Central looked unstoppable in the opening half as sophomore quarterback Jyran Mitchell galloped 79 yards on the Olympians' first play from scrimmage.

The Olympians would burn Kaneland on the outside repeatedly for big plays in the opening half, and Franklin Hunt had long returns on both a fumble recovery and interception to set up two easy Rich Central scores.

Kaneland could only counter with a Marczuk touchdown run as well as Zachary Parker scoring on fourth-and-goal inside the one to trail 30-14 at the break.

"I have to give credit where credit is due," Rich Central coach Terrell Alexander said. "(The Kaneland defenders) played like men. They got some big-time stops."