Montini, Kaneland go way back
Montini football coach Chris Andriano said he and Kaneland assistant coach Joe Thorgesen have admired each other “from a distance.”
Saturday's Class 5A semifinal will be up close and personal for the right to go to Champaign, where Montini won last year and in 2004. Kaneland won the last two 3A titles held at Hancock Stadium in Normal.
The last time No. 1 seed Kaneland (12-0) met 10-2 Montini whose sixth seed is the lowest remaining in any of the eight classes it came in the second round of the 1995 Class 3A playoffs. Kaneland led by a couple of touchdowns only to see Montini force overtime and win 27-21 behind quarterback Matt Andriano.
“Their coach was quoted as saying we lost this game 18 years ago, in the maternity ward,” Chris Andriano said. “That was Joe Thorgesen, and now he's their defensive coordinator, so Joe and I go way back.”
Matt Andriano now coaches Montini quarterbacks for his father, while current Kaneland coach Tom Fedderly instructed offensive linemen and linebackers for Thorgesen in 1995.
“That was a long time ago,” Fedderly said. “I just remember a tough, hard-hitting game. Obviously, being overtime, it came right down to the end.”
That would be the expectation for Saturday's game. Both teams required comebacks last week to advance.
Kaneland trailed Vernon Hills 21-14 in the third quarter and scored the winning touchdown on a Joe Camiliere pass to Tyler Callaghan with nine seconds to play.
Despite beating Marian Central 24-10, Montini was outgained 339 yards to 265. The Broncos were tied 10-10 entering the fourth quarter and pulled ahead on Matt Westerkamp's bubble screen to Anthony Taylor with 6:19 to play. Franklin Bruscianelli ended Marian's chances with his first interception of the season after Marian drove 52 yards to the Montini 12.
“They pretty much dominated the yardage and time of possession,” Chris Andriano said. “It was the same scenario, pretty much (against Kaneland in 1995). We were losing the Kaneland game pretty much the whole game, down two touchdowns, and came back to tie it.”
A stiff pass rush will be required from each defense, not to mention sticky coverage in the secondary by Kaneland's Jacob Razo, Quinn Buschbacher, Kory Harner and Kyle Davidson and Montini counterparts Frank Baer, J.R. Campise, Tom Desmond and Connor Gorrell.
“Looking at both of our teams I think we're real similar in what they try to do and what we try to do,” Fedderly said.
Montini receiver Jordan Westerkamp and Kaneland's Camiliere earned all-state honors with the numbers they put up in a passing scheme, but Andriano realizes the importance of the ground game. He had a 2009 all-state quarterback in Brandon Pechloff, but running back Nick Campanella proved invaluable. Andriano is wary of Kaneland's Blake Serpa, who has run for 504 yards and 12 touchdowns, though Camiliere leads the Knights with 649 yards rushing.
“I'm hoping we're able to establish some kind of running game, because then that will make our passing game more effective,” said Andriano, who has tried Dimitri Taylor, Frank Baer and Dimitri Willis, who leads Montini in rushing with 456 yards, to lend ground support to quarterback Matt Westerkamp.
“We have to be able to run the ball, otherwise they'll tee off on us,” Andriano said.
Air or ground, that's Kaneland's goal against the defending champs.
“They've been there and they've won this game,” Fedderly said. “But I know our kids are really hungry and they want that opportunity and they'll play the best game they possibly can.
“I hope our community comes out and supports us. We really need their help.”